The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY BEFORE the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

Ballestas Islands, Nazca Lines and Puerto Inca. Time to leave the bustle of city life and check out more of the coastline with a trip South to the fishing village of Paracas. Paracas is the gateway to the Paracas National Park, with fantastic desert scenery, great beaches and spectacular coastline.

The following morning we hop on a boat here for the trip out to the Ballestas Islands. Our voyage takes us past the Candelabra - a giant figure carved in the hillside, which can only be seen from the sea. The Ballestas Islands are home to a great variety of wildlife. You can’t miss the huge colonies of sea lions and unusual marine birds, such as - Humboldt’s Penguin, cormorants, Peruvian booby and Peruvian pelican. There are some mega jellyfish around as well. As we return you might get lucky and see dolphins and flocks of flamingos in search of food in the shallow waters of the bay.

Next stop is the town of Nazca, which has an ancient culture. The people of the Nazca culture are responsible for creating a very mysterious series of shapes on the desert floor in the area surrounding the town of Nazca. This series of shapes is known as the Nazca Lines. They were discovered in the 1930´s when the first flights started to go over this area. The discovery prompted many archaeologists to come to this area to try and decipher these mysterious figures. Many theories have been brought forward as to the significance of the lines. While you’re here you can take a flight over the desert (optional), which is the best way to see the intriguing Nazca Lines and develop your own theory on the meaning of the lines. The lines were etched into the desert floor over 2000 years ago. They show a series of shapes - huge birds, spiders, whales and other creatures plus geometrical figures.

Please note: Current UK FCO travel advice states that "British nationals should take account of the serious risks involved in flying over the Nazca Lines. There have been a number of fatal accidents and emergencies at Nazca over many years, including three fatal accidents since 2008. Past accident investigations have shown that necessary aircraft safety and maintenance standards were not being implemented. We have no reason to believe that proper safety and maintenance standards are now being reliably adhered to. ". As client safety and security is of paramount importance to us, our crew are currently unable to book or recommend Nazca Lines flights on behalf of our clients. Should you wish to participate in Nazca Lines flights you do so at your own risk and Kumuka cannot be held responsible for any injury or fatality connected with flights over the Nazca Lines. As an alternative, you may wish to visit the Nazca Lines lookout tower, located just outside Nazca town.

From Nazca we continue through the desert to the ancient Inca fishing port of Puerto Inca. On the way we make a guided tour of the Chauchilla Cemetery, which also dates from the Nazca period. Excavations at the site have uncovered real mummies with hair and clothing intact. We camp on the beach at Puerto Inca. There are ruins of the Inca fishing village on either side of the bay. This is where ocean produce was stored and traded for items brought down from the Andes. It is said that in Incan times messages and fresh sea fish were sent 240km to Cuzco using a series of runners posted every 7km, the whole delivery taking 24 hours. While you are here you can relax on the beach, and in the evening by the light of a campfire.

Colca Canyon and Chivay. From Arequipa we continue further up into the  Peruvian Andes towards the mountain town of Chivay. On the way we drive though spectacular mountain scenery, and over a pass at 4900 metres altitude. We also see many of the South American Camelids, the most well known being the Llama, along with its smaller relations the Alpaca and the Vicuña, which is said to have the finest wool in the world. Chivay is a very traditional mountain town with many of the locals dressed in traditional costume. Chivay is our base to do our trip to see the Condors in Colca Canyon nearby. But another great attraction of Chivay is the nearby hot springs. You can enjoy a drink as you relax in the soothing waters of the baths.

Our route to Colca Canyon takes us past amazing Inca farming terraces and the valley then grows narrower and narrower to make one of the deepest canyons in the world. We arrive at Cruz del Condor, the edge of the mighty Colca Canyon. Not only does this spot provide some spectacular mountain views, but we are in a prime position at 1,200 metres above the canyon floor to get a memorable sight of the magnificent Condors, the heaviest flying bird in the world, and a wingspan of 3 metres, soaring majestically up the canyon on the thermals. Great photo opportunity!

Lake Titicaca. Our next destination is the town of Pun, which is across the Altiplano on the shores of the legendary Lake Titicaca. At an altitude of 3,820m, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. The lake has great spiritual significance for the local people, and particularly the Inca culture, as it was here that Inca legend says that the first Inca Emperor, Manco Capac rose from its waters to begin the Inca Empire. Titicaca means rock of the Puma.

In the early morning we take a boat trip across the blue waters of the lake to the  floating Reed Islands of the Uros Indians. They make the islands from the tortoro reeds that grow on the lake side. Our experienced local guide will give us information on the various customs of these people and you have the chance of buying some of their handicrafts and taking a short boat ride on one of their traditional fishing boats. From there we travel across the lake to Amantani Island where the Ayamara Indians live.

Here we spend the night with a friendly local family, and get to know about how they  live - a very different life from our own. In the early evening we climb to the top of the island for spectacular views of the sunset around Lake Titicaca. That night after dinner your family will dress you up in traditional costumes and take you dancing. Dance the night away to traditional music and learn some of the local dance moves.

The next day we cross to the nearby island of Taquille. After a 45 minute hike to the top of the island you arrive at the small plaza, which has fantastic views of the lake. Taquille Island is famous for its superb handicrafts, which you can see in the cooperative market in the plaza. After a delicious fish lunch we return on the boat back to Puno for the night.

Potosi and The Salar De Uyuni. We move on to Potosi – another high spot at 4,070m. Potosi is most famous for its rich silver mine in the Cerro Rico, a mountain, which dominates the backdrop of the city. The Spanish Colonials forced the local Indians to work in these mines in terrible conditions. These mines were a source of great wealth for the Spanish for over two centuries and Potosi grew into the largest city in the Americas during this time. The silver has long since dried up but mining hasn’t stopped and you have the chance of a fascinating optional guided tour through the Co-operative Mines - going into the Cerro Rico where the miners still work by hand.

Then from the depths of the mines we travel through the southwest highlands to the open desert and a strange natural phenomenon at Uyuni. The Salar de Uyuni, covers an area of 12000 square kilometres and will not fail to take your breath away when you first see it.

Please note that occasionally at the height of the rainy season (February, March) it may not be possible to drive across the salt flats due to flooding. Instead we will drive up to the edge of these. This is for safety reasons.

Atacama Desert - La Serena – Santiago. From San Pedro we head towards the Pacific Coast through the Atacama Desert until we reach the Pan American Highway and continue our journey south. We camp under the stars in the vast expanses of the Atacama Desert on our way to the colonial seaside town of La Serena.

Now we have some beach time and a chance to do some last minute shopping in the markets of La Serena. The city has some lovely colonial buildings surrounding the plaza, and the area is renowned for having clear, sunny skies.

From La Serena we continue along the coast to the bustling city of Santiago, which is growing and modernising but still retains some of its old charm with a magnificent  open, tree lined plaza dominated by the main Cathedral. Check out the changing of the Guards in the Plaza Constitucion and do some last minute shopping for those souvenirs. The area around Santiago has some of the finest wineries in Chile and an optional winery tour is available to go exploring and taste the local delicacies.

Hotel Espana
Morande 510
Santiago
Chile

Tel:   +56-2-7704500  

Fax:   +56-26960757

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your South America trip. Country  entry regulations change daily, www.kumuka.com provides visa information. Please consult your Travel Agent or relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.

Brazilian Visas – All those requiring Brazil visas must obtain these prior to entry; it is strongly recommended these are arranged prior to travel where possible.

Obtaining Brazilian Visas in Buenos Aires.
Please note:  for Kumuka tours entering from Argentina these can be obtained at the Brazilian Consulate. All passengers must make and attend an appointment as well as allow time for the visa to be processed which can take anything from 12 hours up to 5 days, especially during months around Carnival.  If for any reason your visa is delayed it may be necessary to make arrangements to meet up with the tour once it has left Buenos Aires. Please see the following website for details on how to make an appointment and what documents are required when applying for a tourist visa. Appointments can be booked online up to a month in advance and the contact numbers will put you through to an English speaker if required.

http://www.conbrasil.org.ar/CONSBRASIL/visas_otros01engl.asp

Embassy details:
Consulate of Brazil
Carlos Pellegrini 1363 – 5 Piso
Buenos Aires
C1011AAA
Argentina
Tel: +54 (11) 45156500
Contact number for appointments: +54 (11) 4515-6525 (Mon-Fri 9am-2pm/3-5pm)

Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Prophylactic tablets are essential in some areas of South America. They are prescribed by your vaccinating doctor and should be taken as directed.

• We recommend that you do not take unnecessary valuables with you. Wearing jewellery and expensive watches will attract attention.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at your own risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care. Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.
• Kumuka overland vehicles carry a safe on board.  We recommend using it to store your valuables.  They also have secure doors and windows but it is never foolish to be cautious.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible.

Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Sewing kit, Sunhat/Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. Overland tours will spend most time in campsites and some time in hotels as it is much more appropriate to the overland style of travel.

CAMPING - Camping is always great fun and our vehicles are loaded with all the first class equipment needed. Campsites vary from established sites with all facilities to the occasional roadside stop or free camp. We use large two person tents, and if you are traveling alone we’ll team you up with another group member of the same gender.

HOTELS - We choose our hotels, guesthouses and hostels for their location, comfort, security and hygiene standards. All are located near the city centre usually within easy walking distance of services and facilities. Most rooms are on a twin, double or triple share basis with private bathrooms, although there may be the occasional multi share dormitory room.

Accommodation is not included in the city of departure or arrival (unless within the specified tour dates). Passengers doing a combination tour will have accommodation included when passing through a joining city (maximum 2 nights) providing they have booked on the combination tour code. You should allow US$25 to US$30 per day to cover food and accommodation during this time.

Introduction

This is a moderate to strenuous hiking trek to the Lost City of Machu Picchu. The gateway for this trek is Cuzco, where passengers leave their luggage at the hotel and only need to take their mats, sleeping bags and personal items necessary for the duration of the excursion (4 days).

Porters

Porters are included. General porters carry tents, food, cooking equipment. We also include personal porters for approx 7kgs per person. They carry sleeping bags, clothes etc. You need to carry a day pack with water bottle, jacket, camera etc. As porters are split between group members, 7kgs is a rough guide as to the weight that a personal porter will carry. Additionally, it may sometimes be possible to hire extra porters on Day 2 (the most difficult day of the trek) if you require, to carry day packs etc to second campsite. Approx cost is USD25 - this is not organised through Kumuka or our ground handler. Foam sleeping mats are provided by the ground handler, weighing 800g and counted as part of the 7kgs carried by personal porters.

Tipping

Tipping is entirely at your discretion although it is commonplace for trekkers to tip their guides and porters on the during the Inca Trail and Lares treks. We recommend you carry approximately USD50-60 to cover the tipping tradition.

Itinerary and Distances

This is a guideline to the average distances and altitudes during the Inca Trail (please note all the information is a guideline only and every person must judge their own physical condition personally). Should you believe you are not fit enough for this hike, you can go to Machu Picchu by train, please advise your tour leader.

• Day 1 - trailhead to first camp Huayllabamaba (2700 m), distance 13 km, an average hiking time 7 hours with stops.
• Day 2 - hardest day, ascending to 4200m, distance 15KM, average hiking time 8 hours with breaks.
• Day 3 - very scenic day with many Ruins en route, distance 14 KM, camp at Winaywayna 2700m. 7-8 hours hiking.
• Day 4 - start in the dark to get to Machu Picchu at sunrise, 3 hours hike and free morning to explore Machu Picchu. If you wish to climb Wayna Picchu, please co-ordinate this with your guide as the park has restricted climbing times and numbers to  An ascent of the nearby Huayna Picchu mountain offers fantastic views of the city of Machu Picchu and some great photos as well. If you wish to guarantee your permit, this must be booked in advance. Return to Aguas Calientes (bus down from Machu Picchu payable locally). For those who have hired personal porters, blue sacks will be given out a lunchtime for you to transport your belongings back to Cusco. Train back to Ollantaytambo.

Permit Availability

Availability of Inca Trail and Huayna Picchu permits is limited, particularly during high season when the number of tourists wishing to walk the Inca Trail is greater than the number of permits available. Whilst we will endeavour to organise an Inca Trail and Huayna Picchu permit for you, these are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. In the event that permits for the Inca Trail and Huayna Picchu are unavailable, we will advise you as soon as possible about the two possible alternatives for reaching Machu Picchu 1- The 4 day Lares trek and 2- The 2 day Classic Train trip. Our website tour departure dates are updated frequently to indicate availability or non-availability of Inca Trail permits, however, permit availability can change with little warning: whilst we endeavour to keep this information as current as possible, we cannot guarantee permit availability.

Passport Details

Please ensure that you provide Kumuka with your passport details at the time of booking. Failure to do so may mean that you miss out on an Inca Trail permit as these can sell out very quickly. Kumuka will apply for your Inca Trail permit with the passport details which you provide us at the time of booking. If you hold more than one passport you must advise Kumuka which passport details we should use in order to apply for the Inca Trail permit.

Pre-payment of Inca Trail deposit
The cost of the Inca Trail deposit  must be paid in full at the time of booking. This is in addition to the tour deposit and is non refundable. Inca Trail permits will be applied for ONLY once full payment of deposit,  and written confirmation of your full name, passport number and date of birth have been received. These deposits are  included in the total tour price, and this amount will be deducted from the tour balance once paid.  Please refer to http://www.kumuka.com/Inca-Trail-News.aspx for more information.

Late Permit Applications
Late Inca Trail permit applications may occasionally incur an extra charge as we may need to organise an additional guide and pay for their trekking permit in order to secure your permit. We will advise you at the time of booking.

Changes and Amendments
Note that fees apply if you need to make changes and/ or amendments to your Inca Trail permit due to factors such as passport loss or renewal, illness, failure to provide Kumuka with correct details, date changes and tour transfers. For full information, please refer to:  http://www.kumuka.com/Inca-Trail-News.aspx

No Permit Availability
We can normally arrange the alternative 4 day Lares trek. Lares departures generally coincide with high season. Due to lesser demand and inclement weather, departures on the Lares Trail are limited during the low season. If there is no availability for either the Inca Trail or the Lares trek, we can normally arrange for you to spend 2 extra days in Cusco and then take the 2 day Classic Train trip to Machu Picchu, where you will meet with your original group for the guided visit to Machu Picchu. Please note that if we are unable to secure you an Inca Trail permit and you do not wish to hike the alternative Lares trek or take the Classic Train trip, your deposit will be returned to you.

High Season/ Low Season Information
November to March is considered low season. We can often obtain permits at short notice during this time. April to October is considered high season. We require your passport details as far in advance as possible during this time. The trail is closed during the month of February for maintenance. If your tour coincides with the Inca Trail closure, we can normally offer Lares or the Classic Train.

Most passengers will travel with digital cameras. Should you run out of memory you can download your photos onto CD at the local internet cafes or camera shops on your tour. Alternatively, you may be able to purchase extra memory cards.

With regards to film, all types of camera film are readily available in South America. However, it is often cheaper to purchase it in your country of origin or through duty free.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission. Most Latin American countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your camera confiscated. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

Spanish is the language most widely spoken in the countries we visit in Latin America but English is spoken a little bit in the larger cities. In Brazil the main language is Portugese. Other languages you may encounter are; Quechua, spoken in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, Amyara spoken in Peru and Bolivia. Welsh is spoken in some of the old Welsh colonies of Argentinean Patagonia, with Guarani spoken in Northern Argentina. The Amazon region of Brazil is also home to many tribal languages, for example, Tupi.

You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable.

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

All our tours begin with a pre-departure meeting when you meet your tour leader, driver and fellow travellers. If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you. On the last day of the tour we usually arrive at our final destination in the late afternoon, when the tour ends. If you would like to book accommodation for that night or even stay additional nights, we will be more than happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable. (All rates per person per night and subject to availability).

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.