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)
© 2011 Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Pre-Departure Information
Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Flooded Mauritia palm forest, Sandoval Lake, Tambopata National Reserve.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
Discover the world's largest pristine rainforest.
Weather conditions
Rainfall in the Tambopata National Reserve 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 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 to there
Daily commercial flights from Lima (2 hours) and Cuzco (30 minutes) bring you to Puerto Maldonado, a bustling frontier town and the gateway to the Tambopata National Reserve. Here, one of our resident naturalist guides will meet you as you leave the airport arrivals area and will remain with you until you return to the airport to board your flight back to Cuzco or Lima.
Heath River Wildlife Center
We have a 15-minute bus transfer from the airport to the Tambopata River port and then take a motorized canoe for 2 hours down the Madre de Dios River and 2 hours up the Heath River to the lodge. (The return trip to Puerto Maldonado may take an additional 45 minutes). Our boats are equipped with a 65-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.
Sandoval Lake Lodge
We have a 15-minute bus transfer from the airport to the Tambopata River port and then take a motorized canoe for 30-35 minutes down the Madre de Dios River to the trail access to Sandoval Lake Lodge. 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.
From the Madre de Dios River, we walk for 45 minutes along two miles (3 kilometers) of flat, rainforest trail. Once we reach the lake, we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards (200 meters) through a flooded forest of 100-foot-tall (30-meter-tall) Mauritia palms. As the canal opens onto the shimmering surface of the lake, we transfer to a catamaran and are leisurely paddled across the lake to the lodge.
Bungalow of the Heath River Wildlife Center.
Photo: Peru Verde.
Heath River Wildlife Center
Location: Heath River, adjacent to the northern tip of Bolivia's 4.7-million-acre Madidi National Park and across the river from Peru's 2.7-million-acre Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. Reserve size: 25,000 acres. Wildlife it protects: Jaguars, Lowland Tapirs, Maned Wolves, Marsh Deer, Harpy Eagles, six species of macaws and Giant Otters.
Only four hours by river from the Puerto Maldonado airport, Heath River Wildlife Center is the gateway to the largest uninhabited and unhunted rainforest in the Amazon. An immensely photogenic macaw clay lick, capybaras, oxbow lakes with Giant Otters, hundreds of bird and mammal species and a lodge 100%-owned by the Ese'eja Indians of Sonene make the Heath the best combination of nature and culture in the entire Amazon. No other lodge in Tambopata is 100% owned and operated by a community of lowland Indians.
Every person in Sonene speaks the original indigenous language, with Spanish being a distant second used mostly in school and to trade with outsiders and, now, to chat with pampered guests. Women from Sonene hold daily crafts workshops at the lodge, teaching visitors tribal traditions handed down through the millennia.
Though very traditional, the lodge in Sonene does not sacrifice comfort in the least. Guests enjoy roomy, private, double-occupancy bungalows and en-suite facilities with hot showers. The combination of the most accessible and most photogenic large macaw lick and the warmth and uniquely traditional hospitality of our Indian hosts make Heath River Wildlife Center and Sandoval Lake Lodge the Amazon's best value in wildlife and authentic rainforest adventure.
Programs may be combined with the Sandoval Lake Lodge.
Room in the Sandoval Lake Lodge.
Photo: Peru Verde.
Sandoval Lake Lodge
Location: Lake Sandoval, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru. Reserve size: 100 acres within the 627,000-acre Tambopata National Reserve. Wildlife it protects: Giant Otters, Black Caimans, Red-bellied Macaws, Brown Capuchin, Squirrel and Titi Monkeys.
Located deep in Peru's Tambopata National Reserve, Sandoval Lake Lodge overlooks sparkling, palm-rimmed Sandoval Lake, the most beautiful and wildlife-rich of all lakes in the Tambopata-Madidi Wilderness. This privileged location gives you exclusive access to the lake in the early morning and late afternoon, the choice hours for wildlife viewing and photography. No other lodge in Tambopata-Madidi is on the banks of a protected oxbow lake.
Our short Sandoval Lake Lodge program includes two nights of fully-screened accommodation in 25 double-occupancy rooms complete with en-suite facilities with hot-water showers, electricity, fans, meals, airport transfers in Puerto Maldonado, naturalist guides, lake excursions by day in search of Giant Otters, monkeys and macaws, forest excursions, night excursions in search of caimans, and evening slide shows. The lodge specializes in small groups and individualized attention in its overriding quest to conserve the lake and surrounding rainforest. Sandoval Lake Lodge is built out of ecologically-correct driftwood mahogany and is owned jointly by a nonprofit conservation group and five families of indigenous Brazil nut collectors.
Lounge of the Sandoval
Lake Lodge.
Photo:
Peru Verde.
What to bring
- Good binoculars
- Camera gear (ASA 50, 100 and 200 recommended)
- 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 30% to 35% DEET for the forest)*
- Your original passport if going to the Heath River Wildlife Center. If going to the Sandoval Lake Lodge only, a photocopy will suffice.
- 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 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.
**If you notify us of your shoe size in advance, we will provide rubber boots for your use.
Packing
It's not necessary to bring all of your baggage with you. You will enjoy your expedition more if you bring only the essentials. We recommend that you prepare an overnight bag the day before your flight. While the allowance on the flight to Puerto Maldonado is that shown in Free baggage allowance on national flights, the weight limit on the riverboat is considerably less: 5.5 kilograms (12.1 pounds). However, you can safely store excess baggage at your hotel in Cuzco, our office in that city or our office in Puerto Maldonado.
Medical & emergency information
Preventing mosquito bites
It is important to prevent mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and applying to exposed skin an insect repellent that contains 30% to 35% DEET. We further recommend a cap or a hat with mosquito netting to keep insects away from your face. Such items are available at outfitters and should be purchased before leaving home.
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).
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.
On the riverboat to and from the Heath River Wildlife Center, a bottle of water or juice is included with lunch. Between Sandoval Lake Lodge and Puerto Maldonado, the distance is short and no food or drinks are served.
Accommodations
The Heath River Wildlife Center has a generator to produce electricity, which is provided only in the common areas of the lodge (lobby, dining room and bar) during the hours of 5:30 am to 9 am, 12 pm to 2 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm. The guest bungalows are illuminated with candles. Each has a private bath with hot and cold running water.
The Sandoval Lake Lodge also has a generator to produce electricity, which is provided in the common areas of the lodge (lobby, dining room and bar) and the guest rooms during the hours of 5:30 am to 9 am, 12 pm to 2 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm. At other times, the guest rooms are illuminated with candles. Each has an electric fan and a private bath with hot and cold running water.
Riverboat trips
The one way riverboat trip between Puerto Maldonado and the Heath River Wildlife Center is 4 hours, between the Heath River Wildlife Center and the Sandoval Lake Lodge is 3 hours and between the Sandoval Lake Lodge and Puerto Maldonado is 2 to 2-1/2 hours (on a slower boat). All times are approximate.
Our prices include
Escorted transfers, private excursions with a professional guide, entrance fees, accommodations, all meals (see details), all land and water transportation, and travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years (over that age, there is a supplementary fee). All prices are per person based on two people sharing a guest room. For a detailed description of our services, see Opulent Itineraries.
Our price does not include
Air tickets to and from Puerto Maldonado, airport taxes ($6.05 for the Lima or Cuzco - Puerto Maldonado trip and $6.05 for the Puerto Maldonado - Lima or Cuzco trip must be paid directly by the passenger prior to the flight), excess baggage charges and additional nights at the Sandoval Lake Lodge in case of flight cancellation.
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.
In case of flight cancellation
1. If the flight from Lima or Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado is cancelled because of bad weather or maintenance of the aircraft, then the guest loses the first night at the Sandoval Lake Lodge. No refund can be given and the guest is responsible for the costs of the additional night in Lima or Cuzco.
2. If the plane is cancelled from Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco or Lima, guests must pay for any additional costs incurred during this extra night. They will find it most convenient and least expensive to stay at our recommended Cabaña Quinta in Puerto Maldonado, with a rate of USD 28 per person based on two people sharing a guest room. If the guests decide to return to the lodge for an additional night, and return to Puerto Maldonado the following day, they must pay for the extra night at the lodge as well as boat transportation. The lodge is USD 70 per person based on two people sharing a guest room. The boat transportation is USD 40 per person based on two passengers.
Conditions and responsibility
Inka's Empire Tour 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.
Readings on the Tambopata-Madidi Wilderness
January 1994 and March 2000 cover stories in National Geographic Magazine
© 2011 Inka's Empire Corporation, Luxury Peru Travel & Peru Tours. All rights reserved.
