International visitors
About Peru
According to the United Nations Peru is classified as a middle-income country. This means that there are cities (mainly on the coast) that boost the development and facilities you will find in the country , however, there are still areas (specially in the Andes and Amazon) where people subsist on less than $1 a day. The minimum wage salary in Peru is S/. 980 (approximately US $300). Most people in rural areas have agriculture and cattle-ranching as their main economical activities, with the majority of their production for their own consumption rather than for trade.
Society and Culture of Peru
There are over 100 human groups identified as indigenous in the country. Two of the larger groups are the Quechuas (descendants of the Incas, found mainly in the Cajamaca region and the Andes of southern Peru) and the Aymaras (found around the Puno region), both are are heavily intermixed with Spanish ancestry. Culturally they have traditions that are often a mixture of indigenous practices and Catholic Church ceremonies (the historical legacy of a strategy of the Spanish to Christianize indigenous Peruvians). Officially, Peru is not associated with a specific religion, though most of the population identifies with a religious group (often Catholic). The majority of the population, especially in rural areas, is very conservative on social issues, however the younger strata, especially in urban areas is more progressive.
Peruvians love food, love to talk about food, love to plan what food they will eat next, and love to feel proud of their culinary traditions. It is common to randomly be offered large quantities of food and be expected to eat it all. Overall, gluten allergy, lactose intolerance, veganism, vegetarianism, and other food preferences or restrictions are often unfamiliar to people, especially in rural areas (contrasting with cities like Lima, where you can easily find restaurants devoted to different food preferences). In Corosha, however, the local women's association has received training on catering to different dietary preferences and they are happy to accommodate you! In rural areas it is very common to greet visitors by sharing food. Peruvians are very welcoming people!
According to the United Nations Peru is classified as a middle-income country. This means that there are cities (mainly on the coast) that boost the development and facilities you will find in the country , however, there are still areas (specially in the Andes and Amazon) where people subsist on less than $1 a day. The minimum wage salary in Peru is S/. 980 (approximately US $300). Most people in rural areas have agriculture and cattle-ranching as their main economical activities, with the majority of their production for their own consumption rather than for trade.
Society and Culture of Peru
There are over 100 human groups identified as indigenous in the country. Two of the larger groups are the Quechuas (descendants of the Incas, found mainly in the Cajamaca region and the Andes of southern Peru) and the Aymaras (found around the Puno region), both are are heavily intermixed with Spanish ancestry. Culturally they have traditions that are often a mixture of indigenous practices and Catholic Church ceremonies (the historical legacy of a strategy of the Spanish to Christianize indigenous Peruvians). Officially, Peru is not associated with a specific religion, though most of the population identifies with a religious group (often Catholic). The majority of the population, especially in rural areas, is very conservative on social issues, however the younger strata, especially in urban areas is more progressive.
Peruvians love food, love to talk about food, love to plan what food they will eat next, and love to feel proud of their culinary traditions. It is common to randomly be offered large quantities of food and be expected to eat it all. Overall, gluten allergy, lactose intolerance, veganism, vegetarianism, and other food preferences or restrictions are often unfamiliar to people, especially in rural areas (contrasting with cities like Lima, where you can easily find restaurants devoted to different food preferences). In Corosha, however, the local women's association has received training on catering to different dietary preferences and they are happy to accommodate you! In rural areas it is very common to greet visitors by sharing food. Peruvians are very welcoming people!
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What to bring
What to Pack
When preparing for your trip you should consider that Corosha can get relatively cold due to its altitude. The village is rural and remote so electricity outages are not uncommon and there are no streetlights.
You should bring:
Phone and Internet usage
To efficiently communicate and work we need you to download Whatsapp, MyGPS on your smartphone and/or tablet. Spanishdict and Duolinguo are both great apps for learning Spanish, and Spanishdict can be used as a translator even when you cannot access the internet.
If you wish to get a Peruvian SIM card (for example in Lima), most of us have Claro, but the local people mostly use Movistar (which does not always work) and they can call Movistar for free.
For Claro:
If you use prepaid Claro for your phone (which is a good option for short term visitors), there are several options for internet access. Text the number of days you want internet for (e.g. 3d for 3 days)
to 799, there are 1d (1 sol, 10 MB), 3d (5 soles, 50 MB), 6d (10 soles, 200 MB) and 10d (25 soles, 700 MB) packages.
When preparing for your trip you should consider that Corosha can get relatively cold due to its altitude. The village is rural and remote so electricity outages are not uncommon and there are no streetlights.
You should bring:
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Portable chargers
- Adapter (if you have different plugs in your country; not necessary for visitors from the USA)
- Extension cord with multiple plugs
- Cash - IMPORTANT as the nearest ATM is 1 ½ hours away and it only allows you to withdraw 600 Peruvian Soles (PEN) per day.
- Silica (useful for safeguarding any electronics, especially during the rainy season)
- Rubber boots (it is a good idea to bring rubber boots if you take above a EU shoe size 44)
- Rain gear (Ponchos are possible to buy in Lima but it is better to come prepared)
- Warm clothes (especially if you plan to visit Copal or HBA)
- Sleeping bag (essential if you plan to camp in Copal or HBA)
- Camera
- Binoculars (essential for viewing wildlife)
Phone and Internet usage
To efficiently communicate and work we need you to download Whatsapp, MyGPS on your smartphone and/or tablet. Spanishdict and Duolinguo are both great apps for learning Spanish, and Spanishdict can be used as a translator even when you cannot access the internet.
If you wish to get a Peruvian SIM card (for example in Lima), most of us have Claro, but the local people mostly use Movistar (which does not always work) and they can call Movistar for free.
For Claro:
If you use prepaid Claro for your phone (which is a good option for short term visitors), there are several options for internet access. Text the number of days you want internet for (e.g. 3d for 3 days)
to 799, there are 1d (1 sol, 10 MB), 3d (5 soles, 50 MB), 6d (10 soles, 200 MB) and 10d (25 soles, 700 MB) packages.
