ECUADOR & PERU DOUBLE DELIGHT
These South American neighbours are coming of age with new, high-end tourism product, says Andy Hoskins
N
eighbouring Peru and Ecuador are considered by many the perfect introduction to Latin
America. With their iconic attractions of, respectively, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, plus a rich mix of ancient culture, diverse wildlife and dramatic landscapes, the two countries are among the top sellers in the region for many UK operators. The Andes form the backbone of both
countries, with the mountain range dropping away west towards the Pacifi c coast and east into the steamy Amazon where jungle lodges allow visitors to get up close and personal with the rainforest and its abundant wildlife. “The Peruvian Amazon is a brilliant
choice for fi rst time visitors to the region and also for families, as it’s
easily accessible and can be combined with an itinerary exploring the wider highlights of Peru,” says Amanda Sweeney of Rainbow Tours.
Clockwise from top left: Galapagos Islands wildlife; Machu Picchu, Peru; Indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon; Cuzco, Peru
In Ecuador it is the Galapagos Islands that are the star of the show when it comes to wildlife watching, though it too has its share of Amazon lodges. The Galapagos’ isolated position in the Pacifi c has led to a particularly diverse and bold animal population that provided the basis of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. “For a stand out wildlife option a trip on the luxury catamaran Athala II, to trace Darwin’s footsteps around the Galapagos, cannot be missed,” says Abercrombie & Kent’s Lucinda Paxton. “From the vessel you can hike, swim, snorkel, and bird-watch and go home with photographs to dazzle your friends with of some of the world’s most stunning fl ora, fauna and wildlife.” Back on Ecuador’s mainland, Andean cities such as Quito – the capital – and
42 February 2013 •
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Cuenca are essential stops for soaking up the charm of their UNESCO-listed historic Old Towns. Also in the highlands are the spectacular ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ and the town of Otavalo, famed for its textile market. In Peru, the vast majority of fi rst-time
visitors will visit stunning Machu Picchu, the 15th century Inca citadel perched high in the Andes. Travellers can reach Machu Picchu by hiking the famous Inca Trail (book early in order to secure a permit) or taking the train through the Sacred Valley from Cuzco. This pretty city itself warrants a stay
of several days, not only to acclimatise to the high altitude, but also to enjoy its historic churches, plazas and Inca sites. It is a major hub for Peruvian tourism and is roughly equidistant from other major tourism destinations in the south such as Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, and the mysterious Nazca lines in the coastal desert. If luxury train journeys are a mark of a destination’s move into top-end tourism, then Ecuador is joining the pack. This year sees the launch of Tren Crucero, a government-operated rail journey on a re-opened route between Quito and Guayaquil. The four-day journey includes visits to Cotopaxi
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