Detailed Trip Notes
Suitability
Suitability
We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
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Tour Itinerary
In the Galapagos please note that this part of the tour is operated in conjunction with a local specialist company and is not exclusive to Explore customers. You'll join an international mix of people although all guiding is done in English.
The tour will operate on one of two itineraries as listed below in the daily schedule.
In Peru strikes, rallies and road-blocks are quite common forms of protest. While we have excellent resources in place to minimise any disruption to the tour, occasionally we have to make changes to our planned route and/or itinerary.
Please note that rail strikes are common in Peru and so there is the possibility that the train may not always be running. In the event that you have chosen the optional train ride and it is not operating, then we will make the journey from Puno to Cusco by bus, which will include a stop at the impressive Inca temple at Raqchi. Lunch is not included on the bus journey.
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Budgeting for your Tour
Budgeting for your tour
Please be aware that if you purchase duty free on your return from your departing airport and are flying home via Madrid this will be confiscated as Madrid Airport check your hand luggage and you are not permitted bottled liquids over 100ml. We recommend you buy locally and pack in your main luggage.
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Custom regulations in Peru mean that you may be charged up to 30USD for bringing a second (or third or fourth etc) camera into the country. You are currently allowed to bring in one camera, and one video camera, without paying any duty. If you declare a second camera or if the customs authorities see a second camera on you, then you may be charged.
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Other Sightseeing & Activites
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
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Excursion Prices
Otavalo - Upgrade to full day visit to traditional market US$40
Nazca - Antonini Archaeological Museum entrance fee US$6 (US$21 for guided tour [includes entrance fee]); Chachilla pre-Inca cemetry US$24 (includes guide, transport and entrance fee): Nazca aqueduct US$20 (includes guide, transport and entrance fee).
Ballestas Islands - boat trip $28 (time allowing)
Cusco and Sacred Valley - Rafting on Urubamba River (grade 2-3) US$35/40 (depending on numbers); Maras, Moray Tour US$40 (based on 4 passengers). Misminay Tour US$75(based on 4 passengers); Ollantaytambo visit US$20.
Aguas Calientes - Hot Springs US$3.
Mapi - Entry Ns126 (only payable in Ns – approx US$45 and subject to availability), bus 16 Neuvos Soles return.
Lima - City tour approx U$30; Larco Herrera Museum US$35 guided, US$11 unguided. Lima Detour – alternative view of the city of Lima $35 (price may go up if less than 4 passengers).
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Airport Taxes
Note that you will need approx US$42 for airport taxes.
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Galapagos Entrance Fee
Please also note that there is an entrance fee to the Galapagos of US$100 per person which must be paid individually on arrival in the Galapagos.
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Galapagos Transit Control Card
From 7th November 2008 the Galapagos Authorities introduced the Galapagos Transit Control Card, where each person visiting the Galapagos must have US$10 This will be payable before entrance is permitted.
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Tipping
Local Crew: Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group’s tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.
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Accordingly, you should allow US$10 for the land portion of the trip and US$140 for the Galapagos portion of the trip: US$100 for the crew and US$40 for the guide portion of the trip.
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Foreign Exchange
Peru:
Local Currency: Nuevo Sol.
Recommended Currency for Exchange: Carry all your funds in U.S. Dollars cash or a debit/credit card(Sterling is very difficult to change). It is advisable to take some US$300-400 of your total spending money in cash, mixed denominations. Old, dirty or marked notes are not accepted locally. Best to travel with brand new notes. Note: US $100 bills with the series CB-B2, year 2001, will not be accepted for exchange.
Where to Exchange: Most major towns - your Tour Leader will advise you on arrival.
ATM Availability: ATMs are available in all cities visited.
Credit Card Acceptance: In major restaurants.
Travellers Cheques: Travellers cheques are not always easy to exchange.
Ecuador & the Galapagos:
Local currency: US Dollar
Recommended Currency for Exchange: Carry all your funds in U.S. Dollar Travellers Cheques/Cash (NOT Sterling, which is almost impossible to change). It is advisable to bring some of your spending money in cash, in small denomination notes (in good condition). Note: US $100 bills with the series CB-B2 year 2001 will not be accepted for exchange.
Where to Exchange: Most major towns - your Tour Leader will advise you on arrival.
ATM Availability: Only in major towns.
Credit Card Acceptance: In major restaurants and shops.
Travellers Cheques: Travellers Cheques are often difficult to exchange, especially non- American Express.
Up-to-date information re:global exchange rates can be obtained at
https://www.currency-express.com/explore/
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Local Costs
| |
UK |
Ecuador |
Galapagos Islands |
Peru |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
$1.00 |
|
$2.00 |
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
$1.50 |
|
$2.00 |
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
$2.00 |
|
$1.60 |
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
$2.50 |
|
$2.50 |
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
$15.00 |
|
$13.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
$19.00 |
|
$20.00 |
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
$20.00 |
|
$13.00 |
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
$10.00 |
|
|
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
No visa required for citizens of UK, AUS, CAN, USA or New Zealand. Please ensure your passport is stamped with the T3 permit (for 30 or 90 days) on arrival in Ecuador. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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Please note: Please note that flights on the tour may transit through the USA. According to US law, passengers will have to disembark, collect luggage and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight.
Holders of the UK, AUS, NZ, CAN and several EU country passports can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they hold a machine readable passport. They must also be entering the country by sea or air on a carrier participating in the visa waiver scheme, holding a return/onward ticket. As well as being machine readable, if your passport was issued on or after 26 October 2005, it must contain both a digital photograph of the holder and also an integrated circuit chip that stores biographic information.
All passengers travelling to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme must provide their details online no later than 72 hours prior to travel. British travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely to be detained and sent home. In addition to passport information, you must also supply the full address of your first night’s accommodation in the USA. This information can be obtained from your joining instructions which are sent out approximately 3 weeks before travel.
Anyone applying for ESTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to travel under the Visa Waiver system will be charged a fee of 14USD (9GBP).
For more information, and to apply online, please visit the following website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Once obtained, the application will be valid for a period of two years, or for the validity of your passport (whichever is shorter).
For more information about who is eligible for the VWP, or any other questions you may have regarding your eligibility, or machine readable passports, please contact your local consular office, or visit www.usembassy.org.uk
Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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Peru: No visa is required for citizens of UK, CAN, USA, AUS and NZ. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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Vaccinations & Protection
We recommend protection against malaria, infectious hepatitis, tetanus, typhoid and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria.
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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Altitude
Note on Altitude: The trip may be taken by almost anyone who enjoys good health, and appreciates that walking in the Andes is fairly rugged and involves trekking over rough pathways. The highest point on the route is 4200m – the realm of thin, cold, dry air. We take a day to begin acclimatising.
Insurance: Please ensure that your insurance policy covers you to the altitude indicated before you come on tour. If you have Explore insurance, you will be covered to this altitude.
Medical Examination: You should visit your GP and specifically mention the maximum altitude the trek reaches, i.e. 4,200m.
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Additional Information for your Boat Journey
Our Galapagos Vessel
Our tours utilise the First Class boat, the Monserrat. It is a comfortable boat with twin-share, lower beds (not bunks), en-suite cabins with air conditioning and hot water. This yacht has indoor dining and lounge areas plus a sundeck for relaxing.
Whilst onboard the Monserrat all drinking water is provided free of charge as is tea and coffee. Any other soft or alcoholic drinks are paid for on a tab system at the end of the week.
Please note that cabins located on the lower deck have small windows/port holes and may be subject to slightly more noise at times, due to their proximity to the engine room. We are unfortunately unable to guarantee the location of your cabin on board. Our vessel normally holds a maximum of 16 passengers plus 8 crew.
As we travel at night, this allows us to make the most of our time in the Galapagos. For more information please take a look at: www.monserrat-cruise.info
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Climate
Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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On the Galapagos, the hot season is January to April with largely sunny days and the possibility of heavy showers; the cool season runs May to December and is generally more cloudy with much cooler seas. Please note that although it is windier from July to November the sea can be rough at any time of the year. On the mainland the dry season lasts from June to October, though September can be wet.
In Peru on the coast it rarely rains. Jun-Oct is damp and misty, but temps never drops below 10°C. The highlands experience sunny days and very cold nights all year and there is a rainy period from Dec-Mar. Bear in mind that at high altitudes temperatures can drop dramatically, and conditions can change suddenly.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
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One main piece of soft luggage and a daysac. You are expected to carry your own luggage – don’t overload yourself. Whilst travelling on the boat, we recommend that your does not exceed 33lbs/15kgs as space will be limited.
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Trek Kit Bag
For an exclusively designed Explore Trek Bag, follow the relevant link at www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Clothing
Pack essentially for ‘All Tours’ plus ‘Hot Conditions’. Daytime clothing should be lightweight and loose fitting, but warmer clothing is needed at at night. Long lightweight clothes are useful to avoid sunburn. Bring a swimsuit, sunhat, sunglasses and sweater/fleece. Lightweight windproof/waterproofs are essential.
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Footwear
Comfortable walking boots or shoes and trainers or sandals with a good grip. Plastic sandals (not flip flops) are useful for wet landings
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Equipment
A torch, water bottle, insect repellent, high factor sunscreen, ear plugs, binoculars, camera film/memory card, waterproof bag for camera and motion sickness tablets or patches. Snorkelling equipment is available on the boat, however we cannot guarantee the quality or size of the equipment so we recommend you bring your own. Disposable waterproof cameras can be purchased locally.
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Personal First Aid Kit
For an exclusively designed Explore Medical Kit, visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
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General Information
Please note:
The boat section of this tour is run in association with a local specialist operator & is therefore not exclusive to Explore travellers.
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The boat’s exact itinerary is determined by the Galapagos National Park Authorities and this can make the route subject to change at any time of the year.
In the event that our boat is unavailable for operational reasons, a vessel of the same category or superior will be provided.
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Ecuador & the Galapagos: At the time of booking we require your full passport details and Place of Birth.
Peru: Please note, we require full passport details 6 weeks prior to departure. Failure to provide this information at this time may prevent you from getting a place on the tour. Any changes to the passport details after booking must be notified immediately with a photocopy of the changes/new passport.
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Please note that there is no Tour Leader on this tour. In the Galapagos you are accompanied by a naturalist guide and boat crew. In Quito you will be accompanied by a local representative.
Flight times to and from the islands can change at short notice.
Tourism in the Galapagos is quite rudimentary yet expensive.
Please only use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth in Ecuador and the Galapagos.
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Electric Supply & Plugs
For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Toll Free USA - 1 800 715 1746 
Toll Free Canada – 1 888 216 3401
This is the North American website
