Most travel agents and tour operators will offer you insurance policies when you book your flight or holiday. These are usually reasonable value, though as ever, you should check the small print. If you feel the cover is inadequate, or want to compare prices, any travel agent, insurance broker or bank should be able to help. If you have a good “all risks” home insurance policy it may well cover your possessions against loss or theft when overseas, and many private medical schemes also cover you when abroad – make sure you know the procedure and the helpline number.
For Peru, Journey Latin America has one of the most – if not the most – comprehensive deals around, covering you for up to £2,500,000 in medical expenses, £2,000,000 in personal liability, and baggage up to £1250. Prices start at £40 for eight days, £85 for 45 days, £153 for three months, and then £37 for each subsequent month. Slightly cheaper is the ISIS policy, available from branches of STA, which costs £35 for a month’s cover. Other good, reasonably priced policies are issued by Endsleigh Insurance, Cranfield House, 97-107 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AG (tel 020/7436 4451); Frizzell, Frizzell House, County Gates, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 2NF (tel 01202/292333); Columbus Direct Insurance, 17 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4SQ (tel 020/7375 0011, www.columbusdirect.co.uk), who offer a very good-value annual multi-trip policy for £125; and Wexas.