The Real Peru

The Real Perú

A Trip for Alumni, Families, and Friends of New Mexico Tech

May 25 through June 3, 2008

Right: Our fearless leader, Dr. William X. Chávez, Jr.

Trip leader Bill Chavez, Jr., a New Mexico Tech grad of ’76 and ’77, is a professor of mineral engineering at New Mexico Tech. He frequently travels to Peru and Chile for research and consulting, and supervising student work there. He also frequently leads executive trips to the area. A fluent Spanish speaker, he is personally familiar with all points on our intinerary.

Price is $1,800 per person based on double occupancy, plus airfare from the departure city of your choice. Booking is through Paradise Travel. Based in Albuquerque and Socorro, Paradise Travel is owned and operated by New Mexico Tech alumnus Jeff Armijo of the Class of 2000, and family.

Logistical Items – Please read and review the following for your information

1. Safety and Security Notes

Visa and passport items: U.S. and Canadian citizens require only a Tourist visa, available on the airplane prior to landing. Be sure to fill in the upper and lower parts prior to passing through Immigration, and retain the lower part for your departure.

You will also receive a Customs declaration Form – fill this in prior to landing, and hand over to the person at the check out gate when leaving the Baggage Claim area.

You will need a passport that has about 3-6 months worth of time prior to its expiration date – this is for U.S. Customs purposes, so make sure that your passport is up-to-date and has at least 3-6 months remaining before expiration. Current passport renewal times are about 4-8 weeks, so plan in advance for this renewal, if necessary.

Please also bring with you the names of TWO people to contact in case of emergency, as well as a reliable (24/7) medical contact.

Vaccinations: Please consult your doctor regarding what you might need for Perú. You may also wish to bring along a personal medical supply, with travel-size items for headaches, indigestion, sunburn, and the like.

Be sure to bring along any prescription medications, as well as any prescriptions that you may require during the trip. There are many farmacias in Perú, but it is better to spend our time visiting sites than looking for a prescription!

Arrival in Lima and throughout Perú: For the security of your personal possessions, be sure to keep all of your luggage and personal belongings in-sight and securely locked, zippered, and latched. When traveling in a taxi, have your luggage in the trunk, and your backpacks on the floor of the vehicle, between your legs.

Do not flash money, and keep your wallet and passport in a secure place on your person at all times. You may wish to leave a photocopy of the photo page of your passport with someone at home/office in case a copy is needed.

Money Exchange: There are numerous places to change money in Lima and in Perú in general. The exchange rates are usually very similar, so the best place to do initial money exchange is at the airport – there are two kiosks in the Baggage Claim area of the Lima airport, and they offer the usual exchange rates. There are also money changers on Calle Larco (Larco Street), near the Hotel Ariosto, with good exchange rates.

Changing money at a hotel is possible, but usually with poorer exchange rates and with only limited amounts of money (tens of dollars is usually the greatest amount they will exchange).

Drinking Water: It is best to drink bottled water throughout our visit to Perú; water from tap faucets is usually okay for brushing teeth, and is fine for washing/showers, but bottled water is safest for drinking. Water served at most restaurants is served in the bottle.

Food and meals: Peruvian food is excellent, and is usually quite safe to eat. One does need to be careful at roadside stands and casual eating places; however, most restaurants and hotels have good sanitation, and offer food that is safe to consume.
Buying groceries is easy, but all fruits and vegetables should be washed in bottled water prior to consumption. Packaged foods (nuts, grains, cereal bars, etc.) are generally safe to eat.

2. Spanish Language and Touring

Translation and Tour Book: Although many people in the hotels and tour sites speak at least some English, Spanish translation will be provided while we are in a group. Individuals may wish to invest in a tour book (e.g., Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, etc.), as these have small sections with key phrases and mini-dictionaries. These books also serve as excellent sources of reading material during the trip, with historical and cultural notes.

3. Elevation Issues

Altitude: We will be at elevations around 10,000 feet above sea level for several days; if one suffers from “altitude sickness”, it usually happens within the first few hours or so. If anyone feels/suffers from a headache, nausea, dizziness, or light-headedness, they should report such IMMEDIATELY to trip leaders.

Please note that taking aspirin or other analgesics does not help with altitude sickness issues. There are some over-the-counter medications which help prevent or attenuate the effects of altitude sickness.

To help avoid altitude issues, it is recommended that one drink plenty of water prior to and during trips to elevation; one should also avoid dehydration, so limiting alcohol consumption is also recommended. Limiting solid food intake helps also by putting less pressure on the digestive tract. Finally, getting plenty of rest is beneficial, and usually helps with some of the lightheaded and headache issues.

Booking is through Paradise Travel.