Antimalarial drugs for travel to the Peruvian Amazon

Should I take antimalarial drugs for travel to the Peruvian Amazon?  This is the most common question travelers ask when planning their travel to Peru.  Malaria is a serious disease which humans can contract by being bitten by an infected Mosquito.  Malaria is present in some places in Tambopata and Iquitos, however it is extremely rare. While the majority of locals, tourism staff and guides do not to take the vaccine, many travelers prefer to play it safe and opt for one of the following anti-malarial drugs recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  Atovaquone-proguanil, Doxycycline, or Mefloquine.  

If you decide to take anti-malarial medication during your travel in Peru:

• Speak with your health care provider and see ‘Choosing a drug to prevent Malaria’ in order to make the decision that is best for you.  
• Make sure to see a physician 4-6 weeks prior to travel as all antimalarial drugs need to be taken prior to travel.  
• Purchase your antimalarial drugs prior to travel as drugs you find in Peru may not be manufactured according to United States or European standards.
• Do not take the drug Halofantrine (marketed as Halfan).  While it is used by many people overseas, it has life-threatening heart-related side effects.  

Other Preventative Measures:

• Minimize mosquito bites is by wearing tight-weave, long sleeve cotton clothing and insect repellent on exposed areas of skin.
• Sleep in well-screen rooms or using a mosquito net.

*For more in-depth information regarding Malaria and Peru, visit the CDC website:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/peru.htm

Safety and Medical Guidelines for your Travel to the Peruvian Amazon

 

• Four to six week prior to your travel to the Peru visit a physician specializing in Travel Medicine for recommendations regarding vaccinations you may need for your trip.  

• You might want to bring:
  • any prescription medications that you take on a regular basis
  • an over-the-counter medicine for diarrhea.  
  • anti-bacterial handwipes or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito Repellent
  • Iodine Tablets or a portable water filter if traveling in areas where bottled water may not be available.
• Food and Water:  The Amazon has its own unique cuisine that travels should make every effort to taste with the following considerations:
  • Exposure to different types of food may cause diarrhea.  Make sure to bring diarrhea medicine with you to treat small cases.
  • Choose your food carefully.  Many hotels, homestays and touristy restaurants and prepare their food by international standards of health.
  • Make sure food is thoroughly cooked and vegetables well-washed.  
  • Do not eat food sold by street vendors.
  • Wash or disinfect your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating.  
  • Only drink bottled or well-filtered water or drinks from sealed containers.  
  • Avoid fountain drinks and ice.  
• Minimize mosquito bites is by wearing tight-weave, long sleeve cotton clothing and insect repellent on exposed areas of skin.
• Wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses to prevent harmful exposure to UV rays.  
• To avoid animal bites or scratches do not feed or touch any animals including dogs or cats.
• To prevent sexually transmitted diseases always use a latex-rubber condom.
• To avoid HIV and other viral infections, do not share needles for tattoos, drug injections, or body piercings.
• Do not drink and drive.  
• Always wear a helmet when riding on bikes, scooters, or motorcycles.
• ALWAYS follow the advice of your knowledgeable guide regarding as you navigate your way through the incredible forest.  Most guides in Tambopata are native to the area and know the rainforest as if its their own back yard.  They will make sure their guests are safe and secure as they enjoy their travel in the Peruvian Amazon.
  

 

Recommended Vaccinations for Travel to the Peruvian Amazon

Recommended Vaccinations for Travel to the Peruvian Amazon

While the Amazon is an incredible place to visit, make sure you prepare well for your travel to Peru by packing efficiently and getting the recomended vaccinations. 

Before you travel to Puerto Maldonado or other places in the Peruvian Amazon, visit a health care provider specializing in Travel Medicine who can tell you which vaccinations are recommended due to your health and vaccination history.  It is best to see this physician 4-6 week prior to your travel to allow time for vaccinations to take effect.  You should mention each country you are visiting on your trip in order to receive appropriate advice for all of your travel destinations. While there are no required vaccinations for travel to Peru, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the following recommendations:
 

Recommendations for vaccine-preventable diseases.
 

• Hepatitus A: Vaccination is recommended to all travelers to Peru.
• Hepatitus B: Vaccination recommended to all travelers to Peru, especially those who may have exposure to blood or body fluids through the giving or receiving of medical care, drug injections, tattooing, or sexual contact with the local population.  
• Typhoid Fever: Vaccination is recommended to all travelers to tropical South America especially those who may be staying in rural areas where exposure through food or water could occur.  
• Yellow Fever: Vaccination is recommended for travel to Amazonia and the Southern Amazon basin.  The shot should be given at least 10 days before your arrival and at 10 year intervals if you decide to stay.
• Rabies: Vaccination is ONLY recommended to travelers with an increased risk of exposure including: long-term travelers living in an area that poses a high-risk of exposure, travelers working in occupations who will have direct contact with bats, stray dogs and cats, or other mammal such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals or researchers.  

Volunteer with Reforestation in the Amazon

The El Refugio K'erenda Homet belongs to the Zambrano family.  Victor Zambrano is well known for for working hard over 22 years to turn cattle pasture into an exuberant and diverse forest.  
 
When Victor returned to Puerto Maldonado after living in Lima for 24 years, he found the forest where he spent his childhood had been cut down to raise livestock.  His appreciation for the environment and adoration of nature encouraged him to restore the forest that he loved.  

 
Mr. Zambrano planted 19 thousand trees over the course of 19 years, earning him world-wide recognition as a pioneer of conservation.  His wife Rosa and daughter K’erenda share in his passion for nature and have taken part in his mission to reforest land in Tambopata.  

Together they have created a place where visitors to Tambopata can go to learn about local flora, conservation, and agroforestry, while enjoying local food, culture and traditions.  El Refugio K’erenda Homet, located only 15 minutes from Puerto Maldonado, offers an affordable voluntourism program in which guests can help in the Zambrano’s mission while learning about the environment and local customs in Tambopata.  

Volunteers are housed in one of three cabins on the 40-hectare private conservation area.   Each cabin has a restroom and basic facilities.  They eat traditional meals prepared with local ingredients, dining together with the Zambrano family in a common area.  

Volunteers take part in the reforestation process by gathering small plants from the forest to bring to the nursery where they can be well cared for until they are large enough to replant.  Victor Zambrano spends time with volunteers in the nursery teaching them each plants individual needs to be successful in the forest.  Together they care for the plants in the nursery.  

The Zambrano family welcomes guests to come and take part in the reforestation of the Amazon.  Not only do visitors gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Amazon, they get a chance to learn about and take part in the culture of the people who call it home.  

Photo: Jeff Cremer

What to Leave Behind when I travel to the Amazon

Remember, its best to pack light.  A packing list of essential items will help you.  A good rule of thumb is if it isn't on the list, don’t bring it.  Also, if you find yourself thinking “I might need this,” its probably a non-essential item.  Very few people return from their trip thinking “I wish I had brought more,” in most cases it is the opposite.  A few things to leave behind when you travel to the Amazon....

• Credit Card: Credit cards are not accepted at many of the lodges and homestays in the Amazon.  Your best bet is to bring small bills in American dollars or Peruvian soles.  
• A loud radio. Most ecolodges and homes are made from local materials meaning bamboo walls.  Respect your neighbors and bring headphones or enjoy the natural music of the forest.
• Technology: While some lodges may have wi-fi acess, the connection is usually too slow to upload photos or chat online.  Cell phones often do not get reception in the Amazon unless you are in or near a large city.  Plus, depending on which season you visit during, their may be a lot of rain and humidity which can cause damage to laptops and other technology.

In general, its best to leave the non-essentials behind and appreciate the simple life in the Amazon rainforest.

 

Untitled

What to bring on your trip to the Amazon

As you plan your travel to the Amazon, remember, its better to pack light.  You may be traveling by boat with a weight limit, or walking short distances with your luggage so the last thing you want is a lot of unnecessary gear.  We suggest making a packing list.  This will keep you organized and make sure nothing important is forgotten.  The following are suggestions of what to bring on your trip to the Amazon.

• Tightly-woven, long-sleeved cotton shirts and pants.  Natural colors are best.  Long sleeves will help to prevent mosquito bites.  
• T-shirts  
• Underwear and Extra Socks.
• Sneakers AND Hiking Boots.  Some also bring flip flops to wear while relaxing.
• Bathing suit
• Broad-brimmed hat.
• Rain Jacket or Poncho.  It is the rainforest, afterall.
• Waterproof or Plastic Bags.  These can be used to keep your clothes dry if it rains.
• Insect Repellent.  
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Flashlight or Headlamp with extra batteries. Great for night walks and maneuvering around in your room or lodge at night if there is limited electricity at your site.
• Camera with well charged batteries and a waterproof case. There may not be electricity to charge batteries at your site.
• Binoculars. They will help you get a better view of the wildlife.
• Small day pack.  For hikes or activities.
• Water Bottle.  Most sites will have filtered drinking water available to re-fill.
• Small denomination bills in Peruvian Soles and US Dollars. Credit cards are often not accepted.  These can also come in handy if you want to tip guides or staff.
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.  
• Photo Copy of your passport and plane tickets.

 

6 Common Misconceptions about the Amazon

6 Common Misconceptions about the Amazon

1. Its easy to see animals in their natural environment:  Many people travel to Tambopata with expectations of seeing Jaguars, Anacondas, and Giant Otter swimming around their boat.  The truth is that the Amazon is a habitat, not a zoo.  Animals often disguise themselves for protection from predators.  In order to spot wildlife, you need to be very quiet and use each of your senses. The scent of a peccary might be what leads you to a pack of them.  Listen to leaves rustling in the tress and you may just see a monkey. If you’re lucky you may see some colorful birds, such as Macaws eating clay along the bank of the Tambopata River.

1. The Amazon is Dangerous:  While the Amazon is filled with amazing creatures such as Jaguars, Anacondas, and Caiman, they have little interest in human contact.  They prefer their natural diet.  Most snakes and spiders in the Amazon are not venomous.  They are afraid of humans so when they see them coming, they go in the opposite direction.  Guests who visit the Amazon rarely encounter dangerous animals because they stay on well maintained trails.    

1. Unbearably uncomfortable: Some people think of the Amazon as deathly hot, humid and filled with mosquitos.  While the Amazon is indeed humid during the rain season, the dry season can offer a pleasurable climate.  Yes, its hot in the sun, but the canopy provides a comfortable shade year-round.  The majority of mosquito bites can be avoided by wearing tightly-woven long-sleeved clothing.  

1. Only for Expeditionaries: Tambopata, Peru offers a variety of activities and experiences for people wanting to visit the Amazon.  While some lodges offer adventure tours, most have well-maintained trails for mild jungle walks.  Many accommodations provide a hammock and have yoga classes and spa activities such as massages or facials.  While some visitors prefer to climb trees, kayak or bush-wack through the forest, for others the Amazon can be a great place to relax and rejuvenate.

1. Natives with bows and arrows:  Some uncontacted tribes still exist in the Amazon.  They and not aggressive and prefer to stay away from other civilizations.  However most native people in the Amazon live much like you and me.  The indigenous people in Tambopata have a strong appreciation for and dependence on the forest for their livelihood.  While they recognize their ancestry and engage in traditional customs, they wear modern clothing, go to school and participate in business.

1. The Amazon is like any other rainforest:  The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world.  It covers roughly 40% of the South American continent and is in part of eight countries.  It is often referred to as the “capital of biodiversity” due to its incredible variety of plant and animal species.  It is the ancestral home to around one million indigenous people who can be divided into around 400 tribes.  The Amazon has an abundance of cultural traditions, natural properties, medicinal uses, and animal life than cannot be found anywhere else in the world.