But - NO - it is NOT safe for a young woman to travel there by herself. Transportation stinks unless you can afford airfare and first class bus. There are some good volunteer opportunities in Cusco, which is where you want to be, but since the area is so popular, the "volunteer" opportunities for the most part charge you for the opportunity (but generally provide room and board).. Spanish requirement varies. There are plenty of these opportunities you can find online if you look. If you can afford it, look into a Spanish-language immersion program - but perhaps look into one in Costa Rica or someplace more tame first. Geeze - do a little research. Get a little knowledge. Go to high school for God's sake!. Ruins????? There are no ruins on planet earth more awesome, more spectacular, than those in the Sacred Valley and at Machu Picchu. (Well - perhaps in Rome!) But of course, I shouldn't castigate you for being ignorant - we in the United States live in blissful ignorance of all things Latin America - for us it is as if the planet is amputated at our southern border. I really should applaud your interest and willingness to take on the challenge of going to South America - a whole new fantastic world awaits you - but please - learn a lot first and go safely! And after you have spent time in and around Cusco and the Sacred Valley, you will have to travel on your next trip to Iquitos and the Amazon! Peru is phenomenal! Of course, Costa Rica is as well - and Guatemala, although crime is a problem there as well.... Best wishes
Also: health and vaccinations (I'm a doc): If you aren't going into the Amazon, you don't have to worry about Yellow Fever and malaria. You really need to get a Hepatitis A vaccination - this is very common in the Andes and would make you really sick- this is not the Hep B vaccine required for school. Having some Imodium and some Cipro along for when you get diarrhea would be helpful also. Hygiene is awful in the Andes - clean water and soap are not used by a lot of the population, so don't eat food in the marketplace unless it is well-cooked and served right from the fire or stove. (The beef-heart kabobs are fine - right from the fire). Nothing that is handled and handed to you. Only drink bottled water or soda/beer. No ice. Hot tea or coffee is OK. Do not eat uncooked vegetables. Cusco is 11,300 feet up, so the sun is intense, and it takes a while to adjust to the altitude!
Uhmmm, Vaccinations? It really depends on what part of Peru you're planning to come to.
Peru has jungle, mountains and coast, In the city of Lima you wont need a strong inmune system like in the jungle where you could get bitten by snakes or mosquitos. Same goes for the mountains.
Visas, I don't know where you're from, but anyway a tourist visa would be ok, considering that you're not planning to work here. And I assume u wont study here either.
I'd like to know where you're from so I could give u more details, but i'll still leave u some links with information about peruvian visas:
http://www.expatperu.com/vrequirements.p...
http://www.limaeasy.com/peru-info/peruvi...
These 2 will give u the exact information.
Yes, there are many ancient ruins, starting by machu picchu and the dozens of ruins that there are in Lima, like the one in Pachacamac, which is a small city built by native south americans, and some temples called Huacas in form of pyramids built by the natives.
About hikin... I'm not an expert on this, since I really don't find this "sport" that exiting, but I'll leave u a link:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/mac...
It is not so safe for a girl if you don't speak spanish at an intermediate level, or to at least have some relatives in Peru or at least a friend who could guide u a little bit. Transportation in the city is chaotic, you tend to get frustrated, even the natives have difficulties to transport, the advisable thing for you would be to rent a car, once u arrive to Lima.
Or if you have the money, call taxis, (not from the streets but from a taxi company)
You can volunteer building houses for poor people, I know there's a program organized by the goverment, anyone can participate.
I don't think you should expect to improve ur spanish by coming here, lol, most people can't speak decent spanish, and this applies for all south america, only the high middle class people speak good spanish.
Spanish is difficult and hard to learn, the average person create wrong sentences and pronounce it wrongly.
Good luck and enjoy ur trip
Iquitos in the Northern Amazon is the gateway to the most wildlife you will ever see in your life, the deeper you go the more prevalent the animals, it's a truly magical place, I go once a year.
If you want hiking than Cuzco is every hiker's dream, you could spend all year hiking every day of the year and still barely see all of it's diversity.
No one is safe traveling by themselves , especially in a unknown area.
Do not break any laws or carry any drugs. You could end up in prison.
as in a white girl by herself without protection/tour guides. they will follow you when you go hiking and then rob you of everything especially if you have American passport. if you think you need to save money, then shut up because people make 20 soles a week, you will never be poor. so just do what other tourist have to do and pay us big dollar to protect you and take you to machu picchu. and we don't need ur volunteering, donations would be much better. if you get sick too bad just take it like every one else, it is price for being in beautiful place like Peru
I am a student so am on a budget. I am contemplating being in Peru for one or two months. Want all kinds of information!
Vaccinations?
Visas?
Are there ancient ruins there? What sort of hiking or backpacking is there? other outdoor activities? must see sights?
is it safe for a single girl to go by herself? how is transportation?
anything else you think would be helpful... i know some spanish but am not fluent. hoping to be immersed so spanish speaking skills get better. also, any volunteering positions or any info on that?
thank you in advance!!!
