LOCAL TOUR PAYMENT

Local Payment is part of your overall tour investment and is the easiest and most economical way to get hard currency to South America to help run your trip. It goes toward a variety of day to day local costs which cannot be pre-paid from elsewhere. This is payable to your tour leader on departure and needs to be in US Dollars cash only.

Please note: US Dollar Travellers Cheques cannot be changed into US$ cash in most countries we visit, they can only be changed into local currency (banks will often tell you different, this is incorrect). In the few places where you can sometimes buy US$ cash, you will pay excessive charges.

ABOUT OVERLANDING, ABOUT YOUR CREW

There are usually two crew whose duties are extensive and quite demanding, with challenges ranging from driving and maintaining the expedition vehicle to a very high standard, to organising visas and border crossings, accommodation, pre-booking some excursions and guides, helping with shopping and cooking as well as finding the best deals, keeping up with the party animals and making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Adventure travel - is not an exact science. The very unpredictability, which makes it such a rewarding experience, means occasionally we must amend our itineraries to take into account changing local circumstances. In such situations we’ll always try to minimise any disruption, but you need to bear in mind that from time to time events occur outside our control. While our crew are experienced and knowledgeable of the countries through which we travel they are not tour guides as such. In some places we visit, experienced local guides will be available.

THE EXPEDITION VEHICLES

The vehicles are designed to create more space for you compared to other overland vehicles. After all, the truck is your home for the duration of the trip! The size and horsepower of our vehicles also enables us to carry far more spares, fuel, water, and allows far more storage space for your luggage than the cramped conditions that prevail on many other vehicles. About 90% ofthe roads between Quito and Santiago are now sealed. Although some roads are badly potholed or gravel we are capable of cruising at 80 to 90kmh on most other roads except in Bolivia. The vehicles are equipped with diff-lock, which enables us to pass through most terrains we encounter without any bother or fuss. The vehicles are fully insulated and internally heated as well for extra comfort.

Vehicle Equipment - All our vehicles are equipped for your comfort with the following:

• Comfortable coach seats with removable seat bases for easy access to your baggage throughout the day

• 12 volt cigarette sockets for recharging camera /video batteries

• Internal & external lighting system

• Onboard stereo with adaptors for MP3, MD or CD walkmans

• Inter cab buzzer for communication with the crew

• Cooler boxes for food and drinks

• Extra storage space for excess baggage and souvenirs

• Easy to reach overhead racking for day bags & cameras

• Internal heaters (for those high altitudes!)

• Lockable safe for storage of money and valuables

• On board library

• Professionally compiled expedition medical kit

• Roomy 2 person tents

• Large water & fuel carrying capacity

• Large store facilities for dried, tinned & fresh food

• Camp stools

• Extensive cooking equipment & facilities

• Extensive range of spare parts

Security - There is a lockable safe bolted onto the floor of the truck beneath a false floor. This is for your money belts, passports and smaller valuables. The company does not take responsibility for client’s personal items. In certain areas a roster will be drawn up to guard the vehicle. A money belt that can be concealed is better than a bum bag or wallet that hangs from the belt line.

LIFE ON TOUR

Accommodation - We use 2 person tents which are specially made for us to meet the tougher conditions of an trip of this nature. All our tents have a sewn in floor and mosquito netting in the doors. We spend around 60% of the nights camping and the rest of the time in simple hotels/guesthouses. Some are well equipped and managed and others very basic. You will need to bring along a sleeping bag, sleep sheet & roll-mat.

There are times when we will have some long drives, be prepared to cover large distances. Most evenings we will stop and find a bush camp and you and your tent partner will put up your tent, and then give a hand with the duty you will be rostered for, getting out the tables and stools or maybe the cook tent and water containers. Some may help collect firewood or take the stored firewood from the truck. The fire grates or gas stove need to be taken out, and lit and someone can fill the kettle and put it on for some hot drinks while the cooks prepare the evening meal.

We usually cook in groups of 2 to 4 in a rota system and you can expect to cook about once every 10 to 20 days, depending on group size. At breakfast everyone helps themselves. Usually cereal, toast and coffee (occasionally we may have a fried breakfast). When we stay in a hotel, breakfast is sometimes provided. Lunch is cold and the cooking crew will put out bread, tinned food and maybe make a salad. In the evening the cooks come into their own and this is your chance to impress or flop! Don't worry your tour leader and other members of the group will always help and advise. We also have some quite long breaks (2 to 6 days at a time) where we are in one place, with no driving. At these places most people prefer to eat out, so we often don't cook all meals - this enables you to get out and try the local cuisine!

You will get a chance to shower most nights on the trip, but not all campsites on the trip will have hot showers.

PRE TOUR ACCOMMODATION

QUITO

It is a good idea to change some Travellers Cheques at one of the banks in the airport before you exit. It is best to go directly to your hotel so you can drop your baggage and put your money into a safe. If you stay at the Hotel Majestic (see below), you can use their airport transfer service. Let us know your flight details when you request a room and we can book it for you. The cost is US$6 per person which you pay directly to the hotel. You can also ask at the airport information desk for a taxi which will cost you about US$15. Most cabs are private without meters so you should settle on a fare before you enter the cab. The currency in Ecuador is the US dollar so you won’t need to change any money, just have some cash handy to pay for your taxi. It is about 15km to the centre of Quito.

We use the Hotel Majestic in Quito; it is about 20 minutes from the airport and close to the new city. It costs around US$15 a single room, $20 for a double and $30 for a triple. The address is: Mercadillo 366 y Versailles, Quito, Ph: 593 2 543 182, fax: 504 207. All rooms have a bathroom. We can reserve rooms for you free of charge but you must pay for the rooms yourself on arrival. If you wish us to reserve a room we need to know at least six weeks before hand. There are cheaper hotels nearby but these are unreliable to pre-book. Good guidebooks will point you in the right direction as well as give you a wide choice.

RIO It is also a good idea to change some Travellers Cheques at one of the banks in the airport before you exit. It is best to take a taxi direct to your hotel so you can drop your baggage and put your money into a safe. It is definitely not advisable to take a bus into town as these are targeted by pickpockets. Galeao Airport is about 30 minutes from the city centre. A taxi to the centre will cost about US$10. Taxi Cabs have meters but check that the meter is on Zero when you start your journey. You can ask at the airport information desk about taxis.

We use the Arcos Palace Hotel in Rio; it is about 30 minutes from the airport in the old city centre. The address is: Avenida Mem de Sa 117, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro – CEP 20230, Ph: (55) 2122428116 fax: 22524732. . It costs U$40 per person in a shared room. There is a 4 night minimum stay during Carnaval - for 2007 the 4 nights are 17–20 Feb inclusive. There is no minimum stay during New Year. We can reserve rooms for you free of charge but you must pay for the rooms yourself on arrival. We block book rooms in advance for our passengers over the CARNAVAL and NEW YEARS EVE periods so if you wish us to reserve a room for you please let us know at least 2 months in advance. There are cheaper hotels nearby but these are unreliable to pre-book. Good guidebooks will point you in the right direction as well as give you a wide choice.

New Years Eve in Rio If you are on a trip that coincides with New Years Eve in Rio you should fly into Rio about 4 days before your trip starts or allow a few days after your trip ends, to experience and join in the celebrations on Copacabana beach on the night of 31 Dec. There are also free outdoor concerts and a lavish firework display during this massive New Years Eve Party. We can reserve post and pre-tour accommodation for you at a cost of US$30 per person per night in the Rio Arcos Palace Hotel. You can meet up with our group and Tour Leaders on the 30 Dec at the Hotel and on the 31st we will all go to Copacabana together to party on through the night!

Carnaval in Rio If you are on a trip coinciding with ‘Carnaval’ you should allow a few days before your trip starts or at the end of it, to experience this spectacular event, so book your flights accordingly. Most carnival events are from the Friday through to the Tuesday before the trip starts/after the trip ends. There are popular balls, which you can attend for approximately US$50. The Sambadromo also has spectacular parades with seats costing US$50 - US$100. We can book you into the Arcos Palace Hotel in Rio where your trip starts/ends, at a cost of US$40 per person. They have a 4 night minimum stay, 17-20 Feb inclusive for 2007.

MEETING POINT AND TIME

You will need to be in Lima or Rio the day before the trip begins. At the end of your trip return flights must only be booked for the day after your trip has ended. If booking flights from the UK, ask for an 'open jaw' return, either into Quito and out of La Paz or Santiago, or vice versa. Airlines such as Iberia, Avianca, Varig, BA, or KLM will do open jaws into some of these cities. It is usually cheaper to book your airline tickets through a travel agent rather than direct with the airline.

Flights with all airlines cost more and are likely to be booked up earlier for the busy months of July, August, November and December. Upon arrival you will need to clear immigration and customs. You will need to take a taxi either to the hotel we recommend or to the one of your choice.

The tour officially starts at 8.30am on the day of departure, leaving from the relevant hotel (as above) in either Quito or Rio. There is a pre-departure meeting the night before departure – check for details posted in the hotel foyer.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

As a guide to help you budget, please request our list of prices for most of the optional side activities you can do. Most of the optional activities listed have to be paid for in cash.

These prices are an approximate guide only as prices, local taxes and exchange rates are subject to change at short notice.

PLEASE NOTE: We list the activities for your information only. They are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by our staff. If you undertake any activity it must be clearly understood that to do so is your own decision and is done entirely at you own risk and does not form any part of your contract with Flatdog Adventure or Oasis Overland.