Luxury Travel Advisor - September 2007 - (Page 15) rior Río rooms and Amazónica and Inkaterra Suites. All have open floor plans, ceiling fans, interior relaxation areas with hammocks and twin-, queenor king-size beds shrouded in frothy white mosquito netting. We settled into room 19, an Amazónica Suite just at the edge of the rainforest. While nightfall brought with it the soothing sounds of the forest, small-scale construction right outside our room made us long for a cabana on the quieter riverfront in the morning. Insiders say the project—a new plunge pool—is now complete, but, as the cabanas are enclosed only by screens and lightweight wood and are thus easily susceptible to noise, it’s best to ask about any potential disturbances prior to booking to ensure a peaceful stay. Inkaterra Suites, numbers 23 and 27, have their own plunge pools and are the best bet for VIPs. Alternatively, Amazónica Suites include cabanas 10, 15 and 19. Tip: Suggest your clients pack a separate bag with the essentials—lightweight, fast-drying clothing, insect repellent, sunscreen, binoculars—for their stay at Reserva and store the rest of their belongings back at the hotel’s Puerto Maldonado office; electricity is limited (satellite signals even more so), which means that laptops, cell phones and BlackBerries are all but useless, and the intense humidity can dampen an entire suitcase full of cotton clothing. Similar to a safari lodge, a stay at Reserva Amazónica revolves around wildlife and daily excurRESERVA AMAZÓNICA guests stay in stilted cabanas in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon (top). LAKE SANDOVAL teems with wildlife, best seen from the water (above). Photos by Lindsay Lambert sions, which are led by expert guides and last from a quarterday to two days. We opted for the half-day excursion to Lake Sandoval (a 40-minute boat ride up the Madre de Dios takes guests to Tambopata National Reserve for a nearly two-mile hike to the lake), whose perimeter we paddled while observing red howler monkeys, toucans, parrots, macaws and other colorful creatures. Daredevils won’t want to miss the Inkaterra Canopy excursion, during which they’ll traverse seven hanging bridges that span nearly 1,200 feet, stopping along the way to spy wildlife in the treetops. Tip: Request guides Efraim or Marco for your VIPs. Efraim’s knowledge of plant, bird and animal life is extensive, and Marco’s uncanny ability to sense the presence of hidden critters on a nighttime rainforest trek had us truly impressed. Following their dinner of Peruvian cuisine—the simple but tasty fare often includes fish, salads and soup—back at the Amazon Pavilion, suggest your clients wind down with an evening massage at ENA Spa; it’s set on the banks of the river and faces Rolin Island, making for some seriously soothing sunset views. Several guests raved about the Reserva Amazónica Body Exfoliation treatment throughout our stay. On-site, clients can ask Resident Manager Alejandro Montoya or Reception Manager Daniela Villa for assistance with spa and other special arrangements. June, July, August and October are peak season, so plan to book several weeks in advance. Though loath to leave the remote, peaceful environs of the rainforest when our time at Reserva ran out, we felt instantly uplifted upon entering the Urubamba Valley, our next stop, September 2007 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 15
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