PERU & ECUADOR Upping the Andes
Rising stars Peru and Ecuador are set to shine even brighter in 2011, so be prepared for an influx of interest from clients taking their first tentative steps in the region says Andy Hoskins
40 February 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
A
ndean neighbours Peru and Ecuador both have good reason to celebrate in 2011. In Peru, July marks the 100th anniversary
of the modern discovery of Machu Picchu by American explorer Hiram Bingham, while Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, has been named Cultural Capital of the Americas for 2011. The two countries, regularly paired
together by UK operators, are each planning a raft of events and exhibitions to honour the respective occasions – including rumoured concerts from Sting and Paul McCartney at Machu Picchu – and UK tour operators have lined up a series of itineraries to capitalise on the celebrations, particularly in Peru.
While some such itineraries are one-off
departures timed to take in specific events, others will run throughout the year and are simply enhanced versions of regular tours linking Peru’s key attractions – the aforementioned Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley; colonial city and gateway to the Sacred Valley, Cusco; Arequipa and the Colca Canyon; the mysterious Nazca lines; and international arrival point and capital city, Lima. PromPeru, the Peruvian tourist board,
continues to push the lesser-known north of the country and last year launched the Moche Route with historic highlights such as the colonial city, Trujillo, the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum and the adobe city of Chan Chan.
Add-ons in the form of visits
to the Amazon rainforest are popular in both Peru and Ecuador, with good-quality accommodation in lodges offering a menu of jungle experiences such as treks, visits to local communities, canoeing excursions and wildlife watching. Another popular add-on to Peru itineraries is neighbouring Ecuador’s unique Galapagos Islands, while the two countries as a whole are often combined in longer tours thanks to their proximity and wealth of iconic attractions.
Ecuador’s quaint capital city, Quito, lies
high in the Andes along with beautiful Cuenca and Otavalo, best known for its huge handicrafts market. The Amazon
BMI PUBLISHING LTD/ANDY HOSKINS,
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