Peru - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 821

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nights and keeps going until the early hours of the
morning. Entry S10. Daily 11pm-6am.

Internet Mundo Net on León Velarde 613 (Mon-Sat
7am-midnight; Sun 10am-midnight; S2/hr).
Laundry Lavandería Jhonatan, C Cusco s/n (Mon-Sat
7.30am-9pm; Sun 8.30am-9pm; S5/kg).
Police Billinghurst s/n (24hr).
Post o ce Velarde 675 (Mon-Sat 8am-8pm).
Visas Oficina de migraciones, Av 28 de Julio 467 (Mon-Fri
8am-1pm & 2-4pm; T 082 571 069). Get your passport
stamped here if leaving for Bolivia by river.

DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange BCP on Plaza de Armas has an
ATM and changes US dollars. Casa de Cambio on C Prada, at
C Puno, changes foreign currency at good rates (Mon-Sat
8am-8pm).
Hospital Hospital Santa Rosa at Cajamarca 171 ( T 082
571 019).

PUERTO MALDONADO TOURS AND JUNGLE LODGES
Compared with independent travel, an organized excursion saves time and adds varying
degrees of comfort. It also ensures that you go with someone who knows the area, who
speaks English and can introduce you to the flora, fauna, culture and regions. It's best to
book a trip in Cusco directly through the lodge o ces or online before travelling to Puerto
Maldonado. There are several daily flights from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, and most Cusco
agencies will organize plane tickets (US$90-110) for you if you take their tours. The cheapest
option is a two-day and one-night tour, but you will spend most of your time travelling and
sleeping, so it's best to allow at least three to four days.
A stay at one of the many rustic lodges around Puerto Maldonado, mainly on the ríos Madre
de Dios and Tambopata, offers a good taste of the jungle, and the cost typically includes full
board (though not tips for guides or drinks), transfers and bilingual guides. The quality of
wildlife sightings depends on the location; the further you travel from Puerto Maldonado,
the more likely you are to see large mammals.
TOUR OPERATORS
Eco Amazonia Lodge C Garcilaso 210, o ce 206,
Cusco T 084 236 159; Enrique Palacios 292, Miraflores,
Lima T 01 242 2708; Puerto Maldonado T 082 573
491; W ecoamazonia.com.pe. Less than 2hr downriver
from Puerto Maldonado, this large establishment
offers basic bungalows with hammocks. Packages
include visits to Monkey Island, the secluded “Cocha
Perdida” oxbow lake, hikes in the rainforest and
wildlife spotting along the Madre de Dios tributaries.
A shamanic session involving the hallucinogenic
jungle vine ayahuasca is also on offer. From US$280
per person for three days and two nights.
Explorer's Inn Plateros 365, Cusco T 084 235 342;
Alcanflores 459, Miraflores, Lima T 01 447 8888;
Puerto Maldonado T 082 572 078; W explorersinn
.com. Located 58km south of Puerto Maldonado in
the Tambopata reserve and featuring en-suite rustic
doubles and triples. It offers 38km of forest trails,
canoeing on the oxbow lake of Cocococha (inhabited
by giant otters), and visits to a macaw clay lick, accom-
panied by experienced naturalist guides. English,
French and German spoken. From US$220 per person
for three days and two nights.
Posada Amazonas Lodge Contact through Rain-
forest Expeditions, Aramburu 166, Miraflores, Lima
T 01 421 8347; Portal de Carnes 236, Cusco T 084 246

243; or Puerto Maldonado T 082 572 575; W peru
nature.com. Run by the local Ese'eja community,
Posada is the perfect choice for culture travellers who
want to learn more about the native community. The
lodge features a medicinal farm where guests can
partake in ayahuasca ceremonies with the guidance
of a local shaman. There are comfortable en suites
with hammocks, plus excellent food served in a rustic
dining hall. Similar is Refugio Amazonas, located
further up the river. There are plenty of activities on
offer such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding,
mountain biking, tree climbing, as well as excursions
to a fruit farm and a 30m canopy nearby. From US$375
per person, minimum three days and two nights.
Ì Tambopata Research Centre Contact through
Rainforest Expeditions (see above). One of the most
remote lodges in South America, TRC lies at the heart of
the Tambopata National Reserve. Guests can interact
with macaw researchers and visit the world's largest clay
lick, located just 1km from the lodge. Birds supplement
their diet with sodium in the clay, resulting in colourful
flashes of hundreds of macaws every morning. Chances
of seeing wildlife here are greatly increased: peccaries,
monkeys, wild boars, over 500 species of birds and even
jaguars are commonly spotted. Fantastic photography
tours using high-end equipment are also offered. From
US$745 per person, minimum of four days.