traveling to Peru

[r_ciao]

Am traveling for pleasure down to Peru and Machu Picchu.  Am looking for travel advice.  So far I've been advised/warned to:
-don't drink tap water
-bring diarrhea medication
-get immunizations updated:  Hepatitis A and B, and tetanus
-bring your own toilet paper
-for foreign currency exchange only bring fresh, crisp bills with no tears, holes, ink marks

What else am I missing?  I've already packed my passport, digital camera with big memory card, a hiking stick/monopod, good hiking socks and shoes, rain gear, etc.

Thanks in advance.  Ciao!

[muskrat]

you're good but if you feel dizzy drink some coca tea......   it will help you acclimate to the altitude.

[He Man]

coca tea deonst really work. i was eating adn drinking that stuff all day.

defintely dont drink tap water. i was traveling in ecuador for a month having direah everyday.. luckily im 24 and in good health so it wasnt as bad as you think.

[ungeheuer]

.....defintely dont drink tap water. i was traveling in ecuador for a month having direah everyday.. luckily im 24 and in good health so it wasnt as bad as you think.

You cant be sure.  I didnt think it was very bad, so maybe it was worse than I thought  .

[muskrat]

it worked for me the first two days I was there. 

[RAT900]

assume any ice cubes are made with the local tap....

[corey]

assume any ice cubes are made with the local tap....

THIS.

[duccarlos]

Bottled water or soft drinks with no ice. Altitude sickness is no joke. Peru is actually not that dangerous so go there and enjoy.

[kopfjäger]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html

[r_ciao]

Thanks all. Got it.  Stay away from tap water and ice.  Drink coca tea. It may be a placebo but it couldn't hurt.

@kopfhunter, there's some worrisome stuff in the crimes section of that Travel.state.gov website. Thanks for that link.

Three days to go. 

[RAT900]

and leave the Sendero Luminoso T-shirt at home  v

[Langanobob]

Only been as far as the airport in Lima, Peru but I have a few suggestions based on other countries. 

You probably already have one, but if not, a handheld GPS is useful and good for recording your treks and for marking interesting spots so you or others can find them later.

Losing your passport isn't likely but also isn't fun.  It helps to make a copy of the first pages of your passport  and keep it in a separate place than your passport.

In cities always agree on the price of a taxi up front, and the same for drink prices in bars, especially the ones that feature girls who sit in your lap.

Don't know how is your Spanish, but it helps to practice before a trip.  English is common and you probably won't need Spanish for survival but locals generally appreciate it if you make an attempt at their language.

 Sounds like a great trip.  I've worked in and explored lots of countries and never had a real problem and on the contrary I've had countless great experiences.  The very few times I've come close to trouble it was somehow related to bars and lots of alcohol.