Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(11
days/10 nights)
Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Colca Canyon - Machu
Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17
nights)
Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Machu Picchu
(10
days/9 nights)
Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
(18 days/17 nights)
Manu National Park
(8 days/7 nights)
Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
Galapagos
(11
days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Cotopaxi - Antisana
- Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
© 2008
Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Pre-Departure Information
Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Bungalow of the Manu Wildlife Center.
Photo: Peru Verde.
Hands down, the most intense wildlife experience in Amazonia...
-- Condé Nast Traveler, December 2002
From Cuzco, this lodge is only 35 minutes by air and 90 minutes by river. No other lodge in Manu offers all the major wildlife attractions in one spot: 1) the world's largest Tapir lick, 2) the most photogenic large macaw lick, 3) miles of monkey-rich trails through mature rain forest, 4) two 120-foot-tall (35-meter) canopy platforms, 5) two mature lakes complete with Hoatzins and Giant Otters. Manu Wildlife Center is located in a private, 29,000-acre rain forest reserve adjacent to the eastern border of Peru's 4.5-million-acre Manu National Park and the northern border of the 1-million-acre Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, a national protected area. The Center is the only lodge in the Manu lowlands with roomy, private bungalows, each of which has an en-suite private bathroom complete with a tiled, hot water shower.
Bungalow of the Manu Wildlife Center.
Photo: Peru Verde.
Weather conditions
Rainfall in the Manu lowlands is around 2,500 - 3,500 millimeters per year, with most rainfall occurring in the rainy season months from November to April. The average temperature in the Manu lowlands is 28°C (82°F), with daily highs of 34°C (93°F) and nightly lows of 22°C (72°F). During the dry season, cold fronts from the South Atlantic (friajes) occur once every month or so, with daily temperatures dropping to 16°C (59°F) and nightly temperatures to 13°C (55°F).
In the Manu Cloud Forest, there is an annual rainfall of approximately 5,000 millimeters per year. The average temperature is 24°C (75°F), with daily highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and nightly lows of 11°C (52°F).
In planning your visit, avoid the rainy season, from November through April. It is humid and hot, with heavy rainfall at any time. Also, avoid the days near the full moon, when the Lowland Tapirs do not come to the clay lick.
How to get there
Our representative in Cuzco will transfer you to the airport and help you to board the plane. From Cuzco, we fly 35 minutes in a Cessna Grand Caravan to the Manu lowlands and navigate 90 minutes down the Madre de Dios River by motorized canoe to reach the Manu Wildlife Center, which is the single best wildlife lodge in the Amazon. Our boats are equipped with a 55-HP engine, a roof to protect from the sun and the rain, cushioned seats and a spare motor in the unlikely event that the principal engine breaks down.
Bar of the Manu Wildlife Center.
Photo: Peru Verde.
About the lodge
Manu Wildlife Center is located east of the Manu River on the north bank of Madre de Dios River. The Lodge contains 22 fully screened, double-occupancy bungalows, each with a private bath and hot shower; a large, fully screened dining room and a bar with hammocks for relaxing. Manu Wildlife Center has no electricity. Lighting in the communal areas is by kerosene lamp and candle, with the paths around the lodge complex lit by kerosene lamps. Lighting in the guests' bedrooms is by candle. A 110-volt generator is available from which camcorder batteries can be recharged. Please note that guests from countries other than the United States may need to bring a special adaptor to plug into the generator.
What to bring
- Good binoculars
- Camera gear (ASA 50, 100 and 200 recommended), including 500 mm and greater zoom lenses
- Two or three pairs of long, cotton pants
- Four pairs of absorbent cotton socks
- Rain suit or long poncho (100% waterproof -- test before you leave home)
- Three or four long-sleeved, cotton shirts
- Two or three T-shirts.
- Sunscreen lotion (high factor)
- A bottle or canteen to carry water on outings
- A cap or a hat that will not come off in windy boat rides, preferably with mosquito netting to keep insects away from your face
- One pair of shorts
- Sunglasses
- A pair of sneakers or hiking boots (with good-gripping soles) and sandals
- Insect repellent (Skin-So-Soft for the river and a repellent with 20% or more DEET for the forest)*
- A photocopy of your passport
- A large, bright flashlight
- Personal toiletries and medications
- Rubber boots for the rainy season from November to April**
- Money for souvenirs at the lodge's crafts stand, drinks at the bar, airport taxes, personal expenses and tips
Please note: Guests should arrive in clothes that they do not mind getting slightly dirty or wet, and should wear shoes that are suitable for walking on a rainforest trail. Sun cream, insect repellent, hat and waterproof clothing should be carried in hand luggage and kept accessible for the journey to the lodge.
*For the river, Skin-So-Soft is an Avon product that has been found to repel mosquitoes and, at the same time, to be safe and mild to one's skin and to the environment. Outfitters, such as REI or Sierra Trading, can advise you of similar products. Insects for which you will need repellent include mosquitoes (forest interior), sandflies (rivers and lakes) and chiggers (grassy areas and forest floor).
For the forest, for your legs and pants, which will touch the jungle floor, where bugs hang out, you will need a repellent that contains a major toxic chemical -- the most common is DEET. The percentage varies but a strength of 20% or higher is recommended. Some people use 99%, but that is very toxic. It is a personal choice and you may wish to consult your physician.
**If you notify us of your shoe size in advance, we will provide rubber boots for your use.
Packing for the Manu Wildlife Center
It's not necessary to bring all of your baggage with you. You'll enjoy your expedition more if you bring only the essentials. We recommend that you prepare an overnight bag the day before your flight. There is a limit of 22 pounds/10 kilograms per person. If you have excess weight and space is available, you'll be charged directly in Cuzco. However, you can safely store excess baggage at your hotel or our office in Cuzco.
Number and type of baggage allowed: 1 carry-on (camera, film, binoculars and other small items you'll need during the half-hour flight).
Size allowed: No specified dimensions, but must fit underneath seat, which typically can accommodate 21.6 in x 9.8 in x 13.7 in/55 cm x 25 cm x 35 cm
Maximum free weight allowed: Not specifiedNumber and type of baggage allowed: 1 checked (clothes and all other items you won't need during the flight)
Size allowed: No specified dimensions
Maximum free weight allowed: 22 lbs/10 kgs
Excess weight: $.50 per lb/$1 per kg, if space is available
Medical & emergency information
Yellow fever
Peru currently does not require a yellow fever vaccination, but the lodges advise it, especially during the rainy season (November through April), when there are more insects. This vaccination, which is valid for 10 years, must be administered at least 10 days before your arrival in the rainforest. Ecuador does not require a vaccination and the lodges do not advise it. For definitive advice, consult your physician or a specialist in tropical medicine.
Malaria
There is no official requirement for preventive treatment. In Peru, the lodges state that their guides and staff do not take anti-malarial medication and that there are no recorded cases of malaria in their areas. Therefore, they do not advise treatment. However, consult your physician or a specialist in tropical medicine for definitive advice.
First aid & emergency phone numbers
Our lodge has a first aid kit which also includes anti-venom. The lodge is equipped with a short-wave radio and is in contact with our Cuzco office every day at noon and 7 pm. If you need to send or receive a message, it can be transmitted at those times. In case of emergency, the lodge can communicate with the the staff in Cuzco or Lima at any time. If you are expecting an important message at a particular time, you can make arrangements in advance for someone to be at the short-wave radio to receive it.
The English-speaking staff can be contacted 24 hours a day:
From within Cuzco, call 962-3666 or 965-0965 (Juan Carlos Cardenas) and from within Lima, call 9909-0996 (Rodrigo Custodio).
From inside Peru, but outside the city, call: (084) 962-3666 or (084) 965-0965 (Cuzco) and (01) 9909-0996 (Lima).
From outside Peru, call +(51-84) 962-3666 or +(51-84) 965-0965 (Cuzco) and +(51-1) 9909-0996 (Lima), where "+" represents the international dialing code (in the U.S. it is 011).
Should an accident occur and evacuation be required, the injured party can be flown from the Boca Manu airstrip to Cuzco during daylight hours. The village of Boca Manu also has a small first aid post.
Offices
Lima: Manuel Banon 461, San Isidro, Lima. Tel: +511 440-2022.
Cuzco: Calle Ricardo Palma J1, Urb. Santa Monica, Cuzco. Tel: +51 84 243-408.
Meals and drinks
All meals are included in the trip, from lunch on the first day to breakfast on the last day. We believe that our guests should experience as much of the Peruvian cuisine as possible, and this is reflected in the range of Peruvian dishes offered, with an occasional international twist. Typical lunch and dinner dishes served are lomo saltado (a spicy mix of stir-fried beef, tomatoes, peppers, onions and french fries) and arroz con pollo (a mildly spicy mix of saffron rice, chicken and vegetables). Whenever possible fruit and vegetables are bought from the few families who live in the area.
The breakfast served at the macaw clay lick comprises pancakes, butter, jam, honey, fruit and crackers, tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Our experienced kitchen personnel can also cater for special dietary requirements, such as low or no salt, low or no sugar, low or no fat, and vegetarian (strict "vegan" or "ovo-lacto" vegetarian), upon request.
At the lodges, three bottles of water are provided each morning and rainforest fruit juice is served with meals. Purified water, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, crackers and fresh fruit are always available without charge in the dining room. The bar sells cold drinks (bottled water, juice, soft drinks, Gatorade and beer) at $1.50 to $3. A variety of alcoholic beverages is available at $3 to $6. Wine is sold by the bottle at $18.
Our prices include
Transfers from the selected hotel in Cuzco to the airport and from the airport to the selected hotel at the end of the trip, air transportation Cuzco - Boca Manu - Cuzco, overland transportation during Bio-Trips, accommodations with all meals, English-speaking guide, river transportation and excursions according to the itinerary.
Our price does not include
Airport taxes ($15 for the Cuzco - Boca Manu round trip and $7 for the Bio-Trip's Boca Manu - Cuzco trip must be paid directly by the passenger prior to the flight), excess baggage charges (there is a baggage allowance of 10 kilograms on flights to and from Boca Manu) and additional nights at the Manu Wildlife Center in case of flight cancellation. Guests should bring some cash for drinks at the bar, airport taxes, personal expenses and tips.
Form of payment
Credit cards are not accepted. Guests are advised to bring cash in the amount of $30 per day per person for drinks at the bar, airport taxes, personal expenses and tips. Peru's Nuevo Sol (3 Soles is equal to about one U.S. dollar) and small denominatons of U.S. currency are accepted ($1 and $5 bills are most convenient).
Tipping in Amazon lodges
Suggestions are per group of two people. You will have the same guide throughout your jungle expedition: $10 per day on the final day is a good tip. For the rest of the staff, such as the boat's motorist, crew members, bellboy, waiter, cook and others; do not tip individually. You may leave a tip for all of them in a box in the lodge dining room at the end of your stay: $20 is a good tip. Monthly, these tips are divided among the staff, based on the quality of their service as rated in a survey of the visitors.
Itineraries
Please note that our programs may vary slightly so as to maximize the wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our naturalist gudes and staff based at the lodge.
Pre-departure briefing
One day before departure our representative in Cuzco will contact the clients to provide information and answer any questions they might have about their trip to the jungle. We must be informed in which hotel the clients are staying and the date of their arrival. If you have a tour operator in Lima or Cuzco, please inform us. If you do not have an operator in Cuzco, our office can take care of the reconfirmation of any domestic flights to Lima or other cities. Please ask for further information when you make your reservation.
In case of flight cancellation
1. If the flight from Cuzco to Boca Manu is cancelled because of bad weather or maintenance of the aircraft, then the guest loses the first night in the Manu Wildlife Center. No refund can be given and the guest is responsible for the costs of the additional night in Cuzco.
2. If the plane is cancelled whilst the guests are waiting to return to Cuzco, arrangements must be made with their guide for accommodation. Guests must pay for any additional costs incurred during this extra night. If the guests decide to return to the lodge for an additional night (space permitting), and return to Boca Manu the following day, they must pay an additional USD 60 per person for the extra night and boat transportation of USD 190, irrespective of the number of passengers.
More information about Manu
Travelers may recall three recent TV shows about Manu on the Discovery Channel, PBS-TV in the U.S. and NHK-TV in Japan; the cover story about the macaws of Manu and Tambopata in the January 1994 National Geographic Magazine; and stories in most European and Japanese nature magazines.
Books and videos about the rainforests of Manu can be purchased in the store at the Manu Wildlife Center. The following books are also very informative about neo-tropical rainforests and wildlife:
Les Beletsky & David Pearson, The Ecotraveller's Wildlife Guide Series: Peru, Academic Press, 2001
Adrian Forsyth & Ken Miyata, Tropical Nature, Touchstone Books, 1987
James F. Clements & Noam Shany, A Field Guide to the Birds of Peru, Ibis Publications, 2001.
Kim MacQuarrie, Andre & Cornelia Bärtschi, Manu National Park, Patthey, 2nd Edition, 1998.
World Heritage Program Protected Areas Program
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/protected_areas/data/wh/manu.html
Conditions and responsibility
Inka's Empire Tours and/or its employees act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by car, boat or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity that may be caused either by reasons of defect in the vehicle or for any reasons engaged in conveying the client or carrying out the arrangements of the tour. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses because of delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine or other causes. All such expenses will have to be borne by the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused part of the tour.
Inka's Empire Tours has the right:
A) to make any change in the itinerary when deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules.
B) to accept or decline any persons as members of a tour.
C) to fill unoccupied space on its boats and airplanes with its guides, staff and cargo.
© 2008 Inka's Empire Corporation, Luxury Peru Tours & Travel. All rights reserved.
