Peru Encompassed
Airport transfer on arrival in Lima
Ballestas Islands Boat Tour
Overnight Desert Camp & BBQ
4 day Inca Trail Trek - including all meals on trail + guide
Entrance to Machu Picchu
Return train to Machu Picchu
Flight Cusco to Lima
All local transport whilst on tour
All meals as per itinerary
All accommodation while on tour (small & simple hotels & guesthouses & 3
nights camping on Inca Trail)
Services of professional crew
All Local Transport
International flights and taxes
Pre and Post tour Accommodation (can be arranged at time of booking)
Airport transfers from internal flights
Meals not specified
Items listed in ‘Optional activities’ section
Items of a personal nature & spending money
Travel Insurance and Visas
Local Tour Payment
Drinks
Tips
Local Payment is part of your overall tour
investment and is the easiest and most economical way to get hard
currency to South America to help run your trip. It goes toward a
variety of day to day local costs which cannot be
pre-paid from elsewhere. This is payable to your tour leader on
departure and
needs to be in US Dollars cash only. Please
note: US Dollar Travellers Cheques cannot be changed into US$ cash in
most countries we visit, they can only be changed into local currency
(banks
will often tell you different, this is incorrect). In the few places
where you
can sometimes buy US$ cash, you will pay excessive charges.
Nazca Lines Flight
Amazon Jungle Extensions - 4 days **Please enquire
Colca Canyon 1 day tour
Sand boarding and Dune Buggy
Cusco Museum pass
Chauchilla Cemetary
**Please refer to the OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES PAGE for a more comprehensive list of activities.
We provide a free service for booking pre-trip accommodation for your arrival into Lima. We will require your flight number, arrival time, and arrival date so please ensure this is done ASAP after you have booked your flights and at least 6 weeks prior to your departure date as these services are subject to availability. All prices listed for pre/post trip accommodation & airport transfers are approximate. If you are arriving early in the morning and you would like to check in immediately, you may have to reserve your room for the previous night to ensure direct check in, otherwise you may have to wait until normal check in times. Double, twin, and triple rooms will be provided subject to availability where requested. However when not available we may need to book other rooming arrangements, and will fit these as closely as possible to your request. Those traveling solo will be put in shared rooms to reduce the costs to them, which may be dorm rooms or twin/triple shares with other travelers from your Tour Group. Single rooms may be available in some cities for solo travelers, and we will arrange this for you on request, subject to availability.
Departure Hotel: Hotel Bonboni
Hotel Bonboni:
Jr. Cailloma No 209, Lima 1, Peru
Telephone: (0051) (1)4276477
Website: http://www.bonbini.com
Single Room = GBP18.00 per room
Double / Twin Room = GBP20.00 per room
Triple Room = GBP10.00 per person
Dorm = GBP10.00 per person
A friendly small family run hostal in the center of Lima. Rooms vary in size, but most are dorm rooms. We have a flat rate for accommodation here. Couples and people traveling together we will try to room together, but please note as a small hostal that any bookings may be on a dorm basis where other rooms are not available. Accommodation costs for any additional nights are payable direct to the Hostal Bonbini on arrival in Nuevo Sol or $US.
You will be met at Lima Airport and transferred by a Hostal Bonbini. The driver will have your name on a sign. Many flights into Lima arrive around midnight. If your flight arrives more than 2 hours late, or if for any reason (eg. problem with immigration or lost baggage) you are delayed by more than 2 hours before getting through to the arrivals hall, you may need to call the Hostal to rearrange the transfer.
We have one Tour Leader on this tour whose duties are extensive & quite demanding. From organising accommodation, meals, travel arrangements, pre-booking some excursions and guides, to finding the best deals, socializing & making sure all runs as smoothly as possible. While your leader is experienced and knowledgeable about the regions that we travel through they are not tour guides as such. The diversity and extent of the history and cultures in this region is vast. In most historical areas we visit there are trained guides, who offer their services; they have spent many years, and have vast experience at particular sites.
Accommodation
We use a mixture of hotels and
guesthouses along the way using shared rooms (between 2 people of the same sex
from your trip) unless you are a couple or you have requested a specific type of
room. It must be remembered that the Hotels we use are an integral part of Peru
& Bolivia and can suffer from common problems that can affect all levels of
hotels such as, electrical failure, plumbing faults and other technical
difficulties and hot water may occasionally be temperamental if a lot of people
are using the showers at the same time. This is a possibility throughout all
classes of hotels. During the four days Inca Trail hike you camp. Tents are
provided and sleeping bags can be hired (see Inca Trail section for more
information on the various hikes).
Meals
All
breakfasts are included whilst on tour plus all meals on the Inca Trek and your
Lake Titicaca overnight stay. We find that most people appreciate sampling the
culinary tastes of South America and class this as one of their favourite
pastimes. This is why we don't include every meal - allowing each person the
chance to try out some of the local cuisine from markets, restaurants &
cafes. At times your Tour Leader may organize a group meal - which is another
good way to sample some of the local and international
delicacies.
Vegetarians / Vegans - Your Tour Leader will always do their best to cater for Vegetarians, Vegans or any other dietary requirements whenever possible, but it must be remembered that the variety of dishes available may not be the same as available to meat eaters. If there is anything in particular you require or would miss from home, it would be best to bring it with you. Remember that when eating out in local restaurants & hotels that the vegetarian concept, while often not new, is still alien & often incomprehensible to many local people and you will often be offered fish or chicken in error. Most large towns and cities, or areas used to tourists, will often have more choice for vegetarians but please be aware that you will not receive the variety or quantity of dishes available to meat eaters.
Transport
This tour uses a mixture of public buses
and trains and we also take several internal flights between cities allowing you
more time to explore.
Local Payment (LP)
LP is part of your overall trip payment and is the most cost effective and practical way to
get hard currency to South America to pay for a variety of your day-to-day local
costs which cannot be pre-paid from the UK. It is a guaranteed amount, set
before your trip departs, and unlike 'group kitty' systems we will not ask you
to contribute more once the trip is underway. Please note:
Your LP is payable to your Tour Leader on the morning of departure in US$ Dollars CASH ONLY. Make sure that all your
notes are in good condition. Old, torn or marked notes are often refused by the
banks. Do not bring all of your Local Payment in US$100 notes and please make
sure that they are post 1996 and not of a serial number starting with CB.
Spending Money
From past
trips and traveller feedback US$200 per week should cover costs such as visas,
most meals, soft drinks and beers, email & communications, souvenirs and
other general spending. Personal spending habits & budgets differ greatly
from person to person. Budget on optional activities separately
(see optional excursions page) & allow extra for your Local Payment
contribution. There is mostly a departure tax payable in the airport, so allow
up to US$60 for this (figure includes internal and international
flights).
Changing money
Change your money only at
banks, hotels, airports or forex bureau's. It is illegal to change money on the
street, as these people will normally be opportunistic thieves or undercover
police. Your crew will advise you where & when you can change money &
with what means. It is also a good idea to have a small CASH emergency fund, to
allow for the unexpected.
How to bring your
currency?
As a general rule it is best to bring your money as 2/3rds
US$ cash & 1/3rd in US$ or £GB Travellers Cheques (TC's). Euros are also becoming more widely accepted. US
dollars dated pre-1996, old, marked or damaged notes and serial numbers starting
CB are not accepted in South America, so please ensure your notes are dated 1997
onward & Scottish pounds are also not accepted. It can be difficult using
US$100 bills so if possible, bring US$50 bills or
lower. Visas need to be paid for in US$ CASH
ONLY!
Travellers Cheques (TC's) - as well as debit / credit cards can attract 2 to 8 % commission. The use of TC's overseas can be frustrating but at the same time worthwhile as they can be replaced in an incidence of loss or theft.
Credit & Debit Cards - a combination of several types are suggested as not all types are accepted in all places. Visa & Maestro are best, MasterCard has limited access through parts of Peru & Bolivia. Over the counter cash advances can be expensive, time consuming and should not be relied upon - you will be given local currency and NOT US$ or £GB. We recommend that you inform your bank that you will be using your card abroad to avoid it being blocked. Please see the optional excursions page for activities that can be paid for using a Credit or Debit Card.
ATM's - Some smaller towns may not have ATM's, but large cities generally do have. www.visa.com or www.mastercard.com can give a general idea of locations of ATM's around the world - but please do not rely on this means alone to obtain local cash, please only use as a guide - things change, and ATM's don't always work!
Besides memorising your PIN, it is also important to be aware of your daily withdrawal limit and bank withdrawal costs.
Tipping is often expected and relied upon. It is often more than a reward for services well done, but, as wages are extremely low, it is an accepted means of supplementing an income. If you would like to leave a tip for any activity/individual, you could organize this as a group and give a tip at the end. A recommended amount for restaurants is usually 10% of your total bill and similar for activities. Some countries also charge an extra Government tax. Your Tour Leader will usually be able to help you with any queries regarding this. In the past we have been asked by travellers about tipping your Crew. Our guys work very hard at making your trip a great travel experience. Working overseas can often be challenging and they are pretty much on call for you 24 hours a day, so it's appreciated with a thank you for hard work and good service - even if it is just verbally. Although a tip is not expected by the Crew, if you have had a great trip and feel you would like to show your appreciation by leaving your crew a tip - an amount of $1 a day has been recommended to us by some past customer feedback. Please be aware that tipping and the amount you tip is entirely up to you individually and always your choice.
You will experience a varying degree of climatic changes at any time of year, from freezing temperatures (down to as cold as minus -15°C) in the Andes, to scorching heat in the desert and heavy downpours in the jungle (up to as hot and humid as 47°C and 90% humidity). The rains in the Andes usually occur between November and April. This means downpours once or twice a day with the rest of the day usually warm and sunny, although there will also be times where it may not rain at all for a week or so. April to October is the dry season with clear views of the mountains. It is hot during the day but extremely cold at night with temperatures often well below zero. You will be spending a lot of time at altitude where nights can be very cold at any time of year. The deserts in Chile can also be cold during the night but can be very hot during the day particularly between October and May. The Amazon Jungle is very hot with high humidity plus regular downpours of rain usually year-round.
Health and Hygiene on the trip - Your tour leader will talk to you about this at the beginning of the trip. To join the expedition you should be in good general health. You must notify the tour leader if you have any pre-existing medical condition or are on any regular medication.
Vaccinations - You will have to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove it. It is also advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis. Consult your doctor about the necessity of having Hepatitis B and Rabies shots. If you plan to visit the Amazon Basin then you will need a course of Malaria tablets, please contact your doctor or a medical centre for advice on which Malaria treatments may suit you best. Try to allow 6 weeks to get all your vaccinations done. Your doctor will advise the best order in which your shots should be given. If you are not registered with a GP there are a number of medical centres, which can help you. However, some can be quite expensive so it is worth hunting around.
Altitude sickness – This is caused by thin air and can affect anyone arriving at high altitude. The symptoms are headaches, dizziness, shortage of breath and possibly nausea. To avoid this or alleviate the symptoms, rest for a few hours and avoid drinking alcohol, smoking and large meals. Take it easy for at least 24 hours and drink plenty of water. As we are travelling mostly by land (as opposed to flying into a high altitude location) we should acclimatise gradually, and so avoid ‘soroche’, mountain sickness.
Personal Medicines - We advise you bring along your own small
medical kit to include; antiseptic ointment; antihistamine cream; nurofen or
equivalent pain-killer; eye drops/bath; anti diarrhoea treatment; sun block;
after sun/moisturiser; rehydration sachets; plasters; suitable antibiotics as
recommended by your doctor for infected cuts and to treat severe dysentery.
Please bring 2 photocopies of your passport details page to give to your tour leader. You'll need at least two blank pages in your passport, which must be valid for at least 9 months from your departure date. If you have dual nationality you can only use one passport.
Visas - Please note it is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the relevant visas that you require. If you have any doubts regarding visa requirements, please contact us or your Travel Agent. Most visas must be used within three months from their date of issue. At present, nationalities of UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada do not require visas for Ecuador, Peru, Argentina or Chile.
Peru - At present nationalities of UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, S. Africa and Canada do not require a visa. If you are not one of these passport holders please check with the Peru Consulate; in London: 52 Sloane Street, London, SW1. tel. 0207 838 9223 or www.peruembassy-uk.com
N.B: On arrival at Lima airport, you will be given a white ‘Immigration card’. It is important that you keep this with your passport during your entire stay in Peru as it is needed for departure from Peru.
For information on the location of your nearest embassy or consulate we recommend the following website: yahoo.com/Government/Embassies_and_Consulates/ . For current updates on visa information you can try the website www.visaproject.com