Weather:
August is the end of tourist season in the Cusco area and the beginning of the wet season in the jungle. While in Cusco, daytime temperatures will hover around 65 F and night-times significantly cooler around 35 F. The air is thin and daytime sun can feel hotter than it really is, but sunscreen or light protective clothing is essential for the altitude provokes deceptive conditions – we are at 11,000 feet above sea level.
Bringing layers for the mornings, being able to take them off around mid-day and then placing them all back on towards late afternoon is the way to go. Thermal underwear, sweaters or fleece, and hats are also important if walking around at night. I encourage layers as the day starts off warm and then around 4pm things get cold (not cool, but cold) very quickly! Additionally, it could start raining at a moment's notice. Temperatures in The Sacred Valley towards Machu Picchu tend to be milder and exceptional. None of this is guaranteed as we are in the mountains and it is quite unpredictable.
Puerto Maldonado and the Peruvian Amazon are at 400 feet above sea level – quite a different climate for a 25 minute flight! Hot, humid and rich, the air is alive with the smells of the jungle and the sounds of nature. Light cotton with sleeves is the way to go here, helping to avoid bug bites and sun burn. Afternoon showers are quite possible and usually feel great. As these are not key photographic times, we won’t have too much too worry about. Regardless, protective covers for our gear are recommended.
What to bring:
_______ Passport
_______ ATM Cards for cash – VISA, MC only – AmEx not accepted and Travelers Checks are expensive
_______ Voltage Converter 110 to 220V (most electronics of the last four years have built-in converters)
_______ Swimsuit, sunglasses, sun-screen, hat, towel
_______ Re-usable water bottle
_______ Insect repellent with high DEET percentage
______ Flash light or headlight
_______ Usual clothes for 10 days
_______ Sweaters, hats and scarves (can also be purchased cheaply in Cusco)
_______ Jacket, hat and gloves for warmth and sun protection in Cusco
_______ Long Underwear, tops and bottoms
_______Long cotton pants and long-sleeved cotton shirts for the Jungle.
_______ Rain gear – tops, bottoms and shoes!
_______ Walking/hiking shoes to ankles and one pair sandals
_______ Day pack for walking
_______ Simple Backpack for overnight to Machu Picchu
_______ Camera(s) with a macro lens and one long lens
_______ Camera water proof bag
________Large and small Ziploc bags
_______ Tri-Pod (recommended)
______ Binoculars
Recommended Essentials:
________ Extra voltage converter 110-220V or adaptor
________ Guide Book on Peru (Footprints or Lonely Planet)
________ Film
________ Laptop, Flash Cards/Digital Storage Devices (can be dumped to CD in Cuzco)
________ Extra Batteries and charger
________ Books (see list below)
________ Anything you might want to offer some of the people we will meet – pens, books and money are always a favorite, but also anything of minor value you aren't using anymore (old laptops, cameras, etc).
________ Patience
Background and Reading:
Below is a partial list of cultural, historical and photographically interesting items on Peru and more specifically, the Cusco region. Your knowledge of the list in it's entirety will be challenged, provoked and attacked throughout our trip. If you do not know every piece of religion, culture or history from the group below, you will be forced to drink Chicha and eat Cuy for the remainder of our travels...
Books:
•Conquest of the Incas by John Hemming
•The White Rock by Hugh Thomson
•Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa
•Realm of the Incas Max Milligan (photography)
•Martin Chambi: Photographs 1920-1950
•Peru, Lonely Planet or Footprint or Insight Guides
•Celestine Prophesy by James Redfield
•Ancient Cuzco: Heartland of the Inca (Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture) by Brian S. Bauer -- (Haven't read it but it looks interesting!)
•The Royal Commentaries of the Incas and General History of Peru, Abridged by GarciLaso De la Vega, Karen Spalding, and Harold V. Livermore
Films:
•"City of Dogs (La Ciudad De Los Perros)" (1985) Francisco J. Lombardi
•"La Boca del Lobo" (1989) Francisco J. Lombardi
•"Pantaleon y Las Visitadoras" (1999) Francisco J. Lombardi
•"Paloma de Papel" ( 2003 ) Directed by Fabrizio Aguilar
•"Aguirre, the Wrath of God" (1972), Peru/W. Germany, directed by Werner Herzog
•"The Dancer Upstairs" (2002) by John Malkovich (Definately worth watching, and in English!)
B&B in Cusco:
Panza del Artista -- www.panzadelartista.com
Distrito de Santiago, Calle Jorge Ochoa 215, interior, Cusco Peru
Phone: +/51/84/262610
Breakfasts, coffee and tea, towels, sheets, blankets, soap, toilet paper, hot water and drinking water provided free of charge. Portable heaters, alcoholic beverages, lunches or dinners will be billed accordingly. Storage during overnights is free.
My family, our hosts while in Cusco:
Papi -- Juan Carlos Romero de la Cuba (Carlos)
Mami – Maria Challco Romero -- (Maria)
Oldest sister -- Rosita and son Carlitos
Xiomara – my wife!
Younger Sister -- Anyela
Older bro -- Juan Carlos (Juano)
Youngest bro -- Jose Luis (Pepe)
Tipishca and ARCC Lodges
The Amazon Rainforest Conservation Center [ARCC] is on the shore of the pristine, wildlife-rich Lake Soledad, up the remote Las Piedras River from Puerto Maldonado. The lodge and research center provide a base in the jungle wilderness for enjoying close up observation and photography of rainforest wildlife in comfort and style. Guests are accommodated in 8 hexagonal chalets, each containing a comfortable double room with lights, fans and electrical outlets, a balcony, and private bath with hot water and lined in ceramic tiles and polished hardwoods. Enjoy delicious local cuisine in the spacious and airy dining area including fresh fish dishes, exotic fruit juices, and delicious vegetarian options. Relax and refresh at the bar or lounge in hammocks.
