Contact Details. For more information contact the WEA tours office during office hours. Phone: (08) Fax: (08)

Transcription

1 WEA Travel TTA183

2 Contact Details For more information contact the WEA tours office during office hours. Phone: (08) Fax: (08) WEA Travel Write to: Tours Office, Box 7055 Hutt St PO, Adelaide 5000 TTA183 Overseas Cultural Tours Web Site:

3 IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE INCAS visiting PERU, BOLIVIA & CHILE 1 st to 21 st January 2010 This carefully planned tour to mysterious and majestic South America will delight those who have yearned to know more of the fascinating Inca culture. Our adventure starts in Lima, the capital of Peru, where you will have full days tour of this fascinating city and have the opportunity to discover the mysterious Nazca Lines as an optional tour. We then fly across the Andes to Cuzco where we will be entranced with trips into the Sacred Valley of the Inca and the most amazingly situated archaeological site of the Incas at Machu Picchu the Lost City. A bus trip across the Alto Plano then takes us to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca where we visit the floating reed islands of the local Indians. The origin of the Inca Story begins at Sun & Moon Islands near Copacabana on Lake Titicaca, we stop here on our hovercraft trip across the lake from Peru to Bolivia. In La Paz, the highest capital in the world, we take an excursion to the Valley of the Moon. Our final stop is Santiago, the capital of Chile, plenty of time here for sightseeing in this intriguing city. There is so much to delight travellers to this continent of natural and man made wonders. Your Tour Tutor: Gene Vecchio, B Sc. Grad. Dip. Meteorology, is a popular WEA tutor in a diverse range of subjects from Classical Greek language to ancient and classical civilisations. Gene has led a number of tours for the WEA including; Italy, Vietnam and Cambodia. Climate Be prepared for warm weather on the coastal areas and cool to cold & wet weather in the Andes. SANTIAGO LA PAZ CUZCO LIMA 29 o C Max. 18 o C Max. 20 o C Max. 25 o C Max. 12 o C Min. 6 o C Min. 7 o C Min. 19 o C Min. 1 days rain/mth 21 days rain/mth 18 days rain/mth 1 day rain/mth

4 Itinerary DAY 1 Friday 1 January Depart Adelaide Airport for you flight to Sydney to connect with your international flight to Lima via Santiago. (Meals in flight). Overnight Lima DAY 2 Saturday 2 January Today we enjoy a city tour which will include the magnificent Cathedral and the inner city of Lima which was founded by Francisco Pizzaro in We see the Plaza Mayor and San Francisco Church and drive past the President s Palace. Later we visit the fabulous Gold Museum of the Mujica Gallo family. Here the beautiful collection of gold and silver jewellery and ritual objects of the pre-inca civilisations will fascinate you. Everywhere you will be delighted with the Spanish style architecture of the old city, the wooden balconies, the arches, and ornate carvings on the houses and structures. (Breakfast, Welcome Dinner). Overnight Lima DAY 3 Sunday 3 January Today is at leisure, but for an additional fee you can choose the option of visiting the Nazca Lines. You fly to Ica to visit an oasis in the heart of the Atacama Desert followed by a bus trip; and then you take a further flight or bus over the Nazca lines. Approximately $690. Or you can choose to spend the day in Miraflores, which is a lovely upmarket shopping and beach area. It also has a local Artisan Market (Petit Thouars Ave). Or you can return to the city of Lima if you prefer. (Breakfast). Overnight Lima DAY 4 Monday 4 January This morning we transfer to the airport for our early flight to Cuzco. We transfer to our hotel upon arrival, as we will need to rest and adjust ourselves to the high altitude of the

5 Andes. In the afternoon we walk through the main streets of Cuzco with their Inca Walls; discover the Cathedral with its beautiful cedar woodcarvings as well as the paintings of the Cuzco School; and visit the Qorikancha or the Sun Temple called today Santo Domingo Church. In the Inca period the stones of this temple were covered with gold. (Breakfast). Overnight Cuzco DAY 5 Tuesday 5 January Today we visit the archaeological sites that surround Cuzco. First are the ruins of Tambo Machay with its beautiful worked ceremonial stone bath; then Qenko with its carved limestone rock, thought to have been used for sacrifices; and finally the amazing fortress site of Sacsayhuaman (pronounced like sexy woman!) The Incas envisioned the city of Cuzco as having the shape of a puma, and Sacsayhuaman Fortress formed the head! The Spaniards tore down much of the site and re-used some of the stone for building their homes in Cuzco. You will be charmed with the narrow winding cobbled streets of Cuzco, the impressive dry stonework foundations of so many buildings, and the colourfully dressed inhabitants. (Breakfast). Overnight Cuzco DAY 6 Wednesday 6 January Today will be a highlight of this WEA tour for many as we travel by the new Vistadome train, part of the Orient Express, through lush valleys and terraced hillsides, following the course of the roaring and tumbling Urubamba River to the hidden or Lost City of the Incas the spectacular Machu Picchu. Set against a vast backdrop of dark green-forested mountains, this dramatic Inca citadel, constructed from granite, defies belief, as the valleys on three sides steeply fall hundreds of feet to the river below. Only a narrow saddle of land forms a natural bridge to the well-protected site. The site was rediscovered in 1911 after being overgrown with jungle. We clamber over and explore the site in the afternoon. Tonight, we stay in the interesting town of Aguas Callientes just below Macchu Picchu. (Breakfast, Lunch). Overnight Aguas Callientes

6 DAY 7 Thursday 7 January This morning we have the site to ourselves before the influx of visitors arrive on the morning train so you can explore Macchu Picchu at your leisure, and for an additional entry fee cost. Soak in the atmosphere, walk the Inca trail to the Sun Gate or even climb Huayna Picchu. (Breakfast, Lunch). Overnight Aguas Callientes DAY 8 Friday 8 January Today we have a free day to explore the village and the area surrounding Aguas Callientes. It has great walks, delightful butterflies, and interesting shopping. In the afternoon we transfer to the train which takes us back to Cusco for a three night stay. (Breakfast, Lunch). Overnight Cuzco DAY 9 Saturday 9 January Today you have a free day to rest and explore on your own. Perhaps a church service in the Cathedral with the devout locals would be of interest? There is interesting shopping possible for Inca designed pullovers, paintings, craft items and more. (Breakfast). Overnight Cuzco

7 DAY 10 Sunday 10 January Today we travel into the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the magnificent fort at Pisac. Colourful sights here abound at the Indian markets where you can purchase Peruvian weavings or pottery. After lunch we continue along the Urubamba Valley to the ruins of Ollantaytambo, an impressive and formidable Inca fortress which is one of few sites where the Spaniards lost a battle. Walk the stairway to the sky, and marvel at the close-fitting stones used in building this temple-fort complex. We return to Cuzco via Lake Huayro and Izcuchaca. (Breakfast, Lunch). Overnight Cuzco DAY 11 Monday 11 January We travel south today by bus (an eight hour trip) across the Alto Plano, through valleys and past volcanoes, snow topped mountains, and Lake Urcos. According to legend, the Inca Huascar threw hidden supplies of heavy gold chain into Lake Urcos after hearing that Pizarro had arrived in Peru and was visiting Andean towns looking for gold! We also see the ruins of Wiracocha Palace and the Alpaca breeders of Puno. Our hotel tonight overlooks Lake Titicaca, near the township of Puno. (Breakfast, Lunch). Overnight Puno DAY 12 Tuesday 12 January This morning s tour takes us by boat on to the waters of Lake Titicaca to see the Uros Indians who live on floating water reed islands. Their reed boats are like those of ancient Egypt, and their living conditions

8 are amazing, and cold! In the afternoon we visit Sillustani, an important archaeological site of the Calla people who built funerary towers to bury their dead, some standing 10 metres in height. Two main styles predominate, the honeycomb chullpas and the Inca stonework types. The setting is stark and spectacular. We then return to our hotel on the edge of Lake Titicaca. (Breakfast). Overnight Puno DAY 13 Wednesday 13 January We travel by road skirting Lake Titicaca and cross the border into Bolivia before we reach the attractive little town of Copacabana. Here, in a restored church, is the famous 16th century Dark (black) Virgin of the Lake, the patron saint of Bolivia. We next board our hydrofoil for its fast trip across Tiquina Strait. Of interest, as we speed by enjoying lunch, are the local reed boats that ply the lake. The famous Kon Tiki was built here. We cruise to Sun and Moon Islands, where the Inca story began, stopping to see the remains of an Inca Temple and fortress. We visit a charming museum and share a ritual Aymara celebration of the Pachamama (local divinity of the Mother Land). We finally arrive at the port of Huatajata where we will be met and transferred by bus to La Paz. One thousand years ago Bolivia was part of the Inca Empire. The ruins of early civilisations and many of the Inca s descendants are still to be found in and around this city. La Paz is enclosed in a deep valley surrounded by the Andes and overlooked by lovely Illimani Mountain. At 14,800 feet above sea level, La Paz will be the highest altitude we achieve in the Andes. (Breakfast, Lunch). Overnight La Paz DAY 14 Thursday 14 January This morning we tour La Paz (the highest capital in the world) seeing the contrasts of skyscrapers, humble mud huts, luxurious

9 mansions, modern shops and street sellers of witchcraft dolls. Then we travel to the Valley of the Moon where erosion has given the clay an other world appearance of grotesque formations. (Breakfast). Overnight La Paz DAY 15 Friday 15 January This morning we travel to Tiahuanaco to visit the ruins of an impressive pre-inca culture. The ruins comprise four main structures, the Kalasasaya compound, the Acapana pyramid, the underground Temple, and the Gate of the Sun, believed to date from 800AD. The stonework is rich red. Two museums put it all in context. The trip from La Paz across the plains girded by the Cordillera Real is quite fascinating. (Breakfast). Overnight La Paz DAY 16 Saturday 16 January This morning we transfer to the highest commercial airport in the world for our Lan Chile flight across the Andes from la Paz to Santiago. We arrive late in the afternoon and transfer to our Santiago hotel. Santiago is often described as the Paris of the Southern Hemisphere. It is an elegant, sophisticated city with spacious city plaza, arcaded shopping streets, tree lined avenues and the stunning backdrop of the snow covered Andes Mountains. (Breakfast). Overnight Santiago DAY 17 Sunday 17 January Today we have a half day tour of Santiago city. This lovely city is full of surprises; beautiful parks, museums and churches. Free time to relax and explore at your own pace. (Breakfast). Overnight Santiago DAY 18 Monday 18 January Toady you have a day at leisure to explore Santiago and its sites on your own. Do not miss the the central plaza (Plaza des Armes), and the views, crafts and antiques at San Cristobal Hill. Santiago has numerous museums, including a

10 Porti fine arts museum, natural history museum and more. Visit one of the city parks like Balmaceda Park, or simply savour the coffee and atmosphere from a street walk café. (Breakfast, End of Tour Dinner). Overnight Santiago DAY January Free time to do that essential last minute shopping or sightseeing before we transfer to the airport in the early evening for our overnight flight back to Sydney. (Breakfast, In flight meals)

11 DAY January In flight, we loose a day crossing the International Date Line. (In flight meals) DAY January Arrive in Sydney, clear customs and transfer for our connecting flight to Adelaide. on of a wall mural in Cuzco, Peru depicting Incan history

12 Important Notes Tour Leader WEA tours provide quality personal experiences, which capture the essences of places visited. All WEA tours are fully escorted by our Tour Leaders who have a genuine love for arts, culture, architecture and history of the country they are visiting. Our educational tours give you the opportunity to meet other enthusiasts and immerse yourself in valuable new information and experiences. Cost: Prices are based on twin share arrangements. The inclusive Adelaide to Adelaide fee is $9210. (Subject to increases levied by tour operators, airlines, hotels, governments and currency fluctuations). (March 2008.) Single supplement is an additional $1132. (March 2008.) A deposit of $300 is to accompany the Tour Booking Form. Final payment due by close of business Thursay, 22 October 2009, with valid passport required from this date for obtaining visas. The optional tour to the Nazca Lines is approximately $690 (Day 3). Please indicate on your booking form if you wish to add this option. Inclusions: Fully escorted tour. Return air travel Adelaide to Adelaide. Twin share accommodation in tourist class hotels with private facilities. Meals as per itinerary, in-flight meals and snacks served according to airline policy. All admission fees, transfers and tours as detailed in the itinerary unless specified as optional. Pre-tour get-together with wine and cheese at the WEA Centre, Angas St, Adelaide. Study notes.

13 Exclusions: A Passport with 6 months validity, with at least 2 blank pages is required. All visas WEA will arrange where necessary. Travel insurance must be obtained and sighted by the WEA travel office on or before final payment - refer clause 12 of Terms and Conditions. Gratuities and tips. Personal items and drinks with meals. Single room supplement does not include stopovers provided by the airlines between connecting flights. Airport taxes to be advised. Please note: requests for international flight changes are not available on this tour. E&OE The WEA regularly organises tours to many parts of the world including developing destinations. Travel to such destinations can require special considerations. The WEA urges you to attend any pre-tour briefing that may be arranged. You are also urged to study the tour enrolment conditions following. The Department of Foreign Affairs has daily updates of Travel Advisories on their internet site:

14 Terms and Conditions These TERMS AND CONDITIONS are to be read in conjunction with and deemed to form part of the TOUR BOOKING FORM. This form must be signed by you to enable your booking in the tour described herein. The conditions form part of your offer to WEA and of your contract with WEA. Please read them carefully. 1 TOUR FEE 1.1 Subject to condition 9, the cost of the tour shall be $9,210 which is hereafter called the tour fee. 1.2 The prices quoted in this brochure are in Australian dollars and are based on the rates of exchange at the time of costing the tour. Prices are subject to change due to international currency fluctuations and other factors beyond our control. As this tour is sold as a package tour, no itemisation of costs can be given. Economy Class air travel is utilised. All charges are subject to a final audit. 2 DEPOSIT 2.1 Upon enrolment, a deposit of $300 shall be paid immediately to WEA. 2.2 The deposit will not be accepted unless it is accompanied by a completed TOUR BOOKING FORM 2.3 After acceptance by WEA of your booking, the deposit WILL NOT be refunded by WEA under any circumstances. 2.4 We strongly advise that travel insurance is taken out on payment of your deposit to avoid unnecessary losses. 3 CONFIRMATION OF ENROLMENT 3.1 Upon receipt of the TOUR BOOKING FORM and the deposit, WEA will confirm in writing the acceptance or non acceptance of the booking this shall take the form of a Booking Confirmation Receipt. 3.2 It is only upon the confirmation of acceptance of the booking that a contract shall come into existence. 3.3 The date of formation of acceptance of the contract and the acceptance of the enrolment shall be the date shown on the Booking Confirmation Receipt of acceptance to be issued by WEA 3.4 WEA reserves the right to refuse to accept any booking and shall not be bound to give any reason for its refusal. 3.5 Where possible the WEA will attempt to match singles wishing to share, however, this cannot be guaranteed and the single supplement will apply should no match be possible.

15 4 PAYMENT OF BALANCE 4.1 The balance of the tour fee shall be paid by the close of business on Thursday, 22 nd October 2009 at the offices of WEA at 223 Angas Street, Adelaide Bookings in relation to which payments are received by WEA after that date may or may not be accepted by WEA at its absolute discretion. 5 EFFECT OF NON-PAYMENT OF BALANCE Both non-payment of the balance of the tour fee by the due date and non-acceptance by WEA of a late payment of the balance of the tour fee will result in: 5.1 The forfeiture of the deposit paid by you; and 5.2 Cancellation of your enrolment so that there shall thereafter be no further contractual relationship whatsoever between you and the WEA. 6 CANCELLATIONS 6.1 Cancellations will be accepted after your deposit and booking is confirmed. Where early payment has been paid prior to the balance due date, a refund of the amount paid less the deposit will be provided. 6.2 No cancellation of any nature whatsoever will be accepted after payment of the balance of the tour fee and the passing of the balance due date. 100% of the tour fee will be forfeited. 7 CANCELLATION OF TOUR BY WEA - REFUND OF MONEYS 7.1 WEA may, at its discretion, cancel the tour prior to the date of commencement thereof. Upon your request the WEA will provide reasons for its decision to cancel the tour. 7.2 WEA shall be entitled to cancel the tour after its commencement if, in the opinion of WEA or the tour leader: (i) the continuation of the tour would for any reason jeopardise the safety of the participants; (ii) the continuation of the tour would for any reason make the tour financially (iii) burdensome to WEA or the Tour Leader: the continuation of the tour would for any reason violate any law or direction of any government authority and the re-routing of the tour is impracticable. 7.3 Upon cancellation of the tour, WEA will repay to you in full any monies paid by you pursuant to this contract to the extent that they have not been paid by WEA to third parties. 7.4 WEA shall not be bound to seek to recover moneys paid by WEA to third parties, but if indemnified by you, will lend its name to an action for the recovery of moneys against such third parties.

16 8 CHANGES TO STANDARD TOUR 8.1 Any changes or extensions to the WEA Tour travel arrangements must be in writing at least eight weeks before final payment date. An administration fee of $100 will be incurred for each change. 8.2 No changes will be pursued if any variations to the standard tour cannot be confirmed by the airline or other third party provider at the time of final payment. 9 VARIATION OF TOUR FEE 9.1 The tour fee has been calculated based on fees, fares and costs current as at time of publication. 9.2 Increases in fees, air fares and other tour costs of any nature whatsoever which occur at any time before the commencement of the tour are at your risk and will be passed on to you. 9.3 Increased fees, fares and costs being demanded are payable by you on the date advised by WEA. 9.4 In the event of failure by you to pay increased fees, fares and costs by the date advised of demand and of demand being made for the same by WEA, you will be deemed to have cancelled your booking and clause 5 shall apply. 100% of the tour fee and associated costs paid will be forfeited. 10 VARIATION OF TOUR 10.1 WEA reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour: (i) when required to do so by events outside its control; or (ii) if it or the tour leader is reasonably of the opinion that the change or changes are in the best interests of the participants of the tour No compensation shall be payable to you by WEA as a result of such changes. 11 THIRD PARTY LIABILITIES 11.1 All travel arrangements in relation to the tour (including arrangements for the issuing of tickets and the making or arrangements with travel agents, hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroad companies and other third parties) are made by WEA as your agent and not as agent for any third party Accordingly, WEA is not liable for any act, omission or default of any such third party (whether negligent or amounting to a breach of contract by the third party or otherwise) nor is it responsible for any loss, damage, or injury caused by any such third party In addition, you are subject to any conditions imposed by the third party on the tour arrangements. 12 TRAVEL INSURANCE 12.1 All tour participants MUST TAKE OUT personal travel insurance to cover the costs and effects of personal injury, property loss or damage, tour delays and

17 cancellations (including cancellations before the tour commences), repatriation, and all other risks against which international travellers usually insure WEA will require production of the insurance policy no later than the date of final payment of the tour If you are unable to show to the satisfaction of WEA that such an insurance has been issued to you, you will not be permitted to commence the tour In that event, you will not be entitled to a refund of any monies paid by you to WEA pursuant to this contract We strongly advise that travel insurance be taken out on confirmation of your booking by WEA to avoid unnecessary losses. 13 EXCLUSION CLAUSE 13.1 WEA does not accept any liability or responsibility for: (i) any loss, accident or delay however caused whether prior to, during or subsequent to the tour; or (ii) loss or damage caused to you or your effects caused (a) by the acts or omissions of its employees, whether negligent or involving a breach of contract or otherwise (b) by any act or omission of any nature by any third party Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, WEA shall not be responsible for any injury or loss caused by political disputes, border closures, refusal of visas, industrial action, delayed transport, effects of climate, war, natural disaster or other events beyond the control of WEA. 14 NECESSARY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary travel documents are current, valid and effective. Including, but not limited to, passport, visas, certificates of vaccination (where and if required). 15 AUTHORITY OF TOUR LEADER 15.1 At all times before and after the commencement of the tour, the decision of WEA s expedition or Tour Leader or representative will be final on all matters pertinent to the safety and well being of the tour participants You must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs and currency and drug regulations of all countries visited. Should you fail to comply with any such law, custom or regulation or should you interfere with the well-being of the group, WEA s Tour Leader or WEA representative may order you to leave the tour and in that event you will have no right to any refund from or any other recourse against WEA. 16 DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS 16.1 You are required to make full and true disclosure to WEA of all ailments and physical or psychological impairments of which you are aware that may affect in

18 any way you ability to undertake the tour without endangering your health, or the health or safety of other tour participants or the orderly progress of the tour The WEA may at its discretion request a medical report from a medical practitioner nominated by the WEA concerning your physical and or psychological medical condition. The reports will be provided to the WEA at your cost. Upon production of the report the WEA may, at its discretion, terminate your booking. Upon termination in these circumstances the WEA is not bound to provide a reason for that termination. If your booking is terminated in these circumstances the WEA will (except where the tour is cancelled) fully refund to you all moneys paid by you pursuant to this contract. 17 EFFECTS OF ACTING ILLEGALLY Should you act in any way contrary to the laws of Australia or any other country during the course of the tour, you do so at your own risk and WEA is not obliged to provide legal or other assistance to you. 18 LAWS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA This contract is subject to the law of South Australia and is to be interpreted in accordance with that law. The parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts of South Australia.

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