General information
Official language of the Congress
The official languages of the congress are English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Official language of the city
The official language of the City of Lima is Spanish.
Weather and clothing
The weather is mild, with practically no rainfall in the winter, and no excessive heat in the summer, which allows tourism any time the year round. The average temperature in the Capital city is always mild and pleasant, with an average temperature of 25 degrees centigrade in the summer, and 12 to 16 degrees centigrade in the winter.
The Congress will be held in our mild Winter; therefore, light clothing is recommended for the day time; and a little warmer clothes for the evenings. It is also advisable to bring comfortable shoes, so you can visit all that this beautiful city can offer you.
Requirements for Passport and visa
A VISA is not generally required to enter Peru; it is only necessary to have a valid passport. Moreover, only the official identification card is required for the group of Andean Countries. Any way, you can find out whether or not you need a VISA, by visiting the following page:
People of those countries not included on this list, must get a Tourist Visa at the Peruvian Consulate in their country of origin.http://www.rree.gob.pe/portal/misrree.nsf/B4EA6179F4DD8AA705256E190072AD04
Anyway, when travelling to Peru, if you had to stop at any of the VISA countries (either tourist visa or transit visa), the Secretary of the Organization Committee may send you invitation letters toward this purpose, once you have registered at the Congress.Currency
The Monetary unit in Peru is the Nuevo Sol (PEN); however a great percentage of commercial transactions is done in American Dollars. There are Money-exchange offices in the main cities of Peru, as well as money-exchange street vendors. The main currencies are the American dollar and the Euro, with which there will be no difficulty exchanging money. In a great proportion of the businesses in Lima, it is possible to pay with credit cards. In order to exchange foreign currency to Nuevo Sol, you may use the following link: http://www.xe.com/ucc/es/
Trade
You will find business firms and supermarkets in Lima open from 8.30 AM from Monday to Saturday. The closing time varies, but since it is a night.life city you may find businesses open until late hours at night or early morning- On Sundays, businesses usually open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and there are supermarkets which are open overnight (i.e. Metro in Miraflores). However, you will also find a number or shows, restaurants, bars, movie theatres open until 12:00 a.m.
Location
Peru is located at the central part of Latin America, with a surface of 1, 285, 215.60 square kilometres; it limits with Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. Lima is located on the central coast of the country, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is a huge and populated urban area known as Lima Metropolitan, which is divided into 43 districts.
The District of Miraflores is where the Congress will take place. It is a safe, picturesque district, with great commercial, cultural, sports, tourist activity, where most tourists choose to stay.
Access
Lima is connected by air with the rest of the world. There are direct flights from all the countries of Latin America and some of Europe. When coming from other continents, it is necessary to stop at airports in the United State, Spain or Italy. We count on “Jorge Chávez Airport, which is modern, safe, with high standards of quality and fulfilment; and it has been qualified as one of the leading airports in this region. The airport counts on a technical, professional team, seriously committed to efficiency and excellence, not only satisfying but also exceeding the expectations of its users. Further information can be found at:
In the same manner domestic flights to other parts of the country can be found at Jorge Chavez Airport. You can visit Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo, Ayacucho, Iquitos, Madre de Dios, etc. with flight trips that take between 50 minutes and one hour.
The airport counts on an efficient, safe taxi service at the section of international flights which will take you quickly and safely to your hotel. Besides, there are rent-a-car offices of the most prestigious companies (Budget, Hertz and Dollar)
Also, practically all the limiting countries and the other countries of South America can have access to Lima, by land, by means of exclusive buses which have high quality standards.
Internal Transportation and Means of Communication
The capital counts on excellent private taxi companies, which supply the public with personalized, professional service at a very low cost. Besides, public transportation can be used, to connect with most parts of the city.
Through Peru A Travel, the official travel agency of the Congress, you can have information about guided tours inside and outside of the city. You can get in touch with them at this link:
Besides, you can visit the following web pages in order to know more about our country and so be able to choose the places that you would like to visit during your stay in Peru:www.turismoperu.infowww.guiadeturismolimaperu.com
Lima counts on an improved telephone net. That is why you may easily find access to internet in all the hotels, besides a great number of internet service businesses in many sections of the city, such as the Miraflores central park, very near to the place where the congress will be held. Besides, cell telephones can be bought at the airport at your arrival, so you can use them during your stay in the country. Most hotels offer cable television to their guests.Lima
Lima, capital of Peru, is a big, modern, cosmopolitan city, with 8.5 million inhabitants. It is located at the shore of the Pacific Ocean. UNESCO has considered this city a Cultural Patrimony of Humankind since 1991, as it has a cultural richness of infinite contrasts, from its archaeological patrimony to the present most modern architectural and urban projects, which has converted her into the bride of the American Continent.
Visiting her is meeting her history, her past, her dreams, her poets, her singers, her thinkers and her people, which makes her unique and incomparable. One can find in Lima all the faces and tastes of Peru, which is a multicultural country. Lima is the capital city, the so called “The City of Kings”, “The Pearl of the Pacific Ocean”. It is the gate to Peru, and an excellent place where one can initiate the adventure of knowing this beautiful country. With a rich inheritance received from the Pre-Inca Civilizations, the Inca Culture, the Colonial times and the Republican period, Lima is a place to meet tastes and traditions that fill its people with pride.
You will have the chance to see the beauty of its Historical City Centre, to visit its colourful districts, its amazing museums containing the Pre-Inca and Inca heritage, to admire the beauty of its Cathedrals and churches, rejoice with its palaces, plazas and balconies. Due to the meaning of its cultural blending, and cultural heritage, Lima is one of those magic places in Latin America and one of the most attractive tourist destinations.
On a visit to the city, hidden among modern buildings, amazing and well-kept Inca Huacas (remains of Inca cemeteries and temples) can be visited, as well as the most ancient city of the American Continent called Caral (approximately 5,000 thousand years old.
You can enjoy its beaches, its landscapes, its historical monuments, its incomparable charm, its religious spirit, as well as taste its extraordinary cuisine, famous around the world. All this is put to the service of modern society in the person of all kinds of people. And if you are interested in sports and adventure, you can find them easily in Lima, at a very short distance.
