Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, simple as that, no matter what time your flight arrives. It’s no fun arriving in a foreign country and having to make your way to your hotel on your own or being hassled by taxi drivers and all the other touts that are a fixture just outside the airport doors. On a Southern Crossings tour, we’ll have one of our representatives there instead, with a big, bright placard with your name on it and secure and reliable transport to your hotel.

If you check carefully, you’ll find we include more in your tour than most other companies, whether it’s something small like the Cuzco Visitor’s Ticket or something big like domestic flights. The price of the tour always includes transfer from (and back to) the airport, bilingual Southern Crossings guides throughout your trip, all internal transport including domestic flights, all accommodation, and excursions (including entrances) listed in the What’s included section of each trip’s Trip itinerary and details section. We are particularly pleased to always include domestic flights and transfers in the basic price – just one of the things that sets us apart from most other tour companies!

In general, we try to avoid large group travel. We specialize in private, personalized, leave-any-day tours for individuals, friends and families, so much of the tour is likely to consist of just the people you booked with. However, you may be part of a larger group on excursions such as the Inca Trail, jungle lodges or the Lake Titicaca Islands. Private options are available for these sections as well at an additional cost. If you are not going to the jungle, Lake Titicaca, or on the Inca Trail the tour is always private.

Our normal tours on our webpages include 3 star accommodations, all are clean and comfortable locally-run hotels located close to the main center of each town you will be staying in. Most of our passengers say the accommodations were nicer and cozier than they expected. Accommodation is twin share with 24-hour hot water and private bathrooms. Please visit our Accommodations page where you will find a list of our favorite hotels and more info on upgrading to 4 and 5 star hotels.

Don’t worry, you’ll be fine if you can’t speak Spanish. While it might be helpful to know and understand a few basic words (like hola, bathroom or beer…), you will be with qualified bilingual guides throughout your trip, and most restaurants and hotels manage at least basic English. If you do speak Spanish and wish to practice or you are a native speaker you will have many opportunities to interact with locals if you wish.

Depending on what time of the year your trip is and which tour you choose, the climate varies. The rainy season is generally from November to April, but rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows:

Cuzco and Quito: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are chilly.

Machu Picchu: similar to Cuzco, but warmer and with more chance of rain.

Lake Titicaca: similar to Cuzco but much colder at night and when there’s no sun.

Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Beautiful in the summer (Dec-Abril) Often overcast the rest of the year. With a wetsuit you can surf all year.

Amazon basin: hot and humid year-round. We recommend light clothing (in weight and in color) that fully cover arms and legs to avoid mosquito bites.

Guayaquil and Galapagos: hot and humid, rain always possible. Galapagos can have a cooler, more moderate climate depending on current conditions.

Ica and Nazca: similar to Lima but hotter and sunnier.

Inca Trail: all ranges of weather from hot to possible snow and rain at higher elevations. Most people trek in shorts or light pants (synthetic, fast-drying fibers are preferable to cotton) and a t-shirt, and carry a layer or two (thin fleece and micro-fibers are, again, preferable to cotton), plus a poncho or other rain gear. Sometimes there are small biting insects on sections of the trail, so even in warm weather some people opt to cover more skin with a long sleeve t-shirt and long pants.

Apurimac River/Rafting: warm to hot days, chilly nights with possibility of rain. Rafting gear/wet suits included in package.

Jungle: hot and humid with frequent rain.

Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and on the Bolivian altiplano, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows:

La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Tiwanaku, Potosi and Salar de Uyuni: days are warm if sunny, chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in La Paz and can be extremely cold in Uyuni and Potosi.

Amazon basin: hot and humid year-round. We recommend light clothing (in weight and in color) that fully cover arms and legs to avoid mosquito bites.

Sucre: warm days, cool evenings.

We recommend that you only drink bottled or boiled water. There is safe bottled water available for sale in all towns, cities, hotels and sites you will be visiting, normally costing around $1.25 per large bottle. On trekking and other adventure sport excursions, water is provided and boiled or purified.

Anything you desire! Some tour companies include meals and add it on to the tour price, but we find this to be a little too restrictive. While we can (and do) suggest some great restaurants, and sometimes dine with our passengers, we recognize that different people have different tastes and different budgets. So we allow you the opportunity to explore this aspect of traveling on your own. Latin America offers a huge variety of mouth-watering, and sometimes bizarre, cuisines to sample. To be sure, burgers and pizza are available just about everywhere, but how about fresh seafood ceviche from the Peruvian coast, or your sister’s childhood pet, guinea pig, a specialty in the high Andes? There are also vegetarian options everywhere and even vegetarian restaurants in most cities. We are happy to make dinner or lunch reservations, just let us know.
Sections of your tour may include meals. Please see What’s Included on your trip itinerary. All meals are included on the Inca Trail, homestays, and Galapagos cruises. Breakfast is always included at your hotel.

A passport valid for six months beyond the date of the end of your trip is required for all visitors to Peru. Please check with us whether your nationality requires a visa for the country (countries) you will be visiting.  People from the US, UK and the EU don’t require a Visa for Peru. People from the US will require a visa in order to enter Bolivia, which costs US$135.00 and can be obtained at point of entry. Please visit the U.S. state department website for what you will need to present to obtain your visa. A visa can also be obtained in advance through any Bolivian consulate.

Altitude affects everyone differently, and age and physical fitness don’t have much to do with it. Common symptoms are lightheadedness, shortness of breath, headache and nausea. After a day or two of acclimatization most people feel back to normal. The best way to keep from feeling the altitude is to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and eat lightly when you first arrive in Cuzco. If you feel strongly affected by the change of altitude, there is medication (acetazolamide) that can be purchased inexpensively in pharmacies in Lima, Cuzco and La Paz, though most don’t find these necessary. (Note that acetazolamide is a sulpha drug.) Also, oxygen is available at our hotels if you are seriously affected, and in serious cases we are able to evacuate the person to a lower altitude. Most passengers only experience minor symptoms or none at all.

In Peru, you’ll be flying into Lima, which is at sea level, then normally moving on to Cuzco which is at an altitude of 11,150ft./3400m above sea level. Nazca and the Amazon basin are both near sea level. Dead Woman’s Pass on the Inca Trail reaches an altitude of 13,860ft./4200m, and Lake Titicaca at just under 13,200ft./4000m. Machu Picchu is a bit lower, at 7900ft./2400m.

In Bolivia, La Paz, Tiwanaku, Lake Tititcaca, Potosi and Uyuni are all over 11,000 ft., while Sucre is at about 8,000 ft. and the rainforest is near sea level.

In Ecuador, Quito is at 9200ft/2800m. The rainforest and the Galapagos Islands are near sea level.

Yes. We require a $500 per person local payment due in cash upon your arrival in Cuzco ($1000 for luxury trips). This payment is used for local guides and services, and helps us keep our trip costs down. It is part of your total trip cost not a fee on top of your tour cost.

Our trekking and camping experiences are extremely well-supported, with cooks that prepare delicious meals and porters or mule teams that carry most of the load and prepare our campsites. Additionally, we always carry a dining and toilet tent for the comfort of the group when facilities aren’t available on the trail.

Not at all. Our cultural tours include moderate walking, but are not exhausting, and all of our trekking, biking and rafting trips are designed for the average healthy person, with or without experience in the specific sport. On the Inca Trail and other trek we offer there is never any pressure to keep up with the group or to slow down and wait for anyone. Our guides will let the faster hikers know where to stop to camp and stay with the slower members. Sometimes the slower people in the group are checking more sites out and taking more photos. When you arrive to camp normally the tents are pitched and our cooks are already preparing lunch or dinner. The idea is to have fun hiking and let us take care of the rest!

A yellow fever vaccination and certificate are required to travel to the Amazon basin and must be received at least 10 days before the date of entry. Travelers should make sure standard vaccinations such as tetanus are up to date, and may also want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis and a malaria prophylaxis if traveling to the rainforest. Please consult your physician or local health department regarding these matters.

U.S. citizens are also required to have a yellow fever vaccination to enter any part of Bolivia, as part of the visa requirement.

Yes, you do need to have medical insurance for your Southern Crossings tour. Just a basic travel medical insurance which includes emergency evacuation is required. It’s never a bad idea to have cancelation insurance as well although we don’t require you have it. Any medical insurance is acceptable, we recommend you contact Travel Guard. Click on the link below to get a quote.

Foreign currency is generally not accepted and one must change cash or traveler’s checks into local currency, or withdraw local currency from ATM machines. Exchange houses are plentiful in all towns and cities we will be visiting, and the U.S. dollar is the easiest currency to change. It is highly recommended that you use U.S. dollars for cash exchange, but euros and pounds are also exchangeable in most places. PLEASE NOTE: ripped bills are not accepted for exchange. Please inspect your bills prior to departing for Peru. Ecuador/Galapagos accept US currency. Our guides and representatives can help you exchange money if you’d like.

ATM’s with MasterCard, Visa, Cirrus, and Star logos are in all major cities and dispense local currency at a good exchange rate. If you bring traveler’s checks, please bring American Express or Visa! There is usually a 2% fee to cash them.

International airlines limit baggage to approximately 48 pounds (23 kilos) per passenger. Southern Crossings doesn’t have specific regulations on how much luggage you can bring with you. However, due to space limitations and the fact that there will be some traveling from town to town, we advise you not to pack too much. In general, one suitcase and one day pack should be sufficient. In our experience, light packers are happy travelers! If you are returning to the same hotel later on in your trip you can always safely store anything you have purchased or don’t need at that moment in hotel storage.

Here is a basic list of what we recommend you bring with you. As always, if you have any questions about something specific, feel free to email us.

• Passport and, if necessary, visa
• Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
• International Airline ticket
• Photocopies of airline ticket and documents (passport, credit cards, etc.)
• Wearable pouch for documents and money
• Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
• Smaller, comfortable day pack
• Trekking/walking boots or sneakers, comfortable and worn-in
• Sandals or flip-flops
• Rain poncho or jacket
• Waterproof pants
• Sun hat
• Hat for cold weather
• Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
• Scarf and gloves
• T-shirts
• Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best), undergarments
• Towel and swimsuit for hot springs
• Camel-back or Nalgene bottle (optional)
• Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)
• Lip balm
• Earplugs (optional)
• Alarm clock or watch
• Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
• Camera and film/digital memory cards
• Camera batteries
• Playing cards, games, reading material
• Prescription medications
• Toiletries

Note that common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and such toiletries as toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine hygiene items are available in South and Central America. It is best to bring from home such items as prescription meds, eyewear and care, extra large clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera batteries. Also note that most digital camera memory cards can be downloaded and burned onto a CD in internet cafes in any large city. Most of the hotels you will be staying at in larger towns will have wi-fi or internet access stations.

Yes! You don’t have to bring everything with you, unless you’re not coming back to the same hotel. All hotels where you will be staying will have a deposit for luggage that you’d like to leave. Additionally, there is luggage storage in the Lima airport. If you are going into the Miraflores district for a few hours prior to your international flight on your departure day you will be asked to leave your luggage at the airport storage lockers located directly outside the domestic terminal to your right. The cost is approximatley $4.50.
When traveling to a jungle lodge you will be asked to leave the majority of your luggage in the main office and only bring what you need to the lodge. A porter will carry 22lbs or 10 kilos for you to the lodge. You may also carry a day pack.

Our hotels provide laundry service, or if you want to save a little money, there are easily accessibly laundry shops nearby our hotels which charge on average $2/kilo ($1 a pound) for 24-hour service. Note there is usually no laundry service in the Amazon lodges.

No, fancy clothes are by no means necessary. There are some swanky spots in Lima, Quito, Cuzco and La Paz where you could get dressed up, but they’d let you in if you weren’t, and in most places the “dress code” is casual. Even upscale restaurants have a fairly casual dress code, especially for foreign tourists.

Peru runs on 220V, so you’ll need an adapter if your country is 110. Bolivia runs on 220 or 110, depending on the location. Note that many appliances and devices such as laptops are adaptable up to 240V – check the specs on the device.

Nope. If you really prefer your bag or your Thermarest, bring them, but otherwise go ahead and save space when packing – we include quality sleeping bags and foam mats on our treks.

Trekking poles are NOT included, but can be rented for a fee of approximately US $20 for the entire trek. Many people find them to be helpful on the steeper sections of trail. They are not allowed to be used while in archaeological sites.

Of course you can! We work with you to create a customized itinerary that suits all your interests so you get the most out of your trip.

We have a whole slew of suggestions! From places to visit, foods to try or hidden gems of the city, we will work with you to plan any free time you want to fill. During your initial trip briefing we will suggest a number of things to do and will provide a welcome pack with additional information and maps.Please let us know if you have any special interests or hobbies.

Tipping is totally at your discretion and is not requirement in South America or on Southern Crossings Tours. It is a great way to show your appreciation to the people serving you and will be warmly accepted and possibly could make someone’s day. We only suggest tipping if the service is satisfactory to above average. Below are some suggestions if you are happy with the service:

    For your guides, if you wish to tip them we suggest $5-10 per person per day, again only if the
service is satisfactory or above average. 99% of the time it will be above average. All of our guides have a 4 year degree in tourism and history and are fluent in English.

On treks or other all day sport activities such as the Inca Tail if you want to tip we recommend
US$10-$15 per person per day, to be divided amongst the staff. If every group member on the
trek follows this guideline, the porters/horsemen, cooks and guides should all be happy.
Normally the head guide will pass around an envelope for passengers to put a tip in and will split
the tip with amongst the staff. If you feel a staff member has gone above and beyond to help you
out you may give that person an additional tip directly to that person.

    If you wish to tip your private driver $5 is acceptable.  It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.

A 10% tip at restaurants, 1 sol ($0.35) per drink at a bar.

    Hotel porters and bell boys $1 (or equivalent) per bag. A little more if at a 4 or 5 star hotel. If
you permit anyone at the airport who is not a Southern Crossings employee to help you with
your bags they will expect a small tip.

    Again tipping is totally at your discretion and you will never be put on the spot or in an
situation uncomfortable to tip.

    If you are scheduled to have the same guide for more than one day you can tip them once at the
end instead of several times.

We would suggest $50.00 a day, depending on your dining preferences and the purchases you plan on making. If you’re just buying food and non-alcoholic drinks, $20-30 will be fine, but add on more for alcohol or shopping.

To call home, our hotels can connect you, or if you want a better rate, phone cards can be purchased in most small stores and pharmacies in all cities. There are different denominations offered and these can be used to make international phone calls from public pay phones or your hotel room. There are also many phone centers, or places with individual, private cabins that charge a variety of rates to call internationally.

Internet is everywhere, and on just about every street corner you can find an Internet Cafe with a good, fairly fast connection for about a dollar an hour. Also, most of the hotels you will be staying at in larger towns will have wi-fi and/or internet access stations.

Like many tourist destinations, pick pocketing and other non-violent thefts do occur; but not often. Taking precautions, such as securing your belongings in an inaccessible pocket or money belt is never a bad idea. With Southern Crossings you will be traveling with drivers and guides who will be looking after you during your trip, so there’s no need to worry while you’re here.

About a week before your trip, you will receive a trip voucher with a day by day break down of all the information you need for your trip including a list of hotels where we will be staying and their telephone numbers, as well as Southern Crossings’ office and emergency mobile phone numbers.