Residencia Rosario
Calle Illampu 704
La Paz
Bolivia

Tel: (591) 2 245 1658
Fax: (591) 2 245 1991

La Paz, Bolivia.  La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, built 400 metres below the Altiplano at the bottom of a canyon to escape the cold. As the city grew, it expanded up the walls of the canyon and is now an amazing blend of winding, cobblestone streets filled with markets of all types, the most interesting being the witches market, where you can purchase many different potions and spells. Nearby are some interesting optional excursions to the highest ski resort in the world Mount Chacaltaya, and the "Valley of the Moon" with its strange rock formations. There is also the option of visiting the pre-Inca ruins of Tiahuanaco or the famous bike ride down the world’s most dangerous road! Descend from 4700m to 1100m on mountain bikes in 4-5 hours. After spending time exploring La Paz on day 2, we then board a nightbus to the town of Potosi.

Uyuni, Salt Flats and Altiplano. From the town of Uyuni, which lies on the edge of the salt flats, we start our 3-day voyage to San Pedro. During this part of your trip you will travel through one of the most unusual and exciting places in South America. We drive across the salt flats towards Fish Island, an outcrop of rock covered in cacti. The island affords spectacular views over the salt plain and great photo opportunities. After some time we find ourselves on the Altiplano, The Altiplano of southern Bolivia is a landscape of extraordinary beauty. Virtually unpopulated, this vast expanse is a myriad of spectacular lakes, geysers and thermal pools. We may also see the Altiplano flamingo and many other varieties of bird and wildlife. Many of the lakes are beautifully coloured due to the algae in them; the most noteworthy are Laguna Colorada, which is red, and Laguna Verde, a green expanse overshadowed by a perfect volcanic cone, as well as Laguna Blanca, the white lake. Accommodation on the salt flats and altiplano crossing is basic (shared rooms, cold showers).

We cross the border into Chile and arrive in the Indian town of San Pedro de Atacama around noon on day 9, and have a welcome hot shower.

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.

La Serena to Santiago. Following the coast, where there are many excellent beaches, we visit the beautiful resort town of La Serena and have an opportunity to relax by the ocean. In La Serena you can choose to visit to an observatory on the evening of day 12 (optional). With its exceptionally clear skies, La Serena is renowned as the best place in the world to star gaze. Leaving La Serena on day 13, we catch an overnight bus and pass through Chile’s wine country and seemingly endless vineyards towards the Chilean capital of Santiago.

Your tour ends in Santiago, which still retains some of its old charm with a magnificent, tree-lined plaza, dominated by the main cathedral. You might want to catch the changing of the guard at Plaza Constitucion, visit the excellent pre-Columbian art museum, take a cable car ride up San Cristobal hill for magnificent views of the city and the backdrop of the snow-capped Andes in the distance or enjoy a winery tour (all optional).

Hotel Espana
Morande 510
Santiago
Chile

Tel:   +56-2-6966066
Fax:   +56-26960757

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 TRAVEL AMAZING SOUTH AMERICA if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

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

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. It must be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate.

PLEASE NOTE IF YOUR TOUR INCLUDES THE INCA TRAIL, WE MUST HAVE YOUR FULL NAME, PASSPORT DETAILS AND DATE OF BIRTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO SECURE YOUR TREKKING PERMIT. ALL PERMITS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.

Vaccinations:
It is necessary to obtain an International Certificate of Vaccination before travelling. This is a record of your injections and should be issued with your first inoculation. Make sure that after each injection your certificate is dated, signed and stamped.

Compulsory Inoculations:
Yellow Fever for Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru but only if arriving from an infected area.

Please refer to the Yellow Fever information under the Latest News section on our website. Yellow Fever vaccination is now recommended for parts of Argentina, Bolivia (if arriving from Paraguay or Brazil) and parts of Brazil. We srongly recommend that you consult your GP or Travel Clinic at least several weeks prior to departure to check current Yellow Fever vaccination requirements. Your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate should be carried with you at all times.

Recommended inoculations:
Yellow fever, hepatitis A, diphtheria, typhoid, tetanus and polio.

We also recommend:
- A dental check-up prior to travelling.
- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your Travel Amazing South America at the time of your booking.

Medical Supplies:

We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit.  Below is a list of some recommended items:
Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.
A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

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.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Take your money is US dollars only. This the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted. Cash is far easier to exchange than Travellers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable.

However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20). In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

How much should I take?

• The best rule for packing is to limit your self to a weight limit of 15 KGs. It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more. If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your crew at the Pre Departure Meeting.
• A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. Please note that we do not recommend that passengers bring suitcases.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. This can also be used for carrying 2 days of clothing so it is not always necessary to unload the large backpacks every night.

You will be in hotels and hostels for the majority of the tour but you may wish to bring the following for the Inca trail, although these can be hired in Cuzco for a small cost of approximately US$8 per day.

• Sleeping Bag - a good quality sleeping bag, rated for sub-zero conditions is the best for tours, which travel through the Andes and Patagonia. You can purchase extra blankets in South America cheaply. We recommend a Four Seasons sleeping bag.
• Inner Sheet - for your sleeping bag. Can also be used as a sleeping bag when it's hot.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

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.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. 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.

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$40 per day to cover food and accommodation during this time.

The more you put into your tour the greater the experience you will get from your trip. It is all about participation and mucking in with your fellow passengers!

Please note: The longer tours are combinations of shorter tours. Lima and La Paz are also pickup and drop off points for passengers so new faces and personalities will join the tours.

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. You can opt to use an International SIM Card.

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.

Blog – You can keep your friends and family updated by blogging about your adventures. You can create your free blog by registering on our forums.

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.