Southern Cross Trek Tips 2018 DEPARTS: RIO DE JANEIRO to LIMA TOUR CODE: SRS BOLT OVERLAND ITINERARY: DAY 1 START 18.00 HRS DAY 1 RIO DE JANEIRO ( ) DAY 2/3 PARATI ( ) DAY 4 SOUTHEAST BRAZIL ( ) DAY 5/6 BONITO ( ) DAY 7 SOUTHERN BRAZIL ( ) DAY 8/9 IGUAÇU FALLS ( ) DAY 10 PUERTO IGUAZU ( ) DAY 11 CORRIENTES PROVINCE ( ) DAY 12-15 BUENOS AIRES ( ) DAY 16/17 CORDOBA ( ) DAY 18 CATAMARCA ( ) DAY /20 CAFAYATE ( ) DAY 21/22 SALTA ( ) DAY 23 TUPIZA ( ) DAY 24 POTOSI ( ) DAY / UYUNI ( ) DAY 27-29 LA PAZ ( ) DAY 30-32 PUNO (2 x ) - OVERNIGHT LAKE TITICACA ISLAND HOMESTAY (1 x ) DAY 33-41 CUSCO ( ) - OPTIONAL AMAZON JUNGLE (2 x ) - OPTIONAL INCA TRAIL TREK (3 x ) DAY 42-44 AREQUIPA ( ) DAY 45 PUERTO INCA ( ) DAY 46 NAZCA ( ) DAY 47 HUACACHINA ( ) DAY 48/49 LIMA (1 x ) DAY 49 FINISH AFTER BREAKFAST >> View a detailed day-by-day itinerary at: www.trekamerica.co.uk/srs TREK INCLUDES xperience four Latin American countries E Peru, Bolivia, Argentina & Brazil Overnight homestay on the islands of Lake Titicaca Take an epic 4x4 excursion on the largest salt flats in the world ECUADORto Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian Entrance and Argentinian sides Visit Nazca, famous for the mysterious NazcaP lines Optional Inca Trail Trek E R U Machu Picchu Lima Huacachina Nazca Puerto Inca Explore the Inca city & UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cusco Shop for trinkets and people watch at the Witches Market in La Paz Drive through scenic Argentinian wine country 4 nights to delve into buzzing Buenos Aires Hang out on the golden Rio beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema Optional Amazon Jungle Excursion Cusco Puno Lake Titicaca La Paz B R A Z I L B O L I V I A Arequipa Potosí Bonito Tupiza Uyuni PA R A G U AY CHILE Salta Cafayate Córdoba Southeast Brazil Rio de Janeiro Southern Brazil Parati Iguazu Falls Corrientes Province Catamarca Buenos Aires URUGUAY ARGENTINA PLUS... Professional tour leader & driver, camping fees, equipment & private overland vehicle transportation Meals: 29 breakfasts, 27 lunches & 18 dinners All accommodation: 21 nights 10 nights 17 nights See website for specific accommodation information. ESSENTIAL INFO: Group Size: Max 34 (average ) Local payment: Tour cost included Local Payment of US$1020 (USD$1080, for any departures after 01 Dec 18), to be paid to your tour leader on day 1. Exchange rates correct at time of going to print.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES (paid locally) There are loads of exciting optional activities for you to choose from during your trip giving you the flexibility to do the things you want to and leave out the things you don t. Below are the main optional activities for this trip, these can be arranged once you are on tour via your Tour Leader and are paid for locally. Please note, all costs are subject to change. Lima Museum of the Inquisition (FREE) Church & Convent of San Francisco with Catacombs guided tour (US$3) Huacachina Ballestas Islands cruise (US$13) Sand dune buggy ride, 2 hours (US$) Desert camp with sand boarding & dune buggy ride, overnight (US$60) Nazca Scenic flight over Nazca Lines (US$110 + S/ tax) Planetarium show & lecture (US$20) Chauchilla Cemetery (US$3 + US$10 for guide if required) Arequipa Colca Canyon overnight excursion (US$60 + $22 park entrance) Arequipa city tour (US$12) Monastery of Santa Catalina (US$12) Museo Santuarios Andinas (US$11) Cusco Completo Cusco visitor ticket, valid 2 days - includes entrance to all Inca ruin sites around Cusco & Sacred Valley (US$40) Partial Cusco visitor ticket, includes entrance to all Inca ruin sites around Cusco - Q enqo, Puca Pucara & Tambo Machay (US$22) Sacred Valley, Pisac ruins & Ollantaytambo day excursion, includes transport & guide (US$30 + US$22 entrance without Completo Visitor Ticket) Chocolate making course (US$22) Massage (US$/hr) La Paz Red Cap city walking tours (US$3 +tips appreciated) Moon Valley (La Paz US$3 + transport + guide if required) Moon Valley private tour, with museum, viewpoint, witches market and main plaza (US$20-40) Coroico mountain biking excursion, Death Road (US$124) Potosi Silver mine tour (US$16) Potosi city tour (US$16) Hot springs (US$15) Salta Rafting, full day (US$65) Horse riding at ranch with BBQ lunch (US$70) Cordoba Wine tour including transport, guide, tasting at a local winery, visiting a traditional meat house (US$38-60) Estancia Dia de Campo including lunch, music, use of grounds for tennis, cycling etc (US$65-100 plus transfers approx. US$20) Buenos Aires Tango show & dinner (US$90) Hop on/hop off bus (US$20 ) Explore La Boca and San Telmo artistic neighbourhoods (FREE) Tigre Delta day trip by train and catamaran (US$22) Football match including transfers and guide (US$80) Buenos Aires city tour (US$20) Puerto Iguazu Light and sound show (US$17) Jungle 4WD and boat trips (US$12-60) Foz do Iguacu Helicopter ride (US$120) Bird Park (US$14) Rafain Show (US$50) Itaipu Dam (US$) Bonito Rio da Prata snorkelling full day with lunch and guide (US$75) Mimosa waterfalls tour with lunch (US$38) Balneario do Sol swimming hole and games (US$15) Parati Boat cruise (US$40) Activities which must be booked prior to travel and as early as possible. Please contact our staff to reserve your space. 4 night/5 day Rio Carnival City Experience with Sambadrome ticket (US$969) 4 night/5 day Rio Carnival Beach Experience with Sambadrome ticket (US$14) 4 night/5 day Rio Carnival Hostel Experience with Sambadrome ticket ($5) Two night/three day Amazon Jungle excursion (US$489) Three night/four day Inca Trail trek (US$939) One day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu (US$7) PACKING Packing tips South America is huge, and you re likely to encounter lots of different climates during your trip. Check the weather averages for the time of year you re travelling and pack accordingly. Here are some of the things that should be in your luggage as well as your general clothes: Towel Sleeping bag / sleeping bag liner Roll mat or self-inflating Therm-a-rest Casual clothes and a few evening options Waterproof jacket Comfortable day shoes / sandals or flip-flops Sensible footwear for walking, ideally walking boots with ankle support, but trainers with good grip will suffice Warm sweater / fleece Warm hat / gloves Swimwear Sun hat / sunglasses Sunscreen / insect repellent (35% minimum Deet) Water bottle Toiletries / personal medicine Camera & charger (plus spare batteries and SD cards) Travel power adaptor / USB car charger and cord Money belt Head torch Travel alarm clock Wet wipes or antibacterial hand wash Travel games (cards) Toilet paper Inflatable pillow for trips Small sewing kit Weather Weather can be changeable so it s wise to pack enough to cover you for all eventualities. It can get cold if opting for the Inca Trail so be prepared for any eventuality. Here s a guide to the average high and low temperatures in some of the places you ll visit to help you decide what to pack. High/Low Temperatures JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Lima HIGH 27 22 21 20 21 23 LOW 20 20 20 18 17 16 16 15 15 16 17 Cusco HIGH 20 20 20 21 21 20 20 21 21 22 22 21 LOW 8 8 8 6 4 2 1 3 5 7 7 8 La Paz HIGH 15 15 15 15 15 14 14 15 16 16 17 16 Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro LOW 4 4 3 2-2 -4-4 -3-1 2 2 4 HIGH 29 22 16 15 17 22 28 LOW 20 18 15 11 8 8 10 11 14 16 18 HIGH LOW 30 23 30 24 29 23 28 22 20 18 20 27 21 29 22 C / F Conversions: -10ºC = 14ºF 0ºC = 32ºF 10ºC = 50ºF 20ºC = 68ºF 30ºC = 86ºF 40ºC = 104ºF
JOINING YOUR TOUR TrekAmerica joining instructions Day one of your tour is a joining day and you re free to arrive at any time ahead of your welcome meeting. This is typically held at 18:00 hrs in the lobby of the joining point hotel - please ask or look for a sign in the hotel reception area for details. We aim to check paperwork and answer questions during this meeting so please bring your passport, insurance documentation, vaccination certificates, travel voucher, and local payment with you to this meeting. If you miss the start of your tour, please ask at the reception of the hotel for a message from your tour leader which will give you instructions on how to catch up with the group. Your tour will depart the gateway city the morning of day two at a time specified during your welcome meeting on the evening of day one. It s important that you have packed your bags, eaten breakfast, checked out of your room and handed any keys back to the hotel before meeting your group in the hotel lobby. Finishing up All good things must come to an end, and your Trek will finish after breakfast on the last morning at the finishing point hotel. If you need accommodation after your tour you must book this in advance. Do not book a departure flight any earlier than the final day of the tour without contacting TrekAmerica. You are responsible for any transportation costs if you have to leave the tour earlier than advertised. JOINING POINT: RIO HOTEL Arcos Rio Palace Hotel Av. Mem de Sa 117 CEP 20230 Rio de Janeiro Tel: (+55) 21 2242 8116 Airport transfers are not included in the tour price and must be booked separately in advance through TrekAmerica, either when you book your tour or up to 30 days before your departure. You will need to provide your flight number when you book a transfer. Pre-bookable transfer from Rio de Janeiro airport to your hotel (up to 3 people per vehicle): GB 48/EUR57/US$60/AU$90/NZ$99 If you ve booked a transfer with us, please look out for someone with a sign which has your name, our local partner s name (Tucan Travel) or both, after exiting the customs hall. If you re going to be delayed more than two hours, you must advise us at least six hours before arrival in order for FINISHING POINT: LIMA HOTEL The Kamana Hotel Jiron Kamana 547 Lima, Peru Tel: (+51) 1 4 7204 Transfer to Airports: You can either reserve an airport transfer with TrekAmerica at the time of booking, or you can make arrangements locally to take a taxi back to the airport. Your tour leader or hotel reception can help arrange a taxi for you. It is worth sharing a taxi with your Arrival Complications us to reschedule. Failing this we cannot rearrange your transfer and you cannot be issued a refund. Making your own way there: If you decide not to pre-book an arrival transfer, you can either take a taxi from the rank outside or buy a ticket at one of the pre-pay taxi desks just after you get out of the customs/luggage hall. You need to pay at the counter and you then hand your ticket to the driver (you do not pay any money to the driver). Licensed and unlicensed taxis are available outside the terminal but you will have to haggle for a good price which can be difficult if you do not speak Portuguese. It is also best to get them to write down the price (be clear on whether they are talking about Reals or US dollars). The cost of a taxi from the airport to our hotel in Rio de Janeiro should be approximately US$20. The airport is approximately 45 minutes from the city centre (depending on traffic). fellow travellers if your departure times coincide. Pre-bookable transfer to Lima airport from your hotel (up to 3 people per vehicle): GB 24/EUR29/US$30/AU$45/NZ$50 If you decide not to pre-book a departure transfer to the airport through TrekAmerica, the cost of a taxi from our hotel in downtown Lima to the international airport should be approximately US$15 to $. The airport is approximately 30 to 45 minutes from the hotel (depending on traffic). The unexpected can happen. Your plane may be delayed or you may even miss it! If you have missed your departure, first check with the hotel to see if your tour leader left you a message. If not, call the relevant TrekAmerica emergency number and speak to our staff who will be happy to help you catch up with the group. You are responsible for any extra travelling expenses incurred because of a missed trip, so please be on time. EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS In the event of an emergency, please contact us on the number below. For all departures in South America: In the unlikely event you cannot reach Rolf, please contact Sarah Field on (+51) 980 038 181 If you want to report an issue on tour, please contact our London head office on +44 (0) 208 682 8920 READY TO GO? DON T FORGET! R TrekAmerica vouchers R Pre & post hotel confirmation R Spending money R Travel insurance R Flight booking confirmation R Visa(s) where required To book hotel nights before or after your trip, contact our sales team on: These Trek Tips were last updated on 13/04/2018
Making the most of your trip KEEP IN TOUCH As a TrekAmerica customer receive a FREE 4G SIM card when you purchase an inclusive data plan including unlimited domestic calls and texts. trekamerica.co.uk/ekit CURRENCY CARD Get a FREE FairFX currency card and top up in advance for the best rates available and no fees. fairfx.com/refer/trekamerica Before you go Local payment The local payment helps us to keep your tour price as low as possible. It is a nonrefundable, fixed amount which is paid to your tour leader in US dollars on the first day of your tour. The money is put straight into the local economy, often to small suppliers in remote locations without banking facilities. The local payment amount is found on the first page of this Trek Tips document and printed on your invoice and tour voucher. You are required to pay the local payment that is current at the time of your tour s departure. This amount may occassionally change throughout the year and we will advise you of any change prior to your departure. We advise you to check the specific tour page on our website for the current amount if you re unsure. It can be very difficult to obtain large quantities of US$ in some South American countries, so we recommend organising your local payment before you arrive for your tour. Tour vouchers Once your trip has been paid for in full, we ll email you with your tour vouchers which you can either print or download to your smart phone. If you ve booked pre and post tour hotels, your accommodation vouchers will also be sent at the same time. As a helpful reminder, all vouchers will be emailed to you as PDF six weeks before you travel. Please keep these vouchers safe and refer to them for the full details of your trip. Pre & post tour hotels The first day of the tour is an arrival day and you are free to arrive at any time. We include a pre departure meeting at approximately 18:00 hrs. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. Should you wish to reserve additional pre tour nights, accommodation is offered on a single basis if travelling solo, or in a twin share room with two single beds if travelling in a pair. Make sure you book any additonal pre or post hotel nights well in advance as availability is limited. Flight arrangements We can book flights departing from most UK airports, but cannot be held responsible for any delays, cancellations or changes to your flights. We recommend you book your flight to arrive into the gateway city at least one day prior to your departure, although if you plan on arriving on day one, please do so before your welcome meeting at 18:00 hrs. As your tour finishes in the morning on the last day, you are free to fly at any time this day. Travel insurance It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must be insured against medical and personal accident risks (including repatriation costs, air ambulance, and helicopter rescue service). Our insurance policy is designed specifically to cover the potential risks on our holidays - particularly the optional activities offered, and covers those residing in the EU. Contact us for more information or to get yourself covered. Passports, visas & rules for entry to South American countries All countries have visa requirements that are subject to change at short notice. It is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid passport and any necessary visas for your tour. As a general rule you will need a passport with at least six months validity following the end of your trip. The visa requirements for your trip may vary depending on where you are going, and where you are from. It is important that you check which visas you will need, and apply for each of the necessary visas whilst in your home country. If it is necessary for you to obtain any visas en-route, please inform your tour leader at the start of the tour. If you do not have the appropriate visas, TrekAmerica will not reimburse any expenses incurred in acquiring visas or any unused portion of the tour. Special Note: If you have dual nationality it is advised not to obtain different visas in different passports. Although this may sometimes be cheaper, you may encounter problems at border crossings if your exit stamps from one country are not the same as your visa for the next. Immigration & customs On entering a country you will need to proceed through customs. As long as you have a valid passport and the necessary visa/s you will have no problems. You may be asked how you intend to support yourself during your visit, if this happens please present your return airline ticket and tour voucher. Health requirements If you have any medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy or asthma, please take prescribed medicines, or if you have a condition that will affect your participation, you must tell us or your travel agent at the time of booking. Please be aware we may require a doctor s note prior to travel for some conditions. This information is essential in case of emergency. Please bring your own medical supplies, such as pain relievers, antibiotic cream, upset stomach relievers, in addition to sunscreen and insect repellent. Vaccinations We recommend that you contact your doctor or travel medicine clinic at least two months before travel in order to allow enough time for any immunisations that may be required to be completed. A health professional will be able to assess your individual need for immunisations or preventative medication depending on your health situation, previous immunisation history and your travel itinerary. More information can be obtained from the Fit for Travel website http://www.fi tfortravel.nhs.uk/ For areas with malaria, make sure you pack sufficient prophylactics for the duration of your tour and the incubation period after. Some countries prevent entry for travellers without a valid yellow fever certificate. This must be acquired before departure and takes ten days for your body to build up a resistance. This certificate must be taken with you on your tour with a photocopy stored somewhere safe. Luggage allowance & storage As you will be travelling in an overland vehicle, it is important to bring a rucksack or soft holdall that you can manage yourself. A suitcase whilst possible, is impractical for camping nights and loading and unloading from the truck. We recommend no bigger than 20kg maximum per person but you ll need to check with your airline as to the maximum weight you can carry whilst flying. If you tour includes an internal flight, your weight allowance is a maximum of 15kg (we will cover you to 20kg). Should you go over this maximum weight allowance, you will be responsible for any additional charges. A small daypack and camera can also be carried inside the vehicle with any items you want to keep close and safe. TrekAmerica is unable to offer luggage storage facilities however, some of the pre and post tour hotels we use can provide this service. Please contact them directly if you are returning to the same city. Emergency Contact Details: For all departures in South America, call
Whilst you re away Your tour leader and driver Your tour leader and driver will take care of all the planning and organisation throughout your tour, taking you from A to B and making sure everything runs smoothly. Your tour leader is there to make sure you get the most out of your tour; organising activities, providing information and answering any questions you may have as well as sorting out any queries or problems you may encounter. If you have any particular interests or things you would like to do on your tour, then please let your tour leader know at the beginning of the tour and they will do their best to help you. We will also use specialist tour guides in certain locations, to provide in depth information. Accommodation on Trek Accommodation on this overland tour is on a twin/multi share basis and will be a combination of hotels, budget lodging and camping nights. Please note, there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than en suite. The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may be made due to the lack of availability of rooms or campsites in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. Please note that some gateway hotels may take a debit or credit card as a deposit at check in. They may also take an amount to cover incidentals. Funds can be held until check out at which time the amount actually incurred will be charged. Please clarify with the hotel when you check out that all deposits will be refunded as promptly as possible. Transport On South America overland tours, you will travel in a custom-built Mercedes Benz expedition vehicle which has been specifically designed and engineered to deal with challenging terrain so that it can take mountains, deserts and even rivers in its stride. There is on board storage for your luggage as well as camping and cooking equipment, a small library and fridge for food storage. Keeping in touch An increasing number of hotels and hostels within South America offer free Wi-Fi within the rooms or common area. At times connection may be slow and sometimes hotels will charge for Wi-Fi. Spending money For personal spending money you should bring US dollars to use alongside the local currency (where applicable). Some countries do not accept US dollars printed before 2006 or with tears and marks, and it can be very difficult to obtain US dollars locally. While bank cards provide a very good way to access funds overall, it is not recommended to rely on them as your sole source of funds as cash machines do not always work and may not be available in remote locations. Carry a mix of cards and cash with you, including notes in small denominations. Your spending money should cover some meals, optional excursions, souvenirs, drinks, laundry, border and airport taxes and any visas obtained locally. We provide guideline prices for optional excursions in the itinerary to help you budget, but ultimately the amount you will need to budget for your trip very much depends on your individual requirements. We recommend bringing extra money to cover emergencies or unexpected situations. Tipping Tipping is a part of the life in South America, but you should not feel obliged or pressured to tip if you have not received good service. A gratuity of 10% of the total bill is recommended in restaurants. Gratuities are usually expected for local guides on included and optional excursions. Tips are also appreciated by your tour leader and driver at the end of the trip and we recommend an average of $2-$4 per person per day for the duration of your tour, at your own discretion. Drinking ages / drugs The legal drinking age for Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil is 18 years. Proof of age (ID) is your passport, so never forget to take your passport on nights out. Possession of drugs without a proper medical prescription will not be tolerated. When overseas you are subject to local laws and the penalties for breaking these laws can be harsh. In order to safeguard the interests of the group as a whole, our tour leaders have been instructed to insist that any person found with illegal drugs leave the tour immediately without refund. Security South America is generally safe, even more so in a group. Reasonable precaution is advised; do not bring valuable jewellery or watches, do not walk by yourself at night, heed your tour leader s advice and always keep an eye and a hand on your camera and bags in public places. We recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Overland vehicles have a safe onboard where you can keep your passport and money secure. Please note there is limited space so you will not be able to put larger items in there. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is a secure way of storing your valuables. Responsible travel The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the NHS has up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more on security, local laws, plus passport and visa information, see https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/ Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk For all latest travel information about your holiday, please visit us at www.trekamerica.com/travelaware The advice can change so check regularly for updates. You and your fellow Trekkers are sure to be really excited for your trip, but please be considerate to those around you. Please also be aware of the delicate balance that exists in the variety of natural wonders you will visit. National parks and monuments, archaeological sites and other sensitive areas must be treated with respect. TrekAmerica strives to operate tours with minimum impact on the land. So, if you see a notice to stay on the path or pick up litter, please be a responsible traveller and understand that there is a good reason for the notice. Keep in mind, you are representing all future travellers who come after you. And the rest... Itinerary changes We endeavour to run all tours as they are published; however, it s sometimes necessary to alter itineraries to adapt to local conditions and regulations. We will do our best to keep you posted if that happens and your tour leader will provide a more detailed trip outline at the beginning of your particular tour. We monitor any situations that arise and may need to change itineraries or services in response to these natural weather occurrences. Departure tax Generally departure taxes are included within the cost of your international flight ticket for a country you are flying in or out of. If you have questions regarding this please ask your travel agent making your flight booking. Clothes washing You will have the opportunity to wash your clothes while on your tour. There are laundromats or laundry services in or near most of our hotels and budget lodging accomodation. Hotel services can be pretty costly, however your tour leader and driver will be able to recommend cheaper options. If you wash clothes yourself at campsites, please be careful about where you hang them when closer to towns and cities. Electrical supply The power supply and plug types in South America vary between countries. The power supply in Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay is 220-240 volts and uses either a typical European rounded two prong plug or North American flat pronged plug (Argentina also sometimes uses a 3-pronged plug). In Ecuador it is 120 volts with North America flat pronged plug. Brazil has both voltages depending on the region and uses a number of different outlets. We recommend bringing a universal plug adaptor with you. Emergency Contact Details: For all departures in South America, call