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Pre-Departure Information Manu

The Greatest Rain Forest Destination in the World

Manu-the very word has become synonymous with the best rain forest in the world. The protected areas of the great Manu wilderness have become world famous because of their unspoiled rain forest and amazing wildlife. Manu protects more species of animals and plants than any other park on Earth.

The Manu National Park contains 1,000 species of birds, or one out of every nine on Earth, and 200 more than the U.S. and Canada combined. Approximately 550 bird species occur within a few square miles of lowland forest. Try a short visit to the spectacular lowland forest of Manu to see the world's best rain forest wildlife, including the world's most approachable, photographable macaw clay lick.

Also featured are the biggest clay lick of South America's largest land animal--the 600-pound (250 kilos) Lowland Tapir, playful Giant Otters, Jaguars, and ten species of monkeys, including the amazing mustachioed Emperor Tamarin. Or lengthen your stay to include the incomparable two-day road entry from Cusco to Manu through the world's most intact and accessible tropical cloud forest, which features exotic tree ferns, orchids, and the world's largest known display ground of the blazing red Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Rainfall in the Manu Lowlands is around 2500 - 3500 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 (freajes) occur once every month or so, with daily temperatures dropping to 15°C (59°F) and nightly temperatures to 13°F (55°F).

In the Manu Cloud Forest there is an annual rainfall of approximately 5000 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).

HOW TO GET THERE

From Cusco we fly 35 or 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, which is the single best wildlife lodge in the Amazon. Our boats are equipped with a 65 HP engines, a roof to protect from the sun and the rain, life jackets, cushioned seats and carry a spare motor in the unlikely event that the principal engine breaks down.

Our representative in Cusco will transfer you from your hotel to the airport and help you to board the plane, and when you will return from Manu the Transfer person will assist 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 charm bar with hammocks for relaxing. Manu Wildlife Center has no electricity. 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 guests bedrooms is by candle. An 110V generator is available from which camcorder batteries can be recharged. Please note that guests may need to bring a special adaptor to plug into the generator.

On December 2002 the famous Conde Nast Traveller magazine consider our lodge as one of the best rainforest lodges in South America. In the next lines you will find some comments from that magazine:

"…Manu Wildlife Center offered, hands down the most intense wildlife experience I've had in the Amazon." December 2002 Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.

"…Manu Wildlife Center has become a base of choice for elite bird-watching tours and wildlife-documentary crews- people willing to spend good money to be treated well." December 2002, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.

WHAT TO BRING
We recommend:

General Conditions

In each booking please indicate the following information:

• Complete personal data including name of the passengers and age.
• Passport number and Nationality.
• Occupation.
• Any special food requirements (Vegetarian, low salt, low fat, diabetic or other)
• Any special medical requirements.
• Any special interest.

Important: Though we have not heard of anyone contracting yellow fever anywhere in Peru in many years, the Peruvian government nevertheless recommends a yellow fever vaccination for trips to the rainforest. This vaccination is required or recommended for most rainforest areas around the world. The vaccination, which is valid for 10 years, is only effective starting10 days after it is administered – if you choose to be vaccinated please keep this in mind.
InkaNatura Travel recommends the yellow fever vaccination for those who will visit any of our lodges in the rainforest, and that they consult their physician.

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.

Our office contacts are:

• Lima
  Manuel Banon 461 San Isidro, Lima
  (51 1) 440-2022
• Cusco (Sales office)
  Calle Plateros 361 – Cusco
  (51 84)255255

• Cusco (Administrative and operations office)
  Calle Ricardo Palma J1 - Urb. Santa Mónica, Cusco
  (51 84)231138 or 243408
  
  InkaNatura staff can be contacted 24 hours a day on (084) 965-0965 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 MANU WILDLIFE CENTER.

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.

The breakfast is served at the floating blind when you admire the macaw clay lick includes delicious pancakes, butter, jam, honey, fruit and crackers, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP

• Transfers from the selected hotel in Cusco to the Airport and from the Airport to the selected hotel at the end of the trip,
• Air transportation Cusco/Boca & Manu/Cusco;
• Overland transportation during Bio Trips programs.
• Accommodations with all meals from lunch on the first day to the breakfast on the last day.
• English speaking guide.
• Guided excursions according the itinerary
• River transportation.
• For the flights there is a baggage allowance of 10 kg per person

EXCLUDED

• Airport taxes. Note about the different rates for the airport taxes:

  For Manu Wildlife Center programs & Manu Wildlife Tented Camp programs - the airport taxes to be paid is US $ 23.00 per person.

  For Bio–Trip programs & Manu Explorers programs - the airport tax to be paid is US $ 8.00 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 $ 1.00 “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.

BOOKINGS AND CANCELLATION POLICY:

• USD 150 non refundable deposit per person at the time of booking confirmation
• Full payment 30 days prior trip departure
• For individuals : Cancellation within 15 days prior departure 50% penalty of the full rate, within 14 up to 1 day prior departure 100% penalty of the full rate.
• For organized tours groups formed abroad: Cancellation within 45 days prior departure 50, within 30 to 15 days prior departure 75% penalty of the full rate, within 14 up to 1 day prior departure 100% penalty of the full rate.
• No shows : 100% penalty of the full rate.
  

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 THE WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS DEPENDING ON THE REPORTS OF OUR NATURALIST AND EXPERIENCED GUIDES BASED AT THE LODGES.

IN CASE OF FLIGHT CANCELLATION

• If the flight Cusco to Boca Manu is cancelled owing to bad weather, then the guest loses the first night in Manu Wildlife Center. No refund can be given and the guest is responsible for the costs of the additional night and expenses in Cusco.
• 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 return to the lodge 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) .

MACAW CLAY LICK
Please note that :

• The clay lick activity reaches its best from August to October and decreases during the months of May and June.
• During the dry season (June-September) the water level on the river does not always allow for a floating blind and it will then be sitting on the ground.

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 http://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:

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

More information:

Manu Wildlife Center Tours    Manu National Park    Manu Map    Manu Photo Gallery