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 kilo) 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 (friajes) 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

Overland:
From Cusco we drive in our 24 passenger fully-equipped 4wd bus over the Andean pass at Abra Ajanaco and continue through the most accessible and well-preserved altitudinal transect of cloud forest in South America. During the eight hour drive to Cock of the Rock Lodge we will be stopping for our first cloud-forest birding. Continuing on from Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, we will drive three hours to the village of Atalaya to meet with our motorized river-boat. From the Atalaya river port on the Alto Madre de Dios, Amazonia Lodge is thirty minutes by boat. Following our stay at Amazonia Lodge we once again navigate by motorized canoe approximately 6 hours down the Madre de Dios river to Manu Wildlife Center.
Our boats are equipped with a 55HP engine, a roof to protect from the sun and the rain, cushioned seats and carry a spare motor in the unlikely event that the principal engine breaks down.

By plane:
From Cusco we fly 35 minutes by twin-engine 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 representative in Cusco will transfer you to the airport and help you to board the plane.

. . .
ABOUT THE LODGES

Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge is located in the Kosñipata Valley; 165 km from Cusco. The lodge has a large fully screened dining room with birding balcony; 7 double-occupancy private bungalows with private bath; and 7 double-occupancy rooms with shared bath (six doubles and one matrimonial). All rooms have glass windows and showers have hot water. Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge 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., Cock-of-the-Rocks display daily at one of the most accessible leks in South America, only seven-minutes' walk from the lodge.

Amazonia Lodge is located at Km 192 on the Cusco-Shintuya road in department of Madre de Dios in the cultural zone of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. The lodge has 15 double-occupancy rooms, a separate complex of 8 shared bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets; a central dining area; and an excellent birding balcony with chairs to put your feet up.

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, 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 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. Insects for which you will need repelent include mosquitoes (forest interior), sandflies (rivers and lakes) and chiggers (grassy areas and forest floor).

WHAT TO BRING
We recommend :

Good binoculars A bottle or canteen to carry water on outings.
Camera gear (ASA 50, 100 and 200 recommended) A hat that will not come off in windy boat rides. One pair of shorts.
Two or three pairs of long cotton pants Sunglasses
Four pairs of absorbent socks. A pair of sneakers or hiking boots and sandals.
Rain suit or long poncho (100 % waterproof - test before you leave home) Insect repellent) Skin-so-soft for river, and 20% or more deet for forest)
Two or three long-sleeved cotton shirts A photocopy of your passport
Two or three T-shirts.
Sunscreen lotion (high factor) A bright flashlight Personal toiletries and medications Rubber boots for the rainy season from November to April

There is a limit of 10 kilograms per person in the aircraft. If you have more kilograms then the excess will be charged to you directly in Cusco.

General Conditions

In each booking please indicate the following information:

1. Complete 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 guests arrival in Peru.

Manu Wildlife Center 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 Cusco office every morning and evening. Cusco can also be contacted through a telephone patch during daylight hours. Our staff can be contacted 24 hours a day on 084-623666 & 084-650965 in Cusco, and 01-9090996 in Lima. Should an accident occur and evacuation be 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.

Our office contacts are :

Lima Manuel Banon 461 San Isidro, Lima
_ (51 1) 440-2022

Cusco Calle Ricardo Palma J1 Urb Santa Monica Cusco
_ (51 84) 243408

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 served at the macaw clay lick comprises pancakes, butter, jam, honey, fruit and crackers, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

OUR PRICES INCLUDE
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 BioTrips. Accommodations with all meals, English speaking guide, river transportation and excursions according to the itinerary.

OUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Airport taxes (CUSCO TO BOCA MANU AND BOCA MANU TO CUSCO), excess baggage charges (there is a baggage allowance of 10 kg on flights to and from Boca Manu) and additional nights at Manu Wildlife Center in case of flight cancellations, The passengers should bring some cash for drinks at the bar, airport taxes, personal expenses, and tips.

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.

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 GUIDES AND STAFF BASED AT THE LODGES.

IN CASE OF FLIGHT CANCELLATION
1. 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 in Cusco.

2. 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) .

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.

Books and videos about the rainforests of Manu can be purchased in the Peru Verde store at Manu Wildlife Center. The following books are also very informative about neotropical rainforests and wildlife:

Les Beletsky & David Pearson. 2001. The Ecotraveller's Wildlife Guide Series: Peru. Academic Press.

Adrian Forsyth & Ken Miyata. 1987. Tropical Nature. Touchstone Books.

James F. Clements & Noam Shany. 2001. A Field Guide to the Birds of Peru. Ibis Publications.

Kim MacQuarrie, André & Cornelia Bärtschi. 1998. Manu National Park. Patthey, 2d Edition.

World Heritage Program Protected Areas Program
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/protected_areas/data/wh/manu.html

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSABILITY
Peru Birding 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.

Peru Birding 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.

No refund will be possible for any unused part of the tour.

If you would like additional information, please send an email to postmaster@perubirding.com