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Pre-Departure Information

Manu. The name has acquired a legendary mystique among birdwatchers, naturalists, and conservationists throughout the world. No other park on the planet protects so many bird species, so many plants and animals, as this outstanding wilderness area.

Only 20% of the entire Amazon has the rich floodplain soils that yield abundant rainforest fruits and support dense populations of forest wildlife. Of that area, a mere one percent is both protected by wildlife reserves and has regular access by safe and reliable turboprop aircraft. These are the qualities that have earned Manu its fabled reputation as the jewel in the crown of Amazon wildlife viewing experiences.

And for those who choose to take the land route into Manu, the park offers even more - a vast span of stark mountain and high altitude cloud forest that covers the entire spectrum of contrasting natural environments and wildlife, all the way from the high Andes to the Amazonian lowlands. This route includes the Cock-of-the-Rock lodge, a superbly located cloud forest hotel, with a nearby viewing area for the almost garishly brilliant national bird of Peru.

Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve lies adjacent to three other protected areas that together cover an area nearly the size of Belgium, or the U.S. State of Maryland. This area includes vast swathes of land inhabitated only by either uncontacted tribes or a handful of intrepid scientists. It contains 1,000 of the globe’s 10,000 bird species (200 more than all of the U.S. and Canada combined), 15,000 of the world’s 250,000 flowering plant species, 13 species of monkeys – including the rare Monk Saki and Emperor Tamarin monkeys – and all of the major Amazonian predators.

Our Manu itineraries allow us to witness wildlife spectacles that are rare or nonexistent in other locations. Within the highly protected Manu National Park, abundant wildlife that is seldom seen elsewhere – ranging from Jaguars, large caimans and Giant Otters to Red Howler Monkeys – are frequently seen at close range along the riverbanks and in the area’s the oxbow lakes. In our private reserve at the comfortable Manu Wildlife Center a mammal clay lick allows in-your-face sightings of the elusive tapir, the Amazon’s largest mammal. And at the Blanquillo clay lick, a short way downriver, we can witness one of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles: A mass of noisy, squabbling, brilliantly colored macaws and parrots, as they gather to nibble clay – essential for neutralizing toxins in their diet – from the steep riverbank. Add two canopy viewing towers, more oxbow lakes and miles of superb trails, and you have the complete rainforest experience.

WEATHER CONDITIONS
Rainfall in the Manu Lowlands is around 2500-3500 millimeters/98-138 inches 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 15°C (59°F) and nightly temperatures to 13°F (55°F).

HOW TO GET THERE
From Cusco we fly 45 minutes by plane to the Manu lowlands and navigate 90 minutes down the Madre de Dios River by motorized canoe to reach Manu Wildlife Center, the single best wildlife lodge in the Amazon.

Our boats are equipped with 65HP engines, a roof to protect us from the weather, life jackets, and cushioned seats. They carry a spare motor, in the unlikely event that the principal engine breaks down.

(Please note: local regulations require that during river travel lifejackets must be worn at all times, and rubber boots must be removed.)

Our representative in Cusco will transfer you from your hotel to the airport and help you to board the plane. Those taking the overland route to Manu will be picked up a their hotels. On the return from Manu our local staff will assist you with the transfer from the airport to your hotel..

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 double-occupancy fully screened private bungalows, separate complexes with hot showers and toilets, a large fully screened dining room and a delightful bar with hammocks for relaxing.

Manu Wildlife Center has limited electricity at certain times of day (from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 17:30 to 21:00 hours), during which it is possible to recharge batteries, although a local wall-plug adaptor may be required. (Note that current is 220V; make sure your equipment is compatible with this voltage.) Lighting in the communal areas is by kerosene lamp and candles, with the paths around the lodge complex lit by kerosene lamps. Lighting in the guest bungalows is by candle.

WHAT TO BRING

We recommend:

General Conditions

In each booking please indicate the following information:

1. Complete personal data, name of the passengers and age.
2. Passport number and Nationality.
3. Occupation.
4. Any special food requirements (Vegetarian, low salt, low fat, diabetic or other)
5. Any special medical requirements.
6. Any special interest.

Important: Though we have never heard of anyone contracting yellow fever anywhere in Peru or neighboring countries Peru nevertheless requires a current yellow fever vaccination for trips to the rain forest regions. This vaccination normally is required or recommended for all rain forest regions around the world. This vaccination, which is valid for 10 years, must be administered AT LEAST 10 days before the guest’s arrival in Peru.

Our lodge has a basic first aid kit which also includes anti-venom. The lodge is equipped with a short-wave radio and is in contact with our Cusco office every morning and evening.

InkaNatura Travel highly recommends that our clients obtain a comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travel to Manu and anywhere in the world.

Our office contacts are :

Lima
Manuel Banon 461 San Isidro, Lima
Phone: (51 1) 203-5000

Cusco (Sales Office)
Calle Ricardo Palma J1 - Urb. Santa Mónica, Cusco
Phone: (51 84) 255255

Cusco (Administrative and operations office)
Calle Ricardo Palma J1 - Urb Santa Monica, Cusco
Phone: (51 84)231138 or 243408

InkaNatura staff can be contacted 24 hours a day on (084) 98465-0965 in Cusco, or (01) 9909-0996 in Lima. Should an accident occur and evacuation is required, the injured party can be flown from Boca Manu airstrip to Cusco during daylight hours. The village of Boca Manu also has a small first aid post.

MEALS AND DRINKS AT OUR LODGES OR CAMP
All meals are included in the trip from the Lunch on the first day to the 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, tomato, peppers, onion and French fries) and arroz con pollo (a mildly spicy mix of saffron rice, chicken and vegetables). When possible, fruit and vegetables are bought from the few families who live in the area.

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.

INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP

• Transfer from the Airport to the selected hotel at the end of the trip,
• Air transportation Cusco/Boca Manu/Cusco.
• Accommodations with all meals from lunch on the first day to the breakfast on the last day.
• English speaking guide.
• Guided excursions in accordance with the itinerary.
• River transportation.

Note that flights restrict baggage allowance to 10 kg per person.

NOT INCLUDED

• Airport taxes. Note about the different rates for the airport taxes: For Manu Wildlife Center programs - the airport tax is US $ 30.00 per person.
• Excess baggage charges. If you have more than the 10 kilograms permitted then the excess will be charged to you directly in Cusco, The cost for the extra kilo is US $ 31.00 "space permitting".
• Extra services (Transportation) and nights at Manu Wildlife Center or alternative lodges in case of flights cancellations.
• Personal expenses and tips. Passengers should bring some cash.

Whether or not to leave a tip is a completely voluntary and personal choice. However, we are often asked for guidelines on what to tip staff. Therefore we suggest the following, at your discretion:

• Our lodges have a staff tips box, whose contents are shared among housekeepers, waiters, cooks and cleaning staff. We suggest a contribution of $10.00 per day of stay per guest.
• For your guide we suggest a tip of $10.00 per day per guest.
• For your boat driver we suggest a tip of $5.00 per day per guest.

PRE-DEPARTURE BRIEFING.
One day before departure our representative in Cusco 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 hotels the clients are staying and the date of their arrival. If you have a tour operator in Lima or Cusco please inform us, also you could visit us at our InkaNatura Travel Calle Plateros # 361 - Telephone (51-84) 255-255 – Cusco.

If you do not have an operator in Cusco 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.

(Please note that our programs may vary slightly so as to maximize wildlife sightings depending on the reports of our experienced naturalist guides based at the lodges.)

IN CASE OF FLIGHT CANCELLATION
1. If the plane is cancelled whilst the guests are waiting to return to Cusco, 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 go to Manu Wildlife Center for an additional night (SPACE PERMITTING), and return to Boca Manu the following day, the guests must pay an additional USD 60.00 for the extra night and boat transportation (USD 190 irrespective of the number of passengers)

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MANU
Travelers may recall three recent TV shows about Manu on Discovery Channel, PBS-TV in the U.S., and NHK-TV in Japan, or the cover story about the macaws of Manu and Tambopata in the January 1994 National Geographic Magazine, and most European and Japanese nature magazines. Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, Dec 2002: “Manu Wildlife Center´s ability to deliver watchable wildlife is unsurpassed”.

You can visit our web site: www.inkanatura.com or www.manu-wildlife-center.com.

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSABILITY
InkaNatura Travel and/or their 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 due to 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.

InkaNatura Travel HAS THE RIGHT:

1. to make any change in the itinerary when deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules.
2. to accept or decline any persons as members of a tour.
3. To fill unoccupied space on its boats and airplanes with its guides, staff and cargo.
4. No refund will be possible for any unused part of the tour.

Other Resources - Predeparture Informacion for trips:

• Manu Adventurer Pre-departure information 2010,
• Manu National Park Tapir and macaw Pre-departure info 2010.
• The Bio trip Pre-departure information 2010.