Sacred Peru with Lima City Stay - Private Tour

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

Please note it has been recommended by our representative in Peru for our guests to take an overnight bag with them on the journey from Cusco to Sacred Valley, this will make the journey easier, without the need to carry large suitcases on & off the train before continuing your journey to Machu Pichu.

Your local guide has arranged for secure storage at the hotel in Cusco, whilst you travel onwards to the Sacred Valley for your overnight stay. You will then return to the hotel in Cusco for your overnight stay before completing the rest of your tour.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of €342.20pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

British passport holders are not currently required to obtain a visa in order to travel to Peru. To enter Peru, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you to check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

Please note all passport information must be submitted 4 months prior to departure. Tickets for Machu Picchu will be purchased at 120 Days prior to departure. Should we not have your passport information, or for any for any bookings made after 120 Days prior to departure, we cannot guarantee you will explore Machu Pichu with the group, and this may be done separately with a guide.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

Altitude sickness is a common condition that can occur when you ascend to a high altitude (generally higher than 2,500 metres above sea level) quickly. The decrease in atmospheric pressure can make breathing more difficult as the body is not able to take in as much oxygen. Most cases are mild with symptoms that can include: a headache, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion. Several of the places in Peru are located at high altitude (over 2,500 metres above sea level) including Puno, Lake Titicaca and Cusco. Therefore, you may find you experience some symptoms at this altitude. It is advised that at these high altitudes, you keep hydrated and avoid alcohol. If you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness during your tour, ensure you tell your guide immediately who will be able to advise the best thing for you to do. You can contact your GP before you travel for advice on medication for altitude sickness.

This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and includes some climbing of steps, getting on and off coaches and at times long walks often across uneven paths and hills. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties

The currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol, the symbol is S/. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you depart. US Dollars are widely accepted in Peru should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. Cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. Major Credit and Debit Cards can be used in the larger towns and cities.

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals that are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £200-£400 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.

Tipping

Tipping is common practice in South America and it is customary to tip approximately $4-$5 USD per person per day, for the driver and the local guide. Tips can be given at the end of each day, or at the end of the tour. Tips are accepted in US dollars and local currencies.

A Tour Leader will be with you on your trip starting in Arequipa on Day 3, ending in Puno on Day 12. Day 1, Day 2, Day 11 and Day 12 in Lima do not include a tour leader, however, transfers will be provided by a local English speaking guide.

For groups of 7 people or less you will have an English speaking Driver Guide or a Driver and Local/Monument Guides in each city.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

Your stay in Lima is not escorted by a tour guide. Transfers will be provided by a local driver, and full details, including timings will be given to you in resort.

To visit Macchu Pichu you will travel by train. Please be advised that hand luggage only is permitted on this train. One bag or backpack per person no more than 8Kg and maximum dimensions of 157cm (Height+Length+Width).

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Meals will be provided as per the detailed itinerary. When included Breakfast will be of western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner when included will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited to give you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours. For those days when Lunch or Dinner is not included your guide will be able to offer recommendations if you wish.

Vegetarian and Vegan meals can be catered for.

Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed counties water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way as the UK. Bottled Water will be available to purchase at Shops, Hotels & Lodges.

On your arrival in Lima you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Pure Peru, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Pure Peru representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

If you need to contact Pure Peru during your stay the details are: Pure Peru Telephone Number: 0051 998754080 Email: customer-service@pure-peru.com

Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Pure Peru 24 hour telephone number: 0051 99 875 4080 Email: customer-service@pure-peru.com

• Warm clothes in case of cold weather
• Rain wear for rainy season
• Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers
• Insect repellent & personal toiletries
• Suncream & a hat with a big brim for sunny days
• Comfortable walking shoes such as trainers
• A pair of light boots and sandals
• A torch with batteries and binoculars
• Sunglasses and plastic bags
• Towel and swimsuit
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Ruck sack or light bag per person
• Medicine to arrest or prevent the so-called ‘Soroche’ or altitude sickness; please seek medical advice
• An electric plug converter - three different plug sockets are used, so it is best to bring a multi adapter
• Personal first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc