Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of driving yourself around, consider hiring a taxi instead, which is often cheaper and easi-
er.
Note: if you are driving and are involved in an accident that results in injury, know that
drivers are routinely imprisoned for several days or weeks until innocence has been estab-
lished. For more advice on legal matters, see
Click here
.
DRIVER'S LICENSE & RENTAL
» A driver's license from your own home country is sufficient for renting a car.
» Major rental companies have offices in Lima and a few other large cities. Renting a mo-
torcycle is an option mainly in jungle towns, where you can go for short runs around town
on dirt bikes, but not much further.
» Make sure you completely understand the rental agreement before you sign. A credit
card is required, and renters normally need to be over 25 years of age.
» Economy car rental starts at US$25 a day - without the 19% sales tax, 'super' collision-
damage waiver, personal accident insurance and so on, which together can climb to more
than US$100 per day, not including excess mileage.
» Vehicles with 4WD are more expensive.
ROAD RULES & HAZARDS
» Driving is on the right-hand side of the road.
» Conditions are challenging: rental cars often aren't well maintained, roads are potholed
(even the paved Pan-American Hwy), gas is expensive and drivers are aggressive.
Moreover, road signs are often small and unclear.
» Driving at night is not recommended because of poor conditions, speeding buses and
slow-moving, poorly lit trucks. At night, bandits can be a problem on roadways in remote
regions.
» Do not leave your vehicle parked on the street. When stopping overnight, park the car in
a guarded lot (the better hotels have them).
» Gasoline or petrol stations (called
grifos
) are few and far between.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
In most towns and cities, it's easy to walk or take a taxi, which are plentiful. Using local
buses and
combis
(minivans) can be tricky, but it's very inexpensive.
