Travel Tip 37
Check for local holidays and events.
One of the things I love most about Manu BioLodge is staying in a cabin on the lake.
Last week was International Women’s Day and I went to an event at Manu BioLodge.
It was a birding event for Indigenous women who live in or near the Manu National Biosphere Reserve. This is the largest rainforest reserve in the world and one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet. The people who live in Manu protect it from illegal logging, mining and poaching.
The Inca greets Cusqueñians during the annual Inti Raymi celebration June 24, 2023.
After you pick your travel dates, check for international celebrations.
There are a lot of celebrations that are global, or nearly global. Labor Day in the US might be in September, but in most of the world it’s May 1st. A quick search for international holidays or celebrations for your travel dates should turn something up.
Check for local celebrations.
International Women’s Day might be celebrated on March 8th in many places around the world, but lots of countries also have their own holidays to celebrate women. In February, the Thursday before Carnaval, the Cusco region celebrates the Día de Comadres. The word comadre can mean close friend, godmother or a woman who plays a motherly role for her friends’ or neighbor’s children.
The Virgin of Carmen Festival every year July 15-18 in Paucartambo, Peru has the best costumes.
Local celebrations are some of the best travel experiences.
Some of my favorite travel memories have been experiencing local celebrations. France’s Fête de la Musique on June 21st, Thai New Year in April and Cusco’s Inti Raymi on June 24th are some of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had.
Take the time to check your travel dates for local celebrations before you book tours or make any commitments on what you’ll do each day during the trip.
Peruvian Biologist Patty Reyes showed me how they get DNA from beetles in the Peruvian Amazon.
Article
Scientists Get Beetles to Collect DNA
I’ve been working on this article since I was at Manu Biological Station last August and I couldn’t be more thrilled that it’s published by ArsTechnica! This is my first foray into science writing, and I hope it’s the first of many. There are just too many interesting scientific studies happening in Peru and not enough people writing about them. Huge thanks to everybody in Manu and shoutout to ornithologist Reid Rumelt!
Blog
This blog will introduce you to the magical place that I wrote about in the above article. Manu is truly a special place for its astounding biodiversity and how friendly everybody there is! This week’s blog is a rerun because I’m currently at Manu BioLodge and haven’t had time to write a new blog about the place yet!