Piura Services

Tourism

The iPeru tourist information office is extremely helpful and has information on lodging, bus schedules and attractions in Piura and the region (Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jr. Ayacucho 377. Tel: 320-249, E-mail: iperupiura@promperu.gob.pe, URL: www.peru.info/piura). Additionally, iPeru staffs a booth at the airport when flights arrive.

The Automóvil Club del Perú provides informational services to motorists and sell good maps (Av. Sánchez Cerro 1237. Tel: 603-131, Fax: 323-800, E-mail: piura@touringperu.com.pe). The Comisaría de Piura, or police department, is at Avenida Sánchez Cerro, block 12 (Tel: 307-641).

The following countries have representatives in Piura: Consulado de Alemania (Los Ampolas K6, Urb. Miraflores. Tel: 343-149), Consulado del Ecuador (Av. Chirichigno 505, Urb. El Chipe. Tel: 308-027/309-959) and Viceconsulado de España (Grau 370. Tel: 327-741).

Money

Most banks in Piura are located near the Plaza de Armas or on Avenida Grau. Typical hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The following cash American Express traveler's checks and have ATMs that handle Cirrus, Plus, Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards:

· BCP (Banco de Crédito)—has special window for traveler's check transactions (Av. Grau and Jr. Tacna).

· Interbank—also exchanges cash U.S. dollars and euros (Av. Grau 160).

· ScotiaBank (Jr. Libertad 825).

All have branch offices and ATMs throughout the city, including near the bus depots on Avenida Sánchez Cerro. HSBC has full services for its clients and changes U.S. dollars for everybody (Jr. Libertad and Jr. Ica). Western Union money wires can be picked up at ScotiaBank. Banco de la Nación handles MoneyGram (Jr. Libertad 959). Casas de cambio are concentrated on Jirón Arequipa and Jirón Ica, and are generally open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Changing money on the street is not advisable.

Dorimuth Travel Service is the American Express representative (Ca. Ayacucho 560. Tel: 321-784, E-mail: piura@perutouroperator.net).

Keeping in Touch

Locutorios, or phone offices and Internet cafés are common. Internet Acasa has Skype (Tacna 646, next to Museo Grau). Serpost is the place to drop a post card, pick up general delivery or send a package (Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Jr. Ayacucho and Jr. Libertad).

Medical

Piura has several medical facilities. The main public hospital is Hospital I Santa Rosa (Prolongación Av. Grau and Chulucanas s/n, San Martín. Tel: 361-075). Boticas (pharmacies) are mainly found along Avenida Grau, between Óvalo Grau and the cathedral, and on Avenida Sánchez Cerro, between Avenidas Loreto and Sullana. Normal hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m. The chain drugstore Boticas Felicidad delivers (Tel: 308-300/304-750).