MACHU PICCHU & GALAPAGOS

Yes - all cabins have power points.  You will need to take an adaptor for US plugs (a universal adaptor is probably best).

Catriona Griffin - Sales

All you must take to snorkel is swim-wear, but a t-shirt and water-resistant sun cream are strongly advised to help keep that equatorial sunshine off your back. You can hire a snorkel and mask and fins (flippers) on the boat (for US$10 for the week) if you don't want to bring your own.

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

This is the equator, but due to the currents waters are generally cool, but most people are comfortable without a wetsuit. If you are sensitive to cold you may want to take your own, but you can hire a wetsuit on the boat ($30 for the week). You don't need to prebook this, so you can always decide once you feel the water temperature for yourself!

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

This is the Equator, but due to the currents waters are generally cool. Saying that, most people are comfortable without a wetsuit. If you are sensitive to cold you may want to take your own, but you can hire a wetsuit on the boat ($30 for the week). You don't need to prebook this, so you can always decide once you feel the water temperature for yourself!

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

The seas are generally roughest from June - October, but sea sickness can affect people at any time of year. As a motor yacht, the Cachalote has a deep keel and this helps reduce rocking of the boat, but if you think you are susceptible or unsure, then we recommend taking anti-motion sickness pills with you. Stugeron is a brand that many clients have found helps. Most people only get minimal symptoms of sea sickness at most and this should in no way dissuade you from visiting these incredible islands.

Dan Cockburn - Product Manager

If you are flying from the UK to Lima via an airport in Europe
Your hold baggage will be checked all the way through to Lima, with no need to collect it in the transit airport. You should reclaim your baggage at Lima airport and clear customs as normal.

If you are flying from the UK to Lima via an airport in the USA
Generally, you will need to collect your hold baggage in the transit airport in the USA after clearing US immigration. Once you have collected your bag and gone through customs, you will be directed to an area where you can re-check your bag onto the onward flight.
Occasionally, it is possible to get your bags checked all the way through to Peru, with no need to collect it in the USA, but this is not always the case – please ask the check-in staff at your departure airport if you will need to collect your bag.

If you are flying from the UK to a Peruvian domestic airport via Lima with Lan
Your hold baggage will be checked all the way to Lima, so there is no need to collect it in Madrid, but you will need to claim your bag in Lima and clear Peruvian customs before boarding your onward domestic flight.
After clearing immigration, you should collect your bag and clear customs then head to the Lan check-in desks to deposit your bag for the domestic flight. This process generally takes less than an hour from the time the international flight reaches the gate.

NOTE: DUTY FREE
Please note that if you purchase liquids in bottles of over 100ml in Lima as part of your duty free allowance and take them in your hand baggage, they may be confiscated when you change planes in Europe or the USA due to current security regulations regarding the carriage of liquids.

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Since US dollar is the official currency of Ecuador it is definitely the best option to go for. Sterling. although not necessarily very difficult to change. may incur a poor exchange rate. ATMs are becoming more common but you shouldn't rely on them 100% in case there are any problems. Exchanging travellers cheques could be a pretty time consuming operation.
Obtaining change for larger denomination banknotes (US$100 and US$50) can be very difficult, and in many cases they may not even be accepted (especially $100 notes) so our suggestion is not to bring them with you at all. You may find it strange but people in Ecuador (and other South American countries) could be a bit fussy about the condition of banknotes and may not be happy to accept a torn or heavily used note (the higher denomination, the more likely it is).
If flying to the Galapagos you will be asked to pay $110 in cash to cover for the immigration control card ($10) and Galapagos tax ($100). If you are sailing on the Cacholote, you will actually only need some money for alcoholic drinks on board (soft drinks $1.50, beer $2, cocktails $3-6), gratuities and souvenirs. You will need to take a bit more cash with you if you want to hire snorkelling equipment or a wetsuit on the boat. Cards or travellers cheques are not accepted on board the yacht and ATMs in the Galapagos are very limited.

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

Most clients are eligible to travel via the US under the US Visa Waiver Programme, however to do this you must register for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This must be done prior to departure - more details can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

If you want to truly immerse yourself into Peruvian culture, then you need to try the local delicacy that is roast Guinea Pig or Alpaca! They are very tasty, although the Guinea Pig can look rather off putting! The traditional drink in Peru is the Pisco Sour which is a cocktail made from Pisco (a liquor distilled from grapes), with lime juice, egg whites and bitters. Its very refreshing after a long day of sightseeing!

Rebecca Caldicott - Peru Operations

Peru has a great variety of food. Peru claims to be the home of the potatoes, so there are plenty of potato options available. The staple dish is chicken, but restaurants also offer a variety of beef dishes, and the more local delicacies of Alpaca and Guinea pig! Most meals are served with rice or potato. Peruvians also have a great love of Chinese and Italian food, so these are also almost always available. Local drinks include pisco and Andean beer!

Rebecca Caldicott - Peru Operations

Most clients are eligible to travel via the US under the US Visa Waiver Programme, however to do this you must register for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This must be done prior to departure - more details can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

Bottled water is available everywhere in Peru. If you are doing the Inca Trail, the cooks treat the water and the leader makes sure everyone has plenty throughout the trek.

Olly Leicester - Sales

If you are used to walking with poles then they will be useful, especially when tackling those famous Inca steps! However they are not essential, and you can manage quite well without them.

Rebecca Caldicott - Peru Operations

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Peru where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Peru has a very varied climate. Between April and November is the dry season. The Amazon stays very warm throughout the year, with temperatures in the high twenties and early thirties, with humidity, and a very small chance of rain. Along the coast, the temperature will be in the mid twenties earlier in the year, getting colder July – September. In the sacred valley the temperature will be a little lower than that of the coast, and as you get closer to Machu Picchu and the cloud forest it will get colder and there will be more cloud cover. In the Andes, and around Lake Titicaca, because of the altitude it will be colder, dropping into the low teens and even possibly single figures between July and September.

Rebecca Caldicott - Peru Operations

The best currency to take for Peru is US dollars, and then you can change small amounts into local Peruvian Sol as you need it. I would advise taking smaller denomination dollar notes with you as most restaurants and shops will accept dollars as payment instead of Sol. There are also ATM machines in most of the cities, such as Lima, Cuzco, Puno and Arequipa. Peru is a relatively in-expensive country, meals tend to cost between $15-20 depending on what you drink (a beer costs approx $3 and soft drinks $1).

Rebecca Caldicott - Peru Operations

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!