2 night Jungle excursion
Chan Chan Ruins
Inca Trail trek
Boat tour on Lake Titicaca
Atacama Desert - Valley of the Moon
Torres del Paine National Park
Jesuit Mission
Iguazu Falls
Use of comprehensive cooking and camping equipment
All accommodation while on tour
Services of professional crew
The main sites listed in the trip dossier
All listed Included Highlights
Food – meals prepared by the group. Approx 50%
International flight transfers and taxes
Pre and Post tour Accommodation (can be arranged at time of booking)
Items listed in ‘Optional activities’ section
Items of a personal nature & spending money
Travel Insurance and Visas
Local Tour Payment
Local Payment 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 (i.e. all meals prepared by the group, campsite fees, gas, and certain activities listed on the trip page) 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 and we will therefore be unable to accept them either. Please do not bring all of your Local Payment in US$100 notes and also make sure that they are post 1996 and not of a serial number starting with CB.
There are MANY optional activities and side trips available on this tour. Please refer to the OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES PAGE for a comprehensive list.
The truck will be your new home giving you a comfortable, secure base with which to experience your trip. As part of the adventure you will be expected to have an active involvement in the day to day running of the trip, be part of the group and get stuck in and help with various tasks, whether it's cooking meals over open fires, pitching your tent or keeping the truck clean & tidy.
Camping
You will be provided with tents for those nights you will be camping. We spend some nights bush or desert camping and the rest of the time in campsites. Facilities and standards at campsites vary, some are well equipped and managed and some are very basic. At bush camps you will be living off the truck, so there will be no showers or en-suite facilities! At certain campsites there is the opportunity to upgrade to a private room at your own expense if you are missing your bed.
Simple Hotels / Hostels
At some locations you will stay at small locally owned hostels/hotels. These are usually basic places, and often the accommodation will be mixed sex dormitory style. Upgrades may be available on arrival, but cannot be reliably pre- booked. Please be aware that the quality of accommodation can vary quite a lot from area to area and sometimes in a small hotel the standard of rooms can vary even from one room to the next - so there needs to be a level of understanding within the group that your oasis crew does not often have power over room allocation or services provided by various hotels and it is unavoidable that they have to rely on the local staff.
Participation
Participation is essential. A successful and smooth tour depends very much on everyone taking part in the duties that arise i.e. cooking, vehicle cleaning and food shopping. With this in mind your crew will organize groups on a rotating roster. The most successful tours are those where everyone becomes involved as much as possible. These are not luxury tours, so join in! In the end the more you put in the more you get out.
Meals and Cook Groups
When 'on the road' or camping, your will usually cook using gas or over open fires in a rota system and you can expect to cook in a group of two or three people approximately once every ten days depending on the number of people on trip and whereabouts you are. Your cook group will have to decide on what to cook, utilise stocks from the truck stores and locally obtain ingredients from markets, shops etc and rustle up a meal.
Spending Money
From past trips and traveler feedback US$150 to US$200 per week should cover costs such visas, some meals out (on average 50% of meals on the trip are supplied), 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 often a departure tax payable in the airport, so allow up to US$50 for this.
How to bring your Currency
As a general rule it is best to bring your money as 2/3rds US$ cash & 1/3rd in US$ or £GB Travelers Cheques (TC's). Euros are also becoming more widely accepted. US dollars dated pre-1996, old 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. Ensure when buying US Dollars before you travel, ask for clean notes with no tears or markings. It can be difficult using US$100 bills in Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia so if possible, bring US$50 bills for these countries.
Visa's need to be paid for in US$ CASH ONLY!
Travelers Cheques (TC's) - 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 South America. 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 - In some destinations we probably won't even see a bank or ATM for days on end. 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
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 add an extra Government tax on restaurant bills. Your crew will usually be able to help you with any queries regarding this.
In the past we have been asked by travelers about tipping your Crew. These 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.
Group Size
The maxumim group size is 23 in South America
Your Crew
There are usually two crew whose duties are extensive
and quite demanding, with challenges
ranging from driving and maintaining the expedition vehicle to a very
high standard, to organising visas and border crossings, accommodation,
pre-booking some excursions and guides, helping with shopping and cooking as
well as finding the best deals, keeping up with the party animals and making
sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. Adventure travel - is not an exact science. The very unpredictability, which makes it
such a rewarding experience, means occasionally we must amend our itineraries
to take into account changing local circumstances. In such situations we’ll always try to
minimise any disruption, but you need to bear in mind that from time to time
events occur outside our control. While
our crew are experienced and knowledgeable of the countries through which we
travel they are not tour guides as such.
In some places we visit, experienced local guides will be available.
We can book pre tour accommodation at our departure hotel/hostel for you if you provide us with your arrival details. You will need to pay for your room upon arrival. Post tour accommodation can be booked en-route with the help of your crew.
The Tour departs from: The Majestic Hotel in Quito.
Hotel Majestic:
Mercadillo 366 y Versailles
Tel: 593 2 2543 182
Fax: 593 2 2504207
www.majesticquito.com
Single Room = up to USD25.00 per room
Double / Twin Room = up to USD30.00 per room
Triple Room = up to USD35.00 per room
Share Room = up to USD20.00 per person
*If you are traveling alone you can opt to reserve a shared room (usually a twin or triple) with other same sex travelers from your trip. We will always request this option when advised, otherwise a single room at the relevant rate will be arranged when there are no other traveler's requesting to share.
The Hotel: Close to the new city area 20 mins from the airport. All rooms have a bathroom. A great value simple hotel with good service, and in a convenient location for exploring Quito. We can book the Majestic Hotel and your airport transfer for you, but please give us ample notice. There are cheaper hotel options nearby, but if you do stay elsewhere please check the notice board in the Majestic Hotel for details on the pre-departure meeting the night before.
The Tour departs from: The Art Hotel in Rio.
The Art Hotel:
Rua Silveira Martins 135
Catete
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Email: bookings@arthostelrio.com
PH: +55 21 2205.1983
Web: www.arthostelrio.com
**There is a 5 night minimum stay during Carnival and a 4 night minimum stay during New Year at this hotel.
The Hotel is situated just over the road from the gardens of Catete Palace, and only a 15 minute walk from Lapa, known for its street party, bars, live music and clubs; Flamengo beach and park, with its spectacular views of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer; and 4 Metro stops away from Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beaches. The hostel boasts a large, sunny roof terrace with guest kitchen and delicious buffet breakfast including home-made cakes and jams, fresh fruits, cheeses and cold cuts. With 24 hour reception and English-speaking receptionists, they can help you with information, tours and events. As the name implies, the Art Hostel Rio frequently has students, artists, and musicians staying here, and the walls and rooms show off some of their works. The hostel offers dorm rooms, singles, twins and doubles, with either air-conditioning or fans, all with private bathroom. All bedlinen, towels and breakfast are included in the price. There is free Wifi and cable TV in public areas, and we have 4 computers for guest use. They also hire out bikes for the best way to get around Rio.
If you stay at the Hotel Majestic in Quito you can use their airport transfer service. Let us know your flight details when you request a room and we can book it for you. The cost is US$15 per person which you pay directly to the hotel. You can also ask at the airport information desk for a taxi which will cost you about US$20 / 25. Most cabs are private without meters so you should settle on a fare before you enter the cab. The currency in Ecuador is the US dollar so you won’t need to change any money, just have some cash handy to pay for your taxi. It is about 20 mins to the hotel.
We do not provide a transfer service in Rio.
Your tour leader will meet you at the pre-departure meeting the morning your trip starts at the Departure Hotel. There will be a notice in reception advising the time and here your crew will explain how the day to day running of the trip works etc. Your crew will also require a copy of your passport, insurance policy, number and confirmation that the duration will cover you for the entire trip and a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number. It is essential that you attend this meeting - please let the UK office or your Tour Leader know if you are unable to make it.
Please bring 2 photocopies of your passport details page to give to your tour leader. You'll need at least six 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 are not included in the tour price or recommended daily spending money.
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.
Bolivia - At present nationalities of UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada do not require a visa. South Africans do require one – we recommend obtaining this before you start the trip, see the website of the Bolivian Embassy in London: www.embassyofbolivia.co.uk.
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