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 - Aero Continente 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 3 days on a very bumpy but beautiful road that desends from 4,000m down to 230m above sea level, the altitude of Puerto Maldonado. Since there are no buses covering the entire route the only way to travel is on the back of one of the many trucks 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, it tends to be cooler and less humid but it may still rain. Cold events (friajes) occur during May and June when temperatures may fall to as low as 10°C.

What to bring
We recommend that you bring:

• light weight but tight weave cotton trousers and long sleeved shirts, preferably light 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 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)
• 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.

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.