Foreign Office Travel Warnings

Before booking your tour, please familiarise yourself with the country specific information provided by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. This includes important information such as latest immigration requirements, and details of any travel advisories. 

We constantly monitor the advice posted by the FCDO. In particular we will always advise clients of any travel warnings. At the time of writing the there are no warnings for travel to any of the countries visited on this tour.

It should be noted that this information applies to British citizens. Other nationals are asked to check the current position of their respective government.

Visa Information

UK, and Australian passport holders do not need a visa for travel to Argentina Bolivia or Peru. US passport holders do not require a visa for travel to Argentina or Peru; a visa will be required for entry to Bolivia.

As it is the travellers’ responsibility to ensure that they meet all entry requirements it is essential that you check the rules and any other conditions at the time of booking and again when making your balance payment. In addition, we would strongly advise that you make a final check around two weeks before your arrival. This is important as requirements can change at short notice. Undiscovered Destinations, when possible, will provide guidance about entry rules, but in the first instance please contact the relevant authorities, including the applicable embassy or consulate for assistance. Contact details can be found by visiting the following websites

British Nationals – www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

US Nationals – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Australian Nationals – www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Other nationals should check the latest requirements with the authorities in their home country, or with the destination’s nearest embassy or consulate.

Passports

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, valid for at least six months after the date of return to your country.

We strongly advise that your passport contains a minimum of two blank pages, as this may be a requirement of the local immigration authorities. In addition, certain countries will stipulate that the two blank pages are opposite each other. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you may be refused boarding by your airline or denied entry by the immigration authorities.

For specific information about the requirements for your destination please check with the country’s embassy or consulate. Alternatively, UK citizens can visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Vaccinations & Protection

As with travel to most parts of South America, we strongly recommend that you contact your doctor’s surgery or a specialist travel clinic for up-to-date information, advice, and the necessary vaccinations. For a visit of less than one month, you maybe advised to have immunisations against the following: Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Meningitis.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in your home country can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you will need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Undiscovered Destinations that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses (including cover for Covid-19 conditions) and emergency repatriation to your home country and be valid for the entire duration of your holiday. 

Tour itinerary notes

The itinerary has been carefully planned based on the latest train schedules, but timings can change at short notice, or the days of the week that a particular train normally operates can also change. This will potentially require amending our itinerary and the number of nights that we stay in each city. Before you are asked to accept any changes our experienced travel consultants will of course discuss the options with you. These may well be limited, so it is important that you can be flexible.

Is this trip for you?

This journey will be best suited to experienced travellers and to those who are comfortable in carrying their own luggage unassisted. This is important as trains in South America do not provide an airline style checked-in baggage service. Each passenger is responsible for their own luggage, which they will keep with them on each leg of the trip. On occasions this will mean storing luggage in the racks provided above the seats. Although the group, a maximum of 12 travellers, will be escorted throughout by a tour leader from Undiscovered Destinations, their role is primarily one of managing the logistics and consulting with the locally based guides who will be responsible for providing guided tours and excursions along the way.

In addition to the need to carry your own luggage on and off the trains, it should be noted that in some locations it will be necessary to walk from the railway station to our hotel. Where possible the hotels will be located just a short stroll from the station, but in some cities, it might be a longer walk of about 15 minutes or so. Please see the itinerary below for further details and do get in touch before booking if you have any concerns.

High Altitudes

Parts of this tour take place at a high altitude, reaching elevations of more than 4,000 metres. We allow time for acclimatisation, which is one of the benefits of slow travel, and usually the body acclimatises well to spending extended periods of time above this altitude. However, it is difficult to predict who is at risk from altitude sickness. Effects of altitude on the human body begin to appear at 1,500 meters above sea level and can lead to AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) also known as altitude sickness. In more serious cases AMS can progress to High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). Both HAPE and HACE are potentially fatal. It is particularly important therefore that all travellers are aware of, and able to recognise, signs and symptoms of altitude on their body.

Common mild symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea, stomach illness, dizziness, sleep disturbance and shortness of breath. More serious symptoms include fever, dry cough, vomiting, bluish color on lips and fingers, difficulty breathing even when resting, lack of balance, loss of consciousness.

For those travelling with pre-existing medical conditions, we advise customers seek advice of their doctor regarding travelling in high altitude, especially travellers with heart or lung conditions, anaemia, asthma, high blood pressure or on the pill. It is also essential to ensure that your travel insurance policy covers all parts of this tour, including those areas we visit at high altitude as restrictions may apply.