Travelling Tips

Photo Credit: David Walker

Here is some useful information when preparing for your trip. We also have an extensive list of links to other educational and useful sites.

What to pack (luggage)

During your trip you are likely to pass through a number of micro-climates. Dressing in layers is very effective. We would recommend that you bring mainly casual clothing. Here are some key suggestions:

Comfortable sneakers or walking boots
Short and long-sleeved t-shirts
Rain gear
A fleece jacket
Jeans or casual trousers
Camera (plus film) and perhaps binoculars
Backpacks
Insect repellent, eye drops, lip balm and sun block
More formal attire for dinners etc.

Travel insurance

Before travelling we strongly recommend you take out travel insurance in your country. Ideally this should cover you from expenses incurred due to flight cancellations, theft, lost luggage and general cancellation by you in the event of not being able to carry out your trip due to illness or unforeseen circumstances. It should also cover you for potential medical expenses incurred during travel in case of illness or accident.

Health considerations

Altitude

There are a few different ways to alleviate the potential side-effects of being at a high altitude during your trip. Diamox can help when it is taken a couple of days prior to ascending and a couple of days once at altitude. The natural remedy is coca tea, which should be drunk in abundance during your stay at high altitude. You should also drink plenty of water before your flight to high altitude and during your stay, although it is best not to force it down as this could result in an upset stomach.

Vaccinations

You do not need any vaccinations to travel to the region unless you are planning to go into a rainforest area.

In common with all rainforest destinations worldwide, the Peruvian authorities require a current yellow fever vaccination which should be administered at least 15 days before you arrive in the rainforest. If you are travelling from Peru to any destination in Brazil, you will be required to have a yellow fever certificate .

Malaria pills are recommended but not required for trips to the rainforest.

Personal medical kit

We provide a full medical kit adapted for different locations, but you may want to bring the following particularly if you are going trekking, white-water rafting or time in the jungle: Antidiaharretics (immodium), pepto bismol for stomach pain, antistaminics both capsules and balm, analgesics, band aids and blister plasters and insect repellent.

Bolivia

Currency

You can change dollars or euros into local currency in banks, in exchange houses, in shops (in small towns) and in your hotel. The exchange rate is generally the same with the exception of hotels it tends to be set at a slightly less advantageous rate. Please bear in mind that $100 bills can be difficult to change. Dollars are easier to change than Euros.

We recommend exchanging traveller cheques at banks, and for security reasons we highly recommend you use ATM machines in airports and hotels rather than on the street.

We recommend that you always carry local currency, since although larger establishments may accept dollars, sometimes they will not. Vendors might only accept these. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are generally accepted, although Visa is accepted in most instances.

Unfortunately, forged notes (both dollars and local currency) abound in some countries in the region, so be sure to examine your notes, feel their texture and this should be enough to recognize the fakes. (Forgers don't seem to make a huge effort!).

Parador del Colca

Mobile phones

Most foreign mobile phones work in the region, including Blackberries.

Restaurants and tipping

In restaurants you can tip up to 10%, but this is entirely discretionary. It is best to leave a tip in cash.

Again, we leave this entirely to your discretion, but many of our clients ask how much they should tip their drivers, guides and support staff on excursions or while trekking. As a guideline, you might consider giving a driver or a guide $20 for a couple of days work. If you spend longer with that particular person, you may want to multiply that by the number of days spent.

For more information, see FAQs, Useful links or contact us.

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