No visa is necessary for countries of Western Europe, Asia, North or South America or citizens of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. Travellers from India do need visas. Tourist cards are obtained on flights arriving in Peru or at border crossings. The tourist card allows you up to a maximum of 90 days in Peru. The form is in duplicate and you give up the original on arrival and the copy on departure. This means you need to keep the copy as you will need to give it to the officials when you leave. A new tourist card is issued on re-entry to Peru but extensions are obtained with your current tourist card so you just take it and your passport to immigration when asking for extensions. Tourist visas for citizens of countries not listed above cost US$13.70 or equivalent, for which you require a valid passport, a departure ticket from Peru, two colour passport photos, one application form and proof of economic solvency. All foreigners should be able to produce on demand some recognizable means of identification, preferably a passport.

The Nuevo Sol (New Sol, S/.) is the official currency of Peru. It is divided in 100 céntimos (cents) with coins valued at S/.5, S/.2, S/.1 and 50, 20, 10 and 5 céntimo pieces, although the latter is being phased out as it is virtually worthless. Notes in circulation are S/.200, S/.100, S/.50, S/.20 and S/.10. It is difficult to get change in shops and museums and sometimes impossible from street vendors or cab drivers. Prices of airline tickets, tour agency services, non-backpacker hotels and hostels, among others, are almost always quoted in dollars. You can pay in soles or dollars but it is generally easiest to pay dollars when the price is in dollars, and in soles when the price is in soles.

Visa (by far the most widely-accepted card in Peru), MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club are all valid. There is often an 8-12% commission for all credit card transactions. Often, it is cheaper to use your credit card to get money (dollars or soles) out of an ATM rather than to pay for your purchases. Of course, this depends on your interest rate for cash advances on your credit cards - ask your bank or card provider about this. Another option is to put extra money on your credit cards and use them as a bank card. Credit cards are not commonly accepted in smaller towns so go prepared with cash.

The US dollar is the only currency which should be brought from abroad (take some small bills). Other currencies carry high commission fees. There are no restrictions on foreign exchange. Some banks charge commission, from 1-3%, some don't, and practice seems to vary from branch to branch, month to month. Changing dollars at a bank always gives a lower rate than with cambistas (street changers) or casas de cambio (exchange houses). Always count your money in the presence of the cashier. For changing small amounts of dollars, the less discreet street changers give the best rates, but you should take care: check your soles before handing over your dollars, check their calculators, etc, and don't change money in crowded areas. American Express will sell travellers' cheques to cardholders only, but will not exchange cheques into cash. Most of the main banks accept American Express travellers' cheques. Travellers have reported great difficulty in cashing travellers' cheques in the jungle and other remote areas.

In most of Peru, living costs in the provinces are from 20% to 50% below those in Lima, but Cusco is a little more expensive than other, less touristy provincial cities. For a lot of low income Peruvians, many items are simply beyond their reach. In 2001, the approximate budget was US$30-35 per person a day for living comfortably, including transport, or about US$15 a day for low-budget travel.

For anyone travelling overseas health is a key consideration. With the following advice and sensible precautions the visitor to Peru should remain as healthy as at home. Most visitors return home having experienced no problems at all apart from some travellers' diarrhoea. There are English (or other foreign language) speaking doctors in Cusco and Lima who have particular experience in dealing with locally-occurring diseases, but don't expect good facilities away from the major centres. Your Embassy representative will often be able to give you the name of local reputable doctors and most of the better hotels have a doctor on standby. If you do fall ill and cannot find a recommended doctor, try the Outpatient Department of a hospital - private hospitals are usually less crowded and offer a more acceptable standard of care to foreigners.Before travelling take out medical insurance. Make sure it covers all eventualities especially evacuation to your home country by a medically equipped plane, if necessary. Check the current practice in countries you are visiting for malaria prophylaxis (prevention).There is very little control on the sale of drugs and medicines in Peru. You can buy any and every drug in pharmacies without a prescription. Be wary of this because pharmacists can be poorly trained and might sell you drugs that are unsuitable, dangerous or old. Always consult your doctor before travelling.

Smallpox vaccination is no longer required anywhere in the world. Neither is cholera vaccination recognized as necessary for international travel by the World Health Organization - it is not very effective either. Nevertheless, some immigration officials are demanding proof of vaccination following the outbreak of the disease which originated in Peru in 1990-91 and subsequently affected most surrounding countries.

The following vaccinations are also recommended: Yellow Fever; Typhoid A; Poliomyelitis; Tetanus; Hepatitis B; Infectious Hepatitis. Other vaccinations may be considered in the case of epidemics, eg meningitis. There is an effective vaccination against rabies that should be considered by all travellers, especially those going through remote areas or if there is a particular occupational risk.