MANU NATIONAL PARK INFORMATION

An area more than half the size of Switzerland, was established in 1973 on the eastern side of the Andes, extending from the puna( 4100masl), over mountain cloud forest to the Amazon lowlands ( 300 m asl).
Only in a small area along the Manu River can tourists visit the Manu National Park and observe wildlife in its natural way of living. (Most of the National Park is strictly protected and only accessible with a special permit.)
You spend the nights at lodge camps or in a lodge (Matsiguenka Lodge).
Due to the longer boat travel to and inside the National Park we recommend to do a 6 or 7 day tour (by bus) or a min. 7 day- tour (in and out by plane from Puerto Maldonado). At the moment only charter flights are available from Boca Manu airstrip.
Facilities at Maquisapayoj Lodge, close to the river, includes: double rooms with mosquito nets, private bathrooms with hot showers and a dining room. In Maquisapayoj you can also stay at the Tapir lick, on a special, elevated platform with comfortable mattresses and mosquito nets and toilet just in front of the tapir lick, in dense primary forest. Manu Biosphere Reserve with flight from Puerto Maldonado 5D/4N or by bus 7D/6N. See Details on itinerary
Please ask for our southern Peru weekly departures. Contact Us

FRECUENT ASKED QUESTIONS - MANU

1. DO I HAVE TO BE FIT FOR THE MANU TRIP?
On the Manu tour you spend some time travelling by bus and on the boat - depending on the tour (e.g. on the Manu National Park Tour you spend more time sitting in the boat) and we do walks that usually do not exceed 3 to 4 hours in one. You only need to bring a day pack on the walks. Night walks are optional and included in the price.
Due to the humidity and heat some people may feel a bit weak but there is always a 'siesta' at midday and the possibility to stay at the lodge instead of participating in a walk.
A rainforest tour is not a comfortable tour, but if you bring appropriate gear (see packing list) you will have an incomparable experience.
2. HOW TO DECIDE BETWEEN  OUR MANU NATIONAL PARK TOURS?
The Manu Biosphere Tour is outside of the Manu National Park and visits often 2 oxbow lakes from the 5 lakes wich exist around there (to observe Giant Otters), the Mammal Salt Lick at Maquisapayoj and the Macaw Clay Lick at Blanquillo private Reserve, both situated 30 km (19 miles) South of Boca Manu. The Macaw Clay Lick is situated outside the Manu National Park on the area call the Manu Biosphere Zone thus you need more time for travelling if you want to go into the National Park AND visit the Macaw Clay Lick.
On the Manu Biosphere Tour you have more time for walking on the trails and the tour has one day (day 5) to choose which animals you are missing or  would like to try (again), which is useful especially in case of bad weather conditions. The Biosphere reserve covers the territory of the indiginous community of Puerto Azul Barraca and they have special permission for logging around this area and you may listen some chainsaw.
On the Manu National Park Tour (ex-Reserved Zone, now the proper name is the touristic area of the Manu National Park since 2002),   you spend more time on the boat BUT IT IS WORTH AND HIGHLY RECOMENDED – travelling deep on the ISOLATED Manu River and comming back couple days later - and visit 2 oxbow lakes from the 23 inside the Park to observe Giant Otters, caymans and monkies and possible jaguar.
On both tours you have great opportunities to see animals, on the National Park Tour you have more options to see jaguar, big black caymans, turttles on the riverbanks (while travelling by boat) ( according to the statistics one out of ten groups see the Jaguar). On the Manu Biosphere Tour you are more flexible and have more options to try again at the tapir clay lick, macaw clay lick or walking on the trails.
3. IS THERE MALARIA AND LEISMANIASIS IN MANU? WHICH VACCINATIONS DO I NEED?

MALARIA: The Malaria risk in Manu is extremely low (less than 0.1 %). We recommend to bring insect repellent and protect yourself with long sleeves instead of taking heavy malaria prophylaxis (please check for the side effects of these medicaments!!) which are not very secure either. If you want you can bring a ´stand by´ medicine in case you get Malaria (which can be detected by blood analysis), but you can also get this medication here. In the south peruvian rainforest there is only the type of Malaria named ´Plasmodium vivax` which is completely curable.
YELLOW FEVER: It is recommended to have a Yellow Fever vaccination for Manu. If you plan to visit any jungle area or cloud forest like Machupicchu or Manu you better have the Yellow Fever vaccination because it is controlled at Limonal guard station.
LEISHMANIASIS: The risk to get Leishmaniasis is also very very low, the best form of protection is to wear long sleeves and long pants.  Is very important to chek 4 weeks after the tour for any round wound, if you have a wound that does not cure with regular medication chek with your doctor. In Peru the treatment for Leishmaniasis is free and they use Glucantine.
TETANUS: You should have a Tetanus vaccination for the rainforest and for Peru in general.
AS TO RABIES: We spend all nights under mosquito nets therefore the risk to be bitten by a bat is very low.
BOTFLY: If you have a pain like somebody pricking in your body that can be a botfly; you can feel this 2 or 3 weeks after the tour.  The human botfly occasionally uses humans as the host to its larvae. The larva, because of its spines, can pose an extremely painful sub-epidermal condition. To kill this larvae, one can attempt to seal the breathing hole of the larva with nail polish,  vaseline or with adhesive tape and then, after a day, squeeze out the suffocated dead larva.  In 25 years that I am working in Manu I knew of 2 clients had this botflies. 

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR THE BOOKING?
Please read the tour program before you book a tour, if you have any questions we will be happy to answer them.
We need your.
-      Full name:
-      Address:
-      Age:
-      Profession:
-      Nationality:
-      Actual Passport number  the one you are going to use for your trip.
To secure your booking we require a deposit in our Bank account or via Western Union. (more details in our booking conditions on terms and conditions please read carefully before booking).
We then confirm reception of the deposit and your tour booking. The balance is due at our office in Cusco, latest 3 days before your tour start. You can pay in cash (Soles, US $ or Euros),  Mastercard or Visa 5 working days before your tour begins.
We recommend to check credit card conditions (limits for the ATMs) with your bank before coming to Peru. 5. WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE FLIGHTS FROM MANU TO CUSCO AND VICEVERSA?
The flights from and to Boca Manu are NO LONGER operated with small aircrafts. THE ONLY OPTION IS VIA PUERTO MALDONADO.
Please also consider that flights to/ from Puerto Maldonado are more likely (than flights like Cusco - Lima) subject to change due to bad weather conditions, especially during the rainy season November till April or when we have cold fronts from May to October. We make the flight reservations for you but have no control over the flights. In rare cases with persistent bad weather conditions we may have to return overland from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco. Therefore we strongly recommend allowing a spare day before flying back to Lima, especially if you have connection to an international flight. In case you do not use your flight NO Show is charged (full flight price), in case you miss your flight the airline charges a 100 % penalty. We highlyrecommendto have a TRAVEL INSURANCE.
The luggage limit on the plane is 20 kg per person, there is a fee of 4 US $ per kilo for extra luggage. Also you have to pay a tax for Puerto Maldonado airport which is 6 US $ per person (one way).
6. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE?
On Manu tours the maximum group size is 10 people per guide. That means if there are more than 10 participants on a tour we take one more guide to divide the group into two while walking on the trails. This secures that everybody can hear what the guide says and the group is not too big to see animals etc.
7. WHAT ABOUT SLEEPING BAGS AND BINOCULARS?
You should bring a light sleeping bag to Manu for the observation platform at the mammal salt lick. In the months from may to october there can be cold fronts in the lowland forest, and temperatures may go down as far as 10 ° C, which feels colder due to the humidity in the rainforest. Binoculars are VERY essential for a Manu tour: to spot and have a close view of the animals.
Both sleeping bags and binoculars can be rented in Cusco. Just let us know.

MANU NATIONAL PARK LOGE

LODGES WE USE IN THE MANU TOUR:

BAMBU LODGE:

Located on the Asuncion area 650 msl.wich is consider the upper tropical forest. This area is very close to the cloud forest only one hour drive and is more safe because we do not have any problem with landslides in rainy season . There is trails for night walks and also good place for birdwatching. The accomodations are double rooms with private bathroom.

SOGA DE ORO LODGE:

Located at the beginning of the lowland forest 480 msl. There are many trails and the base camp for the cultural tours. The accomodation is double rooms with private bathroom and hotshower.

HUMMINGBIRD LODGE:

Located on the mouth of the Manu River close to Boca Manu Village 300 msl, from here you are 6 hours close to Cocha Salvador and Cocha Otorongo if you are doing the program of the Manu National Park, and only 2 hours to Maquisapayoj Lodge if you are doing the program of the Manu Biosphere reserve.The accomodation are double rooms with private bathroom.

CASA MATSIGUENKA:

Located on the Reserved Zone of the Manu National Park at 330 msl, also call the touristic zone of the park. The lodge has been built in the style of the Matsiguenkas. The accomodation are doble rooms and shared bathrooms.

MAQUISAPAYOJ LODGE:

Located on the Manu Biosphere Zone outside of the Manu National Park at 280 msl, also call the clay lick area because of the Tapir and Macaw clay liks. The lodge has been built all in wood wich gives the comfort jungle style. The accomodation are doble rooms with private bathrooms and hotshowers.

TAMBO BLANQUILLO:

Located on the Manu Lowland rainforest at 230 msl. The lodge is close to the Macaw clay lick, and to other 3 oxbow lakes. The accomodation are double rooms with shared bathroom also has hot shower.

MANU-MAQUISAPAYOJ 5 DAYS-4 NIGHTS

Bus in and boat, optional return flight from Puerto Maldonado. Best options for animal watching. Macaws, Tapirs, Otters, Monkeys, Caymans, jaguar.

Fixed departures every Monday or ask for different date of travel. 

Departure minimum 04 persons.

$ 1,148.00 USD (Bus/Bus)

$ 1,428.00 USD (Bus/Flight from Puerto Maldonado to Lima)

DAY 1.- CUSCO TO MAQUISAPAYOJ: 

3:00 am departure time. We take a trip of 12 hours in a private bus and boat (with short stops) from Cusco, ascending the Pirhuayani High Pass 4725 m (15583 feet). After a short stop on the high pass, to see the spectacular mountains, we descend the eastern slopes of the Andes through cloud forest with lush vegetation (ferns, orchids, bromeliads etc.) to the lowland rainforest on the Inambari River, after crossing the river we take another car for one hour from Puerto Carlos to Colorado village. Here the boat is waiting for us and will take us 5 hours up the Madre de Dios River to Maquisapayoj.Today we enjoy the changing landscape and have the opportunity to see wildlife along the rocky banks of the river, such as Cocoi Herons, Purplish Jays, Skimmers, Vultures, caimans and some of the 13 species of monkeys that live in Manu. Late afternoon, we arrive to Maquisapayoj Lodge (place of the Black Spider Monkey). The night is spent in double rooms with private bath and hot showers in Maquisapayoj. Optional night walk (to see insects, frogs, snakes etc).

DAY 2.- MAQUISAPAYOJ MACAW AND TAPIR LICK: 

4:40 am. We go to the macaw clay Lick, the trip is 40 minutes by boat and 15 minutes  walk to the special observation hideaway. We have our breakfast at the hideout. The activity begins around 5:30 am with the small parrots and later the big macaws. The Parrots eat the clay which has minerals that helps the stomach digestion that is the reason why hundreds of parrots parakeets and macaws come to this particular place.

After lunch, we walk through primary rain forest for 1.40 hours to the Tapir lick; here there is an especial observation platform to see the Tapir (Tapirusterrestris). The tapirs are usually active at night for this reason we have mosquito nets with mattress and blankets to spend the night.

DAY 3.- BLANCO AND CAMUNGO LAKE: 

Very early, we visit Blanco lake, here we look for the family of the Giant river otters that uses very often this lake, also this is an interesting place to observe the prehistoric bird called hoatzin, snail kite, brown throated three toed sloth, red howler monkey, squirrel monkey, white fronted capuchin, brown capuchin and other species that inhabit this lake.

After lunch, we visit Camungo Lake we will climb on the 42 meters tower, this is a very good place to observe the marvelous toucans. We go on the catamaran and have another chance for the Giant River Otters. Return to the lodge and have another option for the tapir in case we did not have luck the night before.

DAY 4.- MAQUISAPAYOJ TRAILS: 

On this day, we explore the trails of the lodge, we look for black spider monkey, monk Saki, emperor and saddle backed Tamarin, also with a very good explanation about the medicinal plants and trees which are used for lumber. Again we can have another last option for the tapir in case we did not have luck.

DAY 5.- MAQUISAPAYOJ TO CUSCO:

Early in the morning, we start with our return trip to Cusco, first by boat to Colorado village and then by car to Puerto Carlos, after crossing the Inambari River, we take our private bus to Cusco, we will be arriving around 19:00 hours and leave you at your hotel. For the people who wants to fly, from Puerto Carlos we take them by another car 2.30 hours to Puerto Maldonado airport and take the last flight arriving to Cusco Around 15:00 hours or to Lima around 17:00 Hrs. Transfer from the airport to your hotel and dinner by your own.

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES: Professional naturalist guide with telescope. Birding guide on request Private boat and bus transport. Return flight ticket to Cusco or Lima (If you have paid for that program) Entrance fees to Macaw clay lick,Tapir lick, Blanco & Camungo Lakes. Cook & food (vegetarian on request) and drinking water. Lodging. First Aid Kit, extractor (for poison) Bite Away for mosquito bites. Antidote for snake bite. Radio communication. Rubber boots. NOT INCLUDED: Binocular. Alcoholic drinks, sodas, etc. Airport tax aprox 6 USD Things you should bring for the Manu Trip: Mosquito repellent Long sleeved shirts T-Shirts Cotton socks Hiking shoes Sandals or light shoes to change Rain gear (rain poncho is ok) Sweater ( in case we have coldfront) Long pants Binoculars very important the best ones are (Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski, Nikon, Bushnell) 8x20, 8x32, 10x25, 10x40, 10x42 Camera and extra batteries Camera charger Dry bag back pack. Personal things  like toothbrush, etc Hat (or handkerchief) Sun blocker, sun glasses Flashlight LED Lenser H7 - 200 Lumens - Head torch Water bottle ( min. 1 l) Day pack Original passport Money (Soles) for soft drinks, handicrafts and tips Bite away very important for travelling in Peru

 

MANU NATIONAL PARK  MAP - MANU MAQUISAPAYOJ 5D / 4N:

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days

Important: Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. As a result, advance booking is mandatory.A maximum of 500 people per day, including guides and porters, are permitted to begin the Trail every day. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.

Note: that the Trail is closed every February for cleaning.

RECOMMENDATION If this is your first time going to the Andes or High Mountains we recommend getting information about the ALTITUDE SICKNESS, see below some websites recommend by High Mountain doctors and scientists from over the world. ISMM – International Society For Mountain Medicine MEDEX – Medical Expeditions

WE HAVE DAILY DEPARTURE and is recommended making your reservation 3 or 4 months before you arrive to Peru.

TOUR SCHEDULE & COST 2013

inca trail to machu picchu, discount 20%

inca jungle to machu picchu, inca path peru

AMAZON TRAILS PERÚ BOOKINGS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CHOOSING US!PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY (BEFORE BOOKING):

BOOKING INFORMATION:

1. We need your: full name, age, occupation, nationality, updated passport number and if you have any special dietary needs.
2. We need a deposit or a full payment of the tour(s) only at once in our  bank account in PERU of:  $250 USD per person if you are booking the inka trail, $ 250 USD if you take a jungle tour in and out by bus; and $ 500 USD if you take a program with flight from Puerto Maldonado. VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE SEND US THE VOUCHER OF DEPOSIT SCANED TO CONFIRM YOUR RESERVATION.
3. If you make more than one transaction through the bank, the cost will be charged to the client.
4. The balance is due 3 days before departure in USD cash or in Soles in our office in Cusco, the rate charged is generally 3.00 soles = US$1. You can withdraw US$ or soles from the many ATM machines. Generally more economic on debit cards.
   You can pay with Master card and Visa + 7% comission 10 working days before departure. Also know is possible to pay with Visa on  MO/TO system.
5. Prices are subject to change without previous notice. According to the fluctuation of the fuel.
6. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend you to plan your visit way in advance, at least 6 months in advance for Inka trail and  40 days in advance for Manu. (better with more time)

TRAVEL INSURANCE:

We highly recommend, to obtain the travel insurance, the passenger must make the insurance provider aware of the type of travel for which, you are buying insurance. The cost of our tours does not include TRAVEL INSURANCE. We require that all our passengers obtain travel insurance coverage for medical/dental expense and emergency medical transportation. A policy with these provisions commonly provides financial compensation, refunds and/or other benefits in case of trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, and baggage loss or delay. The clients must carry their travel insurance policy along with their valuable travel documents. In emergency situations, neither I nor our local agents will be liable to meet any expenses should your insurance coverage be inadequate in any respect.

HOW TO MAKE THE PAYMENT:

We have our account number in BANCO DE CREDITO DEL PERU this is the biggest bank in Peru which has many connection with other banks all over the world. We are not responsible for banking fees except for what we incur here in Peru. Our bank charges a fixed $18 USD fee for transactions. FOR EXTRA PAYMENTS - Ask your bank to make a net transfer. Note that many banks use intermediary banks that also charge a fee – We are not responsible for charges on transfers made by your bank or any intermediary bank as we already pay a bank charge for each transfer we receive.

CANCELLATION AND PENALTIES:

We must receive written notification of your decision to cancel a trip. Based on date of receipt, the following charges apply:

• If you cancel your trip prior to 35 days before departure we will refund you recoverable costs minus administrative and bank fees and any unrecoverable deposits made to third parties.
• If you cancel your trip up to 35 days before departure we retain 100% of your trip payments.
• We have our actualize price in our website and reconfirm at the moment of the payment.
• We do everything possible to avoid increasing trip prices. In exceptional circumstances, we reserve the right to amend prices without prior notice. And increase in trip price shall not be sufficient grounds for cancellation of the tour.
• Certain situations may arise during the tours which are beyond the control of the guides or passengers. Amazon Trails Peru will advise of the situation and suggest alternatives, when deemed necessary, in the interest of safety and security of passengers. In such instances of force majeure, Amazon Trails Peru will require a written response agreeing to or requesting other alternatives If changes due to force majeure entail additional costs, such costs are the responsibility of the contracting agency. Airlines typically charge a fee for date changes, ticket reissues and cancellations on most excursion fares. While we rarely cancel our departures, we reserve the right to do so up to 30 days in advance. In such a case, we will offer you alternative arrangements. If you do not accept these, we will refund all payments you made to us. In the event that we are forced to cancel a departure, we are not responsible for your trip preparation expenses such as non-refundable air tickets, doctor's fees, medications, inoculations passports and visas, and personal equipment. Airlines typically charge a fee for date changes, ticket re-issues and cancellations on most excursion fares. In the event that you are forced to make changes, your travel insurance policy may or may not cover these charges.

REFUNDS:

No partial refunds will be given for unused hotel rooms, meals, or other pre-arranged tour services due to passenger’s decision.

SINGLE ACCOMMODATION:

All our Tour packages the accommodation is based on double occupancy for hotels, tents, and lodges. Single accommodation is available on most departures for additional cost.

COMPLAINTS AND CLAIMS:

In the tour, we will do everything possible you can enjoy the tour, however If you are dissatisfied with the tour or our services or some other aspect of the tour, please inform the tour leader, tour guide or call our local representative in order to correct the situation. Any further complaint must be put in writing to Amazon Trails Peru within 15 days of the end of the tour. Any other constructive comments on how we can make things better next time will be appreciated.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED IN OUR TOURS:

Airport and hotel transfers, are not included in our packages, can be arranged upon request.

PERUVIAN AIRLINE COMPANIES:

There are four Airline Companies in Peru www.peruvianairlines.pe ,  www.starperu.com, www.taca.com , and www.lan.com

MONEY INFORMATION:

Euros and USD $ are easy to change in soles which is our local currency, other currency is Very difficult to exchange, better bring cash or credit cards, VISA and Master cards are most popular in Peru. ATM’s are widely available in major cities and airports and can dispense USD and local currency. Traveler’s checks are difficult to change and give a lower exchange rate. Major credit cards are also accepted in hotels and larger restaurants. It is recommended to make use of the Money Exchange Offices known as "Casas de Cambio" or banks for safety reasons.

TIPPING:

Tipping means satisfaction. Tipping your trip staff is optional but customary especially on the Inka trail. Take along around $50 USD in local currency for this purpose.

ATTITUDE:

In all our tours we make everything possible to avoid any kind of problems, Peru is a very nice country BUT sometimes can be blocked by unexpected Landslides or by strikes in that case we can slightly alter our program. We have taken all these possibilities into account when planning our expeditions and have allowed sufficient leeway to enable us to successfully run these exceptional trips. A positive attitude is essential traveling in Peru. We will do our best to make things “happen” Don’t expect this country to be like home!

manu national park informations

MANU NATIONAL PARK

An area more than half the size of Switzerland, was established in 1973 on the eastern side of the Andes, extending from the puna ( 4100m asl), over mountain cloud forest to the Amazon lowlands ( 300 m asl).

Only in a small area along the Manu River can tourists visit the Manu National Park and observe wildlife in its natural way of living. ( Most of the National Park is strictly protected and only accessible with a special permit.) You spend the nights at lodge camps or in a lodge ( e.g. Matsiguenka Lodge).

Due to the longer boat travel to and inside the National Park we recommend to do a 6,7 or 8 day tour (by bus) or a min. 7 day- tour (in and out by plane from Puerto Maldonado, see the program). At the moment only charter flights are available from Boca Manu airstrip.

Our 7 day tour to Manu National Park Reserved Zone with flight costs 1,515 USD/ 1,280 USD by bus 7 days (all inclusive)

Facilities of the Lodges; they are close to the road or to the river, includes: double rooms with mosquito nets, private bathrooms and a dining room (only Maquisapayoj lodge has hot showers) In casa Matsiguenka you have share bathroom. In Maquisapayoj you can also stay at the Tapir lick, on a special, elevated platform with comfortable mattresses and mosquito nets and toilet just in front of the tapir lick, in dense primary forest. »

Please ask for our southern Peru weekly departures Contact Us

FRECUENT ASKED QUESTIONS – MANU

1. DO I HAVE TO BE FIT FOR THE MANU TRIP?

On the Manu tour you spend some time travelling by bus and on the boat – depending on the tour (e.g. on the Manu National Park Tour you spend more time sitting in the boat) and we do walks that usually do not exceed 3 to 4 hours in one. You only need to bring a day pack on the walks. Night walks are optional.

Due to the humidity and heat some people may feel a bit weak but there is always a ‘siesta’ at midday and the possibility to stay at the lodge instead of participating in a walk.

A rainforest tour is not a comfortable tour, but if you bring appropriate gear (see packing list) you will have an incomparable experience.

2. HOW TO DECIDE BETWEEN OUR MANU NATIONAL PARK TOURS?

On the Manu National Park Program 8 days 7 nights which goes deep inside the isolated reserved zone is the most complete program because it covers all the ineteresting places of all the Manu area, like the Manu river, 2 oxbow lakes, tapir and macaw clay licks, giant river otters, monkies and possible jaguar.

On the Manu Biosphere Tour; you visit often 2 oxbow lakes from the 5 lakes wich exist there (to observe Giant Otters), the Mammal Salt Lick at Maquisapayoj and the Macaw Clay Lick at Blanquillo private Reserve, both situated 30 km (19 miles) south of Boca Manu. The Macaw Clay Lick is situated outside the National Park (Reserved Zone),on the area call the Manu Biosphere Zone thus you need less time for travelling on the boat.

On the Manu Maquisapayoj Tour 5 days 4 nights; you go directly to the low land of the Manu area and concentrate on the clay licks and on the 2 oxbow lakes like cocha blanco and cocha camungo lokking for otters and have more time for walking on the trails and the tour has one day (day 5 ) to choose which animals you are missing or would like to observe (again), which is useful especially in case of bad weather conditions.

On the Manu Cloud forestr with rafting 4 days 3 nights; This program concentrates more on the upper tropical forest of the Manu National Park. visits also a smal lake call Machuwasi and a parrot and small macaws clay lick where is possible to see the rarest Blue headed Macaw and chestnut fronted Macaws eating togheter with the blue headed and yellow crowned parrots. Rafting is optional and it depends very much on the river conditions.

On the Manu Cultural tour 3 days 2 nights; visits the same places as the Manu Cloud forest with rafting the difference is you return after the show of the parrots on day 3.

3. IS THERE MALARIA AND LEISMANIASIS IN MANU? WHICH VACCINATIONS DO I NEED?
Malaria: The Malaria risk in Manu is extremely low (less than 0.1 %). We recommend to bring insect repellent and protect yourself with long sleeves instead of taking heavy malaria prophylaxis (please check for the side effects of these medicaments!!) which are not very secure either. If you want you can bring a ´stand by´ medicine in case you get Malaria (which can be detected by blood analysis), but you can also get this medication here. In the south peruvian rainforest there is only the type of Malaria named ´Plasmodium vivax` which is completely curable.

Yellow Fever: It is recommended to have a Yellow Fever vaccination for Manu. If you plan to visit any jungle area or cloudforest like Machupicchu or Manu you better have the Yellow Fever vaccination because it is controlled at Limonal guard station.

Leishmaniasis: The risk to get Leishmaniasis is also very very low, the best form of protection is to wear long sleeves and long pants. Is very important to chek 4 weeks after the tour for any round wound, if you have a wound that does not cure with regular medication chek with your doctor. In Peru the treatment for Leishmaniasis is free and they use Glucantine.

Tetanus: You should have a Tetanus vaccination for the rainforest and for Peru in general.
As to rabies: We spend all nights under mosquito nets therefore the risk to be bitten by a bat is very low.

Botfly: If you have a pain like somebody pricking in your body that can be a botfly; you can feel this 2 or 3 weeks after the tour. The human botfly occasionally uses humans as the host to its larvae. The larva, because of its spines, can pose an extremely painful sub-epidermal condition. To kill this larvae, one can attempt to seal the breathing hole of the larva with nail polish, vaseline or with adhesive tape and then, after a day, squeeze out the suffocated dead larva. In 25 years that I am working in Manu I knew of 2 clients had this botflies.

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR THE BOOKING?

Please read the tour program before you book a tour, if you have any questions we will be happy to answer them.

We need your full name, address, age, profession, passport number and nationality to make a reservation. To secure your booking we require a deposit/ down payment of 250 US $ per person.(more details on terms and conditions please read carefully before booking)

The deposit can be made to our bank account in Cusco / Peru, or via Western Union. We then confirm reception of the deposit and your tour booking. The balance is due at our office in Cusco, latest 3 days before your tour start. You can pay in cash (Soles, US $ or Euros) or Mastercard 10 working days before your tour.

We recommend to check credit card conditions (limits for the ATMs) with your bank before coming to Peru.

5. WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE FLIGHTS FROM MANU TO CUSCO AND VICEVERSA?

The flights from and to Boca Manu are NO LONGER operated with small aircrafts. THE ONLY OPTION IS VIA PUERTO MALDONADO.

Please also consider that flights to/ from Puerto Maldonado are more likely (than flights like Cusco – Lima) subject to change due to bad weather conditions, especially during the rainy season November till April or when we have cold fronts from May to October. We make the flight reservations for you but have no control over the flights. In rare cases with persistent bad weather conditions we may have to return overland from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco. Therefore we strongly recommend to allow a spare day before flying back to Lima, especially if you have connection to an international flight. In case you do not use your flight No Show is charged (full flight price), in case you miss your flight the airline charges a 100 % penalty. We higly recomend to have a TRAVEL INSURANCE.

The luggage limit on the plane is 20 kg per person, there is a fee of 4 US $ per kilo for extra luggage. Also you have to pay a tax for Puerto Maldonado airport which is 6US $ per person (one way).

6. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE?

On Manu tours the maximum group size is 10 people per guide. That means if there are more than 10 participants on a tour we take one more guide to divide the group into two while walking on the trails. This secures that everybody can hear what the guide says and the group is not too big to see animals etc.

7. WHAT ABOUT SLEEPING BAGS AND BINOCULARS?

You should bring a light sleeping bag to Manu for the observation platform at the mammal salt lick. In the months from may to october there can be cold fronts in the lowland forest, and temperatures may go down as far as 10 ° C, which feels colder due to the humidity in the rainforest. Binoculars are essential for a Manu tour: to spot and have a close view of the animals. Both sleeping bags and binoculars can be rented in Cusco. Just let us know.

If you have any further questions you are welcome to mail us!

BOOKINGS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS manu national park

AMAZON TRAILS PERÚ

BOOKINGS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CHOOSING US!
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY (BEFORE BOOKING):

BOOKING INFORMATION:

1. We need your: full name, age, occupation, nationality, updated passport number and if you have any special dietary needs.
2. We need a deposit or a full payment of the tour(s) only at once in our  bank account in PERU of:  $250 USD per person if you are booking the inka trail, $ 250 USD if you take a jungle tour in and out by bus; and $ 500 USD if you take a program with flight from Puerto Maldonado. VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE SEND US THE VOUCHER OF DEPOSIT SCANED TO CONFIRM YOUR RESERVATION.
3. If you make more than one transaction through the bank, the cost will be charged to the client.
4. The balance is due 3 days before departure in USD cash or in Soles in our office in Cusco, the rate charged is generally 3.00 soles = US$1. You can withdraw US$ or soles from the many ATM machines. Generally more economic on debit cards.
   You can pay with Master card and Visa + 7% comission 10 working days before departure. Also know is possible to pay with Visa on  MO/TO system.
5. Prices are subject to change without previous notice. According to the fluctuation of the fuel.
6. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend you to plan your visit way in advance, at least 6 months in advance for Inka trail and  40 days in advance for Manu. (better with more time)

TRAVEL INSURANCE:

We highly recommend, to obtain the travel insurance, the passenger must make the insurance provider aware of the type of travel for which, you are buying insurance. The cost of our tours does not include TRAVEL INSURANCE. We require that all our passengers obtain travel insurance coverage for medical/dental expense and emergency medical transportation. A policy with these provisions commonly provides financial compensation, refunds and/or other benefits in case of trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, and baggage loss or delay. The clients must carry their travel insurance policy along with their valuable travel documents. In emergency situations, neither I nor our local agents will be liable to meet any expenses should your insurance coverage be inadequate in any respect.

HOW TO MAKE THE PAYMENT:

We have our account number in BANCO DE CREDITO DEL PERU this is the biggest bank in Peru which has many connection with other banks all over the world. We are not responsible for banking fees except for what we incur here in Peru. Our bank charges a fixed $18 USD fee for transactions. FOR EXTRA PAYMENTS - Ask your bank to make a net transfer. Note that many banks use intermediary banks that also charge a fee – We are not responsible for charges on transfers made by your bank or any intermediary bank as we already pay a bank charge for each transfer we receive.

CANCELLATION AND PENALTIES:

We must receive written notification of your decision to cancel a trip. Based on date of receipt, the following charges apply:

• If you cancel your trip prior to 35 days before departure we will refund you recoverable costs minus administrative and bank fees and any unrecoverable deposits made to third parties.
• If you cancel your trip up to 35 days before departure we retain 100% of your trip payments.
• We have our actualize price in our website and reconfirm at the moment of the payment.
• We do everything possible to avoid increasing trip prices. In exceptional circumstances, we reserve the right to amend prices without prior notice. And increase in trip price shall not be sufficient grounds for cancellation of the tour.
• Certain situations may arise during the tours which are beyond the control of the guides or passengers. Amazon Trails Peru will advise of the situation and suggest alternatives, when deemed necessary, in the interest of safety and security of passengers. In such instances of force majeure, Amazon Trails Peru will require a written response agreeing to or requesting other alternatives If changes due to force majeure entail additional costs, such costs are the responsibility of the contracting agency. Airlines typically charge a fee for date changes, ticket reissues and cancellations on most excursion fares. While we rarely cancel our departures, we reserve the right to do so up to 30 days in advance. In such a case, we will offer you alternative arrangements. If you do not accept these, we will refund all payments you made to us. In the event that we are forced to cancel a departure, we are not responsible for your trip preparation expenses such as non-refundable air tickets, doctor's fees, medications, inoculations passports and visas, and personal equipment. Airlines typically charge a fee for date changes, ticket re-issues and cancellations on most excursion fares. In the event that you are forced to make changes, your travel insurance policy may or may not cover these charges.

REFUNDS:

No partial refunds will be given for unused hotel rooms, meals, or other pre-arranged tour services due to passenger’s decision.

SINGLE ACCOMMODATION:

All our Tour packages the accommodation is based on double occupancy for hotels, tents, and lodges. Single accommodation is available on most departures for additional cost.

COMPLAINTS AND CLAIMS:

In the tour, we will do everything possible you can enjoy the tour, however If you are dissatisfied with the tour or our services or some other aspect of the tour, please inform the tour leader, tour guide or call our local representative in order to correct the situation. Any further complaint must be put in writing to Amazon Trails Peru within 15 days of the end of the tour. Any other constructive comments on how we can make things better next time will be appreciated.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED IN OUR TOURS:

Airport and hotel transfers, are not included in our packages, can be arranged upon request.

PERUVIAN AIRLINE COMPANIES:

There are four Airline Companies in Peru www.peruvianairlines.pe ,  www.starperu.com , www.taca.com , and www.lan.com

MONEY INFORMATION:

Euros and USD $ are easy to change in soles which is our local currency, other currency is Very difficult to exchange, better bring cash or credit cards, VISA and Master cards are most popular in Peru. ATM’s are widely available in major cities and airports and can dispense USD and local currency. Traveler’s checks are difficult to change and give a lower exchange rate. Major credit cards are also accepted in hotels and larger restaurants. It is recommended to make use of the Money Exchange Offices known as "Casas de Cambio" or banks for safety reasons.

TIPPING:

Tipping means satisfaction. Tipping your trip staff is optional but customary especially on the Inka trail. Take along around $50 USD in local currency for this purpose.

ATTITUDE:

In all our tours we make everything possible to avoid any kind of problems, Peru is a very nice country BUT sometimes can be blocked by unexpected Landslides or by strikes in that case we can slightly alter our program. We have taken all these possibilities into account when planning our expeditions and have allowed sufficient leeway to enable us to successfully run these exceptional trips. A positive attitude is essential traveling in Peru. We will do our best to make things “happen” Don’t expect this country to be like home!