The medical care in the country can only be compared with Europe in expensive private clinics and is often problematic in terms of technology, equipment and/or hygiene. In many cases there is also a lack of European-trained English/French-speaking doctors. Medical treatments must be paid for immediately. Taking out travel health insurance and travel repatriation insurance is strongly recommended. An individual first-aid kit should be taken with you and protected according to the temperatures on the way. Check ebizdir for more information.
Notes vaccinations
[1] A vaccination certificate against yellow fever is required for all travelers older than six months who arrive within 6 days of staying in an infected area designated by the WHO. Excluded are travelers who have not left the transit area in the infected areas and transit travelers in Peru. Attention: The yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for the entire Peruvian Amazon region, the vaccination certificate is checked. Failure to comply could result in an entry ban, quarantine or forced vaccination. Note: The Peruvian Amazon region east of the Andes and the Ayacucho Department in the SW (Pavo, Aucarca, El Zancudo) are among the endemic areas where a risk of transmission can be expected. Vaccination is strongly recommended when traveling inland and before visiting jungle areas in rural regions below 2300 m altitude. [2] A certificate of vaccination against cholera is not an entry requirement, but there is a risk of infection. Infection areas are mainly in the departments of Amazonas, Ancash, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cuzco, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno and San Martin , Tacna, Tumbes and Ucayali. To protect yourself, you should practice careful drinking water and food hygiene. Since the effectiveness of the vaccination is disputed, it is advisable to seek medical advice in good time before you travel. [3] Typhoid occurs, poliomyelitis does not. Typhoid vaccination is recommended for backpacking and long-term stays. [4] There may be a high risk of malaria regionally. This applies in particular to an increased risk in the border areas with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia (especially in Loreto, Madre de Dios, Junin, San Martín and Ayacucho). The more dangerous form Plasmodium falciparum (malaria tropica) accounts for 15%, the less dangerous form Plasmodium vivax (malaria tertiana) for 85%. The remaining regions have a very low or no risk of malaria. Lima and the Andean highlands are malaria free. Long-sleeved clothing and mosquito repellent offer sufficient protection. In the border areas to neighboring countries, emergency medication is also recommended. [5] Nationwide there is an increased risk of infection for various infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis A, typhoid, bacterial dysentery, amoebic dysentery, lambliasis, worm infections) transmitted through contaminated food or drink. Careful drinking water and food hygiene must therefore be ensured. Drinking water is usually chlorinated and relatively clean, but you may experience a mild stomach upset. Bottled water, which is available everywhere, is therefore recommended for the first few weeks of your stay. When buying packaged water, you should make sure that the original packaging has not been opened. The drinking water outside of the larger cities should either be boiled or otherwise sterilized before it is used for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice cubes. Milk is not pasteurized. Dairy products made from unboiled milk should be avoided outside of the cities. Meat and fish dishes should be well cooked and served hot. Avoid eating pork, raw salads, and mayonnaise. Only eat boiled vegetables and peeled fruit. Warnings are given against eating and buying food from cheap street restaurants and markets.
Other risks
Chagas disease is brought on by assassin bugs, which are found nationwide. For overnight stays in simple huts and outdoors, insect protection with mosquito nets is recommended. Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, occurs nationwide. An effective insect repellent is recommended. Typhus occurs mainly in the slums at higher altitudes. The fever is caused by clothes lice. To protect yourself, you should practice regular body and clothing hygiene. Vaccination should only be considered in rare cases. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B occur. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is a great danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: unprotected sexual contact, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can pose a significant health risk. At altitudes over 2500 m, altitude sickness, which can sometimes be fatal, occurs more frequently due to the ascent being too rapid. It usually only becomes noticeable after 24 hours or later at altitude. Symptoms include poor sleep, headache, dizziness, vomiting and increasing shortness of breath. If the symptoms do not disappear after a longer break, you should descend below 2000 m. Leishmaniasis, transmitted by butterfly gnats, is found nationwide and can be avoided with insect repellent. Plague cases have been reported from the departments of Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque and Piura. Protection against rats and fleas through safe sleeping places and more frequent linen changes as well as keeping away those who are already sick reduce the risk of infection. Prophylactic use of antibiotics is recommended for those working in areas affected by the plague. Rabies occurs nationwide. The main carriers are dogs, cats, forest animals and bats. Vaccination is recommended for backpackers, children, occupational risk groups and for longer stays. In the event of a bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible. In the Amazon region of Peru, bat bites have caused fatal rabies among the indigenous population of this remote area. Long-term travelers should consider getting vaccinated against rabies.
Money
Currency
1 Peruvian Nuevo Sol = 100 centimos. Currency code: S/, PEN (ISO code). Banknotes come in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 S/s. Coins are in denominations of 5, 2 and 1 S/. as well as 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 centimos in circulation. (5 and 1 centimos are rarely in circulation.) The US dollar is accepted as payment almost everywhere in Peru’s cities. The euro is also increasingly accepted as a means of payment in tourist centres.
Credit cards
Major credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa, but also American Express and Diners Club are accepted by most restaurants, hotels and service providers in Lima. Outside the capital, paying by credit card can be difficult. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.
ATMs
Bank cards With the credit card and pin number, money can be withdrawn from ATMs in the cities. The Girocard (formerly ec card) with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol is accepted worldwide. It can be used at a few ATMs with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol in the big cities. To be on the safe side, travelers should always have an alternative source of money such as cash. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.
Travelers cheques
Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are hardly available in Austria. Travelers checks can be cashed in Peru in a few exchange offices (e.g. Travex / American Express Servicios de Viaje).
Bank opening hours
Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00/18.00, e.g. T. also Sat 09.00-13.00. In summer the opening times may vary slightly.
Foreign exchange regulations
No restrictions. Duty to declare when importing and exporting amounts over US$10,000.
Currency Exchange
Travelers should carry US dollars or euros, which can be exchanged anywhere. Small denominations of US$ bills and local currency should be carried with you wherever you go. Soles are particularly suitable for smaller expenses and transactions. Damaged banknotes can, however, be rejected. The exchange of other foreign currencies is limited in Lima and not possible outside of Lima. Banks and exchange offices charge high commissions. Officially, only the Banco de la Nación is allowed to exchange money, but numerous casas de cambios and some of the large hotels are authorized branches of the national bank. The Casas de Cambios are known for their good exchange rates and quick service.
