Facts on Peru
Population: 2.8 Million
Official Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara Guarani
Currency: Neuvo Sol (S)
Dialling code: +51 |
Capital City: Lima
Electricity: 220v
Time Zone: -5GMT (no daylight savings) |
Climate
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Cusco |
J |
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M |
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J |
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Ave Max Cº |
18 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
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Ave Min Cº |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
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Rainy days |
16 |
12 |
10 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
14 |
Winter: June to September
This is the driest season and the best time to travel
Summer : November to March
This is the wettest season is Peru and will have frequent heavy showers. The temperatures are high but the nights can get very cold.
Spring: April to May
Autumn: October
These months are the most unpredictable seasons and can go from nice weather to showers in the same day. However this time of year is good to travel in as it is not as busy as the more popular winter months.
Climate along the coast:
The coastal landscape is barren and dry due to the cold Humboldt currently in the Pacific ocean and the Andes mountain range. From May to September Lima has a dense fog which is called ‘La Garua’ which is a thick layer of low hanging clouds paired with low temperatures and drizzle. The further away from Lima you travel along the coast the sun gradually begins to break through the mist. In the summer months the ocean is a great place for swimming with warm waters and sunny days.
Climate in the Andes:
The Andes highlands have two seasons, wet and dry. April to November it rarely rains and you will have days of sunshine and you will have a great view of the mountain peaks with a clear blue sky in the background. Mid November to March is quite the opposite with heavy showers and temperatures can drop very quickly when the sun disappears behind the cloud’s and especially at night time. The best time for trekking in the Andes is between April to November.
Climate in the Jungle:
The Peruvian rainforest has a sub-tropical climate from November to April and it rains most of the time. Nights are generally cool. However during the dry season temperatures can reach over 35C and is humid.
Visa
Australian passport holders do not require a tourist visa to enter Peru. You will however need to hold a valid Australian passport with a minimum of 6months validity when returning back to Australia, a return ticket and staying no longer that 183days in Peru. If you are travelling over to Peru for business you need to contact the Peruvian embassy in Sydney to obtain a visa. For all other nationalities you will need to check with the Peruvian embassy.
If you are flying to the USA before or after your South American journey you will need to complete a Visa waiver form prior to departing Australia so you can enter the USA. The form will take up to 15minutes to complete and needs to be approved by the consulate otherwise you can be denied entry into the US.
Local Currency
The local currency is Peru is the Peruvian Nueva Sol (PEN). The exchange rate is usually between S3.00-S5.50PEN per US dollar, but it’s a good idea to check the exchanger rates a few weeks prior to your departure. Try and take over US currency instead of Australian dollars as the US currency is widely accepted, try and take small denomination notes ($10-$20)
When receiving local currency, ask for small denominations, in smaller tows its hard to change large denominations for small purchases. The best places to exchange currency is the ‘Casas de Cambio’ (foreign exchange bureaus) which generally gives better exchange rates than the banks and are open longer hours. Don’t change money on the streets as counterfeits are a problem.
The Nueva Sol bills come in S10, S20, S50, S100 and is divided into 100centimos with copper coloured coins of S0.05, S0.10 and S0.20 and silver coloured S0.50 and S1coints. There are also S2 and S5 coins with copper colour centre inside a silver colour ring.
Safety in Peru
Peru is considered a safe country however it is becoming a popular travel destination and is still a developing country and many parts of the country have high unemployment rates. If you are travelling by land expect delays as there are always road blocks. For the most up to date information on Peru safety visit Smart Traveller.
Facts on Bolivia
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Population: 9.2 Million
Official languages: Spanish, Quechua, Ayamara Guarani
Currency: Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Dialling code: +591
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Capital: Sucre
Electricity: 220v & 110v
Time Zone: -4 GMT |
Climate:
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La Paz |
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J |
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Ave Max Cº |
14 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
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Ave Min Cº |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
-2 |
-3 |
-4 |
-2 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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Rainy days |
14 |
11 |
12 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Bolivia is a very diverse places when it comes to its weather, areas can range from being incredibly humid to artic cold. Bolivia lies near the equator but its elevation and unprotected areas result in unpredictable weather.
Bolivia has two cites which define the climate extremes; Puerto Suarez for its overwhelming heat and Uyuni for its ice cold winds. However because Bolivia’s unpredictable weather these two cites can be reversed.
Summer: November to April
Summer is the rainy season when overland transportation tends to become difficult and sometimes impossible in some areas. Summer (rainy season) in the lowlands can be utterly miserable, with mud, high humidity, biting insects and relentless tropical downpours. However, washed-out roads necessitate an increase in river transportation, making this the best time to hop on a cargo boat.
Winter: May to October
Winter is the best time to travel to Bolivia with its comfortable days to explore the whole country having dry clear days throughout the season. Winter in the Altiplano means extreme heat during the day, and freezing winds and subzero temperatures at night. The highland valleys are refuges, having a comfortable climate with little rain year round.
Tourist months
August is the most popular month of the high tourist season and then runs from late June to early September. High season sees the most reliable weather. It’s when most of Bolivia’s major festivals take place, so many Bolivians and South Americans also travel at this time. This can be an advantage if you are looking for people to form a travel group, but prices are generally higher than during the rest of the year.
Visa
Australian passport holders do not require a tourist visa to enter Bolivia. You will however need to hold a valid Australian passport with a minimum of 6months validity when returning back to Australia, a return ticket and staying no longer that 30days in Bolivia. If you are travelling over to Bolivia for business you need to contact the Bolivian embassy in Canberra to obtain a visa. For all other nationalities you will need to check with the Bolivian embassy.
If you are flying to the USA before or after your South American journey you will need to complete a Visa waiver form prior to departing Australia so you can enter the USA. The form will take up to 15minutes to complete and needs to be approved by the consulate otherwise you can be denied entry into the US.
Local Currency
The local currency is Bolivia is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB. ) The boliviano, also named BOB, is the official currency used in Bolivia. The currency is divided into 100 subunits, named centavos. In circulation are coins of denominations 1, 2, and 5 bolivianos, and banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 bolivianos
You will need to take over US currency instead of Australian dollars as the US currency is widely accepted, try and take small denomination notes ($10-$20)
When receiving local currency, ask for small denominations, in smaller towns its hard to change large denominations for small purchases. The best places to exchange currency is foreign exchange bureaus which generally gives better exchange rates than the banks and are open longer hours. Don’t change money on the streets as counterfeits are a problem.
Safety in Bolivia
Bolivia used to be one of the safest countries to visit however this country is incredibly poor and the increase in tourism has led to the increase in crime. During the day don’t carry to much cash on you and don’t walk alone at night.
Pick pocketing and theft are common in the larger cities especially around the bus terminals, train stations and major tourist areas, however the crime rate in Bolivia is still very low compared to other countries in South America.
For the most up to date information on Bolivia safety visit Smart Traveller.
Facts on Chile
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Population: 5.6Million
Official Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani
Currency: Chilean Peso (CLP)
Country phone code: +56
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Capital city: Santiago
Electricity: 22ov
Time Zone: -4GMT (-3daylight savings)
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Climate:
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Santiago |
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Ave Max Cº |
30 |
29 |
27 |
23 |
17 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
19 |
22 |
25 |
28 |
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Ave Min Cº |
12 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
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11 |
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Rainy days |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
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1 |
The high season in Chile is from December through to March. Because Chile is such a long country the climate can vary from each destination.
The Torres del Paine and Lakes district is best visited in summer (December to March). During winter time it is hard if not impossible to get around. During Autumn and Spring this is also nice weather to get around and not as busy as the summer months.
If you are keen on skiing then the best time to travel down the south of Chile is July through to late September where there are some amazing ski fiends.
The Atacama Desert can be explored all year, but summer days sizzle and nights are very cold at higher altitudes throughout the year. In the northern part, summer is the rainy season, which usually means an afternoon downpour.
Easter Island is cooler and quieter outside summer; March is an ideal time to visit.
Visa:
Australian passport holders do not require a tourist visa to enter Chile. You will however need to hold a valid Australian passport with a minimum of 6months validity when returning back to Australia, a return ticket and staying no longer that 90days in Chile.
For all other passport holders you will need to contact the Chilean embassy to check if you are required to have a Chilean visa or not.
If you are flying to the USA before or after your South American journey you will need to complete a Visa waiver form prior to departing Australia so you can enter the USA. The form will take up to 15minutes to complete and needs to be approved by the consulate otherwise you can be denied entry into the US
Local Currency
The local currency in Chile is the Chilean Peso (CLP; symbol CH$) = 100 centavos. The local symbol is $. Notes are in denominations of CH$20,000, 10,000, 5,00, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of CH$500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 although the $1 is no longer in circulation.
When receiving local currency, ask for small denominations, in smaller towns it’s hard to change large denominations for small purchases. The best places to exchange currency are the foreign exchange bureaus which generally give better exchange rates than the banks and are open longer hours. Don’t change money on the streets as counterfeits are a problem.
Safety in Chile
Chile is considered a safe country however it is becoming a popular travel destination so it always best to be wary of different situations and use common sense. If you are travelling by land expect delays as there are always road blocks. For the most up to date information on Chile safety visit Smart Traveller.