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How to get there
Puerto Maldonado is reached by a one and a half hour flight from Lima,
the capital of Peru or by a 30 minute flight from Cuzco. Currently there
are 2 carriers flying to the city - TANS and Lan Peru. Tickets
for both airlines can be purchased in Europe or America, it is advisable
to reserve your tickets in advance as space is limited. There is an overland
option from Cuzco but only for the adventurous. The trip takes a minimum
of 24 hours on a very bumpy but beautiful road that descends from 4,000m
down to 230m above sea level, the altitude of Puerto Maldonado. However, during the rainy season this trip can take a number of days. It is possible to travel either by bus, or on the back of a petrol tanker or truck bringing supplies
to town.
Weather Conditions
The Tambopata region has a sub-tropical climate with a distinct wet and
dry season. The average annual temperature is 26°C and the average annual
rainfall 2000mm. The majority of this rainfall is between November and
April, the wettest months, whilst between May and October, the dry season,
tends to be cooler and less humid but it may still rain. Cold events (friajes)
occur during May and July when temperatures may fall to as low as 10°C.
What to bring
We recommend you bring;
- light
weight but tight weave cotton trousers and long sleeved shirts preferably
light or nuetral in colour
- walking
boots for the trails and sandals or flipflops for around the lodge
- a waterproof
jacket
- a bathing
suit
- a water
bottle
- camera
equipment - if you are staying for a long time in a humid tropical climate
you may want to look into bringing silica crystals and an airtight container to keep your equipment
dry
- a torch
(flashlight) with batteries for night walks
- a hat
or cap
- sunblock
- insect
repellent
- sunglasses
- binoculars
- yellow
fever vaccination card
- a washbag
(preferably with biodegradable soap and shampoo)
- underclothes
- personal
items
Please try
to bring all that you need in a daypack or overnight bag rather than a
large rucksack or suitcase. Large bags can be left in our secure office
in Puerto Maldonado.
Medical Information
A Yellow Fever vaccination is required for visitors to the area. Certificates
are sometimes checked in the airport upon arrival so have yours ready
just in case.
For
information about malaria it is best to consult your doctor to get advise
on the preferred antimalarial tablets.
Leishmaniasis
is a skin disease transmitted by a small biting fly which is present throughout
the rainforest of Southern Peru. It is treated by a course of injections.
The best way to prevent infection is to wear trousers and long-sleeved
shirts and to sleep under a mosquito net. The risk of infection is very
low.
Background Reading
There is a large selection of books on Amazon Rainforest Ecology listed
below is a selection of those we`ve found particularly useful.
Pearson,
D.L. The Ecotravellers Wildlife Guide to Peru.
Kritcher,
J. A Neotropical Companion.
Forsyth,
A and Miyata, K. Tropical Nature.
Caufield,
C. In the Rainforest.
Emmons,
L. Neotropical Rainforest Mammals.
Clements,
J.F. and Shany, N. A Field Guide to the Birds of Peru
Gentry,
A.H. The field Guide to Woody Plants of Northwest South America.
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