🚀 go-pugleaf

In January, i signed up for a 17 day trip to the Manu Biosphere
Reserve, and Macchu Picchu in Peru. Manu has been called THE most untouched
rainforest area of the amazon basin. I have MANY books and articles
on Manu, including the recent article on the macaws and macaw-licks
(large clay deposits where parrots of all sizes congregate to eat
the clay which helps their digestive systems, these licks are the only 
place macaws gather in large, spectacular numbers, and this lick has a blind
to allow close observation,) in the January 94 issue of National
Geographic. If you want more information about the trip, please contact me!
 
The problem: I'm the only one signed up through the tour company, and
its getting too close to the departure date. This company does ONLY
ecotourism, and keeps their groups under 7 people. I am unsure about
'advertisement' problems, so will not mention their name.  They are
great people and have reasonable costs, especially since their tour
leaders are professionals, and keep the number of participants down.

Dates of the two trips i *can* go on are:
June 23rd-July 9th (which i'm signed up for now,)
Aug 25th-Sept 10th (which I can possibly switch to if others show interest)

Highlights of the trip include:

o 10 days camping deep into Manu Park, beyond the 'tourist' spots, 
  Travel is done mainly by boat, but there is 'light hiking'. We 
  don't carry our gear in and a local does the cooking of 
  'local specialties'. Much wildlife to be seen includes:
  13 species of monkeys, jaguars, giant river otters, 850 species
  of birds, harpy eagles. Many of these animals occur no where else or
  are very rare, and have been established in Manu because its a protected
  park, and has been for quite some time. 

o 2 mornings at a macaw lick (see above article in Jan 94 Nat'l Geo for
  spectacular description of this event! We will be staying at the
  'Manu Parrot Inn' as described in the article.)

o 2 day stay at Macchu Picchu, which includes an overnight stay for a 
  spectacular morning sunrise which its suppose to be famous for.

This adventure was chosen by Outside Magazine for two years in a row
as one of the premier expeditions available in the world today.

I also just came back from a lecture by Russ Mittermeier (Executive Director
of Conservation International,) who gave a lecture to a local grouping
about Biodiversity, and to encourage participation in his causes. He
has just come back from Peru, and when i mentioned I was going to
Manu, he wouldn't shut up about how spectacular the area is, one
of the most easily accessable, most virgin, and how easy it was
to see the wildlife (compared to many rainforests,) and how some of
the wildlife was relatively easy to view, since its been protected and
unhunted for so long. This man is also a field primatologist and has
been to just about every rainforest in the world, so i value his opinion!

When i came home from this lecture, I found a message on my machine saying
my trip may be cancelled, if others don't signup soon. I actually only
need one more person to signup, but more are welcome (up to 7 i believe.)
As more people sign up, the cost goes down. Airfare not included, the
costs are about 2790 (4-7 guests,), 3090 (3 guests) and 3790 (two guests.)
I have compared travel programs (eco-tour and not,) and this is an
EXCELLENT tour with a VERY reasonable cost. (IMO, and i have the stacks
and piles of brochures from months of research last year.) 

PLEASE send me email if you're interested in either of the above departure
dates and I will give name and 1-800 number of the company, or if you're
just interested in the company name, let me know.

Please! Tell your friends! This should be a fantastic trip with professional
guides, I just need ONE person to sign up...

Please respond by EMAIL ONLY!

>>Thank you<< !

Kelly
kelly@cco.caltech.edu