Highlights of Argentina with Highlights of Peru Extension

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

UK passport holders are not currently required to obtain a visa prior to travel to Argentina. Your passport must have an “expiry date “ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. You can visit Argentina without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. If you are travelling via the USA You will need to obtain an ESTA. This must be applied for at least 7 days before you are due to land in the USA. An ESTA can be applied for directly on the website of the Department of Homeland Security. The fee is payable via a Credit / Debit Card online. https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

Peru Requirements

British passport holders are not currently required to obtain a visa in order to travel to Peru. To enter Peru, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you to check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure.

If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

Your Machu Picchu Ticket may be purchased as early as 120 Days prior to your departure date. Please ensure that you have provided your passport information at least 4 months prior to departure.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, or your General Practitioner.

Altitude sickness is a common condition that can occur when you ascend to a high altitude (generally higher than 2,500 metres above sea level) quickly. The decrease in atmospheric pressure can make breathing more difficult as the body is not able to take in as much oxygen. Most cases are mild with symptoms that can include: a headache, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion. Several of the places in Peru are located at high altitude (over 2,500 metres above sea level) including Puno, Lake Titicaca and Cusco. Therefore, you may find you experience some symptoms at this altitude. It is advised that at these high altitudes, you keep hydrated and avoid alcohol. If you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness during your tour, ensure you tell your guide immediately who will be able to advise the best thing for you to do. You can contact your GP before you travel for advice on medication for altitude sickness.

This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, early mornings, long days of driving, some days with lots of walking and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

The Currency in Argentina is the Argentine Peso known as ARS. US dollars are accepted in some circumstances, but Argentine Pesos are the official currency and cards are widely used. Peso’s are not always available in the UK to buy beforehand, you are able to withdraw cash or exchange for Peso’s upon arrival at the airport in Argentina.

The currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol, the symbol is S/. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you depart. US Dollars are widely accepted in Peru should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. Cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency. Major Credit and Debit Cards can be used in the larger towns and cities.

As normal practice you may be asked for your Credit / Debit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £300-£500 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour. Please bear in mind that there will be several shopping opportunities throughout your tour, including in Buenos Aires, Salta and Patagonia.

It is customary to tip both your driver and guide and is at your discretion. We would recommend approximately £5.00 ($6.00) per person per day in total. This will be collected at the end of your day and can be paid in both local currency and US dollars. Tipping at Restaurants/Hotels etc is discretionary, but on average is around 10%.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 30. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

This is an escorted tour where we use Local Expert guides in each city. You will be guided by a local specialist in each of the cities you visit.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

Throughout your extension, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking driver to ensure smooth and comfortable transfers. Additionally, a professional English-speaking guide will join you for your visit to Machu Picchu.

To visit Macchu Pichu you will travel by train. Please be advised that hand luggage only is permitted on this train. One bag or backpack per person no more than 8Kg and maximum dimensions of 157cm (Height+Length+Width).

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Triple Rooms are available, but please note that these are on a request basis and the 3rd bed is a “rollaway” bed and may reduce the overall floorspace of the room. Where an international flight arrives during early morning, we will endeavour to provide an Early Check In to your hotel, this is subject to availability. The usual hotel check in time is from 2pm onwards.

Meals will be provided as detailed in the itinerary. Breakfast is included daily and will generally be served buffet-style at your hotel. A selection of lunches and dinners are also included throughout the tour, allowing you to experience a variety of regional flavours and local cuisine.

When meals are not included, you will have free time to dine independently. Your local guide will be happy to recommend restaurants and places to eat.

Vegetarian and vegan meals can be catered for. Please contact Customer Experience for questions regarding other dietary requirements or allergy information.

We recommend drinking bottled water throughout your stay. Bottled water is widely available to purchase from shops, hotels and restaurants. As water quality and mineral content vary from country to country, drinking bottled water can help avoid stomach upsets.

On your arrival in Iguazu Falls you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Eurotur, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Eurotur representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.

On your arrival in Lima you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Pure Peru, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”.

The Mercury Holidays/Pure Peru representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

ARGENTINA: Eurotur SRL Viamonte 486 Buenos Aires - Argentina Telephone 0054 11 4312-6077 E-mail: patricia.parra@eurotur.tur.ar

Emergency contact: ARGENTINA 0054 911 6878 1562 Emergency e-mail address: 247@eurotur.tur.ar

If you need to contact Pure Peru during your stay the details are: Pure Peru Telephone Number: 0051 998754080 Email: customer-service@pure-peru.com

Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Pure Peru 24 hour telephone number: 0051 99 875 4080 Email: customer-service@pure-peru.com

• Sunglasses, Sunscreen and hat in summer
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Warm clothing and thermals for winter
• Camera and charger/ spare batteries
• An electric plug converter - the electricity supply is 220V. You will need a special three pin plug adapter in Argentina
• Loo paper for public WCs
• Binoculars
• Personal first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, - plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Swimwear