Southern
Crossings
Tours and
Travel
North
America:
1-800-704-6234
UK free phone:
0-800-883-0584
info@
southerncrossings.com
Passenger
Recommendations
Consultants and
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It was all pure fun! Smooth going and good organization in respect of the local communities and environment. For adventure holidays it is perfect...
- Joule Chaubeau, France
We had a great trip and hope all is well with each of you. Thanks again for your help in planning an incredible trip to Peru that we will never forget! We enjoyed meeting you and spending time with you while on our vacation. Take care!
-Cindy Simonian and friends, USA, Highlands Express June 2006
Rio Carnival!
Frequently Asked
Questions
How many people will be in the group?
How do I meet the tour?
What's included in the tour?
Will I be alright if I don’t speak
Spanish?
How are the accommodations?
What's the weather like in Peru?
What do we do about water?
What's to eat?
Will I need a passport or visa?
How high are the places we're
visiting?
Is there a kitty or local payment?
What's the camping like?
Do I need to be an adventure sport guru for these trips?
How about vaccinations?
Do I need travel insurance? Can you
recommend an insurer for me?
Can I spend my currency or will I need to change money?
What do I need to bring with me? How much can I bring?
Is there storage for my extra luggage when we go on excursions?
Will I be able to do laundry during the trip?
Do I need fancy clothes?
Will my electrical appliances work?
Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag?
Can I spend extra time in Lima or Cuzco?
Can you suggest some things to do if I have extra time in Lima or Cuzco?
Is it normal to tip in South America? How much?
How much money do you suggest I bring with me? Are regular purses/wallets safe to carry it in?
If I'm feeling homesick, how can I call home or write an email?
How can friends and family from home get a hold of me?
How many people will be on the tour?
In general, we try to avoid large group travel. We specialize
in personalized tours for individuals, friends and families, so much of
the tour is likely to consist of just the people you booked with, or
just two to four other Southern Crossings clients. However, you
may be part of a larger group (up to 16) on excursions such as the Inca
Trail, jungle lodges or Lake Titicaca. Private options are
available for these sections as well at additional cost.
How do I meet the tour?
We'll meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. It's no fun
arriving in a foreign country and having to make your way to your hotel
on your own, being hassled and ripped off by taxi drivers and all the
other touts that are a fixture just outside the airport doors. On a
Southern Crossings tour, we'll have one of our representatives there
instead, with a big, bright placard with your name on it and secure and
reliable transport to the joining hotel.
What is included in the tour?
If you check carefully, you'll find we include more in your tour than
most other companies, whether it's something small like the Cuzco
Visitor's Ticket or something big like internal flights. The price of
the tour always includes transfer from (and back to) the airport on
either end of your trip, a bilingual Southern Crossings guide throughout
your trip, all internal transport including internal flights, all
accommodation, and excursions (including entrances) listed in the
What's included section of each trip's Trip itinerary and details.
We are particularly pleased to always include internal flights and
transfers in the basic price - just one of the things that sets us
apart from most other tour companies!
Will I be
alright if I don’t speak Spanish?
Don't worry, you'll be fine if you can't speak Spanish. While it
might be helpful to know and understand a few basic phrases (like
bathroom or beer...), you will be with qualified bilingual guides
throughout your trip, and most restaurants and hotels manage at least
basic English.
How are the accommodations?
We stay in clean and comfortable locally-run hotels (usually three stars
level), which most of our passengers say are nicer and cozier than they
expected. Accommodation is twin share with 24-hour hot water and private
bathrooms (except in the Amazon basin, where there is not always hot
water). Passengers booking solo will be paired with another group member
of the same sex. If you would like single accommodations, please check
that box on our
booking form. Please visit our
Accommodations page for more info.
What’s the weather like in
Peru?
Depending on what time of the year your trip is and which tour you
choose, the climate varies.
The rainy season is generally from October to April, but rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows:
Cuzco: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in Cuzco.
Lake Titicaca: essentially the same as Cuzco, but a few degrees colder.
Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Often overcast.
Ica and Nazca: similar to Lima but hotter and sunnier.
Inca Trail: all ranges of weather from hot to possible snow and rain at higher elevations. Most people trek in shorts or light pants (synthetic, fast-drying fibers are preferable to cotton) and a t-shirt, and carry a layer or two (thin fleece and micro-fibers are, again, preferable to cotton), plus a poncho or other rain gear. There are biting insects, so even in warm weather some people opt to cover more skin with a long sleeve t-shirt and long pants.
Apurimac River/Rafting: warm to hot days, chilly nights with possibility of rain. Rafting gear/wet suits included in package.
Jungle: hot and humid with frequent rain.
What do we do about water?
There is safe bottled water available for sale in all towns, cities and
sites we will be visiting, normally costing around $1 per large bottle.
On trekking and other adventure sport excursions, water is boiled or
purified.
What's to eat?
Anything you want! Some tour companies include meals and add it on to
the tour price, but we find this to be a little too restrictive. While
we can (and do) suggest some great restaurants, and often dine with our
passengers, we recognize that different people have different tastes and
different budgets, so we allow you the opportunity to explore this
aspect of traveling on your own. Latin America offers a huge variety of
mouth-watering, and sometimes bizarre, cuisines to sample. To be sure,
burgers and pizza are available just about everywhere, but how about
acarajé, a spicy afro-Brazilian shrimp dish cooked in dendę oil, or
beef heart shish kebab, a specialty in the Peruvian highlands. And
although you can try your sister's childhood pet, guinea pig, in most of
the Andes, there are vegetarian options everywhere and even vegetarian
restaurants in most cities. Your guide will know where they are.
Will I need a passport or visa?
A passport valid for six months beyond the date of the end of your trip
is required for all passengers. Visas are generally not required of
citizens from the E.U., North America, Australia or New Zealand, but
there are exceptions. (One notable exception is a visa requirement in
Brazil for U.S., Australian and New Zealand citizens.) Please be
sure to check at least three months in advance with the nearest
consulate of the country or countries you will be visiting on your trip!
What about the altitude?
Altitude affects everyone differently - some people don't experience
any symptoms of altitude sickness, some people experience a bit of
lightheadedness or nausea. However, after a day or two of
acclimatization most feel back to normal. The best way to keep from
feeling the altitude is to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and
eat lightly when you first arrive in Cuzco. If you feel strongly
affected by the change of altitude, thereis medication (Diamox)
that can be purchased inexpensively in pharmacies in Lima and Cuzco,
though most don't find these necessary. Also, oxygen is available
in extreme cases.
How high are the places
we're visiting?
In Peru: you'll be flying into Lima, which is at sea level, then
moving on to Cuzco which is at an altitude of 11,150ft./3400m above sea
level. Dead Woman's Pass on the Inca Trail reaches an altitude of
13,860ft./4200m, and the highest point we visit is Lake Titicaca at just
under 13,200ft./4000m. Machu Picchu is a bit lower, at
7900ft./2400m
Is there a kitty or local payment?
No. Kitties and local payments are additional amounts of money that
some tour companies charge upon arrival at your destination. We do not
utilize either of these payment options, and the price listed is always
the total price of the tour.
What's the camping like?
Our trekking and camping experiences are extremely well-supported,
with cooks that prepare delicious meals and porters or mule teams which
carry most of the load and prepare our campsites. Additionally, we
always carry a dining and toilet tent for the comfort of the group when
facilities aren't available on the trail.
Do I need to be an
adventure sport guru for these trips?
Not at all. All of our trekking, biking and rafting trips are
designed for the average healthy person, with or without experience in
the specific sport.
How about vaccinations?
A yellow fever vaccination and certificate are required to enter Brazil
or to visit the Amazon basin in Peru, and must be received at least 10
days before the date of entry. Travelers should make sure standard
vaccinations such as tetanus are up to date, and may also want to
consider vaccinations for hepatitis and a malaria prophylaxis if
traveling to the rainforest. Please consult your physician or local
health department regarding these matters.
Do I need travel insurance? Can you recommend an insurer for me?
Yes, you do need to have travel insurance for your Southern
Crossings tour. Just a basic travel medical insurance which includes
emergency evacuation is required, and we recommend going to
www.travelguard.com for a
policy.
Can I spend my currency or will I need to change money?
Foreign currency is generally not accepted and one must change cash or
traveler's checks into local currency, or withdraw local currency from
ATM machines. Exchange houses are plentiful in all towns and cities we
will be visiting, and the U.S. dollar is the easiest currency to
change. It is highly recommended that you use U.S. dollars for cash
exchange, but euros and pounds are also exchangeable in most places.
ATM's with MasterCard, Visa, Cirrus, and Star logos are in all major
cities and dispense local currency at a good exchange rate. If you
bring traveler's checks, please bring American Express or Visa!
What do I
need to bring with me? How much can I bring?
Other than airline weight restrictions, Southern Crossings doesn't
have specific regulations on how much luggage you can bring with you.
However, due to space limitations and the fact that there will be some
traveling from town to town, we advise you not to pack too much. In
general, one large bag and one day pack should be sufficient.
Here is a basic list of what we recommend you bring with you. As always,
if you have any questions about something specific, feel free to call or
email us.
ˇ Passport and, if necessary, visa
ˇ Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
ˇ Airline ticket
ˇ Photocopies of airline ticket and documents (passport, credit cards, etc.)
ˇ Wearable pouch for documents and money
ˇ Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
ˇ Smaller, comfortable day pack
ˇ Trekking/walking boots, comfortable and worn-in
ˇ Sandals or flip-flops
ˇ Rain poncho or jacket
ˇ Waterproof pants
ˇ Sun hat
ˇ Hat for cold weather
ˇ Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
ˇ Scarf and gloves
ˇ T-shirts
ˇ Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best), undergarments
ˇ Towel and swimsuit for hot springs
ˇ Camel-back or Nalgene bottle (optional)
ˇ Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
ˇ Sunscreen
ˇ Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)
ˇ Lip balm
ˇ Earplugs (optional)
ˇ Alarm clock or watch
ˇ Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
ˇ Camera and film/digital memory cards
ˇ Camera batteries
ˇ Playing cards, games, reading material
ˇ Prescription medications
ˇ Toiletries
Note that common clothing, batteries, film, medications,
and such toiletries as toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant
and feminine hygiene items are available in Peru. It is best to bring
from home such items as prescription meds, eyewear and care, extra large
clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera batteries. Also note that most
digital camera memory cards can be downloaded and burned onto a CD in
internet cafes in any large city.
Is there storage for my extra luggage when we go on excursions?
All hotels where you will be staying will have a deposit for luggage
that you'd like to leave. Additionally, there is luggage storage in the
Lima airport.
Will I be able to
do laundry during the trip?
There are easily accessibly laundry facilities everywhere we will
be, charging on average $2/kilo for same day service.
Do I need fancy clothes?
No, fancy clothes are by no means necessary. There are plenty of
bars and discoteques you can check out if you want to, but even there
the "dress code" is very, very casual. Jeans and t-shirts will be fine
for anywhere we will be going during the trip.
Will my electrical appliances work?
The countries we visit run on either 110 or 220 voltage, according to
the chart below. (Appliances run on 110V in the U.S., so an adapter
would only be necessary for Peru for U.S.-based appliances.)
Peru: 220 volts/ 60 cycle
Brazil: 110 volts
Mexico: 110
Guatemala: 110
Belize: 110
Do I need to bring
my own sleeping bag for the trekking/rafting?
Nope. If you really dig your bag, bring it, but otherwise go ahead
and save space when packing - we include sleeping bags on our treks.
How is the crime?
Due to a high level of poverty, there is such crime as pick pocketing
and purse/camera snatching, but violent, dangerous crime is extremely
low in almost all parts of South America. As a matter of fact, North
Americans and Europeans are statistically in more danger commuting by
car to work every morning than on a tour of Latin America, or even than
living in Latin America.
Can I spend extra time
in Lima or Cuzco?
Of course you can! We work with you personally to create your
ideal itinerary for your trip to Peru, and adding an extra day or two in
no hassle.
Can you suggest some things to do if I have extra time in Lima or Cuzco?
We have a whole slew of suggestions! From places to visit, foods to
try or hidden gems of the city, we will work with you to plan any free
days you want to fill.
Is it normal to
tip in Peru? How much?
Ten percent is a customary tip when at a restaurant, 1 sol per drink
when at a bar, and if you have a very friendly and helpful taxi driver,
you can tip 50 cents or 1 sol if you wish, but it is far less common to
tip cab drivers here than in other countries.
For your guides, we suggest around $10 per person per day, assuming you are pleased with the service.
How much money do you suggest I bring with me? Are regular
purses/wallets safe to carry it in?
We at Southern Crossings would suggest USD$50 a day, but this
is the high end of the scale. What are you going to spend $50 a day on?
Water, meals (especially at higher end restaurants), souvenirs
(paintings, alpaca sweaters, finger puppets...) and anything else that
might catch your fancy. It's easy to spend less than this, but it's
better to be safe than sorry, right?
We recommend a money belt/pouch that can be worn under your clothes to carry the majority of your money. Wallets are best carried in front pockets, if at all. It's best to carry small denominations of money on your person while leaving the majority of it in a safe box in our hotel.
If I'm feeling homesick, how can I call home or write an email?
Our hotels can connect you, or if you want a better rate, phone
cards can be purchased in most small stores and gas stations in all
cities. There are denominations of 5, 10 or 20 soles and these can be
used to make international phone calls from public pay phones. When in
the country, a local call is 50 cents (1 sol to a cell phone) from a
public phone. There are also many phone centers, or places
with individual, private cabins that charge a variety of rates to call
internationally.
Internet is
everywhere in South America, and on just about every street corner you
can find an Internet Cafe with a "Speedy" connection (900 k) for 1 sol
or 1.50 soles per hour (which is 2 hours for about USD$1). The quality
of these connections varies, and your guide can help point you to the
nearest places with the fastest connections.
How can
friends and family from home get a hold of me?
Five to ten days before your arrival, you will receive the list of
hotels where we will be staying and their telephone numbers, as well as
Southern Crossings' office and cellular numbers.