TRAVEL FACTS FOR PERU FOR TRAVELERS

Air: Lima's international airport, Jorge Chavez, is the main airport for flights to and from Lima both international and domestic. There is a departure tax of approximately US$25 on international flights and $4 on domestic. LAN Peru, Aero Continente, TANS, and Aerocondor are the main domestic carriers, with flights to most destinations in Peru. There's an 18% tax on domestic flights, but you can avoid most of this if you buy tickets abroad.

Buses: Buses are the usual mode of transport over long distances. They are cheap, frequent and relatively comfortable. Always carry your passport because you will need to show it to local police from time to time. Local buses are slow, cheap and crowded; when you want to get off don't look for a bus stop just yell out (before you jump make sure the bus is stopped).

Taxis:Taxi fares need to be bargained, get an estimate before you ride, the cabs are not metered.

Rail: The Central Railroad, the world's highest railroad, goes from Lima to La Oroya, where it branches north and south. The northbound line goes to Cerro de Pasco and the southbound to Huancayo. The Southern Railroad also runs between Arequipa to Lake Titicaca and Cuzco. Services are cheap, fairly comfortable, but not particularly safe. Fall asleep in the second-class part of a night train and you could be robbed.

Shopping: There are a lot of handicraft markets in Peru and bargaining is expected and almost an art. Here is where you will find some really incredible silver jewelry and rugs of Alpaca, not to mention sweaters, pottery and copper items. There is even gold, undoubtedly overlooked by Pizarro.

Peru like many countries these days has its share of pickpockets and thieves. Common sense needs to be your guide. Be alert for pickpockets and common thieves. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by the action around you. Many will stage a fight or accident, for so they can make their move when you're focused on something else like your money. Don't carry lots of cash, don't travel alone, don't wear flashy jewelry, don't leave valuables in plain sight and don't travel off the beaten track unless you know it's a safe area. For daily purchases, have some small denomination bills handy in a wallet carried in an inside Pocket so you don't have to flash a lot of money when searching for them. Do keep your eye on your baggage. Don't go out alone if you're a woman. Unescorted women are seen as available and become targets of unwanted attention and actions. The best defense is to ignore all advances or comments.

Sporadic attacks by guerrilla groups have continued, despite the arrest of most of the leaders of the Shining Path, the most violent group. The Upper Huallaga Valley in the Amazon, home to drug barons and Shining Path guerrillas, is definitely off limits. All nationalities should contact their embassy on arrival for a briefing on the security situation, with particular reference to their planned itinerary.