Things you need to know

Payment schedule (Per Person)

$600 – Due at Sign-Up (Last Day to Sign-Up is December 1, 2008)

$500 – Due January 1, 2009**

$550 – Due February 1, 2009

Balance – Due March 1, 2009

** Current Shooters membership, copy of your US passport, and copy of your yellow fever vaccination certificate are required by the 2^nd payment due date (January 1, 2009).

Deposits are accepted by check or SCEFCU on-line transfer.  Credit card payments cannot be accepted for this trip.

SCEFCU on-line transfers are now available but you must be a member.  You may transfer funds through the SCE Federal Credit Union Website: www.scefcu.org.  Applications are available on-line for new members.
Important info for on-line transfers: Account #: 31160, Type 27, checks, 1st 3 letters = SCE.
Click here for detailed instructions

Penalties/Refunds    Cancellations made on or after January 1, 2009 will incur a $200 cancellation fee.  NO REFUNDS after February 1, 2009.  No refund will be possible for any unused part of the tour or entrance fee bought in advanced.  Your entrance fee can not be transferred to another traveller. This is prohibited by law.

Price changes    Taxes & fuel charges are included in the price of this trip.  No trip deviations are allowed.  Prices may vary slightly for international airfare, until flights are confirmed.

Membership    You need to be a Shooters member to sign up.  Membership details and form are on the membership page. 

Single Supplement    Prices quoted are for double occupancy.  There are no single supplements available for this trip. 

Cancellation    Cancellations made on or after January 1, 2009 incur a $200 cancellation fee. No refunds after February 1, 2009.  Upon cancellation, membership dues will be refunded, if requested.

Travel Insurance    Travelers are responsible for obtaining their own travel insurance.  Insurance may be offered from the travel agency, details will be provided when they become available.

Flights    All air travel will be confirmed on December 1, 2008.  The tentative travel schedule is as follows:

Frequent Flyer Miles    You can earn miles but tickets cannot be upgraded with existing miles.

Baggage Policy    It is each traveler’s responsibility to verify baggage requirements prior to departure.  You are allowed two checked bags, not to exceed 50 pounds each.  You are allowed one carry-on, no heavier than 17.6# and limited to 21.6" x 15.7" x 7.9".

Electricity    Electricity in Peru is 220 Volts. Adapters and converters are needed for electrical devices.  Some hotels may have a 110 Volt outlet for razors.  Hair dryers have extremely high wattage; do not use a razor outlet for a hair dryer unless you have checked with the hotel first.  Many hotels have a 220 volt hair dryer as a courtesy.

Entry Requirements   American citizens need a valid passport to enter Peru; the passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of entry.

Health    You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. It is recommended that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that you will be in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons group leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc.

Please note this trip requires travels to high altitudes. This is medically defined as anything over 8,000 feet (2,440 meters). Most people can travel to 8,000 feet with minimal effects. However, everyone reacts to altitude differently and altitude sickness can on set with some people irrespective of fitness and age. For details on how to best prepare and what to do in the unlikely event you are effected on your trip, please consult your physician.

Proof of Yellow Fever inoculation will be required before you depart for the Amazon. You should be aware that there is a 10 to 15 day period before the inoculation becomes fully effective.  A copy of your vaccination certificate will be required before you are allowed to enter the Amazon.  The CDC recommends that all travelers review the following vaccines with their physicians no later than ten weeks before departure (most are childhood vaccinations that should be kept up to date as a matter of course):

Currency    The monetary unit is the nuevo sol, and the exchange rate floats in relation to the U.S. dollar.  Cash and traveler's checks may be exchanged at any bank, the airport, at most hotels or at exchange houses or casas de cambio.  You should exchange your money in Lima upon arrival.  The airport will give you the official rate of exchange, the same as banks, and a small fee is usually charged for changing traveler's checks.

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work. Check with your bank and be aware banks charge an additional fee of 5%-10% to purchases.  Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US dollar cash, travellers cheques and credit cards is best, although you will usually be charged a commission or given a less-favorable exchange rate for travellers cheques. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds. It is best to bring notes in fairly good condition, in denominations lower than 100USD (or equivalent).

It is recommended that you have access to at least an additional 200 USD (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to the planned route/itinerary. This is a rare occurrence!

Things to Bring    Most camping equipment is provided for by the Inca Trail excursion trip operator.  The weight limit, established by the National Institute of Culture in Peru, allows no more than 6KG (~13 pounds) of personal belongings per hiker. That means that including your sleeping bag, toiletries, clothing, etc... you are allowed a total weight of 13 pounds for the hike.

Climate    Although Peru lies wholly in the tropics, it can get cold.  The summer months are October through April.  The winter months are May through September.  Peru has three main climatic zones.  The coast is mainly desert.  It hardly ever rains on the coast, as the Andes mountains block the moisture from the Amazon.  The summer months are beautiful, with clear skies and warm temperatures.  The winter months are colder and misty.  The temperature is moderate, averaging between fifty and sixty degrees Fahrenheit, but the humidity can make it uncomfortable.  Although the coast is a desert, there is significant humidity in the air, and during the winter months, an ocean fog known as garúa covers the sky.  The Andean altiplano has the same cycle of temperatures as the coast, but the moisture cycle is reversed.  The rainy season coincides with summer.  Typically, it rains once or twice a day for an hour.

The other months are characterized by clear skies.  Days are almost invariably warm, and nights can be cold.  Winter nights are usually below freezing.  The jungle is the last climatic zone.  It is always hot and humid in the jungle regions.  Precipitation follows the same pattern as the highlands.

Miscellaneous and Customs    Peru’s main language is language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages. 

It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service.  Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your trip and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your trip.  Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.