One of the most heart breaking phone calls I got, a few weeks ago, was from Marcelino, our head muleteer in Quishuarani who supports all our Lares treks. “Jefe, donde están los turistas y cuando volverán?” he asked “Boss, where are the tourists and when will they come […]
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You will be able to travel again—one day. Peru will open its doors to you—someday. When that day comes, you want to travel safely and to avoid crowds of people. To visit Machu Picchu and avoid bus queues; to visit the Sacred Valley and avoid crowded […]
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The latest on COVID-19 coronavirus in Peru Updated 30th June – Exit strategy – Phase 3 Starts 01 July Updated 30th June – Exit strategy now in Phase 3 State of Emergency extended until 31 of July. On June the 27th, President Martin Vizcarra announced that […]
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Part five of a five-part series of ways to experience a little of Peru when you cannot be here. Today we look at the sense of smell. What is the scent of Peru? If you had to make a perfume that encapsulates Peru, what would you […]
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By Mark Smith How to Choose a Safe Company for Your Peruvian Adventure Tourism in Peru is a competitive business. In Cusco alone, over 1,700 companies are competing for your money. However, many of these tourism businesses are illegal. According to figures released by Dircetur, the […]
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This is part three of a five-part series of ways to experience a little of Peru when you cannot be here. Today we look at touch. What does Peru feel like? Alpaca Put on your alpaca sweater, next to your skin if you dare. Close your eyes […]
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This is part three of a five-part series of ways to experience a little of Peru when you cannot be here. Part one is here, part two is here. Today we look at taste. What does Peru taste like? Step aboard any flight from Cusco to […]
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This is part two of a five-part series of ways to experience Peru when you cannot be here. You can read part one here. Experience Peru by sight Alta Moda, or High Fashion, is a photo project by Mario Testino. Originally from Lima, he made […]
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Experiential travel has various definitions. For me, it means to travel with your senses fully engaged. I wrote about this some years ago. How much of our travel is fully engaged? How many times when we travel are we half there and half somewhere else? […]
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COVID-19 has stopped travel for the time being. But what if you already had a trip booked? This article highlights how– if your circumstances permit– you could make a big difference to those in the tourism industry by choosing to postpone rather than cancel. And yes, […]
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Why visit Cusco with kids? A trip to Cusco with kids is the perfect opportunity to create a memorable family holiday. The sheer diversity of Peru is amazing. The opportunities to learn while enjoying yourself are huge. Few places in the world allow you to show […]
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By Mark Smith Villa Barranco is one in a wave of boutique hotels to open in Lima, the Peruvian capital. Situated in the coastal neighborhood of Barranco, this hotel makes an ideal base to explore the city on foot. Museums, galleries, cafes, bars and award-winning restaurants […]
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I went sightseeing the other day, through the canyonlands of Salta. In 37 degrees heat, it left me feeling cold. Delivered from sight to sight in an air-conditioned car, emerging to stop and stare before retreating once more and moving on to the next. As I […]
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Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain? Which is better? What is the difference between the Huayna Picchu hike and Machu Picchu Mountain hike? How can I buy Huayna Picchu tickets or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets? If you are planning a Machu Picchu tour, you may have […]
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White water rafting in Peru White water rafting in Peru is the perfect way to add some excitement and adrenaline to your Peru adventure. This guide aims to outline the choice of rivers commercially available for Peru rafting, as well as tell you how to choose […]
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Is the Inca Trail dangerous? And how can you hike the Inca Trail safely? Because the Inca Trail is so popular, most visitors do not even consider these questions. But as with any adventurous activity, you should. Being informed and prepared will allow you to hike […]
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How do you choose a safe Peru adventure outfitter? Finding a safe Peru adventure outfitter should be the first thing you consider when choosing who to travel with. Because there are thousands of companies offering adventure travel in Peru it can be hard to know who […]
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Landslides and mudslide close Salkantay Trek A large mudslide hit the village of Santa Teresa, at the end of the Salkantay Trek on 23rd February 2020. This came just days after a tourist posted videos of landslides on the Salkantay Trek on 9th February 2020. While the […]
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Where is Barranco? Barranco is in Lima, the capital of Peru. It is located on the seafront, 15 minutes from Miraflores, which is where most tourists stay. Why stay in Barranco, Lima? Barranco is the hip part of Lima. Full of art and culture Barranco […]
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What do you do when Inca Trail permits are sold out? When Inca Trail permits are sold out in 2020, you can still do some great trekking in Cusco. Simply take an Alternative Trek to Machu Picchu. The 500 permits available each day for the Inca […]
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Kjolle has rapidly become the new must-try place for foodies in Lima, Peru. Opened in 2018, it is the sister restaurant to award-winning Central. Central has been high on the list of food lovers visiting Lima for some years. But the only problem is getting a […]
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How to find the best mountain bike hire in Cusco The secret to mountain bike hire in Cusco is simple. If you want to hire a good bike, then you have to book a tour. The best mountain bikes hired in Cusco, are far too expensive […]
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How does the 5 Day Inca Trail Trek compare to the 4 Day Inca Trail? The 5 day Inca Trail trek hikes the same route as the 4-day Inca Trail, but you get a better experience. You share the trail and campsites with less people. You […]
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More problems at Rainbow Mountain Rainbow Mountain saw yet another pitched battle between locals over who has the right to charge entrance fees, on 8th March 2020. 4 people were wounded by bullets. Locals then attacked the police station, demanding those who had been held over […]
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The Inca Trail in 2021 may be a different experience to the current Inca Trail. Big changes to how the Inca Trail operates were announced in November 2018, due to come into place on the Inca Trail in 2020. But they did not happen. They are […]
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Christmas in Peru? Perhaps Peru does not spring to mind as a traditional place to visit for Christmas. But why not? A Peruvian Christmas is very different to Christmas in North America and much of Europe, although there is certainly a Spanish influence, due to the fact […]
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Each year, since 2007, we have planted trees together with ECOAN and various partners in the Lares Valley of Cusco. Now known as Queuña Raymi, we work alongside 21 communities to reforest the are in which they live and help to maintain the water sources, without […]
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What if I told you the highest winery in the world was in Peru? It is not yet, but soon will be. Currently planted between 2850m and 3000m, the Apu Winery has plans to become the highest in the world by planting at 3300m. It was […]
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Inca Trail permits for 2020 went on sale in October. Some dates have already sold out. Over 100 companies can sell you the Inca Trail. But how can you ensure your once in a lifetime experience is as enjoyable as possible? Read on for our top […]
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The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is a great overnight trek in Cusco. Ever dreamed about waking up at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, just a few minutes walk from the ruins. Then you saw the price? How about waking up just yards from Huchuy Qosqo, an old Inca […]
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You don’t go to Iquitos for the silence. The people at the airfield wore headphones. Perhaps everyone should. If it’s not the drone of motor taxis, then it is the ever-present whine of air con. Rising to prominence with late 19th-century rubber boom, Iquitos was once […]
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Guides can make or break your trip. So how do we ensure you get guides that are “exceptional”, “beyond expectations”, “the best guide I have ever had”? We grow them 1 Select good saplings To be a guide in Peru, you need a tourism degree. […]
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Before you think I am belittling Machu Picchu by comparing it to a zoo – I am not. If you grow up in Cusco, surrounded by Inca ruins, as my girls have, seeing a tiger and feeding an elephant and giraffe is a bigger deal than a […]
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1. Armed robberies There were two armed robberies of tourists outside high-end Miraflores hotels last month. Hotel security intervened in both, shots were fired in both, a guard got a bullet in the leg in one. Tourists were unharmed in both. The same week there was an armed […]
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This is a great new way to get to know Cusco and leave a positive impact. This experiences generally last about 3 hours, so are ideal to slot into your time in Cusco. Also ideal if some, but not all the family would like it- as […]
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Is Adventure Travel really sustainable? I watched a video the other day, a TED talk by Shannon Stowell, the CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. The talk was titled, “Change the world… take a vacation.” In it, he gives reasons why adventure travel is good […]
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By food style or restaurant style, taken from 2017 SUMMUM awards See here for where to eat in Peru outside of Lima. For Lima restaurants, read on: 1. Best meat restaurant in Lima 1 Carnal 2 El Charrúa 3 Osso Carnicería & Salumeria 4 El Hornero 5 La […]
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For years now, there has been a move away from camping in Peru and other popular trekking destinations. A shift towards day treks that stay in hotels in the valley and of building permanent accommodation on trekking routes. Some think camping in Peru is a poor […]
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First a general top 20 for Peru, then by region. This 2017 list was compiled by the annual SUMMUM food awards that take place within Peru. See here for a list of where to eat in Lima. 1. TOP 20 Restaurants in Peru all Lima except […]
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The Lares Trek with KM104 Inca Trail is an ideal option for most of you. Here are just some of the reasons why: Permits are easy to get Yes, the main ( 4 or 5 days) Inca Trail is world-famous. But the permit issue is so […]
Read MoreIt is that time of year when I do my personal onepercentfortheplanet.org and dedicate my time to ask you to donate what you can to help us plant native trees in the Andes as part of our Queuña Raymi – Native Tree Planting Festival. This year we are hoping to […]
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Perhaps the wildlife highlight of the trip still awaits us as we rise just before dawn to see the truly extraordinary spectacle of hundreds of macaws, parrots, and parakeets feasting on the minerals contained in the cliff wall. After breakfast, the motor boat transfers us further […]
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This is a stunning trek to Machu Picchu. Once Inca Trail permits are sold out, this is the only option that allows you to walk to Machu Picchu. The Salkantay trek is a real journey through changing ecosystems and landscapes. You cross the shoulder of Salkantay, […]
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The Ausangate trek is an alternative to the Inca Trail, for those who love big mountain scenery. Dominating the Cusco valley, Ausangate stands at 6384m/ 20,945ft. You will cross 5200m/ 17060ft passes, camp beside turquoise lakes, and wake each day to the first rays of sun […]
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Live the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek through our video. Perched precariously on a remote hilltop, protected by huge canyons and fierce rivers lies the lost Inca city of Choquequirao. This adventurous trek takes you in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham and connects three fantastic Inca […]
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The Lares trek with One Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is our most popular alternative to the Inca Trail. Yet it is still relatively unknown. Our nine-day package combines it with acclimatisation hikes in Cusco and the Sacred Valley to give you a real insight […]
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Aside from the fact we love it personally, we believe adventure travel in Peru can elevate a “holiday” or “tour” to something altogether more. Traditional tourism can be pretty passive, you are a bystander, an outsider looking in, visiting, listening, watching. With adventure travel you have […]
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“Daddy, why does that hotel have 4 stars on its wall?” asked Isis, my six-year-old. “Well, some hotels are nicer than others. The nicer ones get more stars.” “Ah, entiendo.” (I understand). “And what about that hotel? “ she asked. “Why does that hotel have […]
Read MoreWhisper it quietly but beyond Machu Picchu lies another Peru. One that we at Amazonas Explorer love to discover and share. Yes Machu Picchu is worth flying across the globe to see. Yes Machu Picchu really is a wonder of the world. But what many forget […]
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The Salkantay Trek is a good alternative trek to our 5 Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu. It is useful when Inca Trail permits are sold out. It takes the same amount of time- five days, four days of trekking with one day touring Machu […]
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Last Friday I tried the Cusco cooking class we offer. This is a relaxing, fun way to spend three-quarters of a day, eat well and learn how to make some tasty iconic Peruvian dishes. Ever since Peru rose to fame as a culinary destination, we have […]
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Amazonas Explorer has a reputation for being the best adventure operator in Peru. We will continue to fight hard to maintain that reputation. But did you know that we also do non adventurous stuff? Probably sixty percent of our business is not adventurous. At least not […]
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Everyone has heard of the Sacred Valley. It has a whole host of big name sites to visit, has nice accommodation and is on the way to Machu Picchu. But have you heard of The South Valley? For most people as Cusco South Valley day tour […]
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You probably know Peru is famous for Machu Picchu, and for treks such as the Inca Trail. But did you know Peru has some of the top multi-day rafting trips in the world? Amazonas Explorer started more than thirty years ago as a rafting company. With […]
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If you want to do a Sacred Valley tour, how do you choose who to travel with? There are hundreds of companies offering “the” Sacred Valley tour. But we prefer to do it a little differently. Here at Amazonas Explorer we believe in quality over quantity. […]
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