peru 9
all too easy to overlook the many charms that make Peru such a rewarding country to visit. Summing up Peru’s multifaceted appeal across
W
its Amazonian, Andean and coastal environments is diffi cult, but Daniel Benians of Distinctive Americas nevertheless tries. “Peru is the ultimate destination for fi rst time visitors to South America,” he says. “With
awe-inspiring Inca sites,
exotic wildlife, spectacular landscapes and increasingly
fabulous food, it never fails to deliver.” The country has long been a favourite
with backpackers and the adventurous, but the rapid development of high-quality tourism infrastructure in the last decade has opened Peru up to the luxury visitor too. Today it vies with Brazil as the best-selling Latin American country for most UK tour operators, drawing a wide range of visitors. “Peru is as popular as
ever with clients, appealing to backpackers, honeymooners and empty-nesters alike,” says Travel 2 Product and Purchasing Manager, Justine Egan. Sunvil Traveller names the 50-75 year-old age group among its top clients, while Tucan Travel welcomes plenty of adrenaline junkies, “whether they are on their gap year or blowing their retire- ment fund”, says Product Manager Rolf Stanley. Although the client base is diverse, the fi rst-time
visitor’s itinerary is not so varied. Peru’s key destinations are clustered in the south of the country, so a typical tour will touchdown in the capital Lima, moving on to the picturesque and bustling colonial city of Cusco, high in the Andes, followed by the rural Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. The variation comes with the addition of a trip to the tropical Amazon rainforest for the wildlife enthusiast, a visit to ‘La Ciudad Blanca’ – the White City – of Arequipa and the staggering Colca Canyon, or perhaps a fl ight over the mysterious Nazca lines and a few days relaxing on the coast. The long-overlooked north of Peru is beginning
to attract a good number of visitors too. Rainbow Tours now offers the trendy DCO suites in the far north town of Mancora, for example, while Distinctive Americas cites the pre-Inca sites of Trujillo, Chiclayo and Chachapoyas as key stops in the region. “Casa Andina already has a property in Chachapoyas and other hotel groups are sure to follow,” says Daniel Benians.
sellingtravel.co.uk
ith such an iconic and spellbinding sight as Machu Picchu – that imposing Inca citadel high up in the Andes – it’s
Those who fi nd the abundance of archaeological
sites or the cobbled streets and baroque churches of Cusco just a little too sedate can head off into Peru’s rugged landscapes to let off some steam. Rainbow Tours Programme Manager Amanda
Sweeney suggests white-water rafting, horse-riding and mountain biking for starters, and then of course there’s the trekking. Arriving at Machu Picchu after hiking the famous
Inca Trail is high on the bucket list for many visitors, but with only a limited number of permits available to do so – which are diffi cult to obtain at peak times – operators are increasingly offering different trekking routes in the region. The Salkantay and Lares treks are two such
alternatives, both of which “are equally spectacular and much quieter, and explore less-visited landscapes and villages”, says Benians. It can even be done in comfort, he explains, sleeping not under canvas every night but in quality lodges complete with outdoor Jacuzzis and massage services. If comfort is the order of the day, hotel groups such as Belmond (formerly Orient Express) and Inkaterra operate a host of luxury and boutique hotels and lodges, or consider an Amazon river cruise with the likes of Aqua Expeditions. The standard of vessels and hospitality is proving
a match for the luxury ships of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands – a popular add-on to any Peru itinerary. So is there anything holding Peru back right now? There are still no direct fl ights from London (Madrid is the usual transit) and several operators report steadily increasing prices compared to other Latin American destinations. Others are commonly taking bookings 12 to 18 months in advance of travel and as one product manager says, “if you want the best properties, it’s best to book early”.
What’s new Hotels: The luxury Hotel Sumaq Machu Picchu
(
machupicchuhotels-sumaq.com) is refurbishing its guestrooms, lobby, restaurants and bar over the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108