Oasis Overland Adventure Travel

Overland Adventure Info South America

This is a general overview of our Overland Adventure Trips.   Please refer to the 'Before you Go' section of the relevant trip page for  more detailed information.

Our 'Overland Adventure Trips' are run on our own expedition vehicles with two crew which carry up to 23 travellers although the average group size tends to be around 16 - 20 people.

Starting and finishing your trip
Quito, Lima, La Paz, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are the start and end points of our trips. We recommend arriving a couple of days before your trip starts in order to acclimatise and give yourself a free day to explore the town or city you arrive into.   Allow a day or two after your trip has ended in order to experience and explore these interesting cities as well and in case the trip is delayed by a day or two (although this is very rare).   We can advise you where to stay and can book accommodation for you at most departure points and we can also reserve accommodation in Rio during 'carnival' & New Year.

Life on the road
The Oasis truck will be your home giving you a comfortable, secure base with which to experience your trip. You will be expected to have an active involvement in the day to day running of the trip and be part of the group and get stuck in and help with various tasks, whether it's collecting firewood, cooking meals over open fires, pitching your tent or keeping the truck clean and tidy.

Expect to sometimes get dirty and not be able to have hot showers every night and that sometimes things may well go wrong or not to plan... this is simply down to the countries and the continents we operate in and that you are thinking of travelling to.  Our opinion is that it adds to the flavour of the trip, so if any of the above freaks or frustrates you then please seriously think again about doing one of our Overland Adventure trips.


During the day
Driving days normally start at about 8am and finish at about 5pm, with stops for lunch and buying food, seeing local sights etc. We won't be driving every day, although there are times when we will drive for two or on the odd occasion three days, but we will then stop for a few days and you will then have free time to explore, meet local people, do some optional activities or just relax and do your own thing.  We believe that an active involvement in your trip is essential to building a great travelling group. Therefore, helping and participating with your group in the unexpected as well as partying and having a good time are essential ingredients.

Accommodation
In South America around half the accommodation is in hostels or hotels with the rest being under canvas, where we mainly stay at campsites as well as in the open desert and bush. Facilities and standards at campsites vary and at bush camps when you are living off the truck, there are no facilities especially en-suite options!

Meals
We usually cook using gas or over open fires in a rota system and you can expect to cook in a group of two or three people approximately once every ten days. As a cook group you will be have to decide on what to cook, utilise stocks from the truck stores and locally obtained ingredients and rustle up a feast! But don't worry if you're not a Gordon Ramsay as the rest of the group and the Tour Leader usually lend a helping hand.  If you're a Vegetarian, Vegan or have any other dietary requirements we will do our utmost to cater for you, but never fear, no one goes hungry.

Passports & Visas
The 'Before you go' section for each trip gives more in-depth information for most nationalities on which visas are required and the costs involved. UK, New Zealand and Ireland passport holders do not require visas for any countries we visit in South America. Australia, USA and Canadians need a visa for Brazil only, and South Africans for Bolivia only, however, all these can be obtained en-route. You will need at least one blank page in your passport for each country you enter. Your passport must be valid for at least nine months from the start date of your trip.

Health
Vaccinations - It is advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis. Consult your doctor about having Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B and Rabies shots. You will need a certificate as proof of having had these jabs.  The only areas we visit with a recognised malaria risk are the Amazon Jungle, the Pantanal and Iguazu Falls. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria but there are a number of preventative treatments. Consult your doctor or a reputable travel clinic about these or any other medical related queries you may have.

Spending Money & Local Payment
At the beginning of your trip the crew will collect the LP in US Dollars cash. For personal spending we suggest about $150 - £200 per week. This can vary hugely from person to person but as a rough guide you need to allow for drinks, 50% of meals, souvenirs and local crafts, laundry, email and calls home. Credit cards are only accepted in main towns & cities, so you need to bring spending money in a third US$ Cash and a third Travellers Cheques as well as a card. Budget for optional activities separately.

The Inca Trail
Due to huge tourist demand for the 'classic' Inca Trail and the negative environmental impact upon it, trekking permits have been limited to 500 per day. For this reason we will be trekking to Machu Picchu via the much less used Lares Trail. If you wish to trek to Machu Picchu via the 'classic' Inca Trail you will need to book your trip at least 3 months in advance so we can obtain the permit for you. For further info on the different Inca Trails please check out the 'Before you go' section on the trip page.

For more information on visas, vaccinations, climates and other information relating to our trips, please check out the 'Before you Go' section on the trip page of your choice.

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