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Recommendations

Before the trip - To take - About the flight and the arrival - About money and currency - About health and comfort - About security - Security in Lima - About local transportation - About the departure and after getting back

Before the trip

To take

The objective of this page is not to tell you what to bring but to see if you forgot something (is it the same thing?).

Legend: For the plane In the suitcase On you, during the stay

Cloths

Baskets or walking shoes even if you are not a walk fan. In Machu Picchu for example, it is indispensable.
Casual cloths or jogging suits.
Jacket, pullovers. Even if you travel in summer. Altitude nights are cold; on the coast for late evening boat rides for example.
Raincoat or K-way if you go to the mountain, especially during the rainy season (from December to April). However, in these places they sell "protections" for a few soles.
Bathing suit for hotel pools or the beach. For women, topless is not recommended.

Toilettes

Anti mosquito lotion. Specially in summer and for the Amazon. Think of taking a strong one because insects are very voracious.
Lotion for Sunburns
Disinfectant for little wound; sometimes the closest pharmacy is kilometers away.
Paracetamol
Imodium or equivalent. You will be certainly sick, in general only once and for two or three days.
Lotion for insect stings
An extra pair of glasses just in case.
Tissues
Band-Aids
Sun block lotion. Take a strong one (45) for the first days of exposure.
Altitude medicine (Coca 9CH or coramine glucose) if you plan to go over 3.000 meters.
Beach towel. High standing hotels lend it, others don't.

Others

Matches. Why ? An old trick for after "toilettes" in case of traveller's tummy is to throw a lighten match in to the WC; this naturalizes the odour.
Flight ticket. Important!
Vaccine report to justify the yellow fever vaccine.
Credit Card
Padlock and keys. In case of breaking it or to take more bags on the way back. Prefer Visa, but MasterCard works too.
Dictionary. Prefer this instead of electronic translators, not so practical and a little to tenting.
Suitcase labels for extra bags on the way back.
Tourist guide (or a print of this site... (?!)
Holster. It is a little hot but it's the most practical way if you carry important documents or an important amount of cash.
Lamp for rare blackouts.
Watch. A cheap one.
Passport valid at least 3 months after the arrival date.
International Drivers License if you plans to rent or borrow a car.
Rucksack very important for all day walks or for handcraft markets (in general we buy a lot).
Extra bag in he suitcase, an extra place for souvenirs.
Candy. If you wish to do a smart thing when you go to distant villages, always carry some to distribute: a personal satisfaction and 30 happy children are worth 3 soles.

Do not take (banned, or dangerous)

About the flight and the arrival

About money and currency

About health and comfort

About security

Security in Lima

Lima is a very big city, with almost 10 million inhabitants. Some places aren't very interresting, others unavoidable. In addition, some districts (distrito) are prohibited in terms of security. The map bellow summarizes that.

Security Interests
Quite calm Buildings
Quite
risky
Churches
To avoid
Museums
Dangerous
Ruins
  Squares, parks
Note: the downtown groups many interests.
 

About local transportation

About the departure and after getting back