Teens On The Trail - Family Holiday

Altitude
I wasn't affected greatly by altitude but there are two ways of looking at it. There is being affected where you suffer symptoms of altitude sickness, which can be very serious. But then there is just feeling, or your body being aware, of the altitude you're at. So this is much more common and covers feeling out of breath, tiredness, headaches, aching limbs - uncomfortable but quite common and not serious of treated with plenty of sleep, lots of drinking water, some headache tablets and taking it easy until your body acclimitises.
If you're flying into Cuzco (as lost people do), then you'll probably feel it when you land. When I arrived I spent part of the afternoon sleeping, which helps. As long as you drink lots of water, take it VERY easy and don't exert yourself too much, you shouldn't have any problems. It's a good idea to have some Neurofen on hand, just in case of a headache though.
If you get altitude sickness on trek, or begin to show symptoms of it, then you are usually taken down as quickly as possible. The exact details will depend on how bad you feel and where exactly you are but the leaders and guides are well versed in watching out for it.

Weather
It can be chilly at places like Puno and Cusco, as they are so high, but mainly in the evenings when the sun goes down. But the rest of the time it should be t-shirts as the weather should be sunny and blue skies. It can also be a bit windy in the Andean steppe.
If you're doing the Moonstone trek, you do trek up to about 4570m, a pretty high altitude so temperatures will definitely drop compared to the rest of the trip. It's quite dry most of the year, which usually means lower temperatures as you'll have very clear skies at night and in the mornings. Once the sun comes up it should warm quickly but you should expect it to be possibly freezing or slightly below.
In the Amazon it can be quite misty most of the time, and damp and tropical. There will be definitely sunshine, or there should be at least (if it's not cloudy or raining!).

Equipment & clothing
Layers are definitely the way to go. It can get down to freezing near Lake Titicaca, and a warm jacket is a must. I have a standard kind of padded jacket which did me, and a light fleece for other times. What else helps? A warm woolly hat, gloves, a warm scarf and some warm layers underneath. These are generally the things that will make life more comfortable. Some good sunglasses are a must as the sun is very strong at times and the glare can hurt your eyes.

The Amazon
If you're going into the Amazon for a couple of nights, you just take a small overnight bag. So if you're taking your own sleeping bag, it's left with your main bags in Peurto Maldonado.

Money
The leader will also help with advice on what amounts are best. I just took all dollars and changed it as I went along. You can use ATMs along the way, so don't need to take all cash.

Gifts
If you're doing the homestay on Lake Titicaca, it's traditional to take a gift for the family you're staying with. In terms of what to take, as they are such poor communities, practical gifts such as cooking oil and rice are best. The leader will help organise when you are on your way there, you don't take from home!

Rebecca Caldicott - Peru Operations

It can get hot and sweaty here at times, so lightweight cotton (or quick-drying fabrics) is best as a starting point! Long sleeved shirts and trousers will help prevent mosquito bites, especially in the evenings when they could be buzzing around. You should also take a jacket and/or sweater for evenings, as it will cool down. Essential kit includes some sunglasses and a sunhat, along with good sunscreen. A lightweight waterproof jacket or rain poncho is optional, as you can get some tropical rain here now and again!

Karol Rogacki - Americas 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

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.

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

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

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

To book on a Family Adventure Holiday at least one member of the family must be under the age of 18. For individual trips a minimum age will also be specified - see the Essential Information tab for the particular trip you are interested in. Please note there may also be a minimum age for certain activities on your chosen holiday.

If you are the sort of family that enjoys meeting other families and have a passion for discovering new places and trying new activities, then you’ll love going on a Family Adventure. With a Tour Leader to take care of daily arrangements, you can relax and get on with the serious business of spending time with your family and enjoying your holiday. And it’s not just parents who take their children away; we’ve had a number of children travelling with just their grandparents too!

Itineraries are carefully planned to provide a good balance of activity and relaxation time. You can opt to stay with the group all the time or go off and do your own thing every now and then. Your leader will be on hand to help you find your way and organise optional activities. And if the local food isn’t pleasing everyone in the party, it’s usually possible to sneak off to the occasional pizza parlour or similar, to get something a little more familiar.

Our holidays are designed to take you to unusual or remote places, give you exciting experiences and allow you to make the most of your precious holiday time. As with all adventure holidays, there is inevitably an element of risk that you might not find on a resort-based package. However, safety is taken very seriously and our professional leaders will take all necessary precautions to run the trip safely. You will get to see wonderful sights, have the opportunity to interact with local people and create memories that will stay with you forever. Come with us and let us share our passion for travel with you!

You can view the Grading System for our Walking & Trekking programme online.

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!