When traveling to a oreign country or the first time, it is important to know that an illness can ruin a vacation if precautions are not token. In Peru,the main health issues or travelers are related to stomach infections due to the ingestion of contaminated lood or liquids and altitude sickness in high altitude cities such  as Arequipa and Chivay in the Colea Canyon. In the first case, the bodies ol loreign travelers are not  amiliar with the bacteria in ood and water, making it easy to get an infection if precautions are not token. In the second case, it is hard to know how a body is going to react in high altitude with less oxygen to breathe than usual, but the ill el ects can be prevented from happening or at least minimized.

Below are sorne suggestions to reduce the risk ol getting a stomach infection:

• Eat in a clean restaurant and recommended place. (Read reviews from fellow travelers about the restaurant in trustworthy sites.) Don't eat in street lood kiosks  (unless the place is highly recommended by many fellow travelers).
• When drinking a fruit juice, ask if water used is rom a bottle or purified. (¿Agua en botella en el jugo? or ¿Agua purificada en el jugo?)
• Wash ruit and utensils to peel your ruit with water rom a bottle (no aucet unless it has a reliable filter) and then peel it.
• Vegetables should always be cooked before eaten. Avoid raw vegetables. (If you must eat vegetables, purchase a pre-washed bag ol veggies and then wash them yoursel with 1 liter olwater rom a bottle and a big glass of vinegar as a disinfectant.)
• Use water  rom a bottle to brush your teeth at all times.
• Don't drinkwater rom a faucet unless it has a reliable filter.

If symptoms of an infection are noted (constant diarrhea and even vomiting), it is better to see a doctor immediately to get an antibiotic to kill the bacteria (bacteria should be confirmed through proper analysis) and make sure the body recovers as soon as possible to continuewith thejourney. Plenty olliquids should be drunk to keep the body hydrated. In two or three days a ter the ingestion of the first pill, the body will be recovered but the stomach will still be sensitive.

In the case of altitude sickness, the Region of Arequipa can be used to mitigate the symptoms ol the illness before heading to a higher-elevation city such as Chivay in the Colca Valley, Cusco, or Puno. The City ol Arequipa is located at 7,666 feet above sea level (2,337 m.a.s.l.) and it is a great place to let your body start adjusting to the effects of high altitude. In the City ol Arequipa, there is a lower risk of getting altitude sickness although there is still a chance of getting sick, but it can be prevented from happening or the effects can be reduced  by  following the tips below:

• Ask a doctor or medicine to prevent altitude sickness rom happeningand take it as advised.
• If you forgot to ask a doctor, buy altitude sickness medicine ina pharmacy in Lima (prescription is not needed) and start taking it as suggested in the pharmacy at least 48 hours belore going to a high-altitude city and continue for two or three days once there.
• Take it easy the first doy; the first and second days avoid the ingestion of alcohol and heavy (latty) meals, and drink plenty ol liquids (water prelerably) .
• Hot Coca lealtea should be drunk constantly. It helps to prevent altitude sickness and It helps with the symptoms. The leal doesn't hove the property of making people highand it is sa e to drink the tea; however, ila drugtest needs to be passed in our days, don't drinkit. The locals drink Coca leal tea to relieve stomachaches and altitude sickness.
• The ingestion ola lemon soda can help with the vomiting symptoms.

If the symptoms of altitude sickness are felt (headache, nausea, stomachache, extreme tiredness, and shortness olbreath), it is better to just rest, avoidlood, and drink plenty olliquids (coca mate lealtea) . 11 ood is needed,a light soup with vegetables and potatoes is recommended. Usually, the next doy the symptoms are gone or almost gone. Another solution is to go to a lower elevation.

Clinics in Peru are privately managed while hospitals are run by the Peruvian government. Prices in a clinic are considerably higher than in a hospital. Below is a list of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the Region of Arequipa:

• Arequipa Clinic, Phone +5154-599000, Ave. Corner of Puente Grau and Ave. Bolognesi s/n , Cercado District, Arequipa Province
• San Juan de Dios Clinic, Phone +5154-382400, Ave. Ejercito l020, Cayma District, Arequipa Province
• Arcangel Pharmacy: Calle Puente Bolognesi 112, Cercado District, Arequipa Province. Ave. Lima  161, Camana District, Camana Province.
• Inka arma Pharmacy: Portal San Agustin 131, Cercado District, Arequipa Province. Ave. Lima 266, Camana District, Camana Province. Calle Arequipa 389, Mollendo District, lslay Province
• Mi arma Pharmacy, Calle Moral 121, Cercado District, Arequipa District

WheninArequipa,thetraveler needs to take thesameprecautions takenwhen in a big and crowded city. Robbery is common in Arequipa,but ilprecautions are token, travelers should hove not to deal with this. Below are sorne recommendations to avoid being the victim ola robbery:

• When walking in the street, always hold your belongings and walk with a purpose,showing people you are not distracted.
• Never leave yourbelongings unattended.This applies to restaurants, clubs, buses, taxis, and any other public location.
• Never take a taxi rom the streets (even ilthey look prolessional) . Always calla taxicompany andmake arrangements by phone or hove your hotel sta lget a cablor you.
• IndowntownArequipa,you shouldnotwalkalone at night. Duringthe doy, downtown Arequipa is pretty sa e and a walk around downtown can be done alone or with the guidance ola knowledgeable guide.
• Do not drink alcohol with strangers even ilyou are invited to hove alew.
• Do not exchangeloreign money in the streets. Exchange money in an establishment where you can count your money and look at the bilis you are receiving. You can ask or a receipt in these places.

Stolen credit cards or numbers is another issue for travelers. Below are sorne recommendations to ensure that your credit cardor number doesn' t get stolen:

• Contact your credit card and let them know that a trip to Peru will bemade and provide dates. Ask them to request a phone authorization or expenses over a specific amount.
• When paying a bill with your credit card, do not let the store clerk take the card away from you. (Remember that your bank will charge a foreign transaction fee - check with your bank about how much it will cost per transaction.)
• When getting money from an ATM (even if the ATM is part of the bank facing the street), always verify that the card holder doesn't hove a device attached to retain your card. With your hand, try to pull the card holder of the ATM. Use ATMs inside of banks when possible.
• Never let a person approach you while at an ATM ("No se acerque").When cards are token by the ATM, sorne people approach the traveler to "help" and in a moment of distraction, cards can be stolen.

If you hove been robbed and you need to file a report, below is information related to local police stations:

• Santa Marta Police Station, Santa Marta 212, Arequipa District  and Province. Phone +5154-206259
• Chivay Police Station, Plaza de Armas, Chivay District, Caylloma Province. Phone +5154-531072