Hola Ok this is our guide to Peru for WestbyMum&Dad and for anyone else thinking of a visit. Transport Tourist information offices are a good source of information in English but are not independant, they are booking agents or tour operators even when offering 'free' tourist information. Its still the best option when first arriving and looking for transport into the city from the airport. When arriving at bus stations taxi drivers will usually add about 1 sol to the normal price to the plaza des armes (main square in every city) but is easily negotiated (usually 2 to 3 sol for anywhere within 10mins). The exeption is at Cusco bus station where the taxis triple the prices for Gringo's so walk out of the bus station and onto the main road......there are hundreds and hundreds of taxis in Peru, mainly little Daewoo's beeping constantly. Dont expect taxi drivers (or in fact anybody) to speak English or have any change, so hold onto your coins like gold dust or expect to wait while they run off to break a note(they will return). When travelling to a hotel by taxi state you have a reservation or get dropped off nearby (usually the plaza) to avoid commision being added to your room. The Autobus estation is filled with all the bus company offices, we recommend Ormeño royal class for long distance, they have luxurious reclining seats and is safe(and has toilets and snacks) or Flores or Cruz del Sur. Dont expect anything to be on time, especially bus'. Go to the bus station to buy tickets direct as tour operators add a cost and also you get a departure tax added if you leave from the main stations(not much though). Cusco Everything is off the plaza. Food We recommend Jack's for a fantastic breckie (Gordo's) or El buen Pastor nice cheap little bakery (proceeds go to young peruvians) ask for mantequilla y marmelade y pan frances y cafe for a nice breckie, go upstairs and they bring it to you. Both of these are next to your hotel. For dinner the Bagdad Cafe (on the square with balcony) serves a great Alpaca steak and meat burritos and lasagne and has great traditional music around 8pm. Los Perros and Blueberry lounge are more funky, good chilled music and nice food and drinks the burger in Los Perros is fantastic. Arty Stuff Cuesta San Blas (your road), the courtyard of the Inka museum has great traditional textiles made in front of you. As does the centre for traditional textiles on Ave Sol. Both are very expensive but beautiful and high quality. A good selection of market stuff can be found at the craft market near the post office on Ave Sol. General Procuradores (gringo alley) is a big hassle and you will find yourself constantly replying no gracias to films and restaurant offers. Watch out for bag slashers and pickpockets in crowded areas, you constantly feel little hands. Use the safe(caja fuerte) in your hotel and buy a passport holder from the stalls to keep valuables under your clothes. Fix your camera to your person in full view and keep an eye on it, instead of hiding them in bags. All toilets in peru are incapable of flushing anything other than human waste......do not put bog paper or anything into them even in posh places, theres always a bin. Boleto Touristico This is necessary for all ruins and many other tourist attractions, buy only the $6 one for the ruins only as the museum on the ticket are pretty crap, the cathedrals etc arent included on it any more. Pisac & the sacred valley From Cusco theres a lot of trecking and places to visit, but this is what we did for about a three day trip. Go on either Sunday, Thursday or Tuesday (for the market in that order, sunday's the best) Take the bus from the Ch.. Pupati bus station 2 sol each to Pisac on a small crowded bus, they go every 15mins ish (you can flag this down from anywhere on route it says Urumbaba or Cusco depending on the direction) after around 50 mins you get to Pisac, walk to the plaza des armes and you will see the huge market, its full of the usual but more, takes hours to see evrything. In the evening Pisac shuts down as few people stay. Have an early night,after breckie go to the Empenard(bread with onions & cheese) baker (next to guinea pig palace!) for packed lunch then head off up to the Pisac ruins (hard climb) there are several complexes, keep going until you see the road, there are 4 or 5 altogether. The next day get the bus back to Tambo Machay(ask driver to stop there) and walk back to Cusco via all the 4 ruins, note- keep going to Qénko even when you see the sign for Sacsawayman. The guide will tell you all about this anyway. It takes around half a day with stops. Arequipa Full of taxis but more relaxed and less English Spoken, we recommend Hostal Katty a few blocks down on Alvares Thomas. For food...El Turko serves a fantastic chicken kebab, and Pizeria los Leños for stone baked pizza. Walk out over the bridge to Yanahuara for a nice view of El Misti Colca Cañon, go with a company that sends a guide with you from Arequipa, speak to many companies and ensure the guide speaks english and make sure everything is avilable during that season. Money Ignore the book, everything apart from hotels and tours is in sols get cash out from ATM machines which give both sols and dollars. Language Otro - another Este - this or here when pointing Mas Tarde - later Vente cinqo - 25 everything costs 3sol or this. agua mineral sin gas - 3sol for 2.5 litre, Cielo tastes best. Tiene - do you have Batering is difficult most places you cant get more than a few sol off, or they will drop instantly to their lowest price. Pisac is better for bartering, we got 40% of our rug. HAVE FUN xxxxxxxx