Directory A–Z - Peru - page 1118

When calling Peru from abroad, dial the international access code for the country
you're in, then Peru's country code (51), then the area code without the 0 and finally, the
local number. When making international calls from Peru, dial the international access
code (00), then the country code of where you're calling to, then the area code and finally,
the local phone number.
In Peru, any telephone number beginning with a 9 is a cell-phone number. Numbers be-
ginning with 0800 are often toll-free only when dialed from private phones. To make a
credit card or collect call using AT&T, dial 0800-50288. For an online telephone dir-
ectory, see www.paginasamarillas.com.pe .
Cell Phones
It's possible to use a tri-band GSM world phone in Peru (GSM 1900). Other systems in
use are CDMA and TDMA. This is a fast-changing field, so check the current situation
before you travel: just do a web search and browse the myriad products on the market. In
Lima and other larger cities, you can buy cell phones in stands at the supermarket that use
SIM cards for about S48, then pop in a SIM card that costs from S14. Claro is a popular
pay-as-you-go plan. Cell-phone rentals may be available in major cities and tourist cen-
ters. Cell-phone reception may be poor in the mountains or jungle.
Phone Cards
Called tarjetas telefónicas, these cards are widely available and are made by many com-
panies in many price ranges. Some are designed specifically for international calls. Some
have an electronic chip that keeps track of your balance when the card is inserted into an
appropriate phone. Other cards use a code system whereby you dial your own personal
code to obtain balances and access; these can be used from almost any phone.
Time
Peru is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It's the same as Eastern Stand-
ard Time (EST) in North America. At noon in Lima, it's 9am in Los Angeles, 11am in
Mexico City, noon in New York, 5pm in London and 4am (following day) in Sydney.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) isn't used in Peru, so add an hour to all of these times
between the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October.
Punctuality is not one of the things that Latin America is famous for, so be prepared to
wait around. Buses rarely depart or arrive on time. Savvy travelers should allow some