Peru & The Galapagos Islands- Booking Information

Inclusive Prices

Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All accommodations, motor coach and cruise ship transportation, sightseeing, admissions, shore excursions and services of Tauck Directors, ship crew and drivers are included.

Hotel Accommodations – Tauck’s price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for bellmen, luggage handling, doormen, dining room servers, local guides and cruise ship staff are included

Tauck Director – Each cruise is conducted by a Tauck Director who
remains with the group throughout the duration of the cruise. Your Tauck Director is
a professional, fully-trained employee of Tauck World Discovery.

No Options Sold – With the exception of select options detailed in the itinerary, Tauck’s price includes entertainment, special dinners, sightseeing and most activities. Tauck Directors may assist with information on other free-time activities, based on honest opinion, but will not sell you any “extras.” This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

Not Included

Airfare to the cruise departure point and from the cruise ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before & After Cruises – Due to time schedules and the possibility of flight delays, many guests prefer to make hotel arrangements for the night preceding their cruise. As a service, Tauck will make reservations before or after your cruise. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis and must be booked through Tauck to qualify for Tauck’s special rates. These hotel room charges will be added to the cruise cost. Note: Airport transfers are not included for these bookings. To arrange additional nights in Ecuador, please discuss at the time of booking.

Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuity to the Tauck Director is not included. Such gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, visa fees, vaccinations, airport and departure taxes and other optional incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle guests’ luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Refer to Tauck’s Cruise Protection.

Additional Information

Itinerary Changes & Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to passengers. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Note: Although not expected, prices in this brochure may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of printing.

Travel Document Requirements:
You will need a valid passport for admission to Peru and Ecuador, and your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your dates of travel.

Visas are not required for U.S. citizens, only a return airline ticket is necessary. Non-U.S. citizens must contact the consulate to determine if a visa is required.

Please note that Ecuador's departure tax is currently $25.00 per person (but is subject to change). This must be paid at the Guayaquil Airport when departing from Ecuador and is not included in the price of the Peru and Galapagos tour. This should be paid in U.S. dollars.

Travel with Children – Many countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling with or without both parents. Usually a notarized letter, signed by the parent or parents not traveling with the child and stating the name of the child, the adult guardian, the itinerary and dates of travel, and the flight number, is required. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all travelers to comply with the regulations for the country you are visiting. This information is available from each country’s consulate. Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents.

Membership – Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Travelers Needing Special Assistance – We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to guests for wheelchairs, walking, dining or other personal needs. Persons needing such assistance must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist them.

Airline Security Measures – Travelers must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in. Your passport name must match the name on your airline ticket and cruise reservation.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. You agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets will be mailed with final documents. Should you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – Travelers must provide their passport number and date of birth to Tauck at time of booking. Tauck must provide this information to the cruise line before departure or you may be denied boarding.

Cruise Start & End Times are provided at time of booking and are subject to change due to airline schedule changes. All booking agents will be advised of such changes. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs.

Holidays & Museum Schedules – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or religious, state and local holidays.

Clothing & Packing:
This is a casual Peru and Galapagos tour overall. However, you should bring one dressy outfit for our dinner at a private home Night 2. Bring a windbreaker, sweater or jacket for higher elevations and cool nights at sea.

Most important are comfortable walking shoes with ankle support. You will also need "reef shoes," "aqua shoes" or old sneakers with sturdy rubber soles for beach landings and walks over rocky, uneven terrain. Note: your feet will get wet.

Bring a bathing suit, and a T-shirt to wear over your bathing suit snorkeling (snorkel equipment is provided or you can bring your own). If you need a prescription snorkeling mask, it is a good idea to bring one with you. For autumn tours, a wet suit is recommended for snorkeling excursions as the water tends to be very cold.

We also recommend a camera, binoculars, telephoto lens, spare batteries, insect repellent, a hat, sunscreen, lip balm with SPF of 15 or higher, sunglasses, umbrella or poncho, and pre-moistened towelettes and/or antibacterial lotion. "Ziplock" bags are handy for cameras and valuables during ship-to-shore transfers and Machu Picchu. It is important to have rain gear such as a lightweight waterproof slicker.

To assist you in waking up early on some mornings, we suggest bringing your own compact, battery-operated alarm clock.

A small backpack will be extremely useful during our daily activities and Galapagos shore excursions.

***IMPORTANT: Sundries and toiletries are difficult to find in the Galapagos Islands.

We recommend that you pack your prescription medicines (an adequate supply to last through your journey) along with your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on luggage to avoid any inconvenience, in the event that your flight is delayed or the airline loses your luggage.

Dress Aboard the Isabela II:
For cruising in the Galapagos, clothing ranges from informal to very informal. Essentials include bathing suit(s), tennis shoes, shorts, long and short-sleeved lightweight shirts, long pants and a windbreaker or light jacket for evenings. There are a limited number of hair dryers available for your use while on board. Please see the reception desk or ask your Tauck Director.
Very important: Walking ashore is over rocky lava terrain, therefore tennis shoes, reef shoes, aqua shoes or walking shoes with rubber soles must be worn.

Luggage:
Due to space limitations aboard motor coaches and airlines on certain flights, only one average-size piece of luggage per person, weighing up to 44 pounds, is allowed. Luggage exceeding these restrictions is at risk of being left behind, or, if permitted on board, may be subject to additional excess luggage charges. Additionally, guests are limited to one small carry-on bag per person, which should not exceed 17 inches in length, 12 inches in width, and 10 inches in height, due to space restrictions in overhead storage bins aboard motor coaches; larger carry-ons will be stowed in the luggage compartment under the coach. Regulations within most airports require that travelers handle their own luggage through customs.

Space constraints and weight limitations aboard local aircraft require guests to carry limited personal belongings to the Galapagos Islands. Therefore, we will provide you with a duffel bag to carry your clothing and personal items to the ship for your four-night cruise. Meanwhile, checked luggage will be stored at the Hilton Colon Guayaquil until after the cruise and will be available upon your return to the mainland.

If you reside in the continental United States the duffel bag will be sent to your home and should arrive approximately two weeks prior to your departure for Peru. Guests residing outside of the continental U.S. will receive their duffels upon arrival in Lima. This is due to customs regulations that prohibit the easy delivery of the duffels in advance.

Weather:
It will be summer in Peru and Ecuador but due to the high elevations in the Andes it could be cool and wet. Temperatures range from 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and could drop to approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening. In the Galapagos, temperatures range from 67 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather is hot and sunny. The waters tend to be warmer in the spring and cooler in the fall due to the Humboldt Current.

Activities & Health:
This itinerary is one of the more rigorous itineraries we offer. It includes walking at high elevations and cruising amongst remote offshore islands. Travelers must be in good health. There are early morning starts, long active days, and excursions walking over rough, uneven terrain. You may want to bring a walking stick for assistance.

You will experience several days of touring at high altitudes in Peru (especially Cusco at 11,200 feet). At these altitudes some visitors may suffer varying degrees of altitude sickness, including nausea.

We have found that some guests may be more affected by the altitude than others. Medications are available to prevent altitude sickness. We urge you to speak with your physician prior to your departure from home to discuss prophylaxis for safe travel.

• There are no vaccinations required.
• There is no elevator on Isabela II and wheelchairs cannot be accommodated.
• Bottled water is provided throughout the Peru and Galapagos tour.
• Altitude in Cusco is 11,200 feet, Yucay is 8,500 feet, and Machu Picchu is 8,000 feet.
  

Smoking is not permitted aboard motorcoaches. Aboard the Isabela II, smoking is not permitted in guest cabins, but is permitted on the outside deck and in the bar lounge.

There is a certified Ecuadorian physician aboard. A nominal fee is charged to your shipboard account for office visits and any medication dispensed.

Electrical Current:
The electrical current aboard Isabela II is 110/AC volt. Electric shavers and hair dryers may be used. The electrical current in Peru is 220 volts and Ecuador is 110 volts.

If you plan on bringing electrical devices with you, it is suggested that you bring an electrical converter, with an adapter plug set, as few overnight properties have this equipment. The socket configurations may vary, so please bring the entire set of adapters with you.

Currency Exchange:
The official currency in Ecuador is the U.S. dollar; the currency in Peru is the Sol. You will be able to exchange money at the airport in Lima or at the front desk of the Miraflores Park Hotel. It is a good idea to bring U.S. dollars in small denominations for shopping at the local markets. It is important to note that many places charge a fee for changing travelers checks.

Shipboard Account: U.S. dollars and travelers checks may be used onboard the Isabela II. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are also accepted.

Elevation:
The altitude in Cusco is 11,200 feet; Yucay is 8,500 feet; and Machu Picchu is 8,000 feet. If you have any concerns about the altitude we urge you to speak with your physician before your
departure.

Photography on Tour:
Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your Peru and Galapagos tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellations Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. Therefore, cancellation penalties and or fees will apply. Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office.

Guests choosing not to purchase Tauck’s Cruise Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

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