Other Information

Your Flight to Peru

A holiday in Peru inevitably means long haul flights and at least one overnight sector, but some airline schedules are less arduous than others. When you are looking at holidays to Peru, do check which airline and route is being offered.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Peru; whichever airline you use, you will have to change planes. Our holidays are scheduled to use British Airways via Miami; Iberia via Madrid; or KLM, via Amsterdam, depending on the departure date. We will advise you at the time of booking. If you fly with British Airways, it is possible to add a stopover in Miami. The flight from Miami to Lima is operated by American Airlines.

British Airways offer connections to Heathrow from the following regional airports: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Belfast. However, the departure times often mean that it is necessary to spend a night in London or Miami. It is also possible to fly from regional airports on KLM departures. Please ask us if you are interested in this option.

Your choice of flights to Peru

Note: Timings may vary on some dates and will be confirmed when you book.

Payment by credit card

You can pay for the deposit or balance of your holiday by cheque, credit card or debit card. We accept personal Visa and Mastercard credit cards, subject to a handling charge of 2%. There is no charge for debit card payments.

What's included in the price

Prices are based on two persons sharing a room and include all flights, transfers and accommodation. The UK departure tax and other flight related charges are included (APD £40; £80 business class), but not the tax levied on each flight departure in Peru which you must pay in cash at the airport. This is currently approximately US$30 for international flights and US$6 for domestic flights. If your holiday includes Ecuador, the Ecuador airport tax of US$41 must be paid on departure in cash. Where applicable, entrance fees of Machu Picchu $40, Inca Trail and Short Inca Trail $80, Cusco Tourist Ticket $20 and Galapagos National Park $100 are included.

The Galapagos Islands local municipality is considering introducing a new charge for visitors to the islands. This would be a visitors’ tax of US$100 per person and would be levied on all visitors arriving in the Galapagos Islands. Currently, there has been no official announcement by the local municipality, and it is not clear when this charge will be introduced or how it will operate. Additionally, INGALA (the Galapagos National Institute) is planning to introduce a migration control scheme for the Galapagos Islands, to better control the number of people entering and leaving the islands. For this, there will be a US$10 charge per person which will be levied on all visitors arriving in the Galapagos Islands. Again, it is not clear when this will be introduced. Both these charges would be separate from and in addition to the current Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$100, which is included in the price of our holidays).

Please also read 'Our prices' section in our booking conditions

Peru is hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in 2008. On some dates, hotels may increase rates. We will rearrange itineraries to avoid this wherever possible.

Passports and Visas

Visas are not required in advance for British passport holders for Ecuador, Peru or Bonaire. For British passports endorsed in any way and all other passports, please consult the Ecuadorian embassy (Tel: 020 7584 2648), the Peruvian embassy (020 7235 1917) or the Bonaire Immigration Office (Tel: +599 717 6880). To avoid any problems, you should have a full 10 year passport valid for 6 months after your return to the UK.

To issue some of the tickets in Peru, we need to take passport numbers, nationalities and ages when you book. If you subsequently change your passport, please let us know as soon as possible.

For the Inca Trail and Short Inca Trail, you will need to take the passport you booked with, even if this has expired.

Hotel grading

Official hotel ratings vary from city to city in Peru. We have therefore categorised hotels as either Standard or Superior.

Hotel rooms

Some hotel bathrooms have showers instead of baths. If you prefer a bath, please ask when you book.

If you have a preference for a twin or a double room, please let us know and we will request this. However, we cannot guarantee this as hotels do not allocate rooms until the day of arrival.

Despite costing more per person, single rooms sometimes do not offer the same level of comfort as double rooms.

Tickets and vouchers

You will receive your tickets approximately two weeks before departure, along with detailed information on transfers, accommodation and excursions in Peru. Our agents in Peru will give you your hotel and excursion vouchers when you arrive in Lima. Please ensure you check your airline tickets carefully in case timings have changed after we issued your confirmation.

Excursions

Excursions are operated on a group basis with other holidaymakers. These will usually be in English, although groups are sometimes a mixture of English and Spanish speaking. All entrance costs are included.

Tourism information

The Peruvian Embassy can provide tourist information on 020 7235 1917.

Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is essential. The travel insurance market is very competitive and a wide range of policies are on offer. As customer requirements vary, Llama Travel does not sell or recommend any specific insurance policy. A list of insurance companies that our customers have found suitable is available from us.

Please remember to advise your insurer of any pre-existing medical conditions and, if you are booking the Inca Trail, make sure that you are covered for trekking up to 4,200 metres. Note that cancellation cover is normally only available if insurance is purchased within two weeks of booking your holiday.

Age and fitness limitations

For most of our holidays, age is not a concern. However, a reasonable level of fitness is required, as even relatively mild activities can appear strenuous at altitude. Many of the places you visit require some walking uphill. If you are planning on walking the Inca Trail or short Inca Trail, please bear in mind that the altitude means these are more strenuous than equivalent length walks in the UK.

Health and vaccinations

Please consult your GP or a travel clinic about health and vaccination requirements. The Department of Health leaflet "Health advice for travellers" is available at www.dh.gov.uk or from telephone 0800 555 777. Yellow fever and malaria precautions are recommended for visiting the jungle. The jungle around Puerto Maldonado is at 250 metres above sea level. If visiting the north coast of Peru, including Trujillo, Chiclayo and Mancora, malaria precautions are sometimes recommended.

Much of Peru, including Cusco, is at high altitude. Most visitors do not suffer major problems due to the altitude. However, shortness of breath is common and we advise you to take things calmly during your first day at altitude. If you suffer from a heart or lung condition, or if you think that you may suffer due to the altitude, please consult your GP before travelling.

When visiting South America, stomach illnesses are not uncommon due to changes in diet. We suggest you only drink bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you are unsure if salads and fruit have been washed in purified water, it is best to avoid them.

If you suffer from any disability or condition and are concerned whether this will affect the enjoyment of a holiday in Peru, please call us on 020 7263 3000. We will do our best to help. We recommend that you bring any medicines you require from the UK.

Outside of major cities, medical facilities can be basic necessitating a lengthy transfer if hospital attention is required.

Your safety and security

Peru is now a relatively safe country to visit, and most people experience no problems during their stay. However, as is the case anywhere in the world, crime can be a problem. Tourists can appear attractive targets to criminals. To minimise the risk, use common sense. Do not walk around with obvious signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive looking jewellery or with cameras round your neck. Do not walk down empty streets, especially on your own or after dark. By taking sensible precautions, you should have a completely trouble-free holiday.

Each country has its own standards for health and safety, but in less developed countries these are often not as good as those in the UK. We take this into account when selecting hotels and request that they comply with all local regulations, but cannot guarantee that these are equivalent to British standards. Please take reasonable precautions to protect yourselves whilst on holiday, e.g. by locating fire exit routes.

To make the most of your trip, we recommend that you check the Foreign Office advice to travellers at www.fco.gov.uk, on BBC2 Ceefax page 470 onwards or on 0870 606 0290.

Booking conditions

Your contract is with Llama Travel Limited, registered in England and Wales, number 4370517. The following conditions will form part of your contract and should be read carefully.

1. Booking your holiday

To book your Llama Travel holiday, please phone our sales line on 020 7263 3000. These booking conditions will apply to your booking and cannot be varied. A contract will exist when we accept your booking and issue our confirmation invoice. The contract and all matters arising from it shall be governed by English law and be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. All correspondence will be sent to the lead passenger of the booking unless otherwise indicated. You must be over 18 to book a Llama Travel holiday. Llama Travel holidays are not for resale.

2. Deposits and final payments

A deposit of £150 per passenger is required (£250 for holidays including the Galapagos). On some occasions, a higher deposit may be required to secure flight seats: we will advise you at the time of booking if this is necessary. When this payment is received, we will issue a confirmation invoice. The balance of the payment must be paid 60 days before departure (90 days for holidays including the Galapagos), unless the booking is made less than 60 days before departure, in which case full payment must be made when booking. Credit card payments are subject to a handling charge of 2%.

3. Our prices

Brochure prices are based on the latest known information at the time of preparation – 3 December 2007 (£1 = US$2.064) but can go up or down. Before making a booking, please call to check the correct up to date price of your chosen holiday on our telephone sales line.

Once you have made a booking and we have issued our confirmation invoice, your holiday price can only be varied due to a significant increase in our costs caused by a deterioration in exchange rates or an increase in charges, fees, taxes or similar items as a result of governmental action. Where applicable, the following entrance fees are included: Galapagos National Park $100; Machu Picchu $40; Inca Trail and Short Inca Trail $80; Cusco Tourist Ticket $20. Other than for increases in these entrance fees or tax increases, such as in Air Passenger Duty or VAT, we will absorb any increase up to 2% of your holiday cost. If there is a surcharge of more than 10% of your holiday cost, you will be entitled to cancel within 7 days of being notified of the surcharge and obtain a full refund. No surcharge will be made less than 30 days before the start of your holiday.

4. Alterations or cancellations by you

If you wish to alter your holiday arrangements in any way before departure, we will do our best to help. An administration fee of £25 per passenger will be charged, together with any additional costs incurred as a result of the change. If you make any alterations within 60 days of departure, we may treat this as a cancellation, and cancellation fees may apply. Scheduled airlines treat name changes as a cancellation and rebooking; any alteration is likely to incur a 100% cancellation charge. Please make sure that all names you give us are spelled exactly as they appear in passports.

It is not normally possible to make alterations after commencement of travel. If you do wish to make alterations during your holiday, cancellation fees for services booked may apply. Refunds cannot be made for any unused accommodation, services or transport.

If you wish to cancel your holiday, you must let us know in writing. The following cancellation charges apply:

In addition, where one person in a party cancels and others still wish to travel, single room supplements will be payable if this results in single rooms being used.

We recommend that you take out full travel insurance, including cover against loss of deposit or cancellation penalties.

5. Alterations or cancellations by us

Llama Travel makes careful arrangements with airlines, hotels and service operators to ensure that we are able to provide you with the holiday exactly as we have described it. However, in exceptional cases, it may be necessary to make changes to your holiday arrangements (including flights, accommodation, transport or services) due to circumstances beyond our control. Flight times are given only as indications, and finalised times will be shown on your tickets.

When minor changes are made, we will do our best to ensure that they do not affect your holiday. If a major change is necessary (defined as a change of city or resort, a significant change of itinerary, a change of accommodation to a lower standard or category, a change of flight time of more than 12 hours or a change of airport except between London airports) or if we have to cancel your holiday, we will contact you and offer you the choice of:

1. Accepting the changes to your holiday;
2. Purchasing another available Llama Travel holiday;
3. Cancelling your holiday with a full refund.

If we have to cancel or make major alterations to your holiday less than 60 days before departure, you will also be entitled to compensation at the following levels:

NOTE: Compensation will not be paid in cases where alterations or cancellations have to be made due to force majeure, including war, threat of war, civil unrest or strife, decisions by governments or governing authorities, industrial disputes, natural disasters, fire, bad weather, terrorist activity, nuclear disaster, technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes of timetables of airlines, or other causes beyond our control.

6. Our responsibilities and commitment to your holiday

Llama Travel is dedicated to ensuring that your holiday is as described. If a part of your holiday is not provided as promised, and this affects the reasonable enjoyment of your holiday, we will pay compensation appropriate to the circumstances, limited to a maximum of twice the price of the service concerned.

Llama Travel accepts responsibility for illness, personal injury or death caused as a direct result of the direct acts and / or omissions of our employees, agents, suppliers or sub-contractors while acting in the course of their employment to provide services or arrangements for your holiday that you have booked with us. We do not accept responsibility for illness, personal injury or death where there has been no fault of our employees, agents, suppliers or sub-contractors, or as a result of taking part in any activity which does not form part of the holiday booked through us. If illness, personal injury or death is suffered as a result of taking part in an activity where a third party is involved, we shall, at our discretion, offer advice and assistance to aid in the resolution of the issue, provided you inform us within 90 days of the occurrence. Our costs in respect of the above on behalf of you and your party shall not exceed £5,000 in total. If you are able to make recovery of these costs whether from the third party or from a policy of insurance, you may be asked to refund our outlay.

7. Your responsibilities

Clients are responsible for ensuring that all immigration and health requirements are fulfilled, for obtaining travel documents, including passports, visas and vaccination certificates, and for ensuring that these are all in order. If the name on your airline ticket does not match that on your passport, you must inform us as soon as you receive the ticket.

We require your passport number and the issuing country to issue some of the tickets in Peru. If your passport details change after you have given these to us, you must inform us.

It is your responsibility to behave in a responsible, restrained and sober manner when dealing with local authorities, fellow travellers and our local representatives.

By taking a Llama Travel holiday, you agree to accept the authority and decisions of our employees and representatives. If, in the opinion of such people, your behaviour or health before the departure of a tour is likely to threaten the safety, comfort or progress of that tour, then you may be excluded from the tour without refund or compensation. It is your responsibility to obey local laws, otherwise you may be excluded from the holiday and we will cease to have any responsibility for you.

If you have a complaint about your holiday whilst abroad, please bring this to the attention of our local representatives, who will do all they can to ensure the swift and satisfactory resolution of any problem. Please bear in mind that travel in Latin America is not the same as travel in the UK, and minor inconveniences and delays may arise due to weather conditions, strikes, demonstrations or the poor state of roads or for other reasons. By travelling with Llama Travel, you are implicitly accepting this part of the Latin American way of life.

8. Flights

Please bear in mind that we have no direct control over international or national air carriers, and therefore schedules may change due to no fault of our own. We will do all we can to ensure the smooth flow of all your transport connections, but it is your responsibility to check exact times of flights and reconfirm these. This is particularly important for internal flights within Latin America, which sometimes are rearranged at short notice. Llama Travel accepts no responsibility for the consequences of flights missed due to the client’s failure to reconfirm.

Flying to Latin America involves long flights and may require changes in other airports. It is the client’s responsibility to arrive at the departure airport at the appropriate time and to check in for your international flight, and to change aeroplanes if necessary at intermediate airports. If you wish to sit in a specific seat or section of the plane, or wish to sit with other people on the flight, it is strongly recommended that you check in early or check in online. It is often possible to reserve seats directly with the airline by telephone prior to travel.

9. Baggage allowance

Most scheduled airlines have a baggage allowance of 20kg per passenger. Please bear this in mind when packing, as carrying excess baggage will normally incur an expensive additional cost payable at check in. Additionally, certain excursions have a limited baggage allowance. Where this is the case, you will usually have an opportunity to leave the rest of you luggage in storage. Llama Travel accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage of luggage.

10. Insurance

It is a requirement that all Llama Travel travellers have adequate insurance provision to cover the cost of assistance, including emergency repatriation, in the event of illness or other problems occurring during your holiday.

11. Complaints

If you have any complaints about your holiday arrangements when you are abroad, these can usually be sorted out by talking to the supplier (e.g. hotel) and our local representatives or by informing us directly. If this is not done, Llama Travel accepts no responsibility for the situation, as we will not have been given the opportunity to rectify the problem. If you do not inform us, your consumer rights to compensation may be affected. If you have tried and failed to rectify the situation whilst abroad, please send us your complaint in writing within 28 days of returning to the UK. We will then follow up your complaint. Communication with Latin America is often slow, so we may not be able to resolve the situation as quickly as you would like.

12. Financial security

The holidays in this brochure are ATOL protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 5804. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.

13. Brochure and website information

The information in our brochures and on our website is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of going to press. However, details of flights or hotels may vary during the lifetime of a brochure. These changes will be reflected on our website, www.llamatravel.com, where possible.

The copyright on all material in our brochures and on our website, including text, photographs, maps and layouts is held by Llama Travel Limited. No part of these publications may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any way without the prior written permission of Llama Travel. Some photographs are courtesy of PromPeru.

14. Data Protection

The information we ask you to provide, including personal information about you and members of your party, is necessary for us to arrange and operate your holiday. By booking a holiday with us, you agree to our processing this information, including, where appropriate, its transfer outside of the EU.