Country Information

Capital: Lima

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 51
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 011 / 5114.

Tourist information: Fondo de Promoción Turística (PROMPERU) Calle Uno Oeste, s/n Urb, Edificio Mitinci, 14th Floor, Corpac, Lima 27, Peru Tel: (1) 224 3142 or 224 3133 Fax: (1) 224 3408 or 224 3396. e-mail postmaster@promperu.gob.peru

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Refer to the embassy for the latest list of exceptions to those nationalities, which require visas.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in rural areas below 1500m in the Vivax variety. The Falciparum variety exists sporadically near national borders and where petroleum is being exploited. Resistance to chloroquine for the Falciparum variety has been reported.

Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by visitors over 6 months of age travelling from infected areas. Vaccination is strongly recommended to all travellers who plan to journey out of the urban areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. – NOTE: Street vendor food is not recommended

Currency: Nuevo Sol = 100 centimos Exchange: Changing currency other than US$ can be difficult Credit cards have limited acceptance outside Lima. Exchanging travellers cheques can prove a complex process outside of Lima. US dollar cheques are recommended
ATM availability: Over 430 locations

Cost of living: Costs have increased dramatically in the last few years. Budget travellers can still find cheap accommodation, although the cities are much more expensive than rural areas.

Languages: Spanish and Quechua. English may also be spoken

Weather: Coastal areas: Summer is Oct – Apr which is the rainy season in the mountainous regions. May Sept is regarded as the best time to visit the mountains.

Electricity: 200 Volts AC 60 Hz

Post: Up to 2 weeks. Postal facilities are limited outside Lima.

Transport: RAIL: Can provide a scenic view of the landscape and sections are of the highest railway in the world. Connections however are limited. ROAD: A recently built highway connects Lima with other cities. NOTE: Landslides are common in the rainy season making for slow travel. A ‘Customs Duty Payment’ badge must be displayed at all times. BUS: ‘Greyhound’ type buses operate along the Pan-American highway TAXIS: Do not use meters so agree fare in advance. CAR HIRE: International companies have outlets in the major cities and Airport. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required

Special information: Register with your Embassy when you arrive in Lima. Terrorist action may occur. Travel in groups is recommended. Street crime is common.

Capital: Port Moresby

Time zone: GMT + 10

Telephone services: Country Code: 675
Outgoing Code: 05

Emergency telephone numbers: Police, Fire and Ambulance = 000. (NOTE: this is not accessible in some areas)

Tourist information: Tourism Promotion Authority, P.O.Box 1291, 2nd floor, Niugini Insurance Haus, Boroko, Papua New Guinea Tel: 320 0211 or 327 2521 Fax: 320 0223 or 325 9119.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Passports should be valid for one year after entry. Return Ticket Required. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required. May change at short notice contact the High Commission. NOTE: On receipt of a stamped addressed envelope the high commission can supply information sheets on how to apply for visas for Papua New Guinea.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists all year throughout the country below 1800m. Falciparum is the dominant variety and reported to b highly resistant to chloroquine
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera – serious risk. Hepatitis A and B are endemic.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Kina (PGK). NOTE: Export of local currency is prohibited.
Amex is widely accepted. Travellers cheques are widely accepted in shops and hotels. Australian dollar cheques are preferred.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Although accommodation varies from international hotels to basic huts, everything is very expensive

Languages: English. 700 local dialects are also spoken

Weather: Tropical climate which cools with increases in altitude. Most rain falls between Dec and Mar.

Electricity: 240 Volts AC 50 Hz. Australian style 3 pin plugs are in use

Post: 7 – 10 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Services which operate are expensive. Internal services should be booked between November and February. ROAD: Limited. Public motor vehicles (PMV) are very efficient and provide a good way of meeting the locals. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is sufficient. RIVERS: Commonly used as a thoroughfare.

Special information: Law and order remains poor. Incidents of rioting, looting and shooting occur without warning in major towns. Increase in violent crime requires extra care to be taken. There is continuing volcanic activity near Rabual in East New Britain Province and on Manam Island in Madang Province. Do not use public transport. Travellers should be met at Port Moresby upon arrival.

Capital: Mexico City

Time zone: Spans 3 time zones from GMT – 6 to – 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 52
Outgoing Code: 98

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 08.

Tourist information: Mexican Ministry of Tourism, 3rd Floor, 60 – 61 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DS Tel: (020) 7734 1058 Fax: (020) 7930 9202.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all and must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry required by all except nationals of USA, Canada and Japan who can present a birth certificate or other valid national ID card with photograph. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visas usually required. Check the requirements with the appropriate consular authority.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists in the Vivax variety in rural areas of certain states.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 6 months of age arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Cholera – is a serious risk precaution is strongly recommended. Travellers arriving within 2 weeks of having visited an infected area are required to have a vaccination certificate.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Nuevo Peso (MXN) = 100 cents All credit cards are accepted. US dollar travellers cheques are preferred.
ATM availability: Over 9 000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. Caters for all travellers and budgets.

Languages: Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken.

Weather: Climate varies according to altitude. Lowland are hot and humid whilst higher areas have a more temperate climate.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC, 60 Hz, US 2 pin, flat plugs are standard.

Post: 5- 7 days to Europe, surface mail is slow.

Transport: FLIGHTS: There is an excellent network of daily scheduled flights between commercial centres. RAIL: Mexico has a good rail network, which connects the major towns. ROAD: Slightly less than half is paved. BUS: Mexico is linked by an excellent and very economical bus service. CAR HIRE: Available at airports, city centres and resorts. DOCUMENTATION: IDP or nationals driving licence is acceptable.

Special information: Travel is usually trouble free but sensible precautions should be taken because violent robbery is increasing, especially in Mexico City. Exercise caution on public transport, airports, the Mexico City metro and tourist sites. Use taxis from ranks. It is advisable to ‘dress down’. Take particular care at cash machines.

Capital: Manila

Time zone: GMT + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 63
Outgoing Code: International calls to smaller towns must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Philippine Department of Tourism, 17 Albermarle Street, London W1X 7HA Tel: (020) 7499 5443 (general enquiries) or (020) 7499 5652 (incentive travel) Fax: (020) 7499 5772.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Passport MUST be valid for more than six months. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except transit passengers. Tourists and business travellers will not require visas providing they have a valid passport for at least one year and onward tickets, providing their stay does not exceed 21 days. NOTE: Certain nationalities will require pre arrival approval by the authorities in Manila before visas can be issued. Check with the embassy before making travel arrangements. Overstaying can lead to detention and heavy fines.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in certain areas below 600m in the Falciparum variety, which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine.
Other Health Risks: Dengue Fever, Bilharzia, Cholera and Rabies

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Philippine Peso (PP) = 100 centavos Exchange: Large commercial and central bank dealers in Manila. Always use authorised money changers or banks in Manila Metro area.
Credit cards are accepted in larger cities. Travellers cheques may be difficult to exchange and commissions may be high. US dollar cheques are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 800 locations.

Cost of living: Can be relatively inexpensive in comparison with Northern and Western Europe. Philippines is a haven for shoppers with bargains available at all shops, but especially markets. Hotels range from the deluxe to small guest houses and prices vary accordingly.

Languages: Filipino. English is widely spoken and Spanish may also be spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate with constant sea breezes. Rainy season = June – Sept. Oct – Feb is the cool dry season. Mar – May is usually hot and dry. There are occasional typhoons between June and Sept.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 60 Hz. 110 Volts is available in most hotels. Plugs = flat and round 2 and 3 pin

Post: At least 5 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Internal services are operated by several companies. Reservations should be confirmed prior to departure date due to high demand. BUS: Widely available and cheap. ROAD: Travel off national highways and paved roads, especially at night, is particularly dangerous. Inter island travel by small boats can be hazardous as storms whip up very quickly.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: in Mindinao – Southern Zamboanga Peninsula and islands south west of Mindinao. Typhoons earth quakes and volcanoes are known hazards in the Philippines. Seek advice on recent activity before travelling. Tourists from the West are considered wealthy by the host population. Stick to the main tourist areas. Visitors are required to carry dentification at all times. Visitors are advised to be vigilant and avoid travel off the beaten track especially on Mindinao where bandits and Islamic militants are active. There are also many cases of kidnapping and piracy. Casual dress is acceptable in most areas excluding Muslim areas where visitors will be required to cover up. Armed Islamic groups are active in some areas and great care is needed [Consult the FCO website] Medical care is VERY expensive. Passports must be valid for more than 6 months. Overstaying the length of the visa is a serious offence which can lead to detention and heavy fines. The Philippines consist of over 7 000 islands . Charter planes may be hired to visit the most remote. Possession or trafficking in even the smallest amount of drugs can lead to the death penalty. Take care of accepting food and drinks from strangers as there are reports of these being laced with substances that cause drowsiness or unconsciousness. There are also reports of single male travellers being set up for extortion over charges of paedophile activity for which there are severe penalties including the death sentence.

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Time zone: GMT + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 60
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Tourism Malaysia, 57 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DU Tel (020) 7930 7932 Fax: (020) 7930 9015.

Passport information: Passport valid for further 6 months beyond the intended stay in Malaysia is required. All visitors must have proof of adequate funds for stay. Return Ticket required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Most nationals do not require a visa to enter Malaysia providing the stay is less than a month and for social, business purposes. A visit pass is required which will be issued at the point of entry.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in certain inland regions e.g. Sabah where there is a risk in the Falciparum variety which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by those arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies, febrile encephalitis, and Dengue fever – prevalent in urban as well as rural areas. Japanese encephalitis has been reported in the rural areas of Ipoh, Seremban and Port Dickson, travellers should seek medical advise if they intend to travel to these areas.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. When drinking from cans, always use a straw, which is generally provided.

Currency: Ringgit (r) = 100 sen NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to RM 1,000 without prior approval. Declare all foreign currency notes on the travellers declaration form so that they may exported.There are severe penalties for exchange control offences.
All credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted by all banks, hotels and department stores. US dollar cheques are the preferable currency.
ATM availability: Over 2000 locations

Cost of living: Can be reasonably inexpensive. Wide range of accommodation available, varying from luxury hotels to campsites in the national park and Taman Negara area. Goods and luxury items vary in price depending on location.

Languages: Bahasa Malaysian. English is also widely spoken

Weather: Tropical without extremely high temperatures. Days are very warm whilst nights are fairly cool. August is the wettest time of the West coast. East Malaysia has heavy rains Nov – Feb. Rainfall differs in the East and West coast according to the Monsoon wind.

Electricity: 220 Volts Ac 50 Hz. Square 3 pin plugs are used.

Post: There are post offices in the commercial centres of all towns.

Transport: ROAD: Most roads are paved. BUS: Services are extensive. TAXI: There is a surcharge after 2400 – 0600 of 50%.

Special information: Avoid travelling to the islands east of Sabah. Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations as they could result in violence. Respect religious beliefs – take off your shoes at the door and wear appropriately modest clothing. Smoking is prohibited in a number of public places. Malaysia prides itself on an expansive range of cuisine. There are very severe penalties for drug offences including the death penalty. There have been incidences of piracy in Malasian waters.

Capital: Islamabad

Time zone: GMT + 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 92
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Block D, Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan Tel: (51) 214 697 Fax: (51) 815 767.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa Required by all except nationals of: Iceland, Maldives Republic, Singapore, South Korea, Trinidad & Tobago, Western Samoa and Zambia for a stay of 90 days or less. Nationals of Nepal for a stay of 30 days or less.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the falciparum variety in all areas below 2000m. The falciparum variety has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers coming from any part of a country where Yellow Fever is endemic. Children under 6 months of age are exempt providing the mother has proof of her own vaccination before the child was born.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Pakistani Rupee (Re singular, Rs plural) = 100 paisa Amex and Diners Club are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are generally accepted at most banks, 4 and 5 star hotels and major shops. US dollars are the preferred currency. ATM availability: 3 locations

Cost of living: Staying in Pakistan can be relatively cheap if you are willing to shop at the markets and sacrifice luxuries.

Languages: Urdu and English. There are regional languages of Sindhi, Baluchi, Punjabi and Pashtu. There are numerous local dialects

Weather: There are three seasons: Winter: (Nov to Mar) where the weather is warm but cooled by sea breezes. Summer: (Apr – July) with extreme temperatures. Monsoon (July to Sept) which has the highest rainfall on the hills.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz. Round 2 or 3 pin plugs are in use.

Post: Airmail takes 4 to 5 days to reach Western Europe

Transport: FLIGHTS: There are many daily flights from Karachi to the commercial centres. Air transport is the quickest and most efficient means of travel. RAIL: A legacy of British Rule is an extensive rail network based on the main line from Karachi to Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar which has several daytime and overnight trains. Travel in air-conditioned coaches is advised along with reservations for longer journeys. ROAD: The highway network between cities is well made and maintained. BUS: Regular services run between most towns and villages. Air-conditioned coaches are recommended for longer journeys. Advance booking is advised. TAXI: By far the most efficient mean of urban travel, being reasonably priced and widely available. CAR HIRE: Available in major cities. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP will be issued on presentation of a national driving licence.

Special information: Travel to Pakistan should only be undertaken if absolutely essential. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office are advising British citizens already there to consider leaving. Please note there is EXTREME RISK: In federally administered tribal areas and all areas bordering Afghanistan.