Deepen connections. Bro aden Ho rizons.

Peru Field handbook

ccommodation

You will be living with a local family. A homestay in Peru in one of our carefully selected local

guest families is one of the truly outstanding features of our program. The homestay program

involves experiencing the culture of the people. It also provides more opportunity to practice

Spanish and, therefore, enhances your ability to speak in Spanish. You will have the chance to

try the local cuisine and home cook meals. Majority of our host families receive more than one

volunteer all-year round.

Please note that majority of the houses in Cusco do not have central heating. Bedrooms can be

very cold at night but blankets will be provided. Nonetheless, it can still be very cold at night.

Therefore, please pack accordingly. Bring appropriate clothing for sleeping.

In case you have any special requests or dietary restrictions, We will do its best to satisfy any

specific needs you may have such as vegetarian food, allergic to pets, diabetics etc. We monitor

the families through regular inspections. You will have your own private bedroom, hot shower

and most guest families have free internet access. Homestay with a guest family includes full

board (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

On your last day, you must leave your room before 11:00 am. It’s possible to leave your things

in the house / the flat until the hour of your departure. Concerning the meals, the breakfast is

included the last day (host family). If you want, we can arrange a taxi service (at extra cost) for

you to go to the airport or to the bus station.

Details of your host family will be sent to you two weeks prior to departure.

rrival and Pick up Your pick-up service from the airport in Cusco is included without extra charge. Please

remember to tell us your arrival details at least 5 days in advance to ensure the pick-up. Your

host family will be there to pick you up.

When you step out of the airport building you will see somebody waiting for you. Your host family

member will have a sign with your name written on it. If you miss your flight please call us during

office hours and we will do our best to have somebody pick you up at the new time of your arrival.

If you arrive early, please wait for your pick-up. If our staff member or host family member does

not show up on time, the driver probably just got stuck in a traffic jam. Please wait OUTSIDE for

20 minutes; if nobody shows up by then please call us. Please do not take a taxi without

informing us.

Orientation You will be going to the Projecto Peru School for your orientation on Monday Your orientation tour

will begin at 1pm at on Monday and it is compulsory so please do not miss this. Your family will

show you the way to our school. Please come some minutes before 1 pm and wait in the lobby.

The 30-45 minute tour will include your discount card, tips to help you during your stay in Cusco,

and a short walk around the city centre!

First day On arrival weekend you are free to explore, relax or spend time getting to know your host

family. On your first day on the project (usually Monday) you will be taken to the project by

Proyecto Peru staff who will come and pick you up. Your exact placement details will be given to you before arrival.

visa

Most European and North American visitors with a valid passport are permitted to stay in

Peru for 183 days without any visa requirements. ALWAYS ASK CUSTOM AGENTS FOR 183

DAYS IF YOU PLAN TO STAY LONGER IN PERU. However, travelers from all African countries

(except South Africa), Middle Eastern and Eastern European countries must pre arrange

their tourist visas: You can visit this web site to know exactly for which country you need

a visa to visit Peru: http://www.consuladoperu.com/general/index.

php?consulado=&pagina=EsxtranjerosPeru.php

If you leave Peru during your stay, you can get back into Peru without any problems, as

long as your total stay doesn’t exceed the 183 days that are permitted. As in most

countries, in order to visit Peru, any traveler must show his or her passport upon entry.

The passport must be valid for the time you stay in Peru. An onward flight ticket is

officially required to enter the country. Upon arrival in Peru, you will be given a tourist

visa ticket which you should keep in a safe place. You will need to show this ticket when

you leave the country.

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flights

International flights arrive at the airport in the capital of Peru, Lima. From

there you can take a flight to Cusco.

Be aware that your luggage never goes directly to Cusco.

You always have to get your luggage in Lima and go through

customs and then check- in for your flight to Cusco. Sometimes

(unexperienced) airport personnel will tell you your luggage

will go straight to Cusco, but that is not possible, so always

get it in Lima.

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money The Peruvian currency is the “Nuevo Sol”, however in some establishments prices are given in U.S.

dollars. Local shops and markets only accept Soles. We recommend exchanging money in banks

or in “casas de cambio”, because they offer more security and guarantees. NOTE: If you plan to

exchange U.S. dollars, try to bring the newest and cleanest bills possible. Most places (even banks!)

will NOT accept dollars that look old, dirty or torn. Credit cards can be used in high category

establishments.

In case you need cash, use one of the numerous ATMs located mostly in the centre of the city. We

recommend you to take the maximum amount you can get from the ATM to reduce costs.

Traveler’s cheques (usually) are not accepted in shops, restaurants, hostels, etc. However,

exchanging them elsewhere is not a problem. A 7% commission fee will be charged at the airport,

2% to 6% at banks in the city, while only 2% will be charged at exchange bureaus.

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In Cusco, between May and September, temperatures can drop to about 3o C or even colder

at night. From December to March, there may be heavy rains. Generally speaking, Cusco’s

weather can be cold, but rarely freezing. The average annual temperature is 12o C, ranging from

an average day temperature of 18o C and night time temperature around 6o C. There are no

heating systems, so bring warm clothes. During the day it will be warm when walking in the sun. In

Cusco the sun is very strong, so use sunscreen with a high factor.

ltitude Cusco is situated at an altitude of 3360 meters, so altitude sickness can be a potential health

risk. You must take care the first day: don’t drink any alcohol and don’t eat heavy meals. Take

your time and take it easy when you arrive. You can buy pills in Cusco if you feel sick due to the

altitude. At 3000 meters or higher, the air is dry and thin. This makes skin and especially lips

dehydrated.

Health Concerning the vaccinations, we recommend you to ask your doctor. No vaccination is obligatory,

but Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Yellow fever (for the jungle) are recommended. If you have

any sort of allergy, please let us know at the beginning of your program.

Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, treated with iodine, or purified. This includes ice

cubes or anything that has come into contact with untreated water (like lettuce). If you are bitten

by a dog (or any animal), get a medical checkup immediately to ensure you don’t get rabies.

We work together with the clinic O2 Medical Network. Their emergency numbers and the

address of the clinic:

Phones: 0051 (0)84 – 221213 0051 (0)84 – 225407

Address: Calle Puputi 148 Cusco

Weather

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General information about Cusco & safety

Cusco is a city with 420.000 people. Because of its location in a valley, the distances in

Cusco are bigger. The school is located in the center of the city. The center is located in

the north of the city. The center is very lively: there are lots of bars and restaurants. The

majority of our home stays are located halfway the city, about 15-20 minutes by public bus

to the center. The volunteer projects are located throughout the city.

Staying in South America and Cusco in particular doesn’t need to be dangerous at all if

you take normal precautions. In Cusco there are pickpockets active in crowded places,

so always keep an eye on your belongings. During the day, it is safe to walk alone, just be

careful with your valuables. Don’t walk down the street at night, always take a taxi. Some

tips to stay out of trouble.

• Don’t walk around with your passport: take a copy of your passport instead.

• Don’t walk around with credit card, debit card, laptop, smartphone, a lot of money etc

if not necessary.

• Don’t keep your credit cards and cash in the same place.

• Scan your passport and other important items so you can always have access to it.

• Never put important things in your backpack when walking around town, they can zip

it open.

• Put your backpack on your lap if you are sitting in a bar/restaurant, never on the

ground or hanging at your seat.

• Don’t put your wallet/phone/keys in a back pocket, always front pockets of your jeans.

• Watch out for pickpockets, especially around San Pedro market and in local and national

busses.

• Don’t walk on the streets at night, take a taxi (with a phone number on top).

• Don’t invite people you have just met to your place and don’t tell them your address.

Just ask their phone number so you can call them to meet again.

• If you are in a disco or bar alone, keep an eye on your glass.

• Don’t go to illegal / underground parties.

• Don’t ever get involved in drugs in any way!

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Services Internet: Not all guest families have internet. At the Project Peru school there is internet available

with a Wi-Fi connection so you can always use internet in the school. Also there are plenty of

internet cafes throughout the city. For 1 hour you will pay 1 or 2 Nuevos Soles. And there are

touristic bars/restaurants in the city center which offer free Wi-fi.

Central Post Office (Correo): the post office is located on Avenida el sol.

Banks (bancos): most of the banks are located on Avenida el sol.

Telephone Downtown, there are some “call centers” if you want to call to another country. For local calls, the

cheapest way to call is in the street. You will find people (with a green vest) with mobile phones.

With them you can call for S/. 0.50 Nuevos soles per minute.

Peru’s phone code is +51 and Cusco’s phone code is 084. If you bring your mobile,

make sure that you have an international Sim Card. You can also rent a phone for local use for

about $ 3,50 USD per month.

Electricity Electricity in Peru is 220 Volts. If you travel to Peru with a device that does not accept 220 Volts

at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. In general: devices from Europe don’t need a

converter, but you do need it with devices from the U.S. or Japan. Outlets in Peru generally

accept 2 types of plug:

Flat blade plug: Two round pins:

If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter.

Laundry (lavanderia) On every street corner you will find a laundry. The price per kilo is S/. 3.00 to S/. 5.00 Nuevos

Soles.

Taxi / Public Buses (combi) You will find taxis everywhere in Cusco. A taxi costs S/. 3.00 Nuevos Soles within the city center or

other short distances. At night or for larger distances, it will cost S/.4.00 Nuevos Soles or a little

bit more. It is best to take official taxis and taxis with a sign at the top.

Public bus is the most popular way of transportation in Cusco. A bus ride costs S/.80 Nuevos Sole

Utilities at home The infrastructure in Cusco is different from other developed cities. Water is cutoff intermittently

at various times during the day. Most of the time, the water is running early morning and come

back later in the afternoon. On occasion, the water can be cut-off for longer periods of time but

with a fair warning. There is usually 24-hour electricity. But from time to time, the power can be

cut-off without warning. Therefore, plan accordingly.

Spanish Classes or Excursions

Rates are in Peru Sol or USD - these can be booked in country or

pre-departure. (Please note that the rates are subject to change

and are just an indication)

Spanish Language Group: standard course (4 hours Monday-

Friday)20 hrs / week Sol 435

Spanish Language Individual: super intensive course (6 hours

Monday-Friday)30 hrs / week Sol 881

Spanish Language Individual: standard course (4 hours Monday-

Friday)20 hrs / week Sol 593

Spanish Language Individual half course or survival Spanish (2

hours Monday-Friday)10 hrs / week Sol 311

Spanish Language Individual: Medical course Spanish (3 hours

Monday-Friday)15 hrs / week Sol 537

Lake Titicaca: By bus, full weekend. Includes entrance, boat trip on

the Lake and 1 night on an island. Sol 310

Sacred Valley Tour: 1 day tour to Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo,

Chinchero. Includes transport, guide & lunch. Doesn’t include

tourist ticket (approx $ 45, $ 25 for students with ISIC). Sol 89

Rainbow Mountain 1 day: Includes transport and guide, 1 breakfast

+ 1 lunch. Sol 100

Machu Picchu by train 2 days, 1 night. Includes entrance to Machu

Picchu. USD $ 335

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: Classic 4 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu.

USD$ 480

Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu 5 day Salkantay trekking to Machu

Picchu. USD $ 290

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Have an awesome time!

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