Excellence in Travel PROMPERU
"Travel agents are key! We think of them as our partners in the competitive travel industry.... the best way to our target"
up its colonial charms
and to sample the buzzing nightlife.
Spanish colonial buildings sit atop
impressive Inca stonework foundations, while Quechua people dressed in their traditional bright garments wander the narrow cobbled streets. Visitors are drawn to the central Plaza de Armas, flanked on two sides by colonnaded shops and cafes, and on the other two sides by the Cathedral and La Compania de Jesus church – both well worth a visit. Beyond the busy main square, highlights of a long list of Inca and Spanish colonial buildings and monuments include the Qoricancha temple complex and Las Nazarenas Convent, churches such as Santa Catalina, San Francisco and La Merced church and convent. The Museo Inka is among the best of a host of museums for getting an understanding of the region’s history and culture. No visit to Cusco is complete
without visiting the impressive Inca ceremonial site of Sacsayhuaman, a challenging 30-minute walk up the hillside from the city Plaza de Armas – or a short taxi ride away. Cusco Tourist Cards (Boleto
Turistico del Cusco) give the holder entry to 16 of the top historic sites and museums in Cusco and the local area and can be bought from any of the locations it covers. Agents should appreciate that Cusco
is one of South America’s greatest tourism hubs and, as such, its tourism infrastructure is impressive. There are hostels aplenty, plus an ever-expanding choice of boutique hotels in carefully converted colonial buildings – see Room Report for more details – and cafes, bars and restaurants can be found on nearly every street. The trendy San Blas area, in particular, is worth directing clients to. The city is also teeming with local operators eager to set up independent travellers with all manner of adventure activities in the local area such as
mountain biking, rafting, horse-riding and, of
course, trekking. With such an impressive array of
attractions and activities on offer, as well as accommodation at both ends of the spectrum, Cusco and the Sacred Valley should prove an easy sell.
Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley The classic four-day Inca Trail arriving at Machu Picchu's Sun Gate at dawn is now carefully managed, with permits limited to 500 people per day and the route closed entirely every February for maintenance. It is imperative, therefore, that clients book as far in advance as possible through a UK-based operator. The alternative is to opt for one of
several other routes that can be combined with a visit to Machu Picchu, such as the Lares or Salkantay treks, or to set forth on a visit to the lesser- visited Inca citadel of Choquequirao, west of Cusco. Intrepid Travel announced in June
that it was to become the first global operator to offer a guarantee on Inca Trail permits despite the fact no tour operator can pre-purchase or bulk purchase them. In the event it can't keep its promise it will offer a £50 discount on itineraries featuring its alternative Inca Quarry Trail trek. Because there is no road access to
Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu – and increasingly referred to as Machu Picchu Pueblo – catching the train is the principal means of travelling along the Sacred Valley. In its most luxurious form, the Orient Express-operated Hiram Bingham train departs from just outside Cusco to Aguas Calientes, taking around 3.5 hours in each direction. PeruRail operates several other options on the scenic route, including Vistadome, Expedition and Andean Explorer trains – all bookable online. Peak months are May to September, when booking tickets several weeks in advance is advised, particularly
CLAUDIA ZAKRZEWSKI UK market specialist, PromPeru
What does winning this award mean to you? It was a great honour to receive the Best Long Haul Destination for Soft Adventure award at Selling Long Haul's Travel Agents Choice Awards, mainly because travel agents, the ones in charge of selling our destination, agree that Peru has a lot to offer for their adventurous clients.
How important are travel agents to your business? Travel agents are key! We think of them as our partners in the competitive travel industry. Travel agents are for sure, the best way to
get to our target: tourists looking for authentic experiences!
Do you have any training, workshops or other initiatives planned for agents in 2011/12? As every year, PromPeru will be attending WTM with 40 companies to share with visitors all information about Peru. We will also be holding on-site training sessions on specific topics to help agents sell.
Please tell us about anything new that you would like to highlight to our readers? We have news indeed! This October, PromPeru will launch an online training programme for the British trade. Agents will be able to learn about traditional destinations, unspoiled areas and new products. This information will give them a competitive advantage versus the rest. Join us and become a Peru Specialist!
Contact information
PROMPERU E:
czakrzewski@promperu.gob.pe W:
www.peru.travel
TRAVEL AGENTS CHOICE AWARDS
Look out for details of the 2011 Travel Agents Choice Awards (TACA) in the September issue of Selling Long Haul
www.sellinglonghaul.com
www.sellinglonghaul.com • July/August 2011 27
Selling Tip
Don't forget there are plenty of quieter
alternative treks to the popular Inca Trail!
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