They have been underway from Denmark for 4 years by way of Cape Horn, Chile and now Peru.

Their website is www.pi-skovholm.dk.

For sure it is some kind of experience to go to Peru on a sailing boat.

The main purpose of going to Callao was to get Vikke on a plane to Denmark, where she had urgent business, and to have a departure point to explore Peru and Bolivia.

Knowing beforehand that we might encounter all sorts of difficulties in the form of agencies, stiff bureaucracy and exorbitant fees, we nevertheless felt as borne optimists, that reason and common sense would prevail. As we now know those notions were a far cry from everyday life with Peruvian authorities!

As is still customary, you are asked on entering the name of your agency, which is supposed to take care of your arrival and do all the paperwork. In our case, the Yate Club Peruano sent an agent, and in short he succeeded to get us cleared in after one week – his fee was 400 dollars + 100 to an officer of the Peruvian Navy to make him forget some minor technicality.

Milne Maritime Services – contact Victor Fernandez

This is how it worked in our situation. The Yacht Club does not help in any way, they only refer you to some agent and no more.

Having finished our travels on land we were ready to leave and were told by the agent that for leaving the fee was the same + $100 for the zarpe (and maybe a fee for fumigation and maybe a fee to the sanitary authorities).

To a more or less rational mind this sounds incredible, and no wonder that during our stay here only 3 foreign yachts have passed by.

Luckily for us, we met Mr Gonzalo Ravago, who has been of invaluable help to us. He has been of service to us in every way and he refers to some of the agents as gangsters! With his help, we are getting our zarpe without being ripped off, and he is deeply sorry for all the mess created by the authorities and the agents, who seem to live in a money-driven symbiosis at the cost of foreign yachts.

So if you plan to go to Peru be prepared and contact Mr Ravago beforehand, he is a great guy and will do anything to ease your way around the worst obstacles.

Gonzalo Ravago

E-mail: gonzalo.ravago@yanbal-int.com

Cell phone: 01 998477234

Another thing of importance: the Peruvians are very keen on their territory so be sure to contact them 2 times a day if at all possible. We had radio problems and on arrival, the navy made quite a fuss over this issue.

The Yacht Club Peruano does not seem to care much for visiting yachts, but the service is OK, and you can stay at a good mooring with or without electricity for 200 dls pr month. The area is guarded effectively round the clock, as there is also a boat service at all hours.

We will be leaving shortly for the Galapagos and will stay there for some weeks before going to Panama afterwards.

Poul and Vikke

SY Pi