Lima & Northern Peru

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

Just make sure it's with an SAE recognized company as there have been reports of a fake tour agency operating in Huaraz under the name, "South America Explorer". Their base of operations is the Cruz del Sur bus terminal in Huaraz. Be advised, these folks are in no way affiliated with the SAE. In fact, members have written to tell us about some shady dealings with this group. They wear blue vests and seem organized. Be warned.

And if in doubt, just follow the happy butterflies; they always make their way home to one of our clubhouses.

NEW VISA REGULATION:
On June 25th a new regulation changed the tourist visa procedure

Before the amendment of June 2008, A tourist had a 90 days on the initial visa and then could extend it three times (30 days each)

After the amendment of June 2008, no more extension are possible but you can have 183 days at the entrance. Consequently, if you want to stay as tourist long term, ask at the border for the maximum duration the can give to you. You may be conceded a visa of up to 183 days, at the discretion of the border official, but remember, you will not be able to ask for an extension once you are in Peru.

Note that in the event you exceed the time allowed to stay in Peru as a tourist, you will have to pay a fine of US$ 1 per day when leaving the country. So far no limit is known about how big can be the fine...

If you're planning a trip to Peru, don't rush – there is plenty to see! While, traditionally, tourism has tended to focus on what we’ve loosely called Southern Peru, with Machu Picchu being the best example, the rest of Peru continues to offer up glorious opportunities, cultural, geographical and zoological. You could spend a lifetime discovering the jungle cities of Iquitos and Pucallpa, the mysterious figures of the Nasca Lines, the fabled treasures of the lords of Sipan, or the lost cities of the Chachapoya, the Huancayol Railroad (the highest standard gauge railroad in the world and crosses the Andes at 15,600 feet), sandboarding at the desert oasis of Huacachina, trekking in the Central Andes, kite-surfing and much more. Below is just a snapshot of some of Northern Peru's many and varied highlights.

The City of Lima

'Lima, the Lima of today, is bizarre like very few cities on the planet, and it is this which provides its greatest interest', RAFO LEÓN, Peruvian broadcaster and journalist, 2006

Notwithstanding, Lima was once considered the City of Kings. It began as a large commercial port city where goods were imported from Spain and China and Spaniards and Criollos alike saw their wealth grow tremendously. After a devastating earthquake which practically destroyed the city in 1746, Lima never regained the luxury and illustriousness it once knew. Nevertheless it is a city which never stops growing and has many exciting things to offer. It also holds a third of the population, all the commercial and governmental offices of any import and has an overwhelmingly dominant position in the country - to understand Peru, you have to have some understanding of Lima.

While the Plaza de Armas used to be considered the hub of the city, more recently it has begun to be replaced by the areas of Miraflores and San Isidro, which have quickly developed into more commercial centers. Within the past year the city of Lima has been making attempts at restoring the former center of the city, however. Some of the famous balconies have been preserved, the center is being lit up at night for safer wandering and the Parque de la Muralla has been opened to showcase the wall that once surrounded Lima.

Lima has arguably the best museums in the country, as well as a wealth of historical buildings. The surrounding areas include the ruins of Pachacámac; the wildlife sanctuary of Pántanos de Villa where birds from all over the world come to rest; beautiful beaches; and more. You can find out more information on what to do in and around Lima by stopping by the clubhouse. We can also put you in touch with local groups that do weekend excursions from Lima to the hidden gems within striking distance of the capital, such as the oldest city in the Americas, Caral.

Huaráz

The area in and around Huaráz is an ever more popular place with outdoor enthusiasts. There is world class climbing and trekking in the Cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash, and while the statistics are impressive they still cannot conjure the reality: the Parque Nacional de Huascaran, a World Heritage Site, covers an area of 1300 square miles and contains 60 mountains above 5,640m, 296 lakes, and 663 glaciers, along with a great diversity of wildlife - pumas, deer, Andean cats, and three endangered species, the spectacled bear, the Andean deer, and the Andean condor. Meanwhile the Huayhash circuit, a 165-km loop is simply considered one of the most spectacular mountain treks anywhere in the world.

Pacific Coast

Peru has 2,414km of coastline.

The Northern beaches, in the provinces of Piura and Tumbes, are extremely popular with sun-worshippers and watersports enthusiasts alike. The best-known of these beaches, Mancora, boasts the largest left hand point-break in the world, and is thus a mecca for surfers, but there is excellent surfing along the entire coast - including off Lima.

Other areas are famous for their wildlife: the Islas Ballestas are known as the 'little Galapagos' and are famous for their colonies of sea-lions and sea birds. It is here that 'guano' (phosphorous-rich bird droppings) is still collected for use as fertilizer.

Trapped between the Pacific and the Andes is a thin strip of desert which is remarkably abundant in pre-Colombian cultural interest. As well as the well-known, but still fascinating, Nazca Lines, to the south of Lima, there are archaeological sites all the way up to the border with Ecuador. Notable among these is the adobe city of Chan Chan, near Trujillo and the Tombs of the Lords of Sipan in Lambayeque province. It is a reminder that there is so much more to Peruvian history than just Spaniards and Incas. In fact, Peru is probably the most exciting archaelogical region in the world at the moment, with a staggering 27,167 sites being registered just in the period 2002 - 2005.

Iquitos

This is the world's largest city without a road connection, and has the feel of an island in the jungle. From here cruises down the Amazon to the border with Brazil and Colombia can be made; it is a gateway to a plethora of jungle lodges and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve; or you can investigate the healing skills of a shaman. Not that the city itself is without its charms, for it was once rich from the exportation of rubber, and there are vestiges of that wealth still to be seen in the opulent Cathedral and architecture by Eiffel.

Amazonas

This area is considered 'high rainforest' and is only just revealing its charms, having been largely isolated from the rest of Peru - even now, there are areas that are unmapped. The must-see destination is undoubtedly the huge pre-Colombian fortress of Kuelap, but there is also the colonial charm of Cajamarca or the scenic magnificence of Catarata Gocta, to name a few.

For all these destinations and more South American Explorers can help you find the information you are looking for: when to go, how to get there, what to take, health issues, tour companies, lodging, maps and trek information. Be sure to stop by for coffee or tea (coca optional!) while you check out the Clubhouse and its many services.