TRIP NOTES Argentinean sides. South American Express ex Rio … · 2017-08-31 · TRIP NOTES South...

TRIP NOTES

South American Express ex Rio11 days | Rio de Janeiro to Santiago

South American Express ex Rio - 11 days updated on 31-08-2017

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Departing Rio – the party capital of

the world, explore the spectacular

Iguazu Falls before hitting Buenos

Aires. Then visit Argentina’s

premier wine region and end up in

vibrant Santiago.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Mendoza - Wine capital of Argentina and

home of the Malbec• Iguazu Falls - One of the great natural

wonders of the world! Views from Brazil andArgentina

• Rio de Janeiro - Beaches, favellas & Sugarloaf

• Santiago - Chile's cosmopolitan capital• Buenos Aires - The Paris of South America

What's Included• 7 breakfasts• 10 nights in simple hotels• Airport arrival transfer on day 1• 3 economy class flights: Rio - Puerto Iguazu,

Puerto Iguazu - Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires- Mendoza

• Excursions to the Argentine and Brazilianside of Iguazu Falls and an Argentinianwinery (seasonal)

• Escorted by a tour leader• Transportation by public bus

• Entrance fees for included excursions

What's Not Included• International flights and visas• Items of a personal nature, additional meals

and drinks• Tipping – an entirely personal gesture

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : Rio de JaneiroUpon arrival at Rio airport you will be metand transferred to your hotel. The first day ofyour tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time torelax and see some of the sights you may wish toadd pre tour accommodation. On arrival pleaseask at the reception for information on when thepre departure meeting will be held.

Fantastic Rio de Janeiro has many things tosee and do. A highlight for many wouldbe to experience the majestic gaze of Christthe Redeemer at the top of Corcovado, thebreath-taking panoramic views from the top ofSugarloaf Mountain, and the vibrant colouredtiles of the Selaron staircase. You can walkfrom the top of the staircase up to thequiet hill-top neighbourhood of Santa Teresa,with many quaint cafes and shops lining thecobblestone streets. In the city centre, you canstroll around Rio's old colonial buildings andwander around the skyscrapers of the financial

district. Alternatively, you may like to visit theBotanical Gardens, one of the world-famousbeaches of Copacabana or Ipanema, or thebeautiful Rodrigues de Freitas Lagoon. If youare in Rio de Janeiro around February/March,get ready for the world's biggest party, the RioCarnival.

Accommodation: Hotel Regina or similarOvernight - Rio De Janeiro

Days 2-3 : Iguazu Falls

Rio - Foz do Iguacu. We fly over fertile farmlandsto the Brazilian town of Foz do Iguacu, ourbase for visiting the famous Iguazu Falls - themost magnificent waterfalls in the world. Unlikemost other waterfalls that have just one ortwo cataracts, at Iguazu Falls there are 275cataracts in a magnificent 3 kilometre long Ushape that we will visit from both the Brazil andArgentinean sides.

Visiting the Argentine side of the falls youcan board a speed boat which will take you

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under the falls soaking you from head to toe,an optional adventure you'll never forget! Onthe Argentine side you'll also find the famous"Devil's Throat" where fourteen falls drop withsuch force that there is always a massive cloudof spray overhead.

Visiting the Brazilian side of the falls will giveyou a completely different perspective from theArgentine side. On the Brazilian side you can seethe falls by walking through the rainforest andalong catwalks above and below the rushingwater. You can also visit the world's largesthydroelectric dam at Itaipu (optional) where youcan learn more about the ecological issues facedduring the dam's construction. There is also avery interesting bird park nearby, perfect forthat must-have photo with a toucan!

Included Excursions: Entry to Iguazú Falls inArgentina • Entry to Iguazú Falls in BrazilAccommodation: Hotel Taroba Express orsimilarOvernight - Iguazu Falls (Brazil) (B:1)

Days 4-6 : Buenos Aires

Foz do Iguacu - Buenos Aires. We fly to thebeautiful city of Buenos Aires, known as the"Paris of South America" due to its lovelygreen parks, plazas and wide boulevards. Youwill have three days to explore the quirkyneighbourhoods and artistic markets of the city,where European and Latin American influenceshave mixed together to create a city like noother. Stroll down Avenida 9 de Julio, the widestavenue in the world, spotting the Obelisk ofBuenos Aires, which was built to commemoratethe fourth centenary of the city, and theimpressive Teatro Colon, one of the world's bestopera houses. You can also visit the famous CasaRosada, Argentina’s presidential palace, fromwhere Juan and Eva Peron famously addressedthe crowds gathered on Plaza de Mayo in 1945.

Argentina’s capital city is a great destinationfor culture lovers, with the Museo Nacional deBellas Artes boasting an impressive collectionincluding original works by Monet, Renoir andCezanne. You can also learn about the nationalheroin ‘Evita’ at the Museo Eva Peron.

Buenos Aires has a variety of craft markets, andif you stroll through them at the weekends youmay come across live bands, barbecues, make-shift bars and practising tango dancers for atruly atmospheric Latin-American experience.San Telmo is the best market for antiques, whilethe market at Recoleta has great hand-madecraft items. The nearby Recoleta Cemetery isalso worth a visit – it has beautiful marbletombs and Eva Peron’s family tomb can befound here. No visit to Buenos Aires would becomplete without a stroll around the upmarketboutiques and cafes of the Palermo district, andthe contrasting bohemian barrio of La Boca,where poor inhabitants of the area used left-over paint from the nearby shipyards to painttheir humble houses made of scrap metal inbright, block colours.

The city is also world-renowned for itsincredible nightlife, with many nightclubs, bars,restaurants and cinemas open all night. For agreat evening, you could see an authentic tangoshow in the city where the dance originated,and you can’t leave Buenos Aires without tryingsome of the best steaks in the world!

Accommodation: Hotel TWO or similarOvernight - Buenos Aires (B:2)

Days 7-9 : Mendoza

Buenos Aires - Mendoza. We fly acrossthe country to Mendoza, the epicentre ofArgentina's wine country. Mendoza is whereGeneral José de San Martín organised the

army with which he liberated Chile and Perufrom Spanish rule in 1818. Unfortunately, fewhistoric buildings remain after an earthquakedevastated the city in 1861. However, the citywas rebuilt on a grid system, resulting in thebroad tree-lined streets and beautiful greenplazas for which the city is famous. There aregreat views from the top of “Cerro de la Gloria”at Parque San Martín, where you can also visitthe local zoo. Situated on the foothills of theAndes, the city is a great base for some optionaloutdoor activities, such as white-water rafting,rappelling and horseback riding. But of courseno trip to Mendoza would be complete withouttouring the surrounding vineyards. You can hirebikes and cycle the ‘Ruta de los Vinos' (wineroute), visiting both ancient cellars and workingwineries – tasting some of the world's bestMalbecs en route.

Included Excursions: Argentinian WineryAccommodation: Urbana Suites or similarOvernight - Mendoza (B:2)

Day 10 : Santiago

Mendoza - Santiago. We take a scenic publicbus journey across the border into Santiago. Youwill have the rest of the day free to exploreChile's cosmopolitan capital city at your ownpace. For the best views of the city, take afunicular railway to the top of San Cristobalwhere the Statue of the Virgin overlooks thecapital and the distant Andes. Here you cantaste some of Chile's best wines and find somebeautifully situated swimming pools. Santiago isa very clean, modern city with many fountainsand parks, and is well-renowned for its marketssuch as the famous Mercado Central, one of thebest seafood markets in the world. In the PlazaConstitucion at the Palacio de la Moneda youcan see the changing of the guard on most days.

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Accommodation: Hotel Libertador or similarOvernight - Santiago (B)

Day 11 : SantiagoYour adventure of a lifetime comes to anend today. If you have a late flight or havelengthened your stay by adding post touraccommodation you will have more time toexplore the sights.(B)

Arriving to Rio de JanerioOn arrival in Rio de Janeiro, we recommend youchange enough money into the local currency(real) for at least the first four or five days of yourtrip, especially if you are arriving on a Saturdaynight.

The exchange rate at the airport is just as goodas in the city centre. There is the 24-hour Bancodo Brasil on the third floor which will give cashadvances with visa cards (also has ATMs). Pleasenote that this bank gives better rates than theCambio on the first floor of the internationalarrivals area.

Airport transferAn airport arrival transfer is included. If youare delayed by more than an hour or you missyour connecting flight, in order for us rearrangeyour transfer, please call the emergency contactnumber on your tour voucher with your newscheduled arrival time and flight details. We willdo our best to rearrange your arrival transfer.

Making your own way to our start hotelIf, for any reason, you need to make your ownway to our start hotel you can either take ataxi from the rank outside or you buy a ticketat one of the pre-pay taxi desks just after youget out of the customs/luggage hall. You thenhand your ticket to the driver rather than payingin the taxi. Licensed and unlicensed taxis areavailable outside but you will have to hagglefor a good price which can be difficult if you donot speak Portuguese. It is also best to get themto write down the price (be clear on whetherthey are talking about Reals or US dollars). Theairport is approximately 45 minutes from thecity centre (depending on traffic) and the costof a taxi to our hotel in Rio de Janeiro should beapproximately US$20.

Start Hotel Address:

Hotel ReginaR. Ferreira Viana,29 - Flamengo,Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22210-040,BrazilTel: +55 21 3289-9999

If your tour meets Rio Carnival in February(regardless of whether or not you are addingthe Rio Carnival package to your booking) yourjoining hotel may be different to the above andyou will be informed of your joining hotel closerto the time of departure.

Hotel Regina serves an included buffet breakfastconsisting of eggs, fruits, bread and juices from6 to 10am.

Top tips for your arrivalThe hotel has safe deposit boxes in your roomfor your use (you will need to get the key fromreception). Important: Please leave all of yourimportant documents, money and travellerscheques here when you go out but remember tocarry some form of ID and a photocopy of yourpassport with you. Be careful of pickpocketseverywhere, but especially on the pedestrianstreet Jiron de la Union.

It is not advisable not to wear chains orexpensive looking watches or jewellery while inmajor South American cities. You should alsokeep your camera concealed when not in useand carry daypacks on your front for extra safety.Crime in Latin America is not as bad as itsreputation but you must be sensible and alert.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Our partners Tucan TravelPlease note that our South America grouptours (not Galapagos cruises) are operatedby Tucan Travel. Travellers on your trip willhave made their reservation with either On TheGo Tours or Tucan Travel. The style of adventuretour Tucan run is for the independent, savvytraveller who is not looking for a fully guidedexperience. That the tours attempt to utilisepublic transport as much as possible – providinga hands-on grass roots experience.

Hotels & Arrival TransfersArriving at the airportWhen you arrive in your starting city theimmigration officials may ask to see youronward flight ticket, so you should have yourtour voucher and international flight ticket tohand.

Day 1 of all our tours is simply a joining dayand the tour actually departs the joining cityon day 2. The last day of your tour is theofficial departure day and is free for you topack or sightsee before you depart. All tours arescheduled to arrive at your final destination theafternoon/evening before your departure day.Therefore very little time is spent in each of thestarting and finishing cities and you will need toallow a few days at the beginning or end of yourtour if you want to explore them further. Thisis particularly important for passengers joiningtours in high altitude cities (Quito & La Paz) sothat you can rest and acclimatise before thetour begins. We can book pre and post touraccommodation for you upon request.

Check in time is at 1300 hrs on day 1. If youwish to use the services of a room before or aftercheckout time, or you are arriving very early inthe morning of day 1, you will need to book anextra night, which we can arrange for you. Allrooms are on a bed only basis unless otherwiseindicated.

An airport arrival transfer is included. Departuretransfers are not included but can be booked foran additional fee.

Important: If you are delayed by more than anhour or you miss your connecting flight, in orderfor us rearrange your transfer, please call youremergency contact number on the voucherwith your new scheduled arrival time and flightdetails. We will do our best to rearrange yourarrival transfer.

Missing your tour departureIf you miss the start of your tour, please ask at thereception of the hotel for a message from yourtour leader which will give you instructions onhow to catch up with the group. Any associatedcosts will be at your own expense (although,depending on the reason, you may be able to

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claim these from your travel insurance so ensureyou keep all receipts).

If you know in advance that you are unlikelyto arrive on time, please contact Tucan Travelimmediately so we can inform the tour leader.Tucan Travel cannot be held responsible shouldyour airline/boat/coach be delayed and we areunable to refund any unused portion of yourtour.

Welcome MeetingSouth America Group Tours - The address ofyour start hotel can be found on your TourVoucher. On arrival you should look for a TucanTravel information sheet and welcome noteon the hotel notice board where you will finddetails of the pre-departure/welcome meeting.

The tour leader or a representative will normallyhold the pre-departure meeting early in theevening of day one. This meeting is usually heldat 6pm, assuming that all travellers have arrivedby then. You will be briefed about the tour,given an outline itinerary for the next few daysand any questions will be answered. After themeeting there is usually an option for everyoneto go out for dinner and drinks to start to get toknow one another.

Please note that you will need to bring thefollowing items to the pre departure meeting:

• The original copy and a photocopy of yourpassport

• Vaccination certificates (if required)• Travel voucher• Details of your travel insurance policy

number and their 24hr emergency contactnumber

Our ItinerariesOur detailed day by day itineraries are providedin good faith and it is our intention to adhereto the published route but please be awarethat changes may be made before or duringyour tour for operational or safety reasonsor to incorporate improvements. Impromptuchanges may also occur whilst you are travellingas a result of one-off circumstances such asan excursion being closed on a particularday, weather conditions or transport. Delaysare rare but occur occasionally and for this

reason and the reasons above this itineraryshould be considered as a guide only. Publishedtransport times are approximations and mayvary depending on local conditions.

Optional ExcursionsDuring our South America Group Tours therewill be free time to enjoy a range ofoptional excursions which are listed in the TripNotes. Your tour leader will be able to makerecommendations and bookings in advancefor most of these activities so you have moreflexibility and control over your itinerary. Pleasenote that you may not have time to do allof the optional excursions listed. Should youwish to partake in optional activities in the citywhere you tour starts/ends, please check their issufficient time to do so or alternatively considerbooking pre/post tour accommodation.

Optional excursions are not operated by On TheGo Tours / Tucan Travel and while every effortis made prices may not be up-to-date and areintended as a general guide to help you budgetfor your trip. Prices for vehicle-based excursionsare approximate based on the optimum numberof participants and the actual price may varydepending on group size.

Sufficient safety equipment such as helmets andlife jackets are sometimes not available andOn The Go Tours / Tucan Travel are unableto provide this equipment. If you intend toparticipate in an optional excursion you may liketo consider bringing your own safety gear.

Excursions are run by a local operator or thirdparty with both On The Go Tours / Tucan Traveland the Tour Leader acting as a booking agentonly. Optional activities are not part of the tourand our booking conditions do not apply tothem. It is your responsibility to ensure you havethe correct travel insurance for the excursionsyou intend to take part in and On The GoTours / Tucan Travel are not liable for any injuriesincurred.

Spending MoneySpending money – allow approximately US$25-$30 per day to cover meals, snacks, drinks,limited souvenirs, laundry, tips and any extras onour group tours.

Style of TourOur South America Group Tours are designedto suit travellers who love being able to travelon many different forms of transport withlocal people. There is a certain amount ofinvolvement needed, which will mean carryingyour own bags to the bus or train station or evenhelping the driver throw everyone’s packs ontothe roof. If you enjoy meeting and interactingwith local people and don’t mind roughing itoccasionally, then these tours will be just rightfor you.

It is important that you are open to travellingwith a range of different age groups. You mustalso satisfy yourself that you are fit enough tocomplete the itinerary as there are no refundsif you choose to leave the tour. Based on thenature of this travel style, our adventurousSouth America tours are generally suitable forpeople aged between 18 and 60 years old. If youhave any questions about this please contact usor speak to your travel consultant.

Our South America tours suit people who are fitand active. On all of our tours there are manywalks between bus/train terminals and hotelsand travellers must be able to carry their ownluggage over various terrains as well as lift upluggage onto the tops of buses so do not packmore than you can comfortably carry.

The average group size is 8 to 12 passengerswith a maximum of 16, however onsome included excursions group sizes mayoccasionally be larger.

Tour LeadersOur South America Tours are escorted by a tourleader who will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the tour, so you are free tosit back, relax and enjoy the journey. Our tourleaders are genuine travel addicts who will sharetheir passion for their destination with you.

You may be assisted at other times by otherrepresentatives, who will escort you at timeswhen your tour leader may not be available. Inaddition, local guides are used to accompanymany of our excursions, such as visits toarchaeological sites and the Inca Trail Trek.Their knowledge of the local area and familiaritywith its customs and history will enhance your

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experience by getting to know a country from alocal's perspective.

Our South America tours operate on a modularsystem with smaller tour sections joining andleaving the master tour throughout its duration.This means that you may start your tour with alocal representative and then meet up with yourtour leader and the rest of your group on daytwo of the tour.

TippingAlthough tipping is not a natural part ofmany Western cultures it is expected in SouthAmerica, where many workers are very poorlypaid and depend on tips for their main income.The local people work very hard to provide agood service and this is due in part to the tipsthey have received from foreigners in the past.However all tips are at your own discretion andyou should not feel obliged or pressured to tipat any time – particularly if you feel that the levelof service was not up to standard.

As a general guideline a gratuity of 10% of thetotal bill for your waiter is recommended inrestaurants. You should be aware that priceson the menu often exclude service chargesbut they are added to the bill (10%) and localtaxes (anywhere between 2% and 20%). If it isincluded then you are not expected to pay anadditional tip, although this is still appreciated.Some restaurants have a 'cubiertos' (covercharge) which is normally added onto the foodsection of the bill, not the total, so watch outfor this when dividing the bill with other groupmembers.

It is customary to tip your local guides onboth included and optional excursions. As aguideline, we recommend US$3-5 per personfor a half/full day excursion. Your tour leader willgenerally pass around an envelope for the localguide on included excursions. The tour leaderwill indicate on the envelope the amount of thetip usually given per person to the guide.

This information is given as a guide as manytravellers are unsure how much to tip. Shouldyou wish to give the local guide your tippersonally and not with the group tip thenplease feel free to do so.

Inca Trail and Lares Trek - the commonlyaccepted combined tip for guides, porters andcooks on the Inca Trail or Lares Trek is US$30per trekker. This amount will be collected fromeach trekker by the tour leader and distributedamongst the Trail team usually at the last dinner.

Tips are also appreciated by your tour leader atthe end of your tour. This, however, this is onlyif you feel that their service was up to standardand is completely at your own discretion.Tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

Group Tour AccommodationIn South America we generally stay insmall, locally-owned hotels rather than largeinternational chains. We are occasionally farfrom towns and cities, staying in unique placessuch as jungle lodges, Chinese junk boats orremote home-stays. Depending on the tour,the accommodation we use is generally theequivalent in comfort of a two to threestar hotel. We stay in small hotels, hostelsand guest houses which are usually situatedclose to the main sights and town centres.They are chosen for their local character,ambiance, cleanliness and security. You willfind comfortable rooms with en-suite facilities(although on rare occasions bathrooms may beshared). You may on rare occasions be requiredto stay in a triple room or in mixed gender dormswhere accommodation options are limited.

All accommodation is included from the arrivalday until check out time on the final day ofthe tour. Travellers will share rooms with othergroup members of the same gender. Mostly thiswill be in twin rooms although sometimes intriples depending on the group compositionand hotel rooming structure.

Please note: Accommodation sometimes haserratic services such as a lack of hot water or nocentral heating. Depending on the tour, theremay be occasions when you are camping or yourovernight accommodation is on buses, trainsor boats. More details on accommodation canbe found on each tour itinerary page. Hotelstaff don’t always speak English and sometimesour reservations are “lost”! In general, facilitiesare very good but please be prepared for the

occasional mishap, which is all part of the typicaltravel experience.

Transportation & TravelOn all of our South America Group Tours we usea variety of transportation. Vehicles can rangefrom buses filled with local people and theirmany possessions to our to private minibuses,four-wheel drive vehicles and comfortable air-conditioned coaches. Sometimes you could betravelling on boats, trains, planes, ferries, privateshuttle buses, boats, dugout canoes and taxis.Most bus transport is very comfortable, oftenwith reclining seats. Please note that the four-wheel drive vehicles used when visiting the SaltFlats in Bolivia do not have heating, so you'llneed to wrap up warm in colder months.

Our aim is not simply to get you from A to B,but to help you to experience each destinationas a genuine traveller, not as a first classtourist. A word of warning - please rememberthat travelling conditions can sometimes becramped.

The occasional long travel day is inevitablewhen you are covering large distances. OurSouth America Tours try to find the balancebetween long, short and non travel days,ensuring our itineraries aren’t too tiring andgive you time to explore. We cut down ontravel times by including some short flights andovernight trains and buses. Each itinerary isdifferent, so please check the tour itineraries forinformation on travel times.

MealsOn our South America Group Tours breakfastis often included. In remote areas such as theAmazon Jungle excursion and on the Inca Trailor Lares treks, much and dinner is also included.Most other meals are not included which givesyou the flexibility to choose when and whereyou eat. Our tour leaders have a wealth ofknowledge regarding local restaurants and canadvise you of the best places to try the deliciousand varied local cuisine.

What to PackOur South America tours often involve walksbetween bus or train terminals and hotels,so travellers must be able to carry their ownluggage over various terrains, as well as lift

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luggage on to the tops of buses. We thereforerecommend backpacks over suitcases, as youmay be off the beaten track every now andagain. It is important that you only pack whatyou can comfortably carry. By packing less youwill have a more enjoyable tour and have moreroom in your luggage for souvenirs! On toursthat include flights, we cover the cost of yourchecked baggage up to 20kg, even in caseswhere the airline policy is lower. All baggageover 20kg may still be checked, but charges willbe the responsibility of the traveller.

In addition to your main bag, you will need asmall daypack for your everyday excursions. Tryto keep this bag as light as possible and makesure that all main sections of your bags can bepadlocked. This daypack should have enoughroom to carry plenty of food and snacks forlong hikes and treks and be big enough for anovernight excursions.

Essential for all tours• Tour Voucher and Tour Trip Notes• Passport - with at least six months after youhave finished your tour with sufficient blankpages. (with 2 photocopies - one kept separately& the other to give to the tour leader with yournext of kin details)• Cash/ travellers cheques/ credit & debit cards(with photocopies kept separately)• Travel insurance certificate (with a photocopyto be given to your tour leader)• Spare passport photos (you may need these forobtaining visas)• International airline tickets (with a photocopykept separately)• International Vaccination Certificate (YellowFever if applicable)• International student card (may get youdiscounts into some sites)• Your travel consultant’s phone number andemail address (it is very important to have this asit is much easier to confirm/ change flights etcvia your agent)

Suggested equipment (some useful, somenecessary - use your discretion• Cotton money belt and/or pouch to store yourvaluables under your clothing• Sunglasses• Small calculator (to help with currencyconversions)

• Lockable pouch for your money and valuablesto use in safety deposit boxes• Plastic bags (very useful for wrappingcamera equipment, soap, shampoo bottles, wetclothing etc)• Inflatable pillow (if trekking in Peru)• Sleeping Bag (if trekking in Peru)• Small umbrella (also good for sun protection)• Pegless washing line and travel laundrydetergent (bio-degradable preferably)• Torch• Binoculars• Travel alarm clock• Travel plug adaptor• Small medical kit with diarrhoea remedy,rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, steriledressings, plasters, bandages, pain-killers, safetypins etc• Small sewing kit• Lip balm, sun block with high UV factor (this canbe expensive to buy locally)• Insect repellent (DEET 35% min) and bite cream• Tampons/Sanitary towels• Toilet paper (best to carry a roll with you at alltimes) and/or tissues (purchase locally)• Antibacterial hand cleansing gel (the type youcan use without water)• Moistened face tissues (e.g. Wet Ones)• Ear plugs• Travel sickness tablets (these are usually easyto buy over the counter locally)• Cheap plastic wristwatch• Spare pair of glasses or contact lenses andsolution (a lens prescription is also advisable incase of loss or breakage)• Camera /video camera with plenty of film ordigital camera with spare memory cards• Spare rechargeable batteries for camera etc• Writing materials, address book and diary• Pocket size Spanish phrasebook• Travel games, cards & couple of paperbacks• As gifts for local children - pens (withadvertising on them), coloured pencils, smallnotepads. To discourage a begging mentalitywe recommend that you try to give these gifts atschools or childcare centres rather than on thestreet

Clothing & Foot wearAll clothes should be lightweight, durableand easily washable. Please do not bring anymilitary or camouflage-style clothing as it canbe dangerous to wear and occasionally illegal.

Everybody ALWAYS packs too much, so ratherthan bringing lots of chunky sweaters, wearclothing in layers when in the colder regions.Nights can be cold at higher altitude so it is agood idea to bring at least one pair of warmtrousers or jeans plus several thinner sweaters/fleeces which you can layer (note: it is very easyto buy extra sweaters/ jumpers locally).

Check the climate and altitude atwww.worldclimate.com to get an idea of whatthe weather will be like on your tour. We do notfeel that it is necessary to include a full packinglist as you will know what you need dependingon the duration of your tour. However we dorecommend that you bring the following:

• A lightweight water/windproof jacket withhood

• Easy to pack wide-brimmed hat or cap• Sarong - very useful as a beach towel, bag,

hat, shawl and wrap around• Towel• Swimwear• Sandals/flip flops

It is also ESSENTIAL that you have good,comfortable shoes that are suitable for walkingand trekking. These don’t need to be expensiveboots, but they should have good ankle supportand grip, be worn in and ideally waterproof.

Sleeping BagsA good warm sleeping bag is necessary on alltours which include the Inca Trail or Lares Trailin Peru. Adequate ones can be hired locally butwe take no responsibility for the standard andwe therefore recommend that if possible youbring your own. Because these treks are at highaltitude, we recommend bringing a four seasonbag with side zip which can be opened outwhen you reach warmer weather. Extra blanketscan be purchased locally if necessary.

In South America, you may have a numberof overnight excursions included on your tour.Thick blankets are supplied when on AmantaniIsland (Lake Titicaca) but they have a tendencyto be dusty, so you may wish to bring a sleepingbag or sheet (they cannot be hired there). Youmay also wish to bring a sleeping sheet for yourovernight excursion into the Amazon Jungle.

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A sleeping bag liner/sleep sheet is optional onall other South America Tours. Some passengerslike to use them on long bus journeys andovernight trains.

HealthPlease see your doctor or travel clinic for anup to date list of all recommended vaccinationsfor the regions you will be travelling to. Werecommend that you do this at least eightweeks before you travel, as you may needa course of medications or more than onevaccination. In general we recommend thatyou are vaccinated against Tetanus-diphtheria,polio, hepatitis A and Typhoid and if travellingto a jungle area, yellow fever. Vaccinations aresolely the responsibility of the traveller and notthat of On The Go Tours.

The malarial risk varies in the regions ofSouth America and in some areas appropriatepreventive medicines are needed. Measuresshould always be taken to avoid mosquito bites,such as nets and creams. Please check withyour health care professional as to the best andmost up to date remedy for this mosquito bornedisease.

It is not recommended that you drink the tapwater in any of the countries we visit andwe recommend that you carry a First Aid kitas well as any personal medical requirements.Please be aware that quite often we are inremote areas and away from medical facilities,and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibitedfrom administering any type of drug includingheadache tablets, antibiotics, etc.

Electricity SupplyThe power supply varies from country tocountry and can also vary from region toregion within a country. If bringing electricalequipment, make sure that it can be switchedover from 110 volts to 220 volts and vice versa.If your equipment is 220 volts it will work on a110 volt system (albeit slower), but if you use 110volt equipment in a 220 volt system, it will blowthe equipment! Bring a voltage converter andtravel plug adaptor (most countries either have2 pin flat as in USA or 2 round pins).

Personal SafetyIt is not advisable to wear chains or expensivelooking watches or jewellery while in manySouth American cities. You should also keepyour camera concealed when not in use andcarry daypacks on your front for extra safety.Crime in Latin America is not as bad as itsreputation but you must be sensible and alert.

Argentina Country Guide

Argentina - Fact File• Official Name: Argentine Republic• Capital: Buenos Aires• Population: 38 million• Total Area: 2.8 million square kilometres• Official Language: Spanish• Religions: Roman Catholic 92% (less than

20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%,other 4%

• Voltage: 220 volts. Argentina has Europeantype two-pinned round sockets in most oldbuildings and the Australian style three-pinflat sockets in most new buildings.

• Dialling Code: +54• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -3• Airport Departure Tax: US$18

Argentina - VisasFrom 1st March 2013, Australian, Canadianand USA nationals have been required topay a reciprocity fee online before entry intoArgentina. This fee is set at the same amountArgentine nationals are required to pay for visasinto these countries.

The fees are as follows: Canadian nationals:US$75* (single entry). USA nationals: US$160*.Australian nationals: US$160**or its equivalent in Argentine pesos.

The amounts listed above may changeaccording to the reciprocal visa fee amounts setby the other countries. The reciprocity fee needsto be paid in advance following the below steps.

1) Enter the web site www.migraciones.gov.ar orwww.provinciapagos.com.ar of Provincia Pagosand register to start the process.

2) Complete the form with the correspondingpersonal and credit card information.

3) Print the payment receipt.

4) On arrival in Argentina, this printed receiptmust be presented at Immigration Control. Thereceipt will be scanned by the Immigrationofficials, the information will be checked, andthe traveller's entry to the country registered.

Argentina - ClimateThe Argentine climate ranges from hot andhumid in the north to cold and windy in thesouth. In northern Argentina, summer is hot andwinter fairly mild while in contrast, Tierra delFuego, at the southern tip of Argentina, is quiteoften cold with continual winds, rain at timesand freezing winter temperatures.

Buenos Aires, due to its position in the centralregion, has a Mediterranean climate with well-defined seasons. Spring, between Septemberand November is mild, which contributes to theflourishing green colour of the plants and treesin the lush parks. Summer, between Decemberand February, is dry and hot and winter canbe cold. It usually begins to rain in April andreaches its highest level during June and July,then decreases gradually to almost nothing inNovember.

Visit www.worldclimate.com to get an idea ofwhat the weather will be like on your tour.

Argentina - MoneyImportantIn Latin America you will have problemschanging the US$100 CB B2 2001 series notesand it is important you do not bring them. Insome countries banks won't even take them.The serial number is located in the top left handcorner and bottom right hand corner on theside with the President’s face. This serial numberstarts with CB and then a few more numbers andthen directly under that B2. At the bottom of thenote near the signature of the Treasurer it sayswhich series of notes it is and it is there that itsays 2001 series.

Local currencyThe monetary unit in Argentina is the Argentinepeso. For up-to-date exchange rates with yourown currency visit www.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards & ATMs

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We recommend that you bring cash/travellerscheques in US dollars only. Visa, Mastercard,Diners and American Express are the best creditcards to bring however there can be problemsat times getting money out from ATMs, so makesure you have sufficient cash for emergencies.

There is no restriction on the amount of foreigncurrency that you may bring into Argentina,however very large sums should be declaredon arrival. There is often a general lack ofsmall change and we recommend maintaining asupply of small denomination notes and coins.

Argentina - Local TransportMuch of Buenos Aires can be visited onfoot. Most sightseeing in Buenos Aires can bereached on foot from our hotel, with La Bocabeing the furthest at about an hour’s walk. Thereis also a good, if rather dated, undergroundmetro system (called the “subte”) which has5 lines and is very cheap at approx $0.30 perjourney.

There are local buses called “colectivos”, whichare also inexpensive, but you MUST have theright change (ask hotel reception for prices) asyou have to drop the money into a machine.We recommend you use taxis (black & yellow)at night as they are fairly cheap and usuallyhave meters fitted. Just make sure that the driverturns it on when you get in. Remember that youwill pay more for taxis at night.

Argentina - Food & DrinkAs a guideline a simple snack (e.g. a sandwich)can cost as little as US$1, a light meal will costaround $5-$6, and even a meal in one of thebetter restaurants in Buenos Aires costs verylittle in comparison to what you would expectto pay at home. Obviously this depends on whatyou order and if you have wine or other drinks,which will certainly increase the bill. If you eatin Puerto Madero or Recoleta in Buenos Airesyou are likely to pay quite a bit more, howeverthere is a huge choice of good reasonably-priced restaurants in the city centre where youcan get a good meal (and great steaks).

Your tour leader will be able to recommendrestaurants.

All drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinksare at your own expense at all times. Thefollowing is a guideline for drinks bought ina shop in the street. Prices in restaurants andhotels can sometimes be more than double theprices specified below;

• 1 litre of water US$0.70• 30cl bottle of soft drink US$0.50• 30cl bottle of beer US$0.70• 50cl bottle of beer US$1.00• Food

FoodIn Argentina the basic diet focuses aroundmeat mostly with french fries (papas fritas),mashed potatoes (pure) or 'papas sufle' (localtypical deep fried potatoes that blow up likelittle balloons and are delicious). As there is alarge Italian population you’ll have no problemgetting pasta dishes or pizzas. In fact, in thelarger cities, you’ll have no problem getting alltypes of food.

For breakfast it’s normal to eat croissants(media lunas) with a good strong coffee.Most Argentines would have a large lunch ataround 1pm then at around 5pm, they allhead to the 'confiterías' for tea, sandwichesand cakes. Dinner is usually eaten around10pm and is often grilled beef (asado) indifferent forms. Other dishes include 'lomo alapimiento' (pepper steak), giant ribs (asado detira) and mixed grills (parrillada) which includebeef, intestines, offal, blood sausage (morcilla)and spicy sausage (chorizos) or thick grilledsteak (churrasco). 'Bife de chorizo' is a rumpsteak (nothing to do with the sausage of thesame name) and 'bife a caballo' is steak toppedwith a fried egg. Although seafood is not socommon you can get fish (pescado) which canbe served grilled, pan fried with breadcrumbs(apanado) or with a sauce. There are alsoplenty of chicken (pollo) dishes available.'Milanesa de pollo' (boneless chicken cookedwith breadcrumbs) is a favourite.

For a cheap and hearty meal 'tenedor libre'restaurants offer a fixed price buffet. These areusually very good value and you can eat as muchas you like.

Vegetarians

If you are a strict vegetarian you mayexperience a distinct lack of variety in the foodavailable, especially in small towns. Howevervegetarian alternatives are becoming morepopular particularly in south Argentina. Our tourleaders will do their best to provide interestingvegetarian alternatives for included meals, butyour patience and understanding is requested.

DrinkYou should be wary of drinking the local tapwater. Bottled water, carbonated soft drinks andfruit juices are widely available and much safer.Argentina also has some of the best coffee in theworld.

In Argentina some of the hotels we use havebars or serve alcoholic drinks. If there is not abar in the hotel then there is sure to be onewithin walking distance. Imported beers andspirits are available but local spirits tend to becheaper. There is an array of rums, gins andbrandy and the fabulous Argentine wines can beextremely cheap (from US$1 a bottle) There arealso various brands of beers including Quilmes,Rubia, Negra Ahumada, and Negra Extra XXX.

Brazil Country Guide

Brazil - Fact File• Official Name: Federal Republic of Brazil• Capital: Brasilia• Population: 176 million• Total Area: 8.5 million square kilometres• Official Language: Portuguese• Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant

15%• Voltage: Brazil has a variety of electrical

voltages, sometimes within the same cityand outlets often accept a range of plugtypes. For this reason, many hotels andcampsites will label their outlets to makesure guests know what type of power theyuse. If an outlet lacks a label, this informationwill often be listed in the hotel services guide.If in doubt, you should check with receptionbefore plugging in an appliance.

• Dialling Code: +55• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -2 to -4.

For other time differences please visitwww.timeanddate.com

• Airport Departure Tax: none

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Brazil - VisasCitizens of most Western European nations,including the UK and Ireland, need only apassport valid for six months and either a returnor onward ticket, or evidence of funds to pay forone, to enter Brazil. An entry card must be filledin on arrival to obtain a tourist permit allowingyou to stay for 90 days. Australian, USA andCanadian citizens MUST obtain visas in advanceand a return or onward ticket is usually arequirement. Do not lose the carbon copy of theentry card the police staple into your passporton arrival, as you may be fined on departureif you don't present it. A sensible precautionis to photocopy it and keep it separate fromyour passport (or take a photograph of it).Visa requirements do change periodically soyou should check for the latest information onyour specific visa requirements with your localBrazilian embassy or consulate well in advanceof your planned date of travel.

Brazil - ClimateBrazil can be split into four distinct climaticregions. The coldest part - in fact the only part ofBrazil which ever gets really cold - is the Southand Southeast , the region roughly from centralMinas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul. Here, there'sa distinct winter between June and September,with occasional cold, wind and rain.

The coastal climate is exceptionally good andthe 7,000 kilometres of coastline, from Paranáto near the equator, bask under a warm tropicalclimate. There is a winter, when there arecloudy days and sometimes the temperaturedips below 25°C, and a rainy season, when it canreally pour. In Rio and points south the summerrains last from October through to January, butthey come much earlier in the northeast, lastingabout three months from April in Fortaleza andSalvador, and from May in Recife. Even in winteror the rainy season, the weather will be excellentmuch of the time.

The average monthly temperature in thenortheast doesn’t ever dip below 25°C and theinterior is semi-arid. Rain is sparse and irregular,although violent. Amazônia is stereotyped asbeing steamy jungle with constant rainfall, butmuch of the region has a distinct dry seasonfrom July to October. Check the weather charton our website or visit www.worldclimate.com

to get an idea of what the weather will be like onyour trip.


Brazil - MoneyImportantIn Latin America you will have problemschanging the US$100 CB B2 2001 series notesand it is important you do not to bring them.In some countries banks won't even take them.The serial number is located in the top left handcorner and bottom right hand corner on theside with the President’s face. This serial numberstarts with CB and then a few more numbers andthen directly under that B2. At the bottom of thenote near the signature of the Treasurer it sayswhich series of notes it is and it is there that itsays 2001 series.Local currency

The monetary unit in Brazil is the Real, whichis divided into 100 centavos. For up-to-dateexchange rates with your own currency visitwww.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards & ATMsWe recommend that you bring cash/travellerscheques in US dollars only. Visa, Diners andAmerican Express are the best credit cards tobring (Mastercard is not common in Brazil),however there can be problems at times gettingmoney out from ATMs, so make sure you havesufficient cash for emergencies.

There is no restriction on the amount of foreigncurrency that you may bring into Brazil, howeververy large sums should be declared on arrival.There is often a general lack of small change andwe recommend maintaining a supply of smalldenomination notes and coins.

When arriving at the Rio de Janeiro InternationalAirport we suggest that you get some reals atone of the little banks in the terminal buildingor use one of the ATMs (as you come out ofcustoms, take the escalators (to the right) tothe top floor then go left and right to the endpassing through the shops you will find aboutthree ATMs together). Change enough money

to see you through the first few days of your trip– particularly if it is a weekend.

Brazil - Local TransportMuch of Rio can be visited by bus or metro(although the latter doesn’t really cover many ofthe tourist sights). The buses are fast (remember,every Brazilian wants to be a motor racing driver,well at least the bus drivers), reliable and cheap.They are easy to use as you get on and paythe conductor who sits in a little booth thenpass through a turnstile. Beware of thieves andpickpockets, especially before you pass throughthe turnstile.

Taxis are relatively cheap and we recommendusing them at night. Most taxis have meters andyou should insist that the driver switches it on.

In other Brazillian towns and cities walking isbasically the best and cheapest way to see thesights (with the exception of Sao Paulo wherethe metro is the best way of getting around thecity).

Brazil - Food & DrinkAll meals are included when camping and lunchis included on travelling days in the truck.When staying in hotels lunch and dinner is atyour own expense. (All hotels in Brazil includea buffet style breakfast, normally bread, coldmeats, hams, cheese, fruits, juice, tea or coffee).As a guideline a simple snack (e.g. a sandwich)can cost as little as US$0.70, a light meal willcost around US$2-3, and a main meal with acouple of beers will cost around US$8. You willfind that meals are generally much cheaper thanyou are accustomed at home but obviously thisdoes depend on what you order and if youhave wine or other drinks which will certainlyincrease the bill. Eating out in upmarket suburbslike Ipanema or Leblon in Rio will be moreexpensive.


Generally you will find that meals are muchbigger than you are used to and, in many cases,one main meal will serve for two. Quite often thewaiter will even suggest that two of you share it.

Food

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In Brazil the basic diet focuses on meatand black beans. The favourite national dish,especially on Saturday lunchtimes is “feijoada”.This consists of several meats (sausages, porketc) in a delicious stew cooked with black beansand “farofa” (manioc flour). This is normallyaccompanied by neat chachaca which will blowyour head off at first but then become verymellow.

A 'churrasco' at a typical Churrascarria (BBQ)restaurant is another typical dish but go therewith an empty stomach as you will get somuch food. Every type of meat you can thinkof is served on giant swords and waiterswander around topping up your plate every fewminutes. These restaurants also have great saladbars with lots of variety where you can helpyourself as many times as you wish.

If you like fish ask for 'peixe' which can be grilled,pan fried with breadcrumbs or with a sauce.There are also plenty of chicken ('frango') disheswhich are a good idea if you don’t like your foodtoo salty (the beef normally comes very saltyindeed).

Typical snacks available in lanchonetes androadside truck-stops include 'empadao' (pastieswith chicken or meat), 'empadas' (fried versionof the latter), 'coxinha' (pear-shaped deepfried manioc flour with fish or chicken), 'pâode queijo' (hot roll made with cheese) and'salgados' (savoury pastries).

For a cheap and hearty meal try the fixed priced'prato feito' or 'sortido'. While at the 'comida porkilo' you pay by the kilo which is usually verygood value.

VegetariansIf you are a strict vegetarian you may experiencea distinct lack of variety in the food available,especially in small towns. However vegetarianalternatives are becoming more popular youwill just have to search a little harder for therestaurants that cater to your tastes. Our tourleaders will do their best to provide interestingvegetarian alternatives when arranging groupmeals in the campsite, but your patience andunderstanding is requested.

Drink

All drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinksare at your own expense at all times. Thefollowing is a guideline for drinks bought ina shop in the street. Prices in restaurants andhotels can sometimes be more than double theprices specified below:

• 1 litre of water - US$0.50• 30cl bottle of soft drink - US$0.30• 30cl bottle of beer - US$0.50• 50cl bottle of beer - US$0.80

You should be wary of drinking the local tapwater. Bottled water and carbonated soft drinksare widely available and are generally safe todrink. Surprisngly, although Brazil is one ofthe largest coffee producer in the world, mostcoffee in cafes and restaurants leaves a lot tobe desired, so look out for a specialist coffeetype cafe. For great fresh fruit juices ('sucos'), trythe 'lanchonetes' where you can also get greatsnacks.

In Brazil some of the hotels we use have barsor serve alcoholic drinks. If there is not a bar inthe hotel then there is sure to be one withinwalking distance. In more up-market hotels,imported beers and spirits are available, butat a much higher price. There is an array oflocally made rums, whiskeys, gins, vermouth,campari and cachaca available cheaply. Thelatter is a sugar-cane liquor which is used inthe Brazilian national drink 'Caipirinha' (a mixof cachaca, sugar, crushed ice and slices ofsquashed limes). Another variation is the 'Batida'which is cachaca mixed with a variety of fruitjuices, crushed ice and sugar. There are variousbrands of beers including Brahma, Antarcticaand Cerpa. Draught beer is called 'chopp'.

Chile Country Guide

Chile - Fact File• Official Name: Republic of Chile• Capital: Santiago• Population: 15.5 million• Total Area: 756,950 square kilometres

including Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) andIsla Sala y Gomez. Chile stretches over 4,300kilometres from north to south, a distanceroughly the same as that from San Franciscoto New York, or Edinburgh to Baghdad.

• Official Language: Spanish

• Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant11%

• Voltage: 220 volts. Chilean outlets use threeround pins in a line, with the middle onebeing an earth. Two-pronged European styleplugs can also be used.

• Dialling Code: +56• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -4. For

other time differences please visitwww.timeanddate.com

Chile - VisasMost nationals, including citizens of the EU,North American and Australasia do not needto acquire a visa in advance to enter Chile.However some nationalities must pay an entryfee on arrival by air (e.g. United States $100,Canada $55 and Australia $34, these costs maychange). Entry is granted on production of apassport valid for more than six months, areturn air/bus ticket and proof of funds tosupport yourself for the duration of the stay.Most nationalities can enter for up to 90 days,although it's up to the immigration official todecide whether you're allocated 30, 60 or 90days on arrival. Visa requirements do changeperiodically so you should check for the latestinformation on your specific visa requirementswith your local Chilean Embassy or Consulatewell in advance of your planned date of travel.

Chile - ClimateChile is very long and narrow (it is no morethan 180 km wide at any point) and the AndesMountains are a dominant feature runningdown the entire length of the country. Becauseof its length, Chile encompasses a variety ofclimates (the country contains both arid desertsand icebergs). There's no one time that's perfectto visit every part of the country, but it seldomrains during October to March, humidity is low,midday temperatures reach about 32°C and thenights are cool. It is colder and rains a lot inSantiago and in the south in May to August.A sweater (and, in the south, a heavy jacket)should be taken no matter when you go, asnights can be cool-to-cold nearly everywhere.

Santiago, due to its position in the centralregion, has a Mediterranean climate with well-defined seasons. Spring, between Septemberand November is mild, which contributes to theflourishing green colour of the plants and trees.

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Summer, between December and February, isdry and hot although at night it cools downslightly, and on the coast this temperature dropcan be much more extreme. Autumn is betweenMarch and May, and temperatures decreasegradually. Daytime winter temperatures arereasonable but mornings can be very cold.


Chile - MoneyImportant In Latin America you will haveproblems changing the US$100 CB B2 2001series notes and it is important you do not tobring them. In some countries banks won't eventake them. The serial number is located in thetop left hand corner and bottom right handcorner on the side with the President’s face. Thisserial number starts with CB and then a fewmore numbers and then directly under that B2.At the bottom of the note near the signature ofthe Treasurer it says which series of notes it isand it is there that it says 2001 series.

Local currencyThe monetary unit in Chile is the Chilean peso,which is divided into 100 centavos. For up-to-date exchange rates with your own currencyvisit www.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards & ATMsWe recommend that you bring cash/travellerscheques in US dollars only. Visa, Mastercard,Diners and American Express are the best creditcards to bring however there can be problemsat times getting money out from ATMs, so makesure you have sufficient cash for emergencies.Travellers cheques must be changed before12pm except at 'casas de cambio' (which dotend to offer better rates than banks anyway).

There is no restriction on the amount of foreigncurrency that you may bring into Chile, howeververy large sums should be declared on arrival.There is often a general lack of small change andwe recommend maintaining a supply of smalldenomination notes and coins. When arriving atthe Santiago International Airport we suggestthat you get some Pesos at one of the littlebanks just inside the luggage hall or use one ofthe ATMs outside the terminal. Change enough

money to see you through the first few days ofyour trip – particularly if it is a weekend.

Chile - Local TransportMuch of Santiago can be visited on foot. There isa very good underground metro system whichhas three lines and is very cheap at US$0.40-$0.60 per journey. You can also buy a 10 journeycard for about US$4. The last trains are at around10pm. There are local buses called micros, whichare also cheap, but you should try to have theright change (ask at the hotel reception forprices). They also have 'colectivos' (shared taxison fixed routes). We recommend the use of taxisat night as they are fairly cheap and usually havemeters - just make sure that the driver turns iton when you get in. Remember that you will paymore for taxis at night.

Chile - Food & DrinkAll meals are included when camping and lunchis included on travelling days in the truck. Whenstaying in hotels all meals are at your ownexpense. As a guideline a simple snack (e.g. asandwich) can cost as little as US$1.50, a lightmeal will cost around US$5-8, and a meal inone of the better restaurants in Santiago willcompare with developed countries in the west.Obviously this does depend on what you orderand if you have wine or other drinks which willcertainly increase the bill. In cheaper restaurantswhere Chileans and backpackers eat, you canget meals for as little as US$3 if you shop around.


FoodIn Chile the basic diet focuses around chicken,beef or seafood, mostly with french fries or rice(or both) and sometimes salad. Compared tocountries further north, Chile’s cuisine is quitecreative and tasty. 'Cazuela de ave' is a stew oflarge chunks of chicken, potatoes, rice, onionswith green peppers and 'pastel de choclo' isa casserole of beef, onions and olives toppedwith a maize mash baked in an earthenwarebowl. 'Parillada', a mixed grill of meats, offaland intestines served at your table in a charcoalbrazier (miniature barbecue) is popular here asin all the southern countries. Other favouritedishes include 'lomo ala pimiento' (pepper

steak) and 'humitas' (mashed corn mixed withspices and butter baked in a maize leaf).

Seafood is the basis for many of Chile’sfavourite dishes and the 'congrio' is theirnational fish. One of the most popular waysto serve it is 'caldillo de congrio' (a soupwith large pieces of the fish with onionsand potato balls). Other delicious fish include'corvine' (bass), 'albacore' (swordfish) and'cojinoa' (no translation). Try a 'paila choncha' (abouillabaisse type dish with heaps of flavour)or a 'parillada de mariscos' a mixed seafoodgrill. There is a whole host of other seafoodavailable including clams (almejas), mussels(choritos/cholgas), sea-urchin (erizo), barnacles(picorocos) and seaweed.

Typical snacks are 'emanadas de pino' (pastieswith onions, raisins, olives meat and peppers)and 'prieta', a blood sausage (black pudding)stuffed with cabbage

VegetariansIf you are a strict vegetarian you may experiencea distinct lack of variety in the food available,especially in small towns. However vegetarianalternatives are becoming more popular youwill just have to search a little harder for therestaurants that cater to your tastes. Our tourleaders will do their best to provide interestingvegetarian alternatives when arranging groupmeals in the campsite, but your patience andunderstanding is requested.

DrinkAll drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinksare at your own expense at all times. Thefollowing is a guideline for drinks bought ina shop in the street. Prices in restaurants andhotels can sometimes be more than double theprices specified below:

• 1 litre of water US$1.50• 30cl bottle of soft drink US$1• 30cl bottle of beer US$1.50• 50cl bottle of beer US$3

You should be wary of drinking the local tapwater (especially outside of Santiago). Bottledwater, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices arewidely available and much safer. However fruitjuices are sometimes made from unboiled tap

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water, so could upset your stomach. An easyway around this is to order the juice 'con leche'with milk instead. For decent coffee try one ofthe cafe chains: Cafe Haiti, Tio Pepe or CafeBrasil.

In Chile some of the hotels we use have barsor serve alcoholic drinks. If there is not a bar inthe hotel then there is sure to be one withinwalking distance. In more up-market hotels,imported beers and spirits are available, buttend to be expensive. Alternatively there isan array of local rums, gins, brandy availableand the fabulous Chilean wines which can beextremely cheap (from US$1.50 a bottle). Thereare various brands of beers including Cristal,Escudo, Austral, Heineken and Royal Guard(light), there is also a brown ale type beer fromthe south called Malta. Please note that manyplaces will charge a refundable deposit for thebottles.

TRIP NOTES Argentinean sides. South American Express ex Rio … · 2017-08-31 · TRIP NOTES South...

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