Is MOTHER EARTH TOURS a ground tour operator?
Yes, Mother Earth Tours is a licensed tour agency in Peru and we strictly operate all our cultural and adventure tours and trips. That way we are able to make certain we have fulfilled our client’s expectations.
 Culture:

Adventure:

 
Do your tours include international flights?
Travellers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours and as such it is not possible to include international airfare in our prices. If you live in Canada our partner company – Bucket List Travel Adventures would be happy to help you arrange flights or if you are in the UK just  contact – Community  Action Treks.  Just ask for an air quote when making your booking. You may also book these flights through your preferred travel agent.

What should I do in case of emergency?
If there is an emergency anywhere in Peru, you can contact us on our emergency phone numbers:+51084261300-+51984397962.
As a precaution, you should always carry the telephone number of a contact person at home (and also give us this information to us before you arrive in Peru). You should also give a copy of your itinerary to your contact person, as well as the telephone numbers of the hotels where you will be staying.

I’m a single traveler , will I be charged a single supplement?
Unless stated otherwise most of our accommodation is on a twin share basis and, if you are travelling on your own, you will have to pay a single supplement to cover the additional cost of an individual room.  The cost and the details vary by trip, so please refer to each trip summary page for details.

Are there any special discounts if I travel with children?
Children sharing the room with their parents or guardians usually pay less than the regular fare. The policies regarding children’s discounts and age limits vary from one hotel to another, so make sure you inform us of the age of your children so that we can check on special rates when quoting your itinerary. Also, take into consideration that children sleeping in a separate room without their parents do not benefit from any lodging discount.

Will I travel alone throughout the country?    
Since we operate our services on a private basis, our clients always travel with private transportation services. This means that they will travel in the company of an English/Spanish transfer person and a driver.
Note: It is possible to request for a tour leader (escort/guide), who will travel with you along all destinations, during your stay in Peru.

Can I book extra nights of hotel accommodation before or after my tour?
Yes, in most cases we can arrange additional accommodation at our starting or ending hotels.   If we are unable to provide you with the extra nights we will give you the name of a hotel you can contact directly. Please also note that extra accommodations must be booked outside of 30 days of departure.

Can you provide me with a list of the hotels we will be staying at?
 If you wish we can provide you with the details of the hotels you will be staying at.  For our standard and deluxe service we use a range of 3 star hotels.  For more information look on this page, for our pricing structure http://motherearthtours.com/deluxe.htm .   If your family requires contact information, or in case of emergency, please have them phone our emergency number.

How should I book with MOTHER EARTH TOURS?
Planning your trip with us is very simple.
1. You send us an e-mail to reservas@motherearthtours.com or info@motherearthtours.com in which you tell us about your interests, questions, and ideas for your trip according to the information you have read in this website. If you already know your travel dates, it will greatly facilitate the process of custom designing a travel plan for you and your traveling companions.
2. We listen to you first, then we make suggestions and send advice regarding the logistics of your itinerary and the locations that best suit your interests. We will make a proposal with a day-by-day travel itinerary and quote. Finally we wait for your comments.
3. Once you decide on your travel plan, and with your approval, we proceed to book all the services requested. After receiving the written confirmations from all the different suppliers, we send you an e-mail in which we inform you of the status of your bookings.  As soon as everything is confirmed, we send you an invoice with the total trip quote and a list of terms and conditions.  The initial payment can be made to our Mother Earth Tours account and the final payment is made closer to your departure date.

Which penalties apply if I cancel my services?
All services must be paid after confirmation. If, by any chance, you must cancel your trip or any particular bookings, please bear in mind that all cancellations must be received in writing.
MOTHER EARTH TOURS is not responsible for non-recoverable expenses incurred by travelers in preparing for a cancelled trip, such as a non-refundable advance purchase hotel, transfers, tours, etc., nor for any necessary additional arrangements should the applicant have embarked prior to the departure date. Certain hotels have more strict cancellation and refund policies. These vary according to each hotel and depending on additional circumstances (time of the year, occupancy rate).
Please we invite you to visit our webpage Terms & Conditions relating to Cancellations and Refunds.  MOTHER EARTH TOURS strongly recommends that clients purchase trip cancellation insurances to avoid any inconveniences.

What type of ground transportation is used on your tours?
Trip specific information on transportation can be found on the trip summary page.  We generally use a mixture of public and private transportation.  When we travel between cities we either use internal flights or highly recommended tourist buses like Cruz Del Sur.

How do I know if someone will pick me up at the airport?
If you have booked an arrival transfer through MOTHER EARTH TOURS, then a representative from Mother Earth Tours will be waiting for you at the airport (we will give you the name of the person via email, before your arrival in Peru). This person will hold a MOTHER EARTH TOURS board with your last name written on it, so you will need to pay attention to the signs in order to spot your transfer. He / she will take you to your hotel.  If you are traveling with a group, or you have a personal guide/escort included in your program, then your Peruvian tour guide will also be waiting for you at the airport.

Where and how can I access money in Peru?
There are numerous banks in Lima, Cusco and throughout Peru. There you can change traveller checks, buy soles (local currency) and get cash. Banks are usually open from Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. They are closed on certain holidays (Dec. 25th, January 1st, Easter - Holy Thursday and Friday), so be informed. ATMs are available in main cities, some hotels, tourist areas and shop stores, but do not assume that you will find one in every place, and/or they will accept your credit card.  All ATMs accept Master Card and Visa.  Check with your bank in advance regarding international fees and limits for cash withdrawals.

How is the weather in Peru?
Weather in Peru varies a great deal from one geographic region to another. The average temperature is High 70°F(21°C) and Low 34°F(1°C) in the highlands. In the lowlands temperatures range High 63°F to 79°F(17°C to 26°C) and Low 56°F to 68°F(13°C to 20°C). Peru coastal region does have four defined seasons; the highland and jungle do not have four seasons, seasons are defined by the amount of rainfall. There is a rainy season from November to April. The dry season lasts from May to November. However, even during the rainy season the mornings are, more often than not, bright and sunny. Temperatures vary throughout the year; the main influence on temperature is altitude and night fall. Always pack an umbrella or raincoat.

 What should I pack to come to Peru?
Cultural Travel (City - day tours)

Adventure Travel (Hiking)

What vaccinations are recommended for my tour?
It's important that you receive the most accurate and up-to-date travel health information for the region you will be visiting. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic.   Yellow Fever is essential if you are visiting the jungle.  Also it is recommended that you take anti malarial precautions.  
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/peru.htm

Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget?
Tips are not included in the tour price and tipping is entirely at your discretion.  Generally tips are given to the guide, second guide, porters/ horsemen, cooks (on the Inca Trail).

How do I book a trip with MOTHER EARTH TOURS to the Inca trail?
1. You send us an email to info@motherearthtours.com in which you tell us the date that you wish to start the trek.

Important Note: Government through the INC (National Institute of Culture), has strictly limited the number of people allowed to hike the Inca Trail to 500 people per day (including tourists, guides, cooks and porters).  Mother Earth Tours strongly recommends you book at least 5 months in advance.  This is to reserve your permits and assure good campsites.

2. After we receive your email, we will check permit availability for the date you are planning to start the Inca Trail.
3. If there is availability for the date you are planning to start the trek, we will ask all your personal information and will require a deposit to make your booking possible. However, you should not book the trek until you have all the required group details and you are sure about your trek departure date, since these details cannot be changed after you have bought your trek permit.

Important Note: Bookings will only be guaranteed by the National Institute of Culture after you have provided full names, nationalities and passport numbers of passengers, and have paid the full amount for passengers’ entrance fees and staff entrance tickets (cook and team of porters). This payment is not refundable.

The following passport information is completely required to make the Inca Trail booking:

You must bring these same passports with you to Cusco and take them on the Inca Trail.

Important Note: If the name or number in your passport is different from the name and passport number on the Inca Trail permit, government authorities will not allow you to start the trek and you will not receive a refund.

Do I have to do the same Inca trail booking procedure to book any other adventure program?
No, only the Inca Trail and Salkantay Treks have that procedure, because it is located in a natural reserved area called The Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

How long time in advance do I have to arrive in Cusco before hiking?
The high altitude of this region means that at 9900ft(3000m) the atmospheric pressure is only about two-thirds that at sea level, and at 17160ft(5200m) it is only about half. This reduced pressure causes problems for visitors, who may suffer from altitude sickness.  Acclimatization takes a few days, so we recommend that you get to high altitude at least two days before you start your hike. Hiking in high altitude is not recommended for those who suffer from weak hearts or lung complaints.

What should I bring to go hiking?

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