GENERAL INFORMATION

English is the main language of this web page. Basic information is available in Finnish and Spanish too. As soon as my Finnish improves you will have more information in Finnish, until then feel free and bold to brush up your English. If you decide to contact me by phone I will do my best to carry on the conversation in Finnish but I am fluent in English, Spanish and French, too. Adventure starts at early stages, right when you call me.

Thanks and enjoy your visit.

Food

Groups always travel with at least 70% of meals included. Sometimes, because of the circumstances of the tour, all meals are included. When visiting the cities we include just breakfast to have the opportunity to mingle with locals at lunch or at dinner and share their Southern warmth and friendly attitude towards visitors.

For independent travelers only breakfast and some few other meals are included. 

Depending on the region you are visiting some basic rules about your eating habits are recommended to be followed. When going for altitude your body will get used much faster and better if kept away from "heavy", spicy, and fat food. Once acclimatize, eat normally. Vegetables must always be cooked and fruits washed and peeled; when hiking is necessary to purify the water you drink by using iodine tablets or by boiling it. When visiting the rain forest is always better to drink bottled water.

Local food is delicious and cheap in the restaurants where locals eat. If you are not used to it you could get trapped by the aftermath and spoil the trekking or whatever plan you have for the next couple of days. Keep the appetite for later when you know you will have at least two relaxing days ahead in case of the worst happened.

If you have a special diet to follow please advice us in advance, so we can do the arrangements (if possible); most of the places we visit  can supply this service.

Health

Vaccinations are necessary to travel safe into the Sierra and into the Rain Forest below 2000 Mts. Yellow Fever (for South America), Tetanus and Hepatitis A, are almost mandatory. Tuberculosis and Typhoid are advised for long stays as well as course on anti-malaria tablets. It takes about two months if you want to have all the shots .

People with high blood pressure or heart and lung problems should get advice from the Doctor before trying altitude travel (over 3.000 a.s.l.)

If you are normally under some prescribed medication, bring it with you in case you need new supplies. When wearing normal or contact lenses it is advisable to carry the measures needed for a new set if necessary.

We highly recommend consulting you personal Doctor long before the day of departure.

Insurance

Contact your insurance company and find out if your actual contract covers all the places to visit and the risks involved. If you are participating in one of the River Rafting or climbing  programs, make sure you are still covered or do the necessary arrangements for full coverage.

Visas

Not necessary for Finnish passports to any of the Countries we visit. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the date of departure. Other nationalities please consult your nearest embassy.

Money

American Dollar is the most common exchange currency in South America, (Euro is becoming more and more popular in big cities). We recommend bringing traveler cheques (Amex or Visa) they are easily cashed. Take some cash with you in small denominations (30% of the entire budget) and have a credit card to use for emergencies. ATM machines are available in the few cities we visit. More detailed information is given when you receive the final program.

Safety

Thousands of people visit the Andean Mountains and The Amazon Rain Forest each year without any problem. As in any part of the world you can not be familiar with everything, some precautions have to be taken.

Always be aware of unexpected and distracting situations, most of the time they are not real and put you in a vulnerable situation. Avoid great street bargains as well, you might end up without the bargain and without the money too. Don't call attention to yourself in public places by being noisy or wearing expensive jeweler. Watch out for people giving too much attention to you or your belongings, especially in airports, train and bus stations. Carry with you just the necessary cash for the day and leave the rest in your hotel (when using one) as well as your valuables.

The places we visit are somehow familiar with Adventure Travellers and are safe as long as you follow the above recommendations, which applies for any traveler to a foreign country. Many adventurers cross these same routes every year with no problems at all. Local Tour Operators are always updated with abnormal situations ahead, in order to take the corrective measures with their customers;
if there is any doubt about threatening security issues we will avoid the location.

Small group traveling brings you a safe environment in unfamiliar places; behave normally, take the above precautions and You have nothing to worry about, enjoy the visit.

Weather

It is always unpredictable, be prepared for a sudden rainstorm while wearing T-shirt and shorts or vice versa. Usually the sun will shine again right after you manage to get into your waterproof gear. Some predictions and general rules about the weather in the Sierra and the Rain Forest are;

SIERRA: Mid April to October is the dry season, hot days 25 C to 28 C but cold nights sometimes below freezing. From November to Mid April is the rainy season with warmer nights.
RAIN FOREST: (below 2.000 Mts.) From April to October is the dry hot season with temperatures between 30 C and 35 C, and from November to March is the rainy season, hot and humid.

High Altitude Travel

The best advice is to TAKE IT EASY the first day, let your body get used to these new conditions, less oxygen and low air pressure. We cross high altitude passes between 3500 and 5300 m. (climbing programs are different) like the the Salcantay and Huayhuash. Two days minimum is necessary to feel more comfortable at these altitudes, so we will always rest for two days in the nearest city, before attempting high altitude hiking. A normally fit person has no problem with it and will catch up with conditions rapidly by doing it gradually.

Always be aware of symptoms of high altitude sickness, headache, nausea, vomiting, difficulty in breathing. Stop, rest and if it persists, descend to lower altitude immediately.

We travel in small groups with experienced guides that take this very seriously, so don't worry about it but be careful.

We recommend that you get fit in order to make the best of your trip. You don't need to be an Athlete, but fit enough to cover the distance of the programs, crossing various peaks,   climate variations, enter the Rain Forest where the high humidity and heat quickly burns out your stamina. Comfort is not available sometimes and all these conditions together could make your body and mind struggle. The challenge and fun is there as well, this is what adventure is about. To go out of your environment and normal situations in life, face new challenges and most important of all to enjoy them.

Rain Forest Travel

The rule of the thumb is never going alone in the Jungle unless you are an experienced "tracker" or has gone through extensive jungle survivor training. Enter only in the company of experienced guides.

Respect the silence of the animals and their privacy by avoiding eye to eye contact with them or making loud  camera noises while taking photographs; never harass or challenge wildlife. Take special care with natives and the natural environment in which they live; don't accept or buy tamed or wild animals and litter should be disposed off properly. Walk always on the Jungle trails and avoid touching plants or insects, some are poisonous when touched. Wear long sleeves cotton shirts and pants, if walking through muddy trails wear rubber boots and always wear mosquito repellent.

What to take

It depends on what program you are joining but some common items and recommendations can be enlightened here.

If you are an experienced Adventure Traveler you may skip this lecture, but if this is your first time, you may be wondering about many things. What to take for an average 15 days, out off the track tour, in which you are going to need clothes, shoes, and everything else for different climates, soils, participate in different activities and moreover you are going to carry all this stuff on your back and still look neat and proper. Well, to begin with I have never met an Adventure Traveler looking neat and proper except in magazines so don't worry about this topic. Second, during the hardest part of our trips (with few exemptions) you can always hire a porter for your personal belongings and Third, we will always give a list of the basic items and clothes you need to take with you. I have seen people making a long adventure trip with just two changes of clothing.

A backpack of 60 or 70 liters, a small one for daily basic needs and a waist pack are enough.

Prices and payment policies

All prices are quoted in EUROS based on the US currency on the day of payment or agreement. This is the reason some of the prices may have a slight change in a short period of time.

Prices are the addition of AIR PORTION (Airline Tickets when included) and LAND PORTION (All other services included in the package).

When reservation for any of the programs is confirmed, a deposit of 300 Euros is required. This can be totally refunded if you cancel the reservation four (4) weeks or more before departure; 50% refunded if cancelled three (3) weeks before and no refund if cancelled Two (2) weeks or less before departure. This amount will be deducted from the total LAND PORTION price when final balance is done. Final balance of the LAND PORTION can be paid directly to us or to the Tour Operator in Country of destination through Bank transfer from Finland or personally on the next day after arrival at your destination.

The Air Portion (Airline Ticket) is paid to Airline or designated Travel Agency according to Airline Policies depending on the fare applied. Cancellations and refunds are according to International Regulations for IATA tickets.

It is also important for you to know that we are open to consider different payment proposals you may have.

Conditions others than above compiled with Package Travel Act (1079/1994), Travel Information Decree (1085/1994) and General Terms for Package Tours. Information obtained from Consumer's Protection Bureau (Kuluttajavirasto).

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