General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Peru: The Manu Biosphere Preserve and Machú Picchú. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING AND LEAVING PERU: For United States citizens a valid passport and return airline ticket are required. Visas are not necessary, as a tourist card will be issued on entry. Your passport, as a general rule, should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. Citizens of other countries may need a visa and should check their nearest Peruvian embassy. If required by the embassy or visa-granting entity, WINGS can provide a letter for you to use regarding your participation in the tour. As of October 2008, travelers must pay a $32 airport departure tax on leaving Lima at the end of the tour; this tax can be paid in US dollars or in soles. Consult with your airline on arrival to find out whether this tax is still imposed.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view a map of Peru here. To adjust the size, click on the map’s lower right corner. You can review the U.S. State Department Background Notes on Peru here.
HEALTH: A malaria preventative is recommended. The incidence of malaria has increased dramatically in recent years; the disease is no longer restricted to the Amazonian lowlands, having spread to the coast and the Andean highlands. Prophylaxis for chloroquine-resistant strains of malaria is recommended.
Immunization for yellow fever is recommended by the CDC for travel in Peru and every other trip into the deep tropics.
The CDC currently also recommends the following vaccines (see your doctor at least 4—6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect): Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG); typhoid; and as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. You can view the latest CDC traveler’s advisories here.
A final word about health: This trip is not excessively arduous but does involve two days at elevations over 10,000 feet. If you have a heart problem, please consult your doctor concerning these higher elevations.
CLIMATE: Peru’s climate varies widely. Coastal Lima is seasonally foggy, damp, and chilly, necessitating a sweater. Cusco, an Andean town, is cold at night and early in the day. As we bird around Cusco and head out of town, it will be cool and clear. During the afternoon, it can be very bright and sun protection should be used. In the eastern lowlands, expect temperatures in the 70s to high 80s (F) with high humidity. Rain is always a possibility in the eastern Andes and lowlands.
PACE OF THE TOUR: As with most birding in the tropics, we have only 12 hours of sunlight for birding. Sunrise is early in Peru, rising by 5:15 am, thus we will be rising early (4:30 am) on several mornings to get to sites on time; however, on many days we’ll be done with our evening meal and the day’s birdlist by 8 pm. Be warned of the effects of altitude. We will be at elevations up to nearly 11,000 feet (3200 m) for the first few days of the tour. Much of our birding will be done while walking, and uphills, downhills, and some rugged terrain are inevitable (this is the Andes!). Furthermore, there are one or two walks longer than two miles, but we’ll describe the conditions and participants can opt out of they wish.
ACCOMMODATIONS: In Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Puerto Maldonado, we stay in comfortable, standard hotels, with private bathroom facilities and electricity. Singles are available at these three locations. Elsewhere on the tour, our accommodations are more basic; singles may not be available at the lodges.
At Pillahuata, we camp in a grassy area at an altitude of 3,000 meters (about 9,500 feet) where temperatures may drop to 8º C (46º F) at night. We use mosquito-proof tents (although there are no biting insects) with added floor protection and thick foam pads on which to sleep. Sleeping bags are provided, so there is no need to bring your own. Toilets are basic but adequate. The ground crew takes care of all logistics (erecting tents, cooking food, etc.). There is a dining tent with folding tables and chairs as well as a cook tent where our field staff prepares for all our needs: three-course meals and hot drinks on tap and plenty of drinking water.
Cock of the Rock Lodge is situated in the pristine cloud forest of the mountains of Manu just a few minutes walk from a spectacular Cock of the Rock lek furnished with comfortable blinds to observe these colorful birds during their dawn mating rituals. Facilities at the Lodge include 12 large spaceous bungalows with private facilities: hot and cold running water, flush toilets and two single beds in each room. Each bungalow has a private balcony and bird feeder. Lighting is by candle and lantern but there is a small generator available for charging batteries. There is a large dining area and lounge overlooking a feeding station for Brown Capuchin Monkeys and Tayras ( a large mustellid). Hummingbird feeders attract several species.
Amazonia Lodge has shared bathroom facilities consisting of toilets and hot water showers. While there is no generated electricity, the Lodge has solar panels that are used for charging car batteries. If you have an adapter, batteries can be charged from this. The solar panels are also used to power some lights; otherwise, lighting is by kerosene lamps and candles. Walkways between buildings are lighted by kerosene lamps.
The Manu Wildlife Centre is a relatively new facility where we stay in cabins with private bathroom facilities (hot water showers and flush toilets). All beds have mosquito netting. There is a generator for recharging batteries. Lighting is by kerosene lamps and candles. A bar and eating hall complete the compound facilities. Laundry can be done here for a fee.
DRESS: Informal dress is acceptable throughout Peru.
TRANSPORTATION: Our land transportation will be by private bus. Most road travel will be on unpaved roads, since extremes of climate make the maintenance of paved roads impractical everywhere but along the coast.
SMOKING: We request that you not smoke in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group.
If any lodge, accommodation, or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than the WINGS policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Southeastern Peru will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Updated: November 2008