FAQ

Question 1

Passport & visa requirements

Accepted Answer

*   This tour visits Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile (plus Peru on the tour extension). In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
*   We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
*   There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens to enter any of the countries visited on this tour. At this time, Argentina has suspended the reciprocity fee for both U.S. and Canadian travelers.Please check with [VisaCentral](https://www.visacentral.com/goaheadtours) or the State Department website for the latest rule changes.
*   Upon arrival on the tour extension in Peru, you will receive an Andean Immigration card that you will need to present when you depart.
*   If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Question 2

Tour pace

Accepted Answer

*   You will walk for about 2 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets with some hills.
*   Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
*   You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
*   Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
*   If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Question 3

Transportation & arrival information

Accepted Answer

*   Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Montevideo and depart from Santiago (or Lima on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
*   Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
*   A ferry from Colonia del Sacramento to Buenos Aires and a flight from Buenos Aires to Mendoza are included in the price of your tour.
*   A flight from Santiago to Lima is included in the price of the tour extension.
*   All other included transportation is by private motor coach.

Question 4

Baggage allowance

Accepted Answer

*   Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
*   Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
*   Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
*   Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Question 5

Clothing & packing tips

Accepted Answer

*   We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
*   A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
*   You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
*   It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Question 6

Health

Accepted Answer

*   There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
*   At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at [cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov).
*   Take proper care with sun exposure, as the sun can be especially strong in some of the regions on this tour.
*   Drink bottled water only. Refrain from ingesting tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
*   Please be aware that you will be traveling at altitudes as high as 10,000 feet above sea level between Mendoza and Santiago. These high altitudes can sometimes cause difficulties for travelers who have heart problems or respiratory ailments. If you suffer from any of these conditions, please speak to your healthcare provider regarding any potential health risks. Even healthy travelers may sometimes experience altitude sickness, a temporary condition featuring symptoms of headache, fatigue, nausea, and light-headedness.
*   If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
*   If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Question 7

Cuisine

Accepted Answer

*   Cuisine in Uruguay draws from European influences, but meat-based dishes are the most prevalent and popular. One must-try food is the _chivito_. This sandwich is one of Uruguay’s national dishes and commonly includes filet mignon, olives, hard-boiled eggs, mozzarella, and tomatoes, all served on fresh-toasted bread.
*   In Argentina, perhaps the most common dish is the _asado_, a series of salt-rubbed meats, ribs, and _chorizo_ sausages cooked over a fire pit on metal grills and crosses. For dessert, try _dulce de leche_, a sweet honey-and-milk paste in pastries.
*   With its lengthy Pacific coastline, it’s no surprise that Chile is one of the world’s seafood capitals. _Ceviche_, mussels with _salsa verde_, and seafood _empanadas_ are all not to be missed.
*   Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile all have their own wine-production traditions, but share some similarities in the varietals they produce. In Uruguay, family run wineries thrive outside of Montevideo in the Canelones wine region, which produces more than half of the country’s wine. Popular varietals include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and chardonnay. Argentina has been making wine since the 1500s and is one of the world’s largest wine producers. Most of the country’s wine comes from the Mendoza region where malbec has gained recent local and international popularity. Chile’s proximity to the mountains, desert, and coast provides a variety of climates that help the grapes thrive. In addition, French colonization led to the cultivation of carménère and sauvignon blanc grapes in many areas including the Aconcagua and Casablanca regions.
*   On the tour extension, Peruvian cuisine reflects both the country’s indigenous cultures as well as European colonial and Pacific Rim influences. Staples include grains such as quinoa, _maize_, and rice, as well as beans, potatoes, and meat. _Ceviche_, traditionally raw sea bass marinated with lime and chilies, is a national dish. Adventurous eaters may want to try _cuy_, or roasted guinea pig that’s cooked over an open fire. You can also raise a toast with Peru’s famous _pisco_, the delicious (and sour) white-grape brandy.

Question 8

Electricity & air conditioning

Accepted Answer

*   Uruguay and Argentina operate on 220 volts and use Types C or I plugs with two round pins or three flat pins, respectively.
*   Chile operates on 220 volts and uses Types C or L plugs with two round pins or three round pins, respectively.
*   On the tour extension, Peru operates on 220 volts and uses Types A or C plugs with two flat pins or two round pins, respectively.
*   We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
*   The strength of the air conditioning in South American hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
*   Hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances, but these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Question 9

Connectivity

Accepted Answer

*   Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
*   There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
*   Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Question 10

Time zones

Accepted Answer

*   Uruguay, Argentina, and mainland Chile are three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and two hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). Uruguay and Chile stopped observing daylight saving time in 2015. Argentina currently does not observe daylight saving time, though the country decides on a year-by-year basis.
*   On the tour extension, Peru is five hours behind GMT, the same as EST. Peru does not observe daylight saving time.
*   From November through March, when it’s noon in New York City, it’s 2pm in Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile (and noon in Peru on the tour extension). From April through October, when it’s noon in New York City, it’s 1pm in Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile (and 11am in Peru on the tour extension).

Question 11

Currency

Accepted Answer

*   You will use the Uruguayan peso in Uruguay, the Argentine peso in Argentina, and the Chilean peso in Chile (plus the Peruvian sol in Peru on the tour extension).
*   Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
*   We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
*   You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
*   Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
*   International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Question 12

Tipping

Accepted Answer

*   At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
*   We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
*   If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
*   Tips can only be paid in cash.

Question 13

Purchasing excursions on tour

Accepted Answer

*   Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
*   Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
*   Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
*   Some excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.

Food & Wine: Uruguay, Argentina & Chile

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