Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and ship accommodations, entertainment, special dinners, land and cruise transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling, and the services of Tauck Director and local guides are included. Tauck will provide transfers for all arriving guests regardless of the flight, provided we have updated flight arrival information at least two weeks before the tour departure date; all departure transfers are included.

Hotel and Ship Accommodations – Tauck’s price includes all hotel and ship accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, Tauck's commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Complimentary wine is served with dinner on board Isabela II.

Tauck Director – Each “Peru & the Galápagos Islands” tour is conducted by one Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for Tauck Director, bellmen, doormen, housekeepers, dining room servers, drivers, ship staff, local guides and drivers are included.

No Options Sold - Tauck Directors sometimes assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

 

Airfare While on Tour – Five on-tour flights must be purchased through Tauck as part of your tour package.

 

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, many quests prefer to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following their tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle guests’ luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to Tauck Travel Protection for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, departure taxes, visa fees and arrival transfers (if applicable) and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

 

You may also visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items by clicking here.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – Travelers must provide their passport number and date of birth to Tauck at time of booking. Tauck must provide this information to the cruise line before departure or you may be denied boarding.

Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to passengers. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of printing.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at time of booking and are subject to change due to airline schedule changes. All booking agents and guests will be advised of such changes. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

 

Air Conditioning – Due to the altitude of the sites visited, you may actually need heaters to stay comfortable at night. The following list details what temperature controls are provided at each of the hotels used on this journey as well as what is provided on board Isabela II. Please note that in South America air conditioning means air cooling, with temperatures not as cool as found in a typical home in the U.S. during summer.

 

Clothing and Packing – Your adventure in Peru and the Galápagos Islands is informal and casual. Essentials include bathing suit(s), tee-shirts, shorts, long and short-sleeved lightweight shirts, long pants and a windbreaker, sweater or light jacket for evenings at sea and higher elevations in the Andes.

On day 2, guests are invited for welcome cocktails and dinner at Casa Aliaga, a 66-room home built in 1535 that has remained in the same family for generations. For this special occasion, we recommend casually elegant evening attire.

All of the hotels on his tour provide valet laundry services with the exception of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Hotel. There are also no laundry facilities on board Isabela II; however, a clothes dryer is located on the sun deck to dry wet clothing.

Most importantly, bring comfortable walking shoes with adequate ankle support. You will also need reef shoes or aqua shoes for beach landings and walks over rocky, uneven terrain. Your feet will get wet when you transfer from ship to shore on many landings.

Snorkel gear is available aboard the ship; however, if you have prescription lenses you should bring them. Wetsuits are now available on board. In September and October, a wet suit is recommended for snorkeling excursions as the water tends to be very cold. You may also wish to bring an underwater camera. Scuba diving is NOT available.

We recommend that you pack your prescription medicines (an adequate supply to last through your journey) together with your doctor’s prescription, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed. If you have allergies to certain foods or insects that may require an injection, please bring a kit with you that is packaged for use at higher elevations.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for travel to the Galápagos Islands:

Elevation – This adventurous itinerary takes our guests from coastal city of Lima to the majestic heights of Machu Picchu to the tropical Galápagos Islands. Guests will experience great changes in land elevations throughout the tour. The principal sites visited - in the order visited - and their associated elevations are:

Health - To fully enjoy this tour’s itinerary, participants must be in good health. This is a rigorous tour and you need to be in good physical condition with good balance as the terrain varies from sandy beaches to uneven lava and rocks. Proper walking shoes with ankle support are essential. You may want to bring a walking stick – there are a few available on board Isabela II for the Galápagos section of your journey. Walks range from 1 to 2 mi (.3 to .6 km) in length and last from 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

You will spend several days touring at high altitudes in Peru (especially Cusco at 11,200 ft (3,414 m). At these altitudes some visitors may suffer varying degrees of altitude sickness, including nausea. We have found that some guests may be more affected by the altitude than others. Medications are available to prevent altitude sickness, and we urge you to speak with your physician prior to your departure from home to discuss prophylaxis for safe travel.

All ship-to-shore transfers use Zodiacs (capacity 9 to 12 persons) or Pangas (capacity 2 to 3 persons). These are safe transports but occasionally you will get wet with spray. Some wet landings require guests to wade through knee-high deep coastal water.

There are three decks on Isabela II; however, there is no elevator.

Tauck is not able to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. We also regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to guests for walking, dining or other personal needs. Persons needing such assistance must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist them.

Isabela II does not have mechanical stabilizers because the water around the Galápagos Islands is very calm. However, the ship has a rounded hull that helps minimize rocking. We travel between the various islands so the areas in which we cruise are sheltered. If you are prone to seasickness, bring a non–drowsy, over-the-counter, anti-nausea medication. Anti-nausea wristbands are also a good idea. The anti-nausea patch is NOT recommended for use in the islands as it tends to impair vision in direct sunlight.

Bottled water is available throughout the trip, both in Peru and Ecuador, on board Isabela II and during onshore excursions.

Guests bringing a quantity of medication with them are advised to carry a doctor’s certificate to avoid possible problems with customs officials.

Smoking is not permitted in any interior space on board Isabela II. Smoke and open fire will activate the smoke detectors. Smoking is allowed on outside decks only, and there are ashtrays placed in specific exterior deck areas. Please do not throw your cigarettes overboard, as it is a violation of international maritime pollution laws and they can easily be blown back onto the ship. Please refrain from smoking on shore and in shore excursion vehicles and ship tenders. Smoking is also not permitted on the motor coaches.

The only islands with bathroom facilities are Baltra and Santa Cruz, where there are visitor centers. We will be returning back to the ship for lunch and dinner, and Zodiacs or Pangas will travel back and forth to the ship during shore excursions.

The infirmary on Isabela II is staffed by a licensed Ecuadorian doctor. If you avail yourself of his services, a charge will be posted to your personal shipboard account. Isabela II is registered in Ecuador. Please check with your insurer to determine if coverage applies while you are traveling, and purchase appropriate travel insurance if necessary.

If you are traveling as the guardian of a child or children, we strongly suggest you bring along a letter from both parents of the child authorizing any emergency treatment, as medical facilities may require permission from the child’s parent or parents

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

No vaccinations are currently required for entry into Ecuador or Peru. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also logon on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov.

Luggage Restrictions:

Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour:
Due to space limitations aboard the motor coaches and local aircraft, we urge that only one piece of checked luggage be brought on this trip. Additionally, space constraints and weight limitations aboard the train to Machu Picchu and local aircraft to the Galápagos Islands require guests to carry limited personal belongings. Each passenger is restricted to no more than 44 lbs (20 kg) of luggage. Therefore, Tauck will provide you with a duffel bag (roughly 1 ft by 1 ft by 2 ft in overall dimensions, or 30.5 cm by 30.5 cm by 60 cm) to carry your clothing and personal items for your one-night stay in Machu Picchu and your four-night stay on Isabela II. Meanwhile, checked luggage will be stored, respectively, at the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco during the Machu Picchu excursion and the Hilton Colon in Guayaquil during the cruise. Small carry-on bags are permitted, but Ecuador Airlines will check large wheeled carry-on’s with the larger luggage.

If you reside in the United States the duffel bag will be sent to your home and should arrive approximately two weeks prior to your departure for Peru. Guests residing outside of the U.S will receive their duffels upon arrival in Lima because customs regulations prohibit the easy delivery of their duffels in advance.

Each guest is also restricted to one carry-on bag weighing no more than 22 lbs (10 kg).

Checked Luggage – General
While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. Many airlines are now charging fees for additional and overweight luggage. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to verify current number, size and weight limits. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage - General:
Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many intra-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – A valid passport or similar acceptable travel document is required of all people wishing to enter Peru and Ecuador.

U.S citizens do not need a visa for this tour provided they do not stay in Peru or Ecuador longer than 90 days.

Citizens of other countries should contact an embassy or consulate of Peru and of Ecuador to determine what travel documentation is required.

 

We strongly recommend that guests’ passports be valid for six months beyond the completion of their tour. In addition, we recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children –

Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

 

Authorization for Travel

If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.), any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., will be useful.

All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

The cruise line requires that children less than 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult over 21 years of age. They are also unable to accommodate children less than two years of age.

 

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that guests refrain from cell phone usage during motor coach travel, group functions, sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine if your service extends to Peru and Ecuador.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The official currency in Ecuador is the U.S. dollar (USD); the currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol (PEN). The Nuevo Sol 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. The airport will give you the official rate of exchange, the same as banks, and a small fee is usually charged for changing travelers’ checks. Many restaurants, hotels and shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment, so it is a good idea to bring U.S. dollars in small denominations for local shopping. Travelers’ checks are accepted in the larger cities, however, there is often a fee charged to cash them. ATMs are available in the cities, and major credit cards are accepted in tourist areas and at large hotels although a commission of 6 to 8% is often charged. Hotels are unable to exchange large amounts of currency.

Shipboard accounts aboard Isabela II may be paid by U.S. dollars, travelers’ checks, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. There is no foreign exchange facility on the ship.

To obtain the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – For U.S residents returning to the United States, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the alcohol and tobacco that can be a part of this exemption - one-liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs website for further details and up-to-date limits at www.cbp.gov.

Ecuador levies a 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) on consumer purchases; Peru levies a 19% VAT. Travelers to Peru and Ecuador may be entitled to refunds of the VAT and should inquire about the refund policy where they shop.

Citizens of other countries should refer to their own countries’ rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance.

Electrical Current – The Miraflores and Monasterio hotels in Ecuador have equipped their guest rooms with both 110 V and 220 V, 60 Hz, AC, electrical outlets. The Sol y Luna and Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge provide 220 V, 60 Hz, AC, electrical current, but also provide converters and adapters upon request. Isabela II and the Hilton Colon Guayaquil provide 110 V, 60 Hz, AC. Travelers who bring electric devices that are not compatible with these systems should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

Internet Access is available as indicated below:

Miraflores Park Hotel:  Complimentary wireless access
Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa: Complimentary wireless access
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge: An internet terminal is available for guest use for a fee of $5 USD per hour. Wireless access is also available in public areas, not in guest rooms, for a fee of $5 USD per hour.
Hotel Monasterio del Cusco: Complimentary wireless access
Hilton Colón Guayaquil:  Wireless access for a fee
Isabela II:  Complimentary internet service via two computers on board the ship. Wireless access is also available; however, it is slow and not very consistent.

Internet access fees are subject to change without notice.

Time Zones – Lima and Cusco, Peru, and Guayaquil, Ecuador, are 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time); the Galápagos Islands are 6 hours behind. In June, Lima, Cusco and Guayaquil are 1 hour behind New York City; the Galápagos Islands are 2 hours behind. Peru and Ecuador do not have Daylight Savings Time. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com.

Weather – The Peruvian coast is generally sunny and hardly ever receives any rain, but from April to November there is a heavy sea mist. The highlands have a wet season (October to April) and a dry season (May to September), when the days are clear and sunny but cold at night especially at higher altitudes.

The Galápagos Islands lie almost on the equator about 650 miles (1,046 kilometers) west of the coast of Ecuador. The islands have an unusual climate in view of their proximity to the equator; rainfall is low and temperatures are lower than would be expected. There are no extremes of heat or cold, and temperatures range from 75° to 86°F (24° to 30°C) year round. The weather is hot and sunny in the islands and sea temperatures average 67° to 72°F (19° to 22°C). For guests planning on swimming, most swimming takes place at midday hours. Although there is more rain on the larger islands which are hilly (such as Seymour Island), rainfall is low at sea level and comes during the months of January to April. Light drizzle and even fog, however, are not uncommon at other times of the year.

 

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.com.

 

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, Tauck will charge guests who cancel confirmed bookings a cancellation fee according to when the cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit guests’ liability, Tauck offers its guests Tauck Travel Protection.

Guests choosing to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will have cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.

Guests choosing not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

 

60 days or more before departure
$1,100 per person (the cost of the deposit)

59-30 days before departure
50% of the cost of the tour per person

29-1 days before departure
100% of the cost of the tour per person