Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Northern Peru. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING AND LEAVING PERU: For United States citizens, a valid passport and return airline ticket are required. Visas are not necessary, as a tourist card will be issued on entry. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends.
Citizens of other countries may need a visa and should check their nearest Peruvian embassy.
As of October 2008, there is a $32/person airport departure tax, payable in US dollars or Peruvian soles.
MAPS AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Peru on line. You can review the US State Department Background Note on Peru here.
CLIMATE: Along the coast, and in the inner montane valleys, it should be dry and warm, cooler at the higher elevations. On the eastern slope at Abra Patricia, occasional rain is a possibility. We recommend a rain jacket that doubles as a windbreaker, and lightweight warm-weather clothes for the lowlands. A compact umbrella is essential for birding in light rain, and a poncho is often useful.
HEALTH: A malaria preventative is recommended. Check with your doctor about antimalarial drugs; the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control are listed here.
Immunization for yellow fever is recommended by the CDC for travel in Peru. The CDC currently also recommends the following vaccines (see your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect): Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), typhoid, and booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles.
Please note that any health/medical information contained here is gleaned by WINGS from websites that are dedicated to traveler’s health issues. Advisories and recommendations by agencies such as the CDC can and do change frequently. We urge you to consult with your physician, local health department, or the CDC for the most up-to-date health advisories for travel to Peru.
Mosquitoes may be sparse, but sand flies and chiggers can be a problem. Bring plenty of spray repellent and heavy rubber bands to close trouser cuffs. Anyone who is unusually sensitive to insect bites and stings (ants, wasps) should consider bringing an antihistamine such as Benadryl; ask your doctor for more information.
Be sure to bring enough of the medications you normally use to last the duration of the trip.
A personal water purification system is suggested. Water purification tablets and systems are available from REI and other outdoor suppliers/outfitters.
PACE OF THE TOUR: As with most birding in the tropics, we have only 12 hours of sunlight for birding. Thus, we will be rising early (4:30 or 5:00 am) on most mornings to begin at first light, but we will end most days by 8:00 pm (having eaten dinner). There will be occasional optional owling excursions after dinner, and on one at least one night at Abra Patricia we’ll remain in the field until early evening to try for owls and nightjars. Much of the birding on this tour is roadside birding, with occasional forest trails. The forest trails may be muddy, and rubber boots are recommended.
ACCOMMODATIONS: In Lima we stay in a modern hotel located in Miraflores. We always stay at the best accommodations possible. Unlike tours offered by most other companies to Northern Peru, there is no camping during this trip.
TRANSPORTATION: Our land transportation will be in a bus or van supplied by our ground agent, depending on group size. We will fly by jet from Lima to Tarapoto and back to Lima at the end of the tour.
DRESS: Informal dress is acceptable throughout Peru. Comfortable field clothes and shoes are essential; be prepared for muddy trails at times.
SMOKING: We request that you o not smoke in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any lodge, accommodation ,or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than the WINGS policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the General Information and Conditions on the WINGS website. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
FINAL INFORMATION: Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Created: 17 February 2009