Chile to Peru Express DETAILED ITINERARY Go Gui… · TRIP NOTES Chile to Peru Express Chile to Peru Express - 15 days updated on 21-10-2015 UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected]

TRIP NOTES

Chile to Peru Express15 days | Santiago to Lima

Chile to Peru Express - 15 days updated on 21-10-2015

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Explore the world's driest desert

and the stunning salt flats of

Bolivia. Continue on to Peru and

the fascinating Sacred Valley and

world-famous Machu Picchu before

finishing up in Lima.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• San Pedro de Atacama - The world's driest

desert• Salar de Uyuni including 4x4 excursion• Machu Picchu - The lost city of the Incas• Puno & Lake Titicaca - Uros floating reed

islands, Amantani and Taquila islands• Sacred Valley of the Incas - Pisac ruins, the

temple of Ollantaytambo and local markets• Santiago - Chile's cosmopolitan capital• La Paz - One of the highest cities in the

world• Cuzco - The ancient Inca capital• Lima - Vibrant markets and colonial

museums

What's Included• 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners• 14 nights in simple hotels, hostels and

guesthouses• Airport arrival transfer on day 1

• 3 economy class flights: Santiago - SanPedro de Atacama, Uyuni - La Paz, Cuzco -Lima

• Included excursions: guided tour of theValley of the Moon, entry to LagunaColorada National Park, drive on the Salarde Uyuní salt flats,full day excursion on Lake Titicaca, guidedtour of Sacred Valley of the Incas andguided tour of Machu Picchu

• Escorted by a tour leader and specialist localguides at certain sites

• Transportation by public bus, boat, trainand 4x4

• Entrance fees for included excursions

What's Not Included• International flights and visas• Items of a personal nature, additional meals

and drinks

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : SantiagoArrive into Santiago airport where you'll be metand transferred to our hotel. In order to allowtime to relax and see some of the sights you maywish to add pre tour accommodation. On arrivalplease ask at the reception for information onwhen the pre departure meeting will be held.

On your first day you are free to explore Chile'scosmopolitan capital city, Santiago, at your own

pace. For the best views of the city, take afunicular railway to the top of San Cristobalwhere the Statue of the Virgin overlooks thecapital and the distant Andes. Here you cantaste some of Chile's best wines and find somebeautifully situated swimming pools. Santiago isa very clean, modern city with many fountainsand parks, and is well-renowned for its marketssuch as the famous Mercado Central, one of thebest seafood markets in the world. In the PlazaConstitucion at the Palacio de la Moneda youcan see the changing of the guard on most days.

Optional Excursions: Museo Histórico Nacional– US$1 • Teatro Municipal, with daily showsranging from opera, ballet, orchestras andconcerts – from US$3-12 • Maipo region winerytours – US$18-50 Overnight - Santiago

Days 2-3 : San Pedro deAtacama

Santiago - San Pedro de Atacama. We fly alongthe Pacific coast to the north of the country andtransfer to San Pedro de Atacama. There is an

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excellent archaeological museum in San Pedrode Atacama, housing a good selection of ancientartefacts. The Atacama desert that surroundsthe town offers some of the clearest skies inthe world and as such is used by internationalspace agencies to monitor the skies. If it is a clearnight, the starscape viewed from San Pedro deAtacama will most likely be the best you'll eversee. Overnight - San Pedro de Atacama (B:1)

Day 4 : Laguna Colorada

San Pedro de Atacama - Laguna Colorada. Wecontinue our 4WD expedition and cross theborder into Bolivia, into some of the mostremote areas of the Bolivian Altiplano. You willsee a variety of dramatic landscapes includingsmoking volcanoes, barren deserts and gravity-defying rock formations carved by the wind. Youwill visit the Laguna Colorada, which offers sometruly breathtaking scenery, with several varietiesof flamingos gathering in the shallow waters ofthe beautiful crimson lagoon.

Included Excursions: Entrance to LagunaColorada National Park Overnight - LagunaColorada (B, L, D)

Days 5-6 : Salar de Uyuni

Laguna Colorada - Salar de Uyuni. Continuingour exhilarating 4WD tour, we explore the epicSalar de Uyuni. Claimed to be the largest saltflat in the world, the brilliant white vast Salarde Uyuní, which covers some 10,500 square

kilometres and is estimated to contain 10billion tons of salt, looks like something froma surrealist painting and its seemingly infinitehorizons will amaze you. The highlight of theday is Fish Island (seasonal dependent). Locatedin the centre of the Salar, 100 kilometres fromUyuní, this hilly outpost is covered in giant cactiamid a flat, white sea of hexagonal salt tiles. Theisland is so named because it has the shape ofa fish. The otherworldly views from Fish Islandwill take your breath away, with the brilliant bluesky (weather permitting of course) contrastingwith the pure white of the salt flats. On thisday we will also explore the Train Cemetery,where you can see the remains of 19th andearly 20th century steam locomotives, and wevisit Colchani, which is the main plant for theiodisation of salt and the best place to observethe methods of salt extraction from the Salar.

Please Note: Occasionally in the rainy season thesalt flats become overly flooded and we mayhave to alter the itinerary if the salt flats are notsafe to traverse. Your tour leader will advise asearly as possible if this is likely to happen on yourtour.

Included Excursions:Visit the Salar de Uyunísalt flats Overnight - Uyuni / Salar De UyuniRegion (B:2, L:1, D:1)

Days 7-8 : La Paz

Salar de Uyuni - La Paz. We fly across the countryfrom Uyuni to La Paz. If it is a clear day, youwill be able to see the huge expanse of theAltiplano as you fly over the landlocked country,perhaps seeing the Andes slowly flattening outto become the Amazonian basin, which spreadsto the far East of the country, to the border withBrazil.

Built in a steep valley that protects the city fromthe harsh elements of the Altiplano, just about

every building in La Paz is built on some sort ofhill, so sightseeing will literally take your breathaway! You will have two days to explore La Pazand it's bustling atmosphere. Our hotel is verycentrally located and is just around the cornerfrom the city's colourful indigenous streetmarkets including the fascinating and suitablynamed "Witches Market'' where local womenin traditional 'Cholita' dress sell such items asdead cats and llamas foetuses said to wardoff evil spirits. The main square, Plaza Murillo,is also within walking distance. The squarestill retains its colonial buildings including thePresidential Palace. La Paz is possibly the bestplace to experience a traditional pena show ofAndean music and dance to local bands playingtime-honoured instruments such as zamponas(pipes) and charangos (the ukulele).

Optional Excursions: Red Caps walking tours– free (tips appreciated) • The World's MostDangerous Road Mountain Biking – US$107Overnight - La Paz (B:1)

Days 9-10 : Puno & LakeTiticaca

La Paz - Puno. We travel by public bus across theborder into Peru and on to Puno on the shoresof Lake Titicaca, which at 3855 metres above sealevel, is the highest navigable lake in the world.We'll arrive in time so you can visit the colourfullocal market.

The next morning we depart Puno for our fullday excursion on Lake Titicaca. We visit thefloating Uros islands in the Bay of Puno, whichare constructed by the islanders using reedsthat grow in the shallow waters of the bay.You will get to meet the families who live onthese islands, learning about their way of lifeand visiting their homes. You will also have theoption to ride in a traditional reed boat beforecontinuing our journey to the island of Taquile,

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a small island 45km offshore from Puno. It iswell known for its tradition of intricate textilesand clothing knitted by the male locals. Thesetextiles are regarded among the highest-qualityhandicrafts in Peru, and you will learn about thisimportant tradition by meeting and interactingwith the islanders. You will then have the optionto have a lunch made of local produce beforereturning to Puno.

Included Excursions: Full day excursion onLake Titicaca Overnight - Puno (B:2)

Day 11 : Cuzco

Puno - Cuzco. We travel from Puno to Cuzco,driving along roads abundant with herds ofllamas, alpacas and vicunas before reaching theAltiplano (high plain) where our journey takes uspast hot mineral pools, snow capped mountainsand through villages where the locals sell food,fur hats and alpaca sweaters. At the highestpoint, the La Raya pass at 4321 metres, youcan see the research station for high altitudeanimals. After arriving in Cuzco, you have therest of the day to explore this fascinating ancientcapital. We recommend taking a city tour, sothat you see as much of the city as possible inthe time available.

The oldest continuously inhabited city in SouthAmerica, Cuzco was the hub of the Incan Empireand features a population of around 300,000,most of who are indigenous. This marvellouscolonial city is situated 3310 metres above sealevel and has numerous churches, some ofwhich were built using recycled Inca masonry,as were many other buildings in Cuzco. Themain square is called the Plaza de Armas, whichhas the beautiful cathedral on one side, whichtook a century to build, and the Church of LaCompania de Jesus on the other. The colonialarcades, which occupy the remainder of theplaza, are full of restaurants and shops. If you're

in the mood for a cultural experience, take apeek inside the 14th-century Inca palace whichwas later converted into the city's Museo de ArteReligioso (Museum of Religious Art). Well worthexploring during your time here is the ancientarchaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, which hasthe largest and most impressive Inca stoneworkof all.

The city also boasts the San Pedro market, whereall kinds of textiles and artisan merchandiseare sold, and you can enjoy a fresh fruit juicemade by one of the welcoming locals. Or youcan simply enjoy wandering the cobbled streets,enjoy a cup of coca tea in a local cafe and soakup the friendly atmosphere.

Optional Excursions: Cuzco Visitor Ticket, thisgives access to most museums and monuments– US$45 • Salt Terraces Maras Moray – US$30• Massages – US$25/hr • City tour – US$25Overnight - Cuzco (B)

Day 12 : Sacred Valley of theIncasA full day is spent visiting the Sacred Valley ofthe Incas. Firstly we visit the Pisac ruins, perchedon a hilltop with incredible views of the snow-capped mountains. We then go down to thefamous traditional market of the same name,which is full of colour and atmosphere. A greatplace for souvenirs! After lunch, we continuealong the valley to the temple/fortress ofOllantaytambo with its enormous Inca terracingconstructed on the side of a steep mountain.

Included Excursions: Guided Tour of SacredValley of the Incas Overnight - Cuzco (B)

Day 13 : Machu Picchu

The Lost City of Machu Picchu was originallycompletely self-contained, surrounded byagricultural terraces sufficient to feed the

population, and watered by natural springs.Located high above the fast flowing UrubambaRiver, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces,baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150houses, all in a remarkable state of preservationthat will simply take your breath away.

The ruins were only discovered by the outsideworld in 1911, when American explorer HiramBingham found them while looking for another“lost city” called Vilcabamba. Due to theirisolation many of the buildings are still quiteintact and you can't help but admire HuaynaPicchu (“Young Mountain”), which towers abovethe ruins. After a guided tour learning aboutthe fascinating history of the Lost City, you havethe rest of the day to meander around the ruinsor enjoy some free time exploring the localmarkets in Aguas Calientes, before returning toCuzco by train.

Included Excursions: Guided Tour of MachuPicchu Overnight - Cuzco (B)

Day 14 : Lima

Cuzco - Lima. We fly from Cuzco to Peru's capitalcity, where you have the rest of the day toexplore all of its sites and sounds. Lima wasfounded by the Spanish Conquistador FranciscoPizarro in 1535 after he eradicated the Incasand made the city his capital. Lima has manyfine colonial buildings and some of the bestmuseums in South America including the GoldMuseum, Museum of the Inquisition and theCatacombs below the San Francisco Church.Peru's capital has much to offer and many ofthe sights, including the city's two main squaresthe Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, arewithin easy walking distance The Plaza de Armashouses the Cathedral, Municipal Palace andPresidential Palace where the changing of theguard can be seen every day at 12 noon. There

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are also many markets in Lima, possibly the bestbeing in the central district.

Optional Excursions:</p> MuseumInquisition – free • Monastery and Catacombs– US$3 guided tour • Plaza San Martin, oneof the largest and most impressive squares •Paragliding – US$60 Overnight - Lima

Day 15 : LimaYour adventure of a lifetime comes to anend today. If you have a late flight or havelengthened your stay by adding post touraccommodation you will have more time toexplore the sights.

Arriving to SantiagoOn arrival in Santiago, we recommend youchange enough money into the local currency(the Chilean peso) for the first four or five days ofyour trip. This is especially important if you arearriving on a Saturday night. The exchange rateat the airport is just as good as in the city centre.As you come out of immigration you will find thebank right in front of you before you turn leftinto the baggage claim area or you can use oneof the ATMs outside the terminal.

Airport transferAn airport arrival transfer is included in the costof your tour. If you are going to be delayed morethan two hours, you must advise us of the delayat least six hours before arrival. If we are advisedin time, we will make every effort to rescheduleyour transfer and your driver will be asked towait for two hours after your new expectedarrival time. However, if we are not made awareof any change, the driver will only wait for twohours after the original scheduled arrival timeand after this point it will be up to you to arrangetransport to your hotel at your own expense.Please contact us on the emergency contactdetails below if you are likely to be delayed.

Contact your arrival transfer:Contact CTS - Tel: +56 9 9793181

Making your own way to our start hotelIf you need to make your own way to our starthotel you can either take a taxi from the rankoutside or you can arrange to pay for a taxi atone of the pre-pay taxi desks just before youget to the luggage hall. You then hand a ticket

to the driver rather than paying in the taxi.Licensed and unlicensed taxis are also availableoutside but you will have to haggle for a goodprice which can be difficult if you do not speakSpanish. If you do use these taxis you shouldagree a price before setting off and get thedriver to write down the price (be clear onwhether they are talking about pesos or USdollars). The airport is approximately 30 minutesfrom the city centre (depending on traffic) andthe cost of a taxi to our hotel in Santiago shouldbe approximately US$18.

Start Hotel Address:Hotel LibertadorAvenida Libertador Bernado O’ Higgins 853Santiago, Chile

Tel: (+56) 2 639 4211Fax: (+56) 2 632 7128

The hotel serves a continental breakfastconsisting of bread, jam and tea/coffee or juice,or an American breakfast with eggs. Pleasecheck with reception for serving times andprices (breakfast is not included).

Single SupplementIf you paid our single supplement for this tour,a single room will be provided for your comfortevery night except days 4 and 5.

Top tips for your arrivalThe hotel has safe deposit boxes for your use(you will get an itemised receipt). Please leaveall of your important documents, money andtravellers cheques here when you go out butremember to carry some form of ID and aphotocopy of your passport with you.

It is not advisable not to wear chains orexpensive looking watches or jewellery while inmajor South American cities. You should alsokeep your camera concealed when not in useand carry daypacks on your front for extra safety.Crime in Latin America is not as bad as itsreputation but you must be sensible and alert.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Our partners Tucan TravelPlease note that our South America grouptours (not Galapagos cruises) are operated

by Tucan Travel. Travellers on your trip willhave made their reservation with either On TheGo Tours or Tucan Travel.

Hotels & Arrival TransfersArriving at the airportWhen you arrive in your starting city theimmigration officials may ask to see youronward flight ticket, so you should have yourTucan Travel tour voucher and internationalflight ticket to hand.

Day 1 of all our tours is simply a joining dayand the tour actually departs the joining cityon day 2. The last day of your tour is theofficial departure day and is free for you topack or sightsee before you depart. All tours arescheduled to arrive at your final destination theafternoon/evening before your departure day.Therefore very little time is spent in each of thestarting and finishing cities and you will need toallow a few days at the beginning or end of yourtour if you want to explore them further. Thisis particularly important for passengers joiningtours in high altitude cities (Quito & La Paz) sothat you can rest and acclimatise before thetour begins. We can book pre and post touraccommodation for you upon request.

Check in time is at 1300 hrs on day 1. If youwish to use the services of a room before or aftercheckout time, or you are arriving very early inthe morning of day 1, you will need to book anextra night, which we can arrange for you. Allrooms are on a bed only basis unless otherwiseindicated.

An airport arrival transfer is included. Departuretransfers are not included but can be booked foran additional fee.

Important: Upon arrival, if you are going to bedelayed more than two hours, you must adviseus of the delay at least six hours before arrival. Ifwe are advised in time, we will make every effortto reschedule your transfer and your driver willbe asked to wait for two hours after your newexpected arrival time. However, if we are notmade aware of any change, the driver will onlywait for two hours after the original scheduledarrival time and after this point it will be upto you to arrange transport to your hotel at

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your own expense. Please contact us on theemergency number on your tour voucher.

Missing your tour departureIf you miss the start of your tour, please ask at thereception of the hotel for a message from yourtour leader which will give you instructions onhow to catch up with the group. Any associatedcosts will be at your own expense (although,depending on the reason, you may be able toclaim these from your travel insurance so ensureyou keep all receipts).

If you know in advance that you are unlikelyto arrive on time, please contact Tucan Travelimmediately so we can inform the tour leader.Tucan Travel cannot be held responsible shouldyour airline/boat/coach be delayed and we areunable to refund any unused portion of yourtour.

Welcome MeetingSouth America Group Tours - The address ofyour start hotel can be found on your tourvoucher. On arrival you should look for a TucanTravel information sheet and welcome noteon the hotel notice board where you will finddetails of the pre-departure/welcome meeting.The tour leader or a representative will normallyhold the pre-departure meeting early in theevening of day one (assuming that all travellershave arrived by then). You will be briefed aboutthe tour, given an outline itinerary for the nextfew days and any questions will be answered.After the meeting there is usually an option foreveryone to go out for dinner and drinks to startto get to know one another.

Please note that you will need to bring thefollowing items to the pre departure meeting:

• The original copy and a photocopy of yourpassport

• Vaccination certificates (if required)• Travel voucher• Details of your travel insurance policy

number and their 24hr emergency contactnumber

Our itinerariesOur detailed day by day itineraries are providedin good faith and it is our intention to adhereto the published route but please be aware

that changes may be made before or duringyour tour for operational or safety reasonsor to incorporate improvements. Impromptuchanges may also occur whilst you are travellingas a result of one-off circumstances such asan excursion being closed on a particularday, weather conditions or transport. Delaysare rare but occur occasionally and for thisreason and the reasons above this itineraryshould be considered as a guide only. Publishedtransport times are approximations and mayvary depending on local conditions.

Optional ExcursionsDuring our South America Group Tours therewill be free time to enjoy a range ofoptional excursions which are listed in the tripnotes. Your tour leader will be able to makerecommendations and bookings in advancefor most of these activities so you have moreflexibility and control over your itinerary. Pleasenote that you may not have time to do allof the optional excursions listed. Should youwish to partake in optional activities in the citywhere you tour starts/ends, please check their issufficient time to do so or alternatively considerbooking pre/post tour accommodation.

Optional excursions are not operated by On TheGo Tours / Tucan Travel and while every effortis made prices may not be up-to-date and areintended as a general guide to help you budgetfor your trip. Prices for vehicle-based excursionsare approximate based on the optimum numberof participants and the actual price may varydepending on group size.

Sufficient safety equipment such as helmets andlife jackets are sometimes not available andOn The Go Tours / Tucan Travel are unableto provide this equipment. If you intend toparticipate in an optional excursion you may liketo consider bringing your own safety gear.

Excursions are run by a local operator or thirdparty with both On The Go Tours / Tucan Traveland the Tour Leader acting as a booking agentonly. Optional activities are not part of the tourand our booking conditions do not apply tothem. It is your responsibility to ensure you havethe correct travel insurance for the excursionsyou intend to take part in and On The Go

Tours / Tucan Travel are not liable for any injuriesincurred.

Spending MoneySpending money – allow approximately US$25-$30 per day to cover meals, snacks, drinks,limited souvenirs, laundry, tips and any extras onour group tours.

Style of TourOur South America Group Tours are designedto suit travellers who love being able to travelon many different forms of transport withlocal people. There is a certain amount ofinvolvement needed, which will mean carryingyour own bags to the bus or train station or evenhelping the driver throw everyone’s packs ontothe roof. If you enjoy meeting and interactingwith local people and don’t mind roughing itoccasionally, then these tours will be just rightfor you.

It is important that you are open to travellingwith a range of different age groups. You mustalso satisfy yourself that you are fit enough tocomplete the itinerary as there are no refundsif you choose to leave the tour. Based on thenature of this travel style, our adventurousSouth America tours are generally suitable forpeople aged between 18 and 60 years old. If youhave any questions about this please contact usor speak to your travel consultant.

Our South America tours suit people who are fitand active. On all of our tours there are manywalks between bus/train terminals and hotelsand travellers must be able to carry their ownluggage over various terrains as well as lift upluggage onto the tops of buses so do not packmore than you can comfortably carry.

The average group size is 8 to 12 passengerswith a maximum of 16, however onsome included excursions group sizes mayoccasionally be larger.

Tour LeadersOur South America Tours are escorted by a tourleader who will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the tour, so you are free tosit back, relax and enjoy the journey. Our tourleaders are genuine travel addicts who will sharetheir passion for their destination with you.

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You may be assisted at other times by otherrepresentatives, who will escort you at timeswhen your tour leader may not be available. Inaddition, local guides are used to accompanymany of our excursions, such as visits toarchaeological sites and the Inca Trail Trek.Their knowledge of the local area and familiaritywith its customs and history will enhance yourexperience by getting to know a country from alocal's perspective.

Our South America tours operate on a modularsystem with smaller tour sections joining andleaving the master tour throughout its duration.This means that you may start your tour with alocal representative and then meet up with yourtour leader and the rest of your group on daytwo of the tour.

TippingAlthough tipping is not a natural part ofmany Western cultures it is expected in SouthAmerica, where many workers are very poorlypaid and depend on tips for their main income.The local people work very hard to provide agood service and this is due in part to the tipsthey have received from foreigners in the past.However all tips are at your own discretion andyou should not feel obliged or pressured to tipat any time – particularly if you feel that the levelof service was not up to standard.

As a general guideline a gratuity of 10% of thetotal bill for your waiter is recommended inrestaurants. You should be aware that priceson the menu often exclude service chargesbut they are added to the bill (10%) and localtaxes (anywhere between 2% and 20%). If it isincluded then you are not expected to pay anadditional tip, although this is still appreciated.Some restaurants have a 'cubiertos' (covercharge) which is normally added onto the foodsection of the bill, not the total, so watch outfor this when dividing the bill with other groupmembers.

It is customary to tip your local guides onboth included and optional excursions. As aguideline, we recommend US$3-5 per personfor a half/full day excursion. Your tour leader willgenerally pass around an envelope for the localguide on included excursions. The tour leader

will indicate on the envelope the amount of thetip usually given per person to the guide.

This information is given as a guide as manytravellers are unsure how much to tip. Shouldyou wish to give the local guide your tippersonally and not with the group tip thenplease feel free to do so.

Inca Trail and Lares Trek - the commonlyaccepted combined tip for guides, porters andcooks on the Inca Trail or Lares Trek is US$30per trekker. This amount will be collected fromeach trekker by the tour leader and distributedamongst the Trail team usually at the last dinner.

Tips are also appreciated by your tour leader atthe end of your tour. This, however, this is onlyif you feel that their service was up to standardand is completely at your own discretion.Tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

Group Tour AccommodationIn South America we generally stay insmall, locally-owned hotels rather than largeinternational chains. We are occasionally farfrom towns and cities, staying in unique placessuch as jungle lodges, Chinese junk boats orremote home-stays. Depending on the tour,the accommodation we use is generally theequivalent in comfort of a two to three starhotel (except on our Peru in Comfort tour whichoffers 4 star accommodation). We stay in smallhotels, hostels and guest houses which areusually situated close to the main sights andtown centres. They are chosen for their localcharacter, ambience, cleanliness and security.You will find comfortable rooms with en-suitefacilities (although on rare occasions bathroomsmay be shared).

All accommodation is included from the arrivalday until check out time on the final day ofthe tour. Travellers will share rooms with othergroup members of the same gender. Mostly thiswill be in twin rooms although sometimes intriples depending on the group compositionand hotel rooming structure.

Please note: Accommodation sometimes haserratic services such as a lack of hot water or nocentral heating. Depending on the tour, theremay be occasions when you are camping or your

overnight accommodation is on buses, trainsor boats. More details on accommodation canbe found on each tour itinerary page. Hotelstaff don’t always speak English and sometimesour reservations are “lost”! In general, facilitiesare very good but please be prepared for theoccasional mishap, which is all part of the typicaltravel experience.

Transportation & TravelOn all of our South America Group Tourswe use a variety of transportation. Vehiclescan range from buses filled with local peopleand their many possessions to our to privateminibuses and comfortable air-conditionedcoaches. Sometimes you could be travellingon boats, trains, planes, ferries, private shuttlebuses, boats, dugout canoes and taxis. Mostbus transport is very comfortable, often withreclining seats.

Our aim is not simply to get you from A to B,but to help you to experience each destinationas a genuine traveller, not as a first classtourist. A word of warning - please rememberthat travelling conditions can sometimes becramped.

The occasional long travel day is inevitablewhen you are covering large distances. OurSouth America Tours try to find the balancebetween long, short and non travel days,ensuring our itineraries aren’t too tiring andgive you time to explore. We cut down ontravel times by including some short flights andovernight trains and buses. Each itinerary isdifferent, so please check the tour itineraries forinformation on travel times.

MealsOn our South America Group Tours breakfastis often included. In remote areas such as theAmazon Jungle excursion and on the Inca Trailor Lares treks, much and dinner is also included.Most other meals are not included which givesyou the flexibility to choose when and whereyou eat. Our tour leaders have a wealth ofknowledge regarding local restaurants and canadvise you of the best places to try the deliciousand varied local cuisine.

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What to PackOur South America tours often involve walksbetween bus or train terminals and hotels,so travellers must be able to carry their ownluggage over various terrains, as well as liftluggage on to the tops of buses. We thereforerecommend backpacks over suitcases, as youmay be off the beaten track every now andagain. It is important that you only pack whatyou can comfortably carry. By packing less youwill have a more enjoyable tour and have moreroom in your luggage for souvenirs! On toursthat include flights, we cover the cost of yourchecked baggage up to 20kg, even in caseswhere the airline policy is lower. All baggageover 20kg may still be checked, but charges willbe the responsibility of the traveller.

In addition to your main bag, you will need asmall daypack for your everyday excursions. Tryto keep this bag as light as possible and makesure that all main sections of your bags can bepadlocked. This daypack should have enoughroom to carry plenty of food and snacks forlong hikes and treks and be big enough for anovernight excursions.

Essential for all tours• Tour Voucher and Tour Trip Notes• Passport - with at least six months after youhave finished your tour with sufficient blankpages. (with 2 photocopies - one kept separately& the other to give to the tour leader with yournext of kin details)• Cash/ travellers cheques/ credit & debit cards(with photocopies kept separately)• Travel insurance certificate (with a photocopyto be given to your tour leader)• Spare passport photos (you may need these forobtaining visas)• International airline tickets (with a photocopykept separately)• International Vaccination Certificate (YellowFever if applicable)• International student card (may get youdiscounts into some sites)• Your travel consultant’s phone number andemail address (it is very important to have this asit is much easier to confirm/ change flights etcvia your agent)

Suggested equipment (some useful, somenecessary - use your discretion• Cotton money belt and/or pouch to store yourvaluables under your clothing• Sunglasses• Small calculator (to help with currencyconversions)• Lockable pouch for your money and valuablesto use in safety deposit boxes• Plastic bags (very useful for wrappingcamera equipment, soap, shampoo bottles, wetclothing etc)• Inflatable pillow (if trekking in Peru)• Sleeping Bag (if trekking in Peru)• Small umbrella (also good for sun protection)• Pegless washing line and travel laundrydetergent (bio-degradable preferably)• Torch• Binoculars• Travel alarm clock• Travel plug adaptor• Small medical kit with diarrhoea remedy,rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, steriledressings, plasters, bandages, pain-killers, safetypins etc.• Small sewing kit• Lip balm, sun block with high UV factor (this canbe expensive to buy locally)• Insect repellent (DEET 35% min) and bite cream• Tampons and condoms• Toilet paper (best to carry a roll with you at alltimes) and/or tissues (purchase locally)• Antibacterial hand cleansing gel (the type youcan use without water)• Moistened face tissues (e.g. Wet Ones)• Ear plugs• Travel sickness tablets (these are usually easyto buy over the counter locally)• Cheap plastic wristwatch• Spare pair of spectacles or contact lenses andsolution (a lens prescription is also advisable incase of loss or breakage)• Camera /video camera with plenty of film ordigital camera with spare memory cards• Spare rechargeable batteries for camera etc• Writing materials, address book and diary• Pocket size Spanish phrasebook• Travel games, cards & couple of paperbacks• As gifts for local children - pens (withadvertising on them), coloured pencils, smallnotepads. To discourage a begging mentalitywe recommend that you try to give these gifts at

schools or childcare centres rather than on thestreet.

Clothing & Foot wearAll clothes should be lightweight, durableand easily washable. Please do not bring anymilitary or camouflage-style clothing as it canbe dangerous to wear and occasionally illegal.Everybody ALWAYS packs too much, so ratherthan bringing lots of chunky sweaters, wearclothing in layers when in the colder regions.Nights can be cold at higher altitude so it is agood idea to bring at least one pair of warmtrousers or jeans plus several thinner sweaters/fleeces which you can layer (note: it is very easyto buy extra sweaters/ jumpers locally).

Check the climate and altitude atwww.worldclimate.com to get an idea of whatthe weather will be like on your tour. We do notfeel that it is necessary to include a full packinglist as you will know what you need dependingon the duration of your tour. However we dorecommend that you bring the following:

• A lightweight water/windproof jacket withhood

• Easy to pack wide-brimmed hat or cap• Sarong - very useful as a beach towel, bag,

hat, shawl and wrap around• Towel• Swimwear• Sandals/flip flops

It is also ESSENTIAL that you have good,comfortable shoes that are suitable for walkingand trekking. These don’t need to be expensiveboots, but they should have good ankle supportand grip, be worn in and ideally waterproof.

Sleeping BagsA good warm sleeping bag is necessary on alltours which include the Inca Trail or Lares Trailin Peru. Adequate ones can be hired locally butwe take no responsibility for the standard andwe therefore recommend that if possible youbring your own. Because these treks are at highaltitude, we recommend bringing a four seasonbag with side zip which can be opened outwhen you reach warmer weather. Extra blanketscan be purchased locally if necessary.

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In South America, you may have a numberof overnight excursions included on your tour.Thick blankets are supplied when on AmantaniIsland (Lake Titicaca) but they have a tendencyto be dusty, so you may wish to bring a sleepingbag or sheet (they cannot be hired there). Youmay also wish to bring a sleeping sheet for yourovernight excursion into the Amazon Jungle.

A sleeping bag liner/sleep sheet is optional onall other South America Tours. Some passengerslike to use them on long bus journeys andovernight trains.

HealthPlease see your doctor or travel clinic for anup to date list of all recommended vaccinationsfor the regions you will be travelling to. Werecommend that you do this at least eightweeks before you travel, as you may needa course of medications or more than onevaccination. In general we recommend thatyou are vaccinated against Tetanus-diphtheria,polio, hepatitis A and Typhoid and if travellingto a jungle area, yellow fever. Vaccinations aresolely the responsibility of the traveller and notthat of On The Go Tours.

The malarial risk varies in the regions ofSouth America and in some areas appropriatepreventive medicines are needed. Measuresshould always be taken to avoid mosquito bites,such as nets and creams. Please check withyour health care professional as to the best andmost up to date remedy for this mosquito bornedisease.

It is not recommended that you drink the tapwater in any of the countries we visit andwe recommend that you carry a First Aid kitas well as any personal medical requirements.Please be aware that quite often we are inremote areas and away from medical facilities,and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibitedfrom administering any type of drug includingheadache tablets, antibiotics, etc.

Electricity SupplyThe power supply varies from country tocountry and can also vary from region toregion within a country. If bringing electricalequipment, make sure that it can be switchedover from 110 volts to 220 volts and vice versa.

If your equipment is 220 volts it will work on a110 volt system (albeit slower), but if you use 110volt equipment in a 220 volt system, it will blowthe equipment! Bring a voltage converter andtravel plug adaptor (most countries either have2 pin flat as in USA or 2 round pins).

Personal SafetyIt is not advisable to wear chains or expensivelooking watches or jewellery while in manySouth American cities. You should also keepyour camera concealed when not in use andcarry daypacks on your front for extra safety.Crime in Latin America is not as bad as itsreputation but you must be sensible and alert.

Bolivia Country Guide

Bolivia - Fact File• Official Name: Republic of Bolivia• Capital: La Paz (administrative), Sucre

(judicial)• Population: 8.4 million• Total Area: 1.1 million square kilometres• Official Language: Spanish, Quechua and

Aymara• Religions: Roman Catholic 95%• Voltage: 110 volts in La Paz and 220 volts in

the rest of the country• Dialling Code: +591• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -4• Airport Departure Tax: US$25

Bolivia - VisasCitizens of the EU, Canada and Australasia donot need a visa to enter Bolivia. Entry is grantedon production of a passport valid for more thansix months, a return air/bus ticket and proofof funds to support yourself for the durationof the stay. Many other nationals, includingUS and South African citizens do require visas.For the latest information on your specificvisa requirements you should contact the localBolivian Embassy or Consulate well in advanceof your planned date of travel.

Bolivia entry/exit requirements: Your passportmust contain a Bolivia entry stamp, without thisyou’ll have to pay a fine when you leave thecountry. If you enter Bolivia overland ensure thatyour passport is stamped on both sides of theborder, with an exit stamp from the country you

are leaving and an entry stamp on the Bolivianside.

Bolivia - ClimateNicknamed the ‘Tibet of the Americas’,landlocked Bolivia is the highest and mostisolated country in the Americas. Withelevations ranging from sea level to over6,880 metres, the Bolivian landscape offers amind blowing array of complex ecosystemsand stunning scenery. It is basically dividedinto three regions: Altiplano (a plateau atan average of 4,000 metres above sea level,800 kilometres long and about 130 kilometreswide); the yungas (a series of forested andwell-watered valleys); and the llanos (theAmazon-Chaco lowlands). Because of the widerange of elevations and topography, there aremany different climatic patterns. The overalltemperatures are probably cooler than mostpeople expect. Even in the humid forest regionsof the north, frosts are not unheard of. Bolivia’sunprotected expanses contribute to variableweather conditions and the two climatic ‘poles’are Puerto Suarez for its stifling, humid heat, andUyuni for its near-Arctic cold and icy winds.

There's no time that is perfect for the entirecountry, but December to March is when mostof the rain falls. La Paz is always cool to coldat night, so be prepared with sweaters andwindbreakers. La Paz can get quite warm duringthe day but sometimes mists swirl through thestreets and the city can be literally wrappedin the clouds. Throughout the country, nighttemperatures drop dramatically, and on thehigh Altiplano, when a cloud passes over thesun, the temperature plunges noticeably. InCochabamba, Sucre and Tarija, winter is thetime of clear, beautiful skies and optimumtemperatures. The lowlands experience hotsunny days and an occasional shower to cool offand settle the dust.

Visit www.worldclimate.com to get an idea ofwhat the weather will be like on your tour.

Bolivia - MoneyImportantIn Latin America you will have problemschanging the US$100 CB B2 2001 series notesand it is important you do not to bring them.In some countries banks won't even take them.

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The serial number is located in the top left handcorner and bottom right hand corner on theside with the President’s face. This serial numberstarts with CB and then a few more numbers andthen directly under that B2. At the bottom of thenote near the signature of the Treasurer it sayswhich series of notes it is and it is there that itsays 2001 series.Local currency

The monetary unit in Bolivia is the boliviano(often referred to as the Peso), which is dividedinto 100 centavos. For up-to-date exchangerates with your own currency visit www.xe.com.Changing money, credit cards & ATMs

We recommend that you bring cash/travellerscheques in US dollars only. There is no restrictionon the amount of foreign currency that youmay bring into Bolivia, however very large sumsshould be declared on arrival.

There is often a general lack of small changeand we recommend maintaining a supply ofsmall denomination notes and coins – you maysometimes be offered sweets, cigarettes or evenrazor blades as change!

When arriving at the La Paz El Alto InternationalAirport we suggest that you change somemoney at the bank (“Cambio”) in the mainterminal building. Change enough money to seeyou through the first few days of your tour –particularly if it is a weekend. Please note youcan only change cash (not traveller’s cheques) atthe Cambio.

There are ATMs in the city where you can getmoney out 24hrs a day.

Bolivia - Local TransportMost of La Paz is easy to visit on foot, althoughthe high altitude can take its toll, especiallywhen walking up hill. There are various typesof buses and minibuses which are very cheapbut you will need to know which routes touse (ask at the hotel reception for assistance).There are also fixed route taxis “trufis” which are“colectivos” (meaning other people will be on-board). You can tell these taxis apart by their rednumber plates. We recommend the use of taxisat night as they are fairly cheap and much saferthan walking. It is not common, however, for

taxis to have meters so you will need to barterfor a good price. In other Bolivian towns andcities walking is basically the best and cheapestway to see the sights.

Bolivia - Food & DrinkFoodIn Bolivia the basic diet focuses around chicken,beef or seafood, mostly with french fries or rice(or both) and possibly a little salad. The Boliviannational dish is the parillada, a mixed grill witheverything meaty including offal and intestines.Sajta de pollo is hot spicy chicken with onion,fresh potatoes plus dehydrated potatoes calledchuno, lomo ala pimiento is a pepper steakpopular with travellers, fricase is juicy pork withchuno, silpancho is bread-crumbed meat withfried eggs, rice and banana, saice is a dish ofmince meat with spicy sauce and potatoes, rice,onions and tomatoes and milanesa is beef orchicken breaded and fried like a schnitzel. For asimple fish, you should ask for pescado whichcan be grilled, pan fried with breadcrumbsapanado or served with a sauce. Trout truchais especially good from Lake Titicaca. Typicalsnacks include empanadas, pasties filled withcheese, humitas (maize pies), pucacapas (spicycheese pies) and saltenas (meat or chickenpasties which you can get super spicy or mild).Much of Bolivia’s food is not too hot and spicybut you will find a bowl of aji (which is a chilli orhot pepper sauce) on most tables which can beadded to spice things up.

In most of the larger cities and towns you willfind an array of international cuisine. There arepizzerias on every corner and Chinese (chifas)food is very common. A cheap, filling 3 courselunch (normally called a comida del dia) canoften be had for about US$1.50.

VegetariansIf you are a strict vegetarian you may experiencea distinct lack of variety in the food available,especially in small towns. You might findthat you are eating a lot of omelettes andother egg dishes. Our tour leaders will dotheir best to provide interesting vegetarianalternatives when arranging group meals in thecampsite, but your patience and understandingis requested.

Drink

All drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinksare at your own expense at all times. Thefollowing is a guideline for drinks bought ina shop in the street. Prices in restaurants andhotels can sometimes be more than double theprices specified below:

• 1 litre of water - US$0.60• 30cl bottle of soft drink - US$0.50• 30cl bottle of beer - US$1• 50cl bottle of beer - US$1.50

You should be wary of drinking the local tapwater. Bottled water and carbonated soft drinksare widely available and are generally safe todrink. Plastic sachets of flavoured chocolate andstrawberry milk are also available.

In Bolivia some of the hotels we use have barsor serve alcoholic drinks. If there is not a bar inthe hotel then there is sure to be a bar withinwalking distance. In more up-market hotels,imported beers and spirits are available butusually at a high price. If you are happy to drinkthe local spirits then there is an array of rums andsingani (distilled grapes). Imported Chilean andArgentine wine can sometimes also be foundcheaply. A bottle of rum could be as little as US$5 in a local shop and quite often the mixer togo with it (Coke) is more expensive. There arevarious brands of beers including Pacena, Ducaland El Inca (dark sweet stout).

Chile Country Guide

Chile - Fact File• Official Name: Republic of Chile• Capital: Santiago• Population: 15.5 million• Total Area: 756,950 square kilometres

including Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) andIsla Sala y Gomez. Chile stretches over 4,300kilometres from north to south, a distanceroughly the same as that from San Franciscoto New York, or Edinburgh to Baghdad.

• Official Language: Spanish• Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant

11%• Voltage: 220 volts. Chilean outlets use three

round pins in a line, with the middle onebeing an earth. Two-pronged European styleplugs can also be used.

• Dialling Code: +56

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• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -4. Forother time differences please visitwww.timeanddate.com

Chile - VisasMost nationals, including citizens of the EU,North American and Australasia do not needto acquire a visa in advance to enter Chile.However some nationalities must pay an entryfee on arrival by air (e.g. United States $100,Canada $55 and Australia $34, these costs maychange). Entry is granted on production of apassport valid for more than six months, areturn air/bus ticket and proof of funds tosupport yourself for the duration of the stay.Most nationalities can enter for up to 90 days,although it's up to the immigration official todecide whether you're allocated 30, 60 or 90days on arrival. Visa requirements do changeperiodically so you should check for the latestinformation on your specific visa requirementswith your local Chilean Embassy or Consulatewell in advance of your planned date of travel.

Chile - ClimateChile is very long and narrow (it is no morethan 180 km wide at any point) and the AndesMountains are a dominant feature runningdown the entire length of the country. Becauseof its length, Chile encompasses a variety ofclimates (the country contains both arid desertsand icebergs). There's no one time that's perfectto visit every part of the country, but it seldomrains during October to March, humidity is low,midday temperatures reach about 32°C and thenights are cool. It is colder and rains a lot inSantiago and in the south in May to August.A sweater (and, in the south, a heavy jacket)should be taken no matter when you go, asnights can be cool-to-cold nearly everywhere.

Santiago, due to its position in the centralregion, has a Mediterranean climate with well-defined seasons. Spring, between Septemberand November is mild, which contributes to theflourishing green colour of the plants and trees.Summer, between December and February, isdry and hot although at night it cools downslightly, and on the coast this temperature dropcan be much more extreme. Autumn is betweenMarch and May, and temperatures decreasegradually. Daytime winter temperatures arereasonable but mornings can be very cold.


Chile - MoneyImportant In Latin America you will haveproblems changing the US$100 CB B2 2001series notes and it is important you do not tobring them. In some countries banks won't eventake them. The serial number is located in thetop left hand corner and bottom right handcorner on the side with the President’s face. Thisserial number starts with CB and then a fewmore numbers and then directly under that B2.At the bottom of the note near the signature ofthe Treasurer it says which series of notes it isand it is there that it says 2001 series.

Local currencyThe monetary unit in Chile is the Chilean peso,which is divided into 100 centavos. For up-to-date exchange rates with your own currencyvisit www.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards & ATMsWe recommend that you bring cash/travellerscheques in US dollars only. Visa, Mastercard,Diners and American Express are the best creditcards to bring however there can be problemsat times getting money out from ATMs, so makesure you have sufficient cash for emergencies.Travellers cheques must be changed before12pm except at 'casas de cambio' (which dotend to offer better rates than banks anyway).

There is no restriction on the amount of foreigncurrency that you may bring into Chile, howeververy large sums should be declared on arrival.There is often a general lack of small change andwe recommend maintaining a supply of smalldenomination notes and coins. When arriving atthe Santiago International Airport we suggestthat you get some Pesos at one of the littlebanks just inside the luggage hall or use one ofthe ATMs outside the terminal. Change enoughmoney to see you through the first few days ofyour trip – particularly if it is a weekend.

Chile - Local TransportMuch of Santiago can be visited on foot. There isa very good underground metro system whichhas three lines and is very cheap at US$0.40-$0.60 per journey. You can also buy a 10 journey

card for about US$4. The last trains are at around10pm. There are local buses called micros, whichare also cheap, but you should try to have theright change (ask at the hotel reception forprices). They also have 'colectivos' (shared taxison fixed routes). We recommend the use of taxisat night as they are fairly cheap and usually havemeters - just make sure that the driver turns iton when you get in. Remember that you will paymore for taxis at night.

Chile - Food & DrinkAll meals are included when camping and lunchis included on travelling days in the truck. Whenstaying in hotels all meals are at your ownexpense. As a guideline a simple snack (e.g. asandwich) can cost as little as US$1.50, a lightmeal will cost around US$5-8, and a meal inone of the better restaurants in Santiago willcompare with developed countries in the west.Obviously this does depend on what you orderand if you have wine or other drinks which willcertainly increase the bill. In cheaper restaurantswhere Chileans and backpackers eat, you canget meals for as little as US$3 if you shop around.

Your tour leader will be able to recommendrestaurants.

FoodIn Chile the basic diet focuses around chicken,beef or seafood, mostly with french fries or rice(or both) and sometimes salad. Compared tocountries further north, Chile’s cuisine is quitecreative and tasty. 'Cazuela de ave' is a stew oflarge chunks of chicken, potatoes, rice, onionswith green peppers and 'pastel de choclo' isa casserole of beef, onions and olives toppedwith a maize mash baked in an earthenwarebowl. 'Parillada', a mixed grill of meats, offaland intestines served at your table in a charcoalbrazier (miniature barbecue) is popular here asin all the southern countries. Other favouritedishes include 'lomo ala pimiento' (peppersteak) and 'humitas' (mashed corn mixed withspices and butter baked in a maize leaf).

Seafood is the basis for many of Chile’sfavourite dishes and the 'congrio' is theirnational fish. One of the most popular waysto serve it is 'caldillo de congrio' (a soupwith large pieces of the fish with onionsand potato balls). Other delicious fish include

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'corvine' (bass), 'albacore' (swordfish) and'cojinoa' (no translation). Try a 'paila choncha' (abouillabaisse type dish with heaps of flavour)or a 'parillada de mariscos' a mixed seafoodgrill. There is a whole host of other seafoodavailable including clams (almejas), mussels(choritos/cholgas), sea-urchin (erizo), barnacles(picorocos) and seaweed.

Typical snacks are 'emanadas de pino' (pastieswith onions, raisins, olives meat and peppers)and 'prieta', a blood sausage (black pudding)stuffed with cabbage

VegetariansIf you are a strict vegetarian you may experiencea distinct lack of variety in the food available,especially in small towns. However vegetarianalternatives are becoming more popular youwill just have to search a little harder for therestaurants that cater to your tastes. Our tourleaders will do their best to provide interestingvegetarian alternatives when arranging groupmeals in the campsite, but your patience andunderstanding is requested.

DrinkAll drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinksare at your own expense at all times. Thefollowing is a guideline for drinks bought ina shop in the street. Prices in restaurants andhotels can sometimes be more than double theprices specified below:

• 1 litre of water US$1.50• 30cl bottle of soft drink US$1• 30cl bottle of beer US$1.50• 50cl bottle of beer US$3

You should be wary of drinking the local tapwater (especially outside of Santiago). Bottledwater, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices arewidely available and much safer. However fruitjuices are sometimes made from unboiled tapwater, so could upset your stomach. An easyway around this is to order the juice 'con leche'with milk instead. For decent coffee try one ofthe cafe chains: Cafe Haiti, Tio Pepe or CafeBrasil.

In Chile some of the hotels we use have barsor serve alcoholic drinks. If there is not a bar inthe hotel then there is sure to be one within

walking distance. In more up-market hotels,imported beers and spirits are available, buttend to be expensive. Alternatively there isan array of local rums, gins, brandy availableand the fabulous Chilean wines which can beextremely cheap (from US$1.50 a bottle). Thereare various brands of beers including Cristal,Escudo, Austral, Heineken and Royal Guard(light), there is also a brown ale type beer fromthe south called Malta. Please note that manyplaces will charge a refundable deposit for thebottles.

Peru Country Guide

Peru - Fact File• Official Name: Republic of Peru• Capital: Lima• Population: 28 million• Total Area: 1.3 million square kilometres

(twice the size of France)• Official Language: Spanish, Quechua and

Aymara also spoken in places• Religions: Roman Catholic 90%• Voltage: 220 volts. Sockets are a mixture of

the European, two-pronged round varietyand US flat-pin.

• Dialling Code: +51• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -5. For

other time differences please visitwww.timeanddate.com

• Airport Departure Tax: US$30.25

Peru - VisasCurrently EU, US, Canadian, Australian and NewZealand citizens can visit Peru for up to 90 days(ask on arrival for a 90 day entry as 30 days isthe standard issued) without a visa. However,the situation does change periodically, so youshould always check with your local Peruvianembassy before departure. All nationalitiesneed a tourist or embarkation card ('tarjeta deembarque - or tarjeta Andina') to enter Peru.This is issued at frontiers or on the aircraftbefore landing. Tourist cards are usually validfor between 30 and 90 days (same as above, it'sthe same stamp that goes in your passport). Intheory you have to show an outbound ticket(by air or bus) before you'll be given a card,but this is rarely checked (by law the airlinethat flies you into Peru must check this). Foryour own safety and freedom of movement, acopy of the tourist card together with a copy of

your passport must be kept on you at all times(according to Peruvian law, everyone must carryID at all times) - particularly when travellingoutside of the main towns. You must also retainthis card for when you exit Peru (this is a bigdeal, you lose it and you can't leave, have to gothrough all sorts of bureaucracy for sometimesdays). Take a copy or digital photograph.

Peru - ClimatePeru is unique in its wide variety of ecosystemsranging from the driest/hottest desert in theAmericas, to the high Andean peaks (over 7,600metres above sea level); and a two-thousand-kilometre-long belt of cloud forest, rich in floraand fauna, to a vast area of lowland Amazonjungle, covering more than half the country. Thethree main zones of Peru are known as La Costa(the coast), La Sierra (the mountains) and LaSelva (the jungle).

Over the last few years, the Peruvian weatherhas been rather unsettled possibly as a resultof global warming. However, it still rarely rainson the coast, although the Lima region doesexperience substantial smog, coastal fogs ormists and even drizzle; particularly between themonths of May and November.

The climate in the Sierra and Selva regions canbe divided into a wet season (November-April)and a dry season (May-October). There is, ofcourse, some rain during the dry season, but itis much heavier and much more frequent in thewet season. Don’t be put off by the expression“rainy season” however, as this normally meansa couple of downpours each day rather thancontinuous rain. Again, weather conditions havebeen quite unsettled in these regions overthe last ten years or so, with the Altiplanozone, around Puno, being affected by seriousdroughts, which have left the water level of LakeTiticaca at its lowest for years.


Peru - MoneyLocal currencyThe monetary unit in Peru is the Nuevo Sol.For up-to-date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.xe.com.

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Changing money, credit cards & ATMsWe recommend that you bring cash/travellerscheques in US dollars only. For more informationabout the best way to carry your money pleasesee the Pre departure information (which will besent to you with confirmation of your booking).There is no restriction on the amount of foreigncurrency that you may bring into Peru, howeververy large sums should be declared on arrival.There is often a general lack of small change andwe recommend maintaining a supply of smalldenomination notes and coins.

Change enough money to see you through thefirst few days of your trip – particularly if it is aweekend. Please note you can only change cash(not travellers cheques) at the Cambio and thereare other ATM’s in the city (and in Arequipa,Cuzco and Puno) where you can get money out24 hours a day.

ImportantPlease note that ATMs in Peru do not alwaysautomatically release your credit or debit card atthe time when you receive your money. Pleasebe aware that you sometimes have to push abutton to request your card to be returned.Many ATMs in main towns have instructions inEnglish.

Peru - Local TransportTaxis are recommended for all journeys withina city. In Peru, taxi meters are not normally inevidence, so you will find yourself engaging ina bit of haggling with the driver to agree uponthe fare. It is a good idea to find out in advance,from your tour leader or the hotel receptionist,approximately how much the fare should be. Itwill also help if you can speak a few words ofSpanish. You will almost certainly have to acceptthat you will pay more than the locals do.

Local buses are very cheap to use, but you reallyneed to be able to speak reasonable Spanish toget by. There are also some bus stops/stations,especially in Lima, that are not recommendedfor tourists.

Peru - Food & DrinkAll meals are included when camping and lunchis included on travelling days in the truck. Whenstaying in hotels all meals are at your ownexpense. As a guideline a simple snack (e.g. a

sandwich) can cost as little as US$0.70, a lightmeal will cost around US$3-$6, and even ameal in one of the best restaurants in Cuzco orLima costs very little in comparison to what youwould expect to pay at home (usually aroundUS$20-$30). Obviously this depends on whatyou order and if you have wine or other drinkswhich will certainly increase the bill. In cheaperrestaurants where Peruvians and backpackerseat, you can get meals for as little as US$1.50.

Your tour leader will be able to recommendrestaurants.

All drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinksare at your own expense at all times. Thefollowing is a guideline for drinks bought ina shop in the street. Prices in restaurants andhotels can sometimes be more than double theprices specified below:

• 1 litre of water US$0.70• 30cl bottle of soft drink US$0.50• 30cl bottle of beer US$0.70• 50cl bottle of beer US$1.00

You should be wary of drinking the local tapwater. Bottled water, carbonated soft drinks andfruit juices are widely available and much safer.

FoodIn Peru the basic diet focuses around chicken,beef or seafood, mostly with french fries or rice(or both) and possibly a little salad. Soups arealso common and good value. Coastal dishesare seafood based and include 'ceviche' whichis fish marinated in lemon juice, onion and hotpeppers traditionally served with corn on thecob, cancha (toasted corn), yucca and sweetpotatoes. 'Escabeche' is fish with onions, greenand red peppers, prawns, cumin, hard boiledeggs, olives and sprinkled with cheese. The mostcommon fish is 'corvine' (sea bass) which cancome simply grilled or fried or with sauces.'Chupe de camerones', a prawn stew, is anotherdelicious dish certainly worth trying.

Corn and potatoes are Peru’s main vegetables– particularly in the highlands. 'Causa' is a dishmade from yellow potatoes, lemons, peppers,hard-boiled eggs, olives, lettuce, sweet corn,sweet potato, cheese and onion sauce. 'Choclocon queso' is a large corn on the cob snack with

very salty cheese. Other local favourites include'tomales' which is like a boiled corn dumplingfilled with chicken and wrapped in banana leafand 'lomo saltado' which is a kind of stir-fry beefwith tomatoes, onions, fried potatoes on a bedof rice.

An interesting local speciality is cuy(pronounced: cooee). This is roasted guineapig which some people say tastes like chicken,others, like cooked cardboard.

In most of the larger cities and towns you willfind an array of international cuisine. There arepizzerias on every corner and Chinese (chifas)food is very common. In places like Cuzcoeven Indian and Japanese restaurants havenow opened. A cheap, filling three-course lunch(normally called a “menú económico”) can oftenbe had for about US$1.50.

VegetariansIf you are a strict vegetarian you mayexperience a distinct lack of variety in the foodavailable, especially in small towns. Howevervegetarian alternatives are becoming morepopular particularly in south Argentina. Our tourleaders will do their best to provide interestingvegetarian alternatives for included meals, butyour patience and understanding is requested.

DrinkIn Peru some of the hotels we use have barsor serve alcoholic drinks. If there is not a bar inthe hotel then there is sure to be a bar withinwalking distance. In more up-market hotels,imported beers and spirits are available butusually at a high price. If you are happy todrink the local spirits then there is an array ofrums, pisco (white brandy) and even palatablewine. All these are very cheap, e.g. a bottle ofrum could be as little as US$5 in a local shop.Quite often the mixer to go with it (Coke) ismore expensive. There are various brands ofbeers including Cuzqueña, Arequipeña, Cristaland Pilsener.

The soft drink of choice in Peru and a sourceof national pride is the bright yellow Inca Kola.Possibly an acquired taste, but indisputablypopular. So popular in fact that McDonaldsforced Coca Cola to allow it to be sold in itsPeruvian branches.

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The origins of pisco - a grape-based spirt -is keenly contested between Peru and Chile.Regardless of origin it is the national drink ofPeru (the fact that the town Pisco is in Peru lendscredence to Peru's claim). Drank in a variety ofways, the most iconic is the pisco sour, which hasa raw egg amongst its ingredients.

Peru - BugsIf your tour includes a visit to a jungle regionyou should be prepared to encounter an array ofwildlife – including many insects and spiders etc.Most creepy crawlies are completely harmlessand will cause you no problems at all – in factthis is all part of the jungle experience. If youfind something it your room it certainly doesn'tmean that the room is unclean – rather that youare in the jungle and it is completely normal. Ifyou are uncomfortable with creepy crawlies it isa good idea to bring plenty of insect repellentspray and coils to place in your room and ofcourse don't leave any food lying around.

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Chile to Peru Express DETAILED ITINERARY Go Gui… · TRIP NOTES Chile to Peru Express Chile to Peru Express - 15 days updated on 21-10-2015 UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected]