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useful info
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Visas
UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA passport holders don’t require a visa for Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina or Chile for a stay of less than 90 days. Please click here for further info.
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Voltage
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru all operate on 220v at 50 cycles. Plugs range from US style, 2 flat plugs, European 2 round plugs or Australian style 3 angled plugs. Ecuador use 110v att 60 cycles, with 2 flat plugs (as in the US). Pack a universal adapter and all your bases will be covered. |
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Health
Please see your doctor or travel clinic for an up to date list of all recommended vaccinations for the regions you will be travelling. In general we recommend that you are vaccinated against Tetanus-diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A & B, Typhoid and if travelling to a jungle area, yellow fever. There is a malarial risk in the Amazon and parts of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, so please check with your health care professional as to the best and most up to date remedy for this mosquito borne disease. If you believe you will come into contact with animals and will be away from medical care, enquire into a rabies vaccine. It is not recommended that you drink the water in any of the countries we visit. Purchase, boil, filter or use iodine pills to purify the water you drink. Finally take an aspirin prior to your flight as this may help ward off DVT.
Vaccination procurement remains the responsibility of the client and not that of on the go. |
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Emergency fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional £120 as an ‘emergency fund’. This may need to be used when circumstances outside our control (ie: natural disaster) necessitate a change to our planned route – this is a rare occurrence but a safe guard. |
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Money
Most of the countries we visit are known for their currencies instability, therefore the exchange rates below are guides only and were correct at Oct 07. (subject to fluctuation).
| Approximately £ |
Approximately USD$
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| ARGENTINA Currency Argentinian Peso |
| Arg Peso = 19p |
1 Arg Peso = 35c |
| BOLIVIA Currency Bolivano |
| 1 Bol = 8p |
1 Bol = 15c
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| CHILE Currency Chilean Peso |
| 100 Chil Pes = 1p |
100 Chil Pes = 20c
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| ECUADOR Currency USD$ |
| $1 = 50p |
$1 = $1
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| PERU Currency Nuevo Sol |
| 1 Nuevo Sol = 18p |
1 Nuevo Sol = 35c
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It is advised that you take a range of methods to access your money while travelling. Hard USD cash, traveller’s cheques, ATM and credit cards – this will ensure that you will always have access to funds. If exchanging money, ensure that the denominations are small and all notes are clean and unmarked.
Bearing this in mind, though big name credit cards are accepted at major outlets and the more traditional form of carrying money (internationally – traveller’s cheques) is the safest, by far the most convenient and reliable way to access your funds will be with your ATM Card.
Please ensure that your card is connected to either the Cirrus or Plus networks, identifiable by the logo on your card. NB: most ‘solo’ and debit only cards are not connected to this network and do not work overseas. If you are unsure please check with your bank before departure. |
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Food, glorious food
Standard traveller fare is available throughout the continent and though not innovative, servings for the most part, are generous and you will find it easy to soon have your fill of pasta, pizza or egg dishes.
Of course there are exceptions. Cuzco, possibly due to its large international population, has some establishments which are worth the hunt. Wander the cobbled alleys and you may stumble across some excellent and new-modern food more reminiscent of the western café than the Peruvian Andes.
Each Country has it’s specialty – Argentina its beef and spicy pasty like pillows known as empanadas, Peru and Ecuador, with it’s proximity to the coast, it’s seafood and of course Peru has it ubiquitous though questionable speciality of cuy (guinea pig).
If vegetarian, the choice will be small and limited; perhaps tomato based pasta or cheese empanadas. In many tourist centres, a Chinese Restaurant may be on hand and probably the best place for you to find the largest range of dishes without meat. |
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Alcohol
Though international brands are available, they are more expensive than the locally produced beer. Each region within each country produces their own brand, so there are many excellent varieties to choose from. Wine is also produced in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Chile and Argentina are world renowned for their vineyards and a glass of your favourite variety is inexpensive and usually excellent. Peru’s vineyards, though not as high-quality, are easily drinkable, though it may be hit and miss with Bolvia’s highest vineyards in the world. Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia all have their own form of firewater – approach with care, the fermentation process, together with the actual ingredients may be more than what you had bargained for.
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Time
| Country |
GMT – Greenwich Mean Time |
| ARGENTINA |
3hrs |
| BOLIVIA |
4hrs |
| CHILE |
4hrs (GMT - 3hrs in summer) |
| ECUADOR |
5hrs |
| PERU |
5hrs
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