Humana Films – Documentary Filmmaker & Fixer in Peru

During the last 2 years I have been posting updates regarding the situation in Peru for filming projects so this is a summary and update of all of them together. 

Regulations:

1. All activities and businesses are already normal in the country at their full capacity. 
2. To date 12th October 2022 people do not to have pass a Covid-19 PCR test to enter Peru if you have vaccinations. 
3. If you’re not vaccinated, you still can enter Peru having a negative PCR test max 48hrs before departure from your country.
4. From today 12th October there is not need to fill the Health form online anymore to enter Peru.
5. Because the regulation changes from time to time. Latam website keeps this updated very precise and I suggest you check this before flying. Fill the information in the bottom of the page according to your country https://www.latamairlines.com/pe/es/experiencia/coronavirus/restricciones 
6. There is not need to wear masks anymore either in Public or close places. Only exceptions are in public buses and hospitals. 2 light masks or 1 mask N95 is acceptable. 
7. In most of the places you don’t need to show your vaccination card anymore.
8. If you get Covid-19 in Peru, the only recommendation is to stay isolated but that’s up to you, there is not an obligation for it or someone checking on you. 
9. Keep in mind that you might need to take an Antigen or PCR test to go back to your country. It is very easy to coordinate an appointment online and the results can be given between 1hr (Antigen) and 12 hours(PCR). Cost of antigen is around USD$25 and PCR USD$50.

Facilities:

10. Flights these days tend to be changed or cancelled for different reasons. So for this I suggest only using Latam company, which is the only trustworthy for working. It can be the most expensive but trust me! You will avoid all the headaches that you will surely have with other companies. And no, I am not sponsored by them or anything like that! LOL. https://www.latamairlines.com/pe/es
11. Because of the unstable political situation in Peru at this moment, the USD is variable every day. We pay most of the things in PEN (Soles) so I suggest you change here what you will need to spend for your project. You can check exchange houses in Miraflores in Google maps.
12. To use ATM machines it is easy in the main cities but you only can get between USD$400 – USD$800 per day. However, there are not enough ATM machines in small towns, so it’s better if you bring some cash already from your country.
13. Peru is a country that doesn’t have a big variety of rental houses for professional equipment. So you can rent some equipment here but in most cases more expensive than Europe or USA and very limited on models. Also keep in mind that we don’t have insurance for equipment as you do in your countries, this does not exist in Peru. So if the equipment is stolen or damaged you will have to pay back for the whole thing. Because of this, I will always suggest you bring your own equipment as much as you can. 
14. If you bring your own equipment, you will have to arrange a ‘Journalism visa’ or ´internment of equipment´ , a document that allows you to bring all the equipment you will need to film in Peru with the compromise that you will take it back when you leave Peru. This paperwork takes 15 work days and needs to be arranged from the embassy of Peru in your country.
15. Every year the costs to film inside archaeological or natural places are updated, get in touch with me if you need more detailed information about it. I have the costs of all the places in Peru that need to arrange permits. This in most cases takes 15 work days, so plan this in advance.
16. Flights, hotels and most of the restaurants can be paid with international credit or debit cards. Please get in touch with a local person for arranging all this as for local citizens we might have extra discounts than purchase from your own country. For instance in Peru, paying for flights in Latam with a Peruvian credit card costs cheaper than buying internationally. Same with hotels in most of the cases. 
17. First thing you buy once you arrive at the airport in Lima is to buy a SIM CARD for your phone at the CLARO Store. If you don’t do it in the airport, it will take you 2 hours to do it in the city!!! There is a lot of burocracy to get such a small thing, trust me! Buy one in ‘Pre pago’ mode with some credit on it.

Advices On site

17. And of the most important thing, please be sure that your producer or fixer on site has a genuine connection to the people you are filming so this comes out as a great result in your project as well.
18. Keep in mind that if you need to film in the cities or public places you will have people around wearing masks all the time, even when there is not mandatory anymore, people still wear it. Something to consider visually for your project. Only in closed communities or families, people don’t wear masks anymore.
19. Consider a budget to thank people for their time, especially for documentaries projects in remote places. 
20. Be respectful with native communities, they go at a different speed than people in the city so plan additional time when filming them.

Check my experience as fixer, producer, researcher and filmmaker at https://humanafilms.com/

Made and written with love by Lizeth Yarlequé