What are the bathrooms like?

Bathroom amenities vary from place to place so it is always a good idea to carry toilet paper and hand sanitiser with you. You cannot flush toilet paper in Peru as the septic systems cannot handle the waste.

What is the accommodation like?

In towns or cities you will have a double or twin room in a hotel, where you will share with your travel partner or another member of the tour. All of our hotels are clean and comfortable, and we stay in central locations wherever possible. Most hotels have a safety deposit box in the room. Please note that central heating is rare in Peru, even in good standard hotels. Most hotels provide plug-in heaters and spare blankets. Additionally, whilst all of the hotels have a hot water supply, it can be temperamental when there is high demand.

If your tour has a homestay component then you will be staying in basic accommodation with a local family. Here you will get an authentic travel experience where you can see what life is like for a typical local family. There may not be no showers or only cold showers available and the toilet may be a long drop where you need to put the toilet paper in the bin.

If your tour has a trekking component then you will be sleeping at basic camp sites. We will provide double tents with camping mattresses for you. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag or hire one (which you can do through Papi's Treks, just see the rentals page). As is common on treks, your toilet may be in nature or in public toilet facilities. Showers may not be available so you may wish to pack wet wipes to stay fresh during your hike. Don't worry, everyone will be in the same boat! Electricity will most likely not be available during your hike so make sure to bring fully charged devices and maybe a battery pack.

In the Amazon rainforest, the rooms all tend to have private bathrooms with a shower (cold water), as well as individual mosquito nets over the beds and mosquito screens on the windows. There is generally no electricity in the bedrooms, and lighting is provided by lanterns or candles. The main building has a dining room with a bar, and a small library of books relating to the rainforest and its flora and fauna. These are usually the only areas of the lodge with an electrical supply (though not 24 hours).

If you are travelling solo or are in an odd number group you may have to share with another tour member. If you would like a private room during your trip please inform us when you book or as soon as possible to organise an upgrade to private rooms instead of twins or doubles. However this may not be possible for the trekking, homestay or Amazon rainforest portions of the tour. We can also book you into higher standard hotels (4 or 5 star) in certain locations, if you prefer. Contact us to discuss your options.

Will I be able to do laundry?

Laundry facilities will be available at various times throughout your trip. However make sure you bring enough clothes to last up to 1 week between washes. Usually laundry is done within 24hrs. Typically, at hotels and laundromats they charge by the kilo, which is pretty inexpensive (about 2 USD per kilo).

What is the internet and phone accessibility like?

Most main regions have good internet connections at reasonable prices. It is typical for hotels and hostels to have WiFi or computer terminals available. Be careful with roaming and check with your home provider beforehand, as this may be expensive. Alternatively, you could pick up a cheap local SIM card (just make sure you phone is unlocked). It is unlikely that you will have any connection or service on the Inca trail, other treks, and in the Amazon rainforest. Let your family and friends know, but take it as an opportunity to disconnect and fully enjoy your surroundings! WhatsApp is a popular way to communicate in South America. We recommended downloading this app prior to departure to communicate through it with your leader and fellow group members during the tour.

Can I drink the water in Peru?

It is not recommended to drink tap water in Peru. You can easily purchase bottled water or boil water to make it safe to drink. However it is recommended to buy larger bottles and refill a resuable bottle to minimise use of plastic. On the Inca trail it is required by the Peruvian government to bring a reusable bottle.

We will provide drinking water for you throughout our tours. Your leader will purchase large water containers to refill your bottle (again this also helps us limit use of plastic!). On the treks, drinking water will be boiled and filtered for you.

What is the food like? What if I have specific dietary requirements?

Each tour will have a list of all meals that are included, please do check these details so you are prepared. Peruvian food is absolutely delicious, well known for its flavors, and becoming more trendy around the world. It's definitely worth trying local dishes like ceviche (a spicy dish with marinated fish or seafood), lomo saltado (a little bit like a Peruvian beef stir-fry), cuy (roasted guinea pig), alpaca steak, and various soups with hearty ingredients such as quinoa. You'll love the national beverage: Pisco Sour, or try a local beer (chela).

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS Please let us know any dietary requirements before your trip, ideally as soon as you book. Generally speaking, vegetarians can expect a reasonable range of options in tourist restaurant menus of the bigger cities and towns. However, vegetarianism is not the norm in this part of the world, so options can be limited when eating at homestays, small local restaurants, street stalls, markets, etc. We can also accommodate more restrictive dietary requirements (vegans, celiac, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance etc.) on our tours but you should expect a lesser variety than what you may have available at home. We recommend that you bring some of your own snacks with you, if possible.

Hotel breakfasts are typically buffets that include bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or fruit, tea/coffee and juice. Unfortunately, we can not guarantee that wheat/gluten-free products will be available for breakfast in all locations. If you have a specific intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food.

For those on strict Kosher or Halal diets please be aware that these diets are not common at all in South America. It may be difficult to communicate your needs while you are traveling in Peru, due to cultural and language differences. Your guide will do their best to assist you. We recommend researching kosher or halal options prior to travel, or opting for vegetarian or vegan meals.

What if I run into any problems on the tour?

We want to provide you with the best possible travel experience, but sometimes things can go wrong. If you run into any problems at all, your first point of contact will be your group leader or guide. They will do their best to help. We also strongly recommend you to make sure you have adequate travel insurance (appropriate for high altitude, activities,...).

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader despite their best efforts may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction. You can ask to speak to our owner Mike directly - or reach him on +51 953 727 671. Mike also has paramedic training.

We welcome any feedback after your trip, please feel free to email us so we are able to learn and adjust our service where needed.