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Inca Rail is one of the two private railway transportation suppliers to Machu Picchu. After temporarily closing due to the pandemic, Inca Rail is resuming its luxury service known as The First Class. This elegant carriage features spacious panoramic views and comfortable seating, along with a gourmet menu, bar, and outdoor balcony, allowing passengers to fully savor their journey to the dream destination. Traveling in utmost comfort while enjoying breathtaking views is once again possible with Inca Rail.

Finance in Cuba is a subject that needs additional explanation. Payment in Cuba is also a very dynamic subject that can change quickly. In this article, we will update you on the most important issues regarding payments in Cuba in 2023. Official exchange rate You get the official exchange rate when you exchange euros or dollars at banks and exchange offices. There is a fixed and official exchange rate and it again depends on the euro-dollar rate how many pesos you get for your euros. It is almost impossible to exchange only according to the official exchange rate. This does not reflect the actual value of the euro or dollar. The journey is very expensive if you only change via official channels. Informal exchange rate The informal exchange rate is the amount of Cuban pesos that Cubans pay for euros or dollars, for example. Cubans have a strong need for hard currency for several legitimate reasons. The dollar is the most desired currency, but euros can be exchanged very well in Cuba on the informal market. There are several online platforms where Cubans find each other if they want to exchange. The informal exchange rate is very volatile, but rises very quickly at times. Sometimes a dollar or euro can certainly be worth double here. To enter the informal exchange market as a foreigner, you must of course use your common sense. We recommend only exchanging money through the casa owner, guide or driver. You don't know if you're dealing with a trustworthy person when you change on the street. Cubans will never give you the full informal exchange rate. They withhold some pesos on this. For example, when the informal exchange rate is 240, you will receive approximately 210 CUP per euro from them. Because the exchange rate is quite erratic, they build in a margin of certainty that they do not lose with the exchange. You can also look at this as a commission to compensate for this service. This is very common in Cuba. The height of the informal rate indicates how high inflation is in Cuba, and travelers will have to deal with this anyway. Economy with two currencies After 20 years of having a 2-currency economy, it stopped in 2021. Everyone used the same currency so you would think that paying has become easier now. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Since the CUC was abolished in 2021, the prices of goods and services in Cuba have risen rapidly and inflation is high. Although salaries and pensions of Cubans have increased, they can buy less and less due to the high inflation. Introduction of the MLC Some time after the abolition of the CUC, a new digital currency was introduced: the MLC. This digital currency is equal in value to the dollar. In certain state shops you can only pay in MLC. Think, for example, of shops with food and household appliances. This currency is digital and products sold in MLC can only be paid for with a payment card. You can only purchase the MLC with foreign currencies such as the euro and dollar. Cubans are paid their salary in Cuban pesos, but you cannot purchase MLC with this currency. There are several legitimate reasons why Cubans need foreign currency, and buying the MLC is one of them. What else should you know about paying in Cuba? · Money that you exchange for Cuban Pesos cannot be exchanged back to euros. Don't change everything at once and don't change too much. Start with, for example, 100 euros. · The monetary reform in Cuba has made it even more important for travelers to arrange and book as much as possible before departure. Once in Cuba, you only have to exchange money for smaller expenses. · Very important: take enough cash with you for your expenses. ATMs do not work in 95% of cases, or are often empty. Partly due to the high inflation, Cubans, as soon as they receive their salary, withdraw as much as possible from their account, which means that ATMs are often empty. · If you withdraw money or pay with a credit card, you always must to deal with the official exchange rate. · We strongly advise against changing money on the street in the informal market. Always do this through a reliable intermediary. · In principle, Dutch debit cards do not work in Cuba. Always take a credit card from Mastercard or Visa with you (always check whether the issuing party allows payments / debit cards in Cuba). · Make sure you always keep some euros in your pocket. Cubans are very happy to be paid in euros. This will only get worse as the Cuban peso rapidly depreciates in value due to inflation.

Colombia | Experience the freedom and breathtaking nature of Colombia in a 4×4 off-road vehicle with a roof tent on it. By the motto: camp and ride, you will meet great places and people on the tour of a lifetime. Our rooftop tents are spacious and comfortable and can accommodate up to 4 people. In addition, the cars have complete camping equipment. With Karakoles 4×4 vehicles you are independent and can choose your own route through one of the most amazing countries in the world. You can always contact us for tips about remote places and about driving a 4×4 car. You can choose your own route, where we can assist you and dot the i's and cross the i's. You can also choose to have us make the entire route. We know which places you must see and cannot miss. Whether you will visit the Tatacoa desert, the Cauca valley or the coffee regions, we guarantee a great adventure.

Panama Panama, still the best kept secret! Panama is located in Central America, with coastlines on either side, the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, with Colombia (and South America) to the southeast and Costa Rica (and North America) in the northwest. It is strategically located and forms a land bridge connecting North and South America. It is known for the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. But Panama is much more than a canal. This narrow land bridge in Central America has beautiful landscapes, a rich culture and endless tourist activities. Activities such as rainforest tours, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, bird watching and more. Panama has more species of birds and trees than all of North America. ​ Panama is one of the most attractive destinations in tourism, which is developing rapidly. In Panama City you can enjoy world class dining, nightlife, casinos and shopping. Distances are negligible. In just one week, visitors can enjoy two different oceans, experience the mountains and rainforest, and learn about indigenous cultures. Drive the Pan-American Highway to visit many highlights or take a domestic flight. The Panamanians are a mixture of different cultures. Most notable are the Kuna Indians, original inhabitants with their own Kuna Yala territory. Enjoy their beautiful islands 'Archipiélago de San Blas' and their colorful appearance. ​ Panama has a tropical maritime climate with a warm, humid rainy season (May to December) and a short dry season (January to May). Temperatures are mainly determined by altitude. In the highlands of Central Panama and Chiríqui there is always a spring climate. The slopes on the Caribbean side usually receive more rainfall than the slopes on the Pacific side. The rainy season usually means: a sudden big shower and it is dry again. “Panama is an ideal country to travel through with a rental car. The cars and roads are excellent and distances are fine and you can leave your car anywhere and travel back on a flight." During my trip I asked a Panamanian why the local road users don't give directions and suddenly turn off. His answer was: 'We assume that everyone takes into account whoever drives in front of them, if we all do that it will always be fine.'

Tailor-made Tailor-made or tailor-made trips are one of the specialties of JBC-Agencies. We listen carefully to the key words that a trip must meet and can easily translate our experience into the many possibilities that Cuba, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica have to offer. Our focus is not on what we think is beautiful, but what is most interesting for the end customer and gives the best result in the long run. All this, of course, at a good price-quality ratio. We try to offer tailor-made products as competitively as possible, where we also think along in the promotion of the product and we also offer any promotional campaigns. ​ Thanks to our good understanding and long-standing relationships with our offices, we can offer a high level of service and the end customer is excellently guided during their journey. Various tailor-made options are available; think of, for example, independent travelers who go out with a rental car, couples traveling together, a dance group looking for a swinging cultural trip, but budget groups are also welcome. For every request, we draw from our extensive range of excursions, forms of transport, hotels, special accommodations and luxury products, in order to provide a suitable offer.

Tailor-made Tailor-made or tailor-made trips are one of the specialties of JBC-Agencies. We listen carefully to the key words that a trip must meet and can easily translate our experience into the many possibilities that Cuba, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica have to offer. Our focus is not on what we think is beautiful, but what is most interesting for the end customer and gives the best result in the long run. All this, of course, at a good price-quality ratio. We try to offer tailor-made products as competitively as possible, where we also think along in the promotion of the product and we also offer any promotional campaigns. ​ Thanks to our good understanding and long-standing relationships with our offices, we can offer a high level of service and the end customer is excellently guided during their journey. Various tailor-made options are available; think of, for example, independent travelers who go out with a rental car, couples traveling together, a dance group looking for a swinging cultural trip, but budget groups are also welcome. For every request, we draw from our extensive range of excursions, forms of transport, hotels, special accommodations and luxury products, in order to provide a suitable offer.