FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I fly directly to Cusco/ Peru to visit Amazonia Lodge?
    There are direct flights to Cusco/ Peru if you are departing from a city in South America.
    All flights from the US, Canada or Europe fly into Lima. You need to get a connecting flight to Cusco from there. Flight time from Lima to Cusco is 1 hour 10 minutes.
    We can book domestic flights for you, if you wish.
  2. What about travel insurance?
    We recommend to get both Vacation Insurance and International Medical Insurance.
    Vacation Insurance will cover you for trip cancellation and delays, baggage loss and delays.
    International Medical Insurance will find you a competent doctor who speaks English and it also includes air evacuation.
  3. Where can I find visa, passport, and health information for South America?
    When travelling to Manu you don´t need malaria prophylaxis nor a yellow fever vaccination.

You can find further information here:
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/peru.html
www.passporthealthusa.com/destination-advice/peru
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/laender/peru-node/perusicherheit-211938

  1. What should I bring ?
    Please bring curiosity, humor, interest in nature and a sense for adventure ….. : )

As to your luggage, this is what we recommend to bring:

  • Mosquito repellent
  • Long sleeved shirts (cotton or breathable fabric, not too thin)
  • Long pants
  • Cotton socks (long enough to put them over your pants)
  • Hiking shoes (best ankle high)
  • Rain gear (a rain poncho is good)
  • Hat or capSun screen & sun glasses
  • Flashlight (with spare batteries)
  • Binoculars (important! , can be rented at our Cusco office)
  • Camera, extra batteries & camera charger
  • Water bottle to refill
  • Day pack
  • Bathing suit (optional)
  • Sandals or light shoes to change/ for bathroom (optional)
  • passport copy (or original passport)
  • Some money in Soles for soft drinks, handicrafts and tips

We recommend light tropical clothing, cotton or hiking shirts in light colors (green, beige or gray to blend in with the surroundings when in the rainforest).
In Cusco it can get cold at night so a sweater or fleece is good to bring.

For your luggage we recommend a backpack or duffel bag for Manu, please store your suitcase at your hotel in Cusco.

  1. When is the best time of the year to visit Peru and Amazonia Lodge?
    May through October are months of the dry season and ideal for travelling.
    Late March, April, November and December are transition months with moderate rainfall usually lasting only an hour or two at a time. These months are fine for a rain forest tour and have produced some excellent and sometimes outstanding birding.
    January through March are the months of the rainy season, so less recommendable.
  2. Where can I obtain money in Peruvian Soles?
    Money can be exchanged at banks and “Casas de Cambio” (exchange houses). Lima airport has exchange desks, but rates are less favorable than in town.
    There are also money exchange houses near Plaza de Armas and on Av. Sol in Cusco.
    You may also use local ATM´s to withdraw Soles or US$ cash. We recommend to ask your bank acount limits and fees when using your card in Peru.
  3. What Immunizations do I need when visiting Peru?
    We recommend that you update your Tetanus shot if you have not had one in the last 10 years before travelling to Peru. You may want to consider getting a Hepatitis vaccination.

If you travel to the lowland of Manu you may want to consider a yellow fever vaccination, which is optional. The risk for yellow fever is extremely low in Manu

  1. Will I experience altitude sickness in Cusco?
    Cusco is 3,340 meters above sea level (10,900 feet). Drink plenty of liquids and do not exercise too much on the first day. The Peruvian “mate de coca” (coca tea) – available at most hotels – is very helpful for acclimatizing to the altitude. When travelling to Manu you will get to less than 1000m within the first day and to below 500m on the second day in the morning.
  2. Can I visit Amazonia Lodge without taking a tour?
    Yes, you can also just book a lodge stay. We provide all the meals.

Here are some suggestions for your travel plans:

  1. Decide which nights you would like to spend at the lodge. If you would like to join a tour please contact us in advance to check for possible tour dates.
  2. Contact us with the dates and we can confirm your reservation.
  3. We can also arrange transportation for you by private van from Cusco to the port of Atalaya  or with an overnight stop in the cloud forest. Please contact us for prices.
  4. We suggest that you take two days to travel from Cusco to Atalaya, from where you take a boat for a short 15 to 20 minute ride down river to Amazonia Lodge.

    The first night you have the option of staying at either the Manu Paradise Lodge or Cock-of-the-Rock lodge in Manu´s cloud forest or at Bamboo Lodge a bit further down. It is about 8 hours driving to these lodges from Cusco considering some wildlife viewing or birding along the way. In the cloud forest you can observe the Cock of the Rock´s mating dance in the afternoon or early in the morning.
    On the second day in the morning you can spend some time with birding in the cloud forest and then travel onwards to Atalaya (about 1.5 h).

    1. What facilities can I expect at Amazonia Lodge?
      Amazonia Lodge offers double, single and triple rooms with shared bathroom or with private bathroom. Warm water is produced by solar panels.
      We have a dining room (and kitchen) and offer some soft drinks and beer.
      Electricity is produced by our own hydroelectric plant.
      There is regular mobile phone access in parts of the lodge grounds, which is subject to weather conditions and may not be available during rain periods.
      There are several trails to be explored from the lodge, including a trail to our observation tower.

    We also have an observation platform to observe tapirs and other mammals at night.
    A nearby lake offers good opportunities for wildlife observation.

    If you have any further questions please don´t hesitate to contact us.