Mountains to the Lakes tour

Check out our Q&As

• Do you require a visa for this holiday?

  Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities. Peru: Many nationalities (including UK, European, Australian, New Zealand, South Africa, USA) do not need to obtain a visa to enter Peru as long as your stay is for less than 6 months. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate or embassy. Bolivia: Many nationalities (including UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada) do not currently need to obtain a visa to enter Bolivia as long as your stay is for less than 3 months. US citizens can obtain a visa on arrival for 360 Bolivianos (approx. US$55) - a photocopy of your passport, a 3cm x 4cm passport photo, and the fee in local currency will be required. South African citizens are recommended to obtain their visa in advance - the fee is 360 Bolivianos. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate visa to enter Bolivia if one is required. On arrival you will be given an immigration card. You should keep this safe with your passport as you will need it again when you leave the country (a fine may be payable if you lose it). If you are flying through the USA en-route to South America then before you travel you will need to obtain either a USA visa or an ESTA (electronic system for travel authorisation) if your country is part of the visa waiver program).

• Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

  In South America we provide fully trained, local English-speaking tour leaders to accompany all our Peru and Bolivia tours. These leaders will arrange your accommodation, meals, travel arrangements, as well as pre-booking some excursions and guides and helping you to find the best deals, socialise. Generally they are there to run the tirp and make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. While they are experienced and knowledgeable about the country and places you're visiting and travelling through, they are not tour guides as such. In most historical areas visited there are specialist local guides available if you wish (your tour leader will assist in booking these). We also have some local representatives in towns and cities en-route who are also at your service. Additional guides may also be used for some of the trekking and jungle sections.

• Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

  Most international airlines allow 20-23kg per person of hold luggage. Domestic flights often have smaller allowances around 15kg. As airline rules vary we recommend that you take no more than 20kg of luggage if your tour just includes international flights, and no more than 15kg if there are any domestic flights included in your itinerary. Please ask us for details if you are unsure. Any excess baggage fees will be your responsibility to cover. Most airlines allow between 5kg and 10kg for hand luggage so we suggest that you take no more than 5kg unless you have confirmed that your airline(s) will allow more than this.

• What is the tipping policy?

  Tipping is common practice in Bolivia & Peru, as a sign of appreciation for services provided. You may therefore wish to tip your guide and driver at the end of the tour. You should not feel obliged to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget. We are often asked to provide a guide however, and can suggest that approx. £5 per person per day would be appropriate.

• Are vaccinations required for this tour?

  You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation. Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are: Peru: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Not required. Please read the WHO guidance. Bolivia: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if entering from a country with risk of yellow fever and if transitting through an airport in one of those countries for more than 12 hours. Please read the WHO guidance. Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. In general malaria risk is present throughout the year in rural areas below 2000m. Risk is highest in the department of Loreto in the Amazon. Risk is variable in other areas below 2000m. Risk is low west of the Andes including Lima (with the exception of the district of Piura) and at altitude (including the Inca Trail, Cuzco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca). Dengue Fever: Unlike the malaria mosquito, which will bite around dawn, dusk and at night, the mosquito that carries dengue fever bites during the day. There are occasional outbreaks in some areas we visit and we therefore advise that you take precautions during the day to avoid being bitten as well as at night. No vaccine is available. Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and a photocopy to hand if necessary. Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.