Coronavirus: Peru Travel Advisory Updated

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Today all travelers are asking: "Is it safe and secure to visit Peru?" or "Is it possible to visit Machu Picchu?". Well, Peru is a safe destination now! The Peruvian government has taken a number of security measures against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Peruvian government issued a state of emergency and closed the borders and cities immediately when the virus appeared. President Vizcarra declared a quarantine effect from 16 March until 30 September 2020. During this time, neither Peruvians nor foreigners could move on the streets. Also, he issued an updated travel advisory allowing flights to only repatriate Peruvians and return foreigners to their home countries. During the first week of October 2020, all Peruvian borders reopen!

Promperu (a state agency in charge of the promotion of Peru) and MINCETUR (the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism) declared about the tourism problems of the country. All local tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, Tour Guides, etc. were stopped due to the pandemic. The MINCETUR overseed the implementation of health and safety protocols in Cusco and Lima. It was to reactivate tourism in the months following the quarantine.

The latest, at a glance (Updated March 15, 2021

The Peruvian Government has taken new measures to fight against COVID-19:

Travellers will be able to enter Peru by showing their molecular test (PCR). Once arrival in Peru, visitors will be able to take an antigen test. A negative result will eliminate the mandatory 14-day quarantine. The extra cost of the test shall be borne by the passenger.
The entrance of non-resident passengers travelling from United Kingdom, South Africa and/or Brazil, or who have made a stopover in such countries in the last 14 days, is suspended from March 15 to 28. Peru's land borders remain temporarily closed.
The only requirement for flights to the interior of the country (local flights) is the signature of an affidavit stating that no symptoms of COVID-19 are present.
High alert level: The movement of people schedule is from 04:00 h to 22:00 h, with vehicle restriction on Sundays in the regions of Huánuco and Piura.

Updated March 11, 2021

The Minister Claudia Cornejo (MINCETUR) announced that the COVID-19 quarantine will be suspended for travelers arriving from abroad to Peru. She indicated that now travelers must present a discard document to stay in the country. The details will be given by the Ministry of Transport and Communications this Friday.

Updated February 28, 2021

Lockdown in Lima and other extreme-risk regions has been lifted. These are the new measures to take effect between March 1-14, 2021:

Curfew will be between 21:00 and 4:00, and social immobilization will be all day Sunday.
All travelers arriving internationally to Peru must quarantine for 14 days, in addition to the negative PCR test issued no more than 72 hours before travel.
40% capacity at stores selling necessities: supermarkets, pharmacies, bodegas, etc.
Pharmacies’ delivery service can operate 24 hours.
20% capacity at malls, department stores, outdoor spaces for performing arts.
30% capacity at restaurants; Delivery services between 4am and 11pm.
40% capacity at banks and other financial institutions.
40% at salons, spas, barber shops and related businesses.
30% capacity at libraries, museums, archaeological monuments, cultural centers, galleries, zoos, botanical gardens, etc.
20% capacity at educational & cultural spaces.
50% to 100% capacity for interprovincial land transportation, regulated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC).

Machu Picchu and Inca Trail reopen in March. You can in advance the tickets and permits for your trip.

Implementation of health and safety protocols of Machu Picchu

PERU "SAFE TRAVELS" by WTTC

In a ceremony held in Machu Picchu (Cusco) on 13 October, Peru received from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) the SAFE TRAVELS seal, the world's first safety and hygiene seal in tourism!!!

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) detailed that WTTC created the “Safe Travels” seal in order to contribute to the responsible and safe reopening of tourism, once the local authorities determine that the conditions exist for it. Therefore, the entity developed a set of protocols designed under the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This seal also has the backing of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and more than 200 CEOs of the main business groups in the sector. Minister Rocío Barrios remarked that the biosecurity protocols issued by the Peruvian Executive regarding the tourism sector were evaluated by WTTC professionals and have their approval, which allows our country to have world-class health security standards in tourism. The ceremony was attended by the president of the Council of Ministers, Walter Martos, and the Japanese citizen Jesse Katayama, who became the first tourist to enter Machu Picchu after being reopened to the public in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peru is one of the most important destinations in the world and one of the first to obtain the Safe Travels seal from the WTCC.

Peru Safe Travel Machu Picchu

Coronavirus in Peru (COVID-19)

The virus keeps having a global impact. The U.S. government has established a state of emergency. This meant travel companies, leading airlines, and cruises had to cancel their routes. Italy, France, China, Iran, South Korea, and Europe were in quarantine. Some parts of Europe suffer from the 2nd wave nowadays applying local lockdowns.

In general, there is a higher risk for older travelers and those having a chronic disease. For that reason, it is recommended that these tourists reconsider traveling. If they travel, they should always follow strict hygienic rules such as washing their hands frequently, wear a mask/respirator, monitor their health and limit interactions with others for a period of 14 days after returning from a journey.

Is there COVID-19 in Peru?
Yes. The first case of COVID-19 in Peru was reported in March 2020. According to the latest reporting of the MINSA PERU, there are 1,304,502 cases in Peru, as of March 3, 2021. We continue to closely monitor this situation, and protocols continue to be set and enforced by the government.

Peru received the first vaccines from china against covid. The Ministry of Health published a map where vaccination in different regions of the country can be seen in real time. To date there are 79 697 registered in the vaccination process. In Lima there are 25,843 vaccinated, being the region with the highest number of doses applied, followed by La Libertad with 5,239 vaccinated. Of the total of this first batch, 56.38% have just been vaccinated.

This is the Map of the vaccinated in Peru in the real time

Peru Covid reports

Health and Safety Protocols to Visit Machu Picchu after Covid-19

On the 28th of September, 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru issued the new necessary regulation called the "Health Guidelines for COVID-19 for Tourist Destinations".
It will form a framework for private and public subjects operating in tourism to prevent, monitor, and check the spread of the coronavirus.

Following the regulation, the first health and safety protocols to visit Machu Picchu after the coronavirus have been implemented by the Cusco office of the Ministry of Culture and SERNANP (a public organization attached to the Ministry of the Environment).

The Most Important Parts of the Protocols Include the Following Points:

Trains will be allowed to use only 50% of the capacity of their seats. In this way, the ordered distance between passengers will be met. It is not yet known if the authorized train companies (PeruRail and IncaRail) will keep or increase their prices.
Shuttle buses operating the route between Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will also need to reduce their capacity at 50%. The same applies to bus prices as for trains, it is not known whether prices will not rise.
However, there is an option to ascend on foot from Aguas Calientes to the Inca citadel
Only 75 visitors/hour can enter Machu Picchu (the Archaeological Zone).
The first time of entry is 6 am and the last is 2 pm. Surely, more visiting hours will be added later.
According to the new protocols, any visitor has to enter with a company of a professional Tour Guide, who will be responsible to meet the protocols.
Tour Guides can only enter with a group of a maximum of 7 people and maintain a distance of 20 meters from other groups.
To visit Machu Picchu, two routes will be considered: long and short.
"La casa del Vigilante" will be the point of explanation.

Safety Rules for Visitors:

Mandatory use of masks.
Do not share personal hygiene items or food with other tourists.
Clean your hands frequently (eg. washing with soap and water, or use of antiseptic).
Use disposable tissues and dispose of them properly in a litter bin with a lid immediately afterwards.
In case of sneezing or coughing, cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or your forearm.
Maintain environments clean and ventilated.
Check your body temperature every 12 hours.

Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Cancellation Policy

Machu Picchu and Inca Trail are the Peruvian top destinations. Loads of travellers had booked them, but could not arrive because of the Covid-19.

What to do in this case?

The Ministry of Culture's website says the new cancellation policy allows a refund of Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets.

Inca Trail

If you booked the Inca Trail in advance and you could not visit it, you might postpone your tour until the year 2021. Your Inca Trail operator will need to do the paperwork for you to change the trail's date to a later date of this year or 2021. This will be done for no extra charge. In case, you like to cancel your hike, you will need to wait for a refund since tour operators will need to replace you with anybody else to change personal details given at the permit afterwards.

Machu Picchu Tickets

If you have booked by yourself

If you have booked a Machu Picchu ticket by yourself, you will need to wait till the quarantine is over. At present, the Ministry of Culture is closed. It is very important to email them explaining about your requirement enclosing a copy of your ticket.

Postpone: In case, you prefer to postpone your Machu Picchu tickets to a later date, the ministry will likely accept it and make it without any extra charge.

Refund: If you like the canceling of your tickets, it is probable the ministry will refund the ticket amount for no extra bank transfer fee.

If you have booked by a tour operator

Postpone: Your tour operator will need to present to the ministry a list of all the travellers going with your group in order to postpone for a later date of this or the next year (2021).

Refund: If travellers prefer to cancel the trek, their tour operator should prepare a letter requesting a cancellation explaining its motive. Then, it might take some time to receive a reply from the ministry.

Ministerio de Cultura

The Ministry of Culture of Peru's website says only:

All the Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets booked in advance: all tour operators must present a list of cancellations and change travel date for no extra charge. This does not guarantee a refund.
In case, travellers did not arrive at Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail, they lost their permits and tickets.
Tour operators are obligated to find new participants in order for your Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets to be changed.
A change of the date of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and Inca Trail permits are subject to availability.

PeruRail & Inca Rail Train Tickets

PeruRail and Inca Rail are railway companies which normally operate trips to Machu Picchu. They do not operate it during the quarantine. Only a local train works now. If you have booked a train to Machu Picchu in advance, contact them directly by email. They will change the date of your trip or give you a refund.

Was It Safe to Visit Machu Picchu During the Coronavirus?

Well, Machu Picchu was closed. At present, Tierras Vivas has been accepting the necessary steps to provide security and safety to all our travellers. Our booking policy is being replaced with new ones. Tierras Vivas will offer a private group service. We will operate in small groups (2 - 4 person max.) only. Our Tour Guides and other staff will implement a new safety policy into our tours/ hikes.

Machu Picchu Protocols Peru

Coronavirus - World Health Organization

What Is Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from a common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Coronavirus was first discovered in November 2019 in Wuhan, within the Hubei Province of China. On 12 February 2020, the WHO announced that the official name for this specific strain of coronavirus is Covid-19.

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization tweeted that they characterized officially the situation as "pandemic".

What Are the Symptoms of Coronavirus?

Fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. If you get these symptoms, call a medical centre in advance seeking medical help. Follow the advice of your local health authority. Stay home if you feel unwell.

Why?

National and local authorities have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to direct you quickly to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.

What Can You Do to Prevent Coronavirus?

Wash Your Hands Frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash them with soap and water.

Why?

Washing hands with soap or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Keep Social Distancing

Keep a distance of 2 metres from anyone coughing or sneezing.

Why?

When someone coughs or sneezes, s/he sprays small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain viruses. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the coughing person has the disease.

Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose, and Mouth
Why?

Hands usually touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus into your eyes, nose, or mouth. From there, the virus can spread the body and can make you sick.

Practice Respiratory Hygiene
Make sure that you and the people around you follow good respiratory hygiene. It means covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and dispose of the used tissue immediately afterwards. Ideally, use a mask or a respirator to protect yourself and others from infection spread.

Why?

The virus spreads by means of droplets. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect people around you from viruses such as cold, flu, and COVID-19.

Recommendations

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water at least 2 minutes.
Cover your nose and mouth with your forearm or disposable tissue when sneezing or coughing and throw such a tissue away.
Avoid touching your hands, eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid direct contact with people with respiratory problems.
In the presence of mild symptoms (cough, sore throat, and fever), cover yourself and wash your hands. If possible, stay at home.
In the presence of severe symptoms (respiratory distress and high fever), dial the toll-free emergency number 113.
Avoid waving or kissing on the cheek.
Do not self-medicate.
Clean surfaces at your home, office, or business (eg. tables, bathrooms, floors, toys, etc.) with disinfection (for example, Bleach, alcohol-based agents, etc.).