Tourist Protection Service
The Tourist Protection Service (SPT) has been created to protect your consumer rights by helping you to solve any problem that may arise regarding the tourist services you contract in Peru. The SPT intercedes on behalf of tourist to obtain immediate attention from the individual or company that fails to provide optimal and timely service, or does not comply with contractual terms or advertised conditions.

How to reach the SPT?
By telephone or fax the 24 hour Hot Line: +511 421-1227.

Lima 421-1227
Arequipa: (054) 444564
(054) 221228
Cusco: (084) 237364
(084) 234498
Ayacucho: (066) 818305
Trujillo: (044) 294561
Iquitos: (065) 260251
Puno: (051) 365088

When calling from a Peruvian city other than Lima, dial 01 first or call toll free: 0800-4-2579 (Not available by pay phone). When calling kindly give the operator your full name, explain your problem briefly, and identify the individual or company involved. This is not a recorded message service.

For further assistance, there is a team of assistants that will be able to help you by phone or in person, as required. The attention will be in Spanish or English.

How can the SPT be of help to you?

• When there is a contractual non fulfilment, bad service or inexact information on the part of a supplier of tourist services (example: airlines, tracel agencies , lodging establishments, restaurants, etc.)
• When you require a consultation in the cases of loss or theft of documents or values.
• If you consider that they have charged you a different rate (superior) for being a foreigner.
• In emergency situations.
• In situations of irregularities with police agents, customs officers or migrations.
• When it requires orientation on the procedures with customs officers or migrations.
• If you require to go to sources of tourist information.

The SPT will not:

• Provide tourist information on rates or schedules.
• Handle reservations.
• Recommended specific travel agencies, accommodation, restaurants or transportation services.

National Institute for Defense of Free Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) E Mail: tour@indecopi.gob.pe

Office in Lima: La Prosa 138, San Borja. Phone: +511 224-7888 P.O. Box 1596 – Lima 1

Useful items to include in packing list:

• Medium weight jacket for cool evenings (all year, higher elevations)
• Lightweight plastic raincoat / umbrella
• Small flashlight (jungle excursions)
• Mosquito repellent (jungle excursions/Machu Picchu)
• Sneakers or hiking boots (jungle walks/Machu Picchu)
• Extra pair of sneakers (jungle excursions – these may get wet)
• Suntan lotion, sunscreen, wide brimmed hat and sunglasses (Machu Picchu, jungle excursions)
• Warm jacket and heavy socks (Excursions to Puno)
• Binoculars, camera, batteries and plenty of film
• Windbreaker or sweatshirt style jacket (Machu Picchu)
• Small backpack (Machu Picchu, jungle excursions)

Luggage:
You will want a small bag for excursions to Machu Picchu and the Amazon. Bring a duffle bag to pack for the Amazon, your main suitcase will stay in the city office of the jungle lodge. There is no room for all the luggages on the jungle boats. We suggest one of the fold-up, expandable types — can be carried in a larger suitcase, it is perfect for overnight and handy to carry souvenirs when you pack to return home.

Climate:
Arid Coastal Areas: (Most important tourists centers – Lima, Trujillo, Ica, Nazca, Paracas) In general the climate is temperate to warm throughout the year with very little rainfall. The highest temperatures in this area are around 85 F and lowest around 50 F. June through October are the coolest months in Lima with the weather being somewhat humid and foggy.
Sierra or high elevation valleys: (Tourist centers – Cusco, Puno, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Huancayo, Huaraz). Most days are mild and sunny (79 F highest temperature) with cool to cold nights (32 F coldest temperature). There is a dry season from May through November and rainy season from December through April. Machu Picchu is the warmest of the tourist centers mentioned above with the highs averaging 75 F and the lows averaging 55 F while Puno is the coldest (66 F/32 F). Puno often receives light snow during the rainy season.
Jungle (Tourist centers – Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos) The climate is hot and humid (100 F/70 F) with frequent rains year round.

Clothing:
Dress informal for destinations outside Lima. For most destinations you will want to dress in layers for climatic changes. The cosmopolitan city of Lima calls for a bit dressier clothing: Sport outfits for day wear, dresses and jackets for dinner in fine restaurants.

Souvenirs And Such, Photographs:
Souvenirs And Such The best buys in Peru are silver and gold jewelry as well as a wide variety of handicrafts such as hand-woven shawls, llama and alpaca furs, sweaters, rugs and blankets, wall hangings, ceramics, woodwork, straw and leather items. Hint: That extra expandable suitcase really comes in handy when it is time to return to the U.S. with all your bargain purchases.

Photographs:
It is customary in many Indian populated areas to give a small tip to the subject of your photographs. These tips can be monetary or souvenir type items such as a ball point pen. In addition, items such as cosmetics, pens, T shirts and pocket calculators often can be traded in the Indian markets for native handicrafts.

Tips And Taxes:
As in most countries, taxes are unavoidable and tips are given on the basis of the quality of service rendered. The amounts suggested for tips in this section are a guideline for appropriate tips for average to good service. Note: It is helpful to carry a small quantity of US $1 bills for tips and easy change.

Hotels:
A percentage service charge will be added to all room service bills. This percentage varies from location to location but will be stated on the actual bill. Bellboys and maids are generally tipped for their services on the average of $1.00 per bag portage and $ 1.00 per room per night of accommodation as a room tip for the maid.

Restaurants:
As a general rule there is a percentage sales tax and a percentage gratuity added to all restaurant bills. These taxes and gratuities vary from location to location, but the percentages being charged are always printed on the bill. It is customary to leave an additional tip so that the total percentage of gratuity comes to 15 – 20% for good to excellent service.

Tour guides and drivers:
On group tours, the average tip for a tour guide traveling with the group is $7.00 to $12.00 per day of travel. When the guide is not traveling with you the suggested tip is $3.00 to $5.00 per person for full day tours and $1.00 to $2.00 per person for half day tours. The driver’s tip is usually half of what is given to the guide. For private car tours, guides generally receive $5.00 to $7.00 per full day and $3.00 per half day.

Airport departure taxes:
On international departures there is an exit tax of $28.00. Within Peru, passengers must pay about $5.00 airport security tax for each domestic flight.

Taxis:
All taxis should have a red and white “Taxi” sign in the windshield. There are no meters so settle on a price prior to entering the car. Taxis at many hotels and at the airport have higher, set rates than those you may hail on the streets, they are better and much more reliable. Taxi cab drivers do not expect a tip.