Revealed Travel

Newsletter June 2016

Spotlight on Peru

Latin America today is an appealing, diverse and exciting region which is emerging as an important, safe and fashionable destination for travellers. In this issue we focus on the key highlights of Peru, which is a favourite amongst passengers to South America, whether independent travellers on tight budgets, passengers on a group tour, honeymooners with a preference for modern deluxe hotels or well-heeled and experienced travellers who prefer boutique accommodation selected for character, location, and style. Lima is the starting point for most travellers and is regarded as the ‘gastronomic capital of Latin America’. Cuzco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas both have much to offer with colonial heritage, Inca sites and local markets and are both good places to acclimatise to altitude up in the Andes. Machu Picchu is Latin America’s foremost archaeological site and is a must for any first-time traveller to Peru. We also thoroughly recommend the Andean Explorer train up to Lake Titicaca and, for a complete introduction to South America, we suggest a few days in the Amazon rainforest. Peru can be easily combined with the Galapagos Islands, the Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro or La Paz, Bolivia. We can extend an itinerary to include the Uyuni Salt Flats and the Atacama Desert.

BA: Direct flights to Peru

British Airways launched a new, direct service between Gatwick and Lima, on 4 May.

The service will initially run three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in each direction.

On Wednesdays the flight departs Gatwick at 13.50 and arrives into Lima at 20.25, local time, a journey time of twelve and a half hours. The flight departs Lima at 21.55 and will arrive back at Gatwick at 16.15 the following afternoon.

On Fridays and Sundays the service departs Gatwick at 11.55 arriving 18.30. It departs from Lima at 20.00 and arrives back at 14.20 the following day.

Aircraft type: Boeing 777

01932 424252

www.perurevealed.co.uk www.southamericarevealed.co.uk

part of the Revealed Travel group owned by Mercator Enterprises Ltd

Lima Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. The colonial centre of Lima has been steadily restored over the last 25 years. The district of Miraflores is today the vibrant heart of the modern city and it is worth visiting the Larco Mar centre for a variety of craft shops, restaurants and cafes with great ocean views.

Belmond Miraflores Park

Practical Information for Travellers

Suggested Itinerary Day 1: Lima Days 2-4: Amazon Rainforest Days 5-6: Sacred Valley of the Incas Day 7: Machu Picchu Days 8-10: Cuzco Days 11-12: Lake Titicaca Day 13: Lima Day 14: Depart Peru

Country Club

The Belmond Miraflores Park is a superb hotel overlooking the Pacific, with excellent service and attention to detail. Facilities include a heated roof-top swimming pool. The Country Club in Lima’s San Isidro district has a touch of colonial charm. The hotel has just 83 rooms and has an exclusive agreement with the Lima Golf Club.

Seasons and Climate: The best time to visit is March to June or September to November which is the changeover between wet and dry seasons. In July/August it is dry, but temperatures can fall dramatically at altitude in the Andean winter. December/January is warm but wet. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is closed in February.

The Marriott hotel has all the facilities you would expect of this international chain. It is in an excellent location, very close to the Larco Mar complex in Miraflores. The Sonesta Posadas del Inca has just 28 rooms, with good customer service and comfortable rooms. Located in the heart of Lima's fashionable Miraflores district.

Marriott

Altitude: When travelling in the Andes you will be at fairly high altitude. You should check with your doctor and advise your travel insurers of any medical conditions. Lima: sea level Cuzco: 3310m Sacred Valley: 2800m Machu Picchu: 2380m Lake Titicaca: 3825m

Sonesta Posadas del Inca

Museums The Museo de la Nacion provides a good introduction to the Incas and pre-Inca history and the different cultures and civilisations prior to conquest by the Spanish. The Gold Museum (Museo de Oro) has a vast display of bronze, silver and gold artefacts. The Museo Larco de Lima houses a large collection of Moche, Sican and Chimu ceramics, as well as silver, gold and textiles

Domestic Flights There is a good network of flights within Peru or locally within Latin America. Depending on your route and itinerary it may be best to purchase an airpass – we can advise you on what is best.

Entry British nationals travelling on a full, valid British passport do not require a

Peruvian Cuisine Peruvian cuisine is gaining a strong international reputation with restaurants springing up all over the world.

Ceviche (marinated seafood) is one of the signature dishes of the country; Papas a la Huancaina are potatoes with a spicy cheese sauce which make a good starter. Lomo Saltado is a Peruvian stir fried beef dish with peppers and potatoes; Tacu Tacu is a rice and bean pancake with a slice of beef usually served with a fried plantain and topped off with a fried egg (there are seafood variations of this). Aji de Gallina is a garlic and spicy creamed chicken dish traditionally served with both rice and potatoes.

Guinea-pig is famously regarded as a Peruvian delicacy for special occasions. It is traditionally served whole with a tomato in its mouth. Try it if you must but there is probably something far more exciting and appetizing on the menu.

Modern Peruvian Gastronomy Lima is regarded as the gastronomic capital of South America, combining traditional dishes with modern techniques and flavours.

Casa Moreyra – Gaston Acurio and Astrid Gutsche’s pioneering cuisine at a delightful historic hacienda in San Isidro.

Lima 27 - New flavours and trends from Head chef Carlos Testino, while supporting local farmers and fishermen.

Central – award-winning food from Virgilio Martinez.

Rafael – classic Peruvian recipes with Mediterranean influences from Rafael Osterling.

IK – contemporary Peruvian gastronomy from Franco Kisic continuing the work of his brother Ivan who was killed in a car accident in 2012.

AlmaZen – organic & vegetarian, part of the slow-food movement; variable service

visa for entry to Peru. You should ensure that it is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of arrival.

Vaccinations It is advisable to check your immunizations for Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. If you have been to Africa within 3 months of arriving in Peru you may need to provide proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever. If you are travelling into the Amazon basin it is better to take precautions against malaria unless there are medical reasons for not doing so.

Costs Prices will vary according to season, standard of accommodation and whether services are on a private basis or as part of a group. Please contact us for further information.

Cuzco Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire and is built in the Spanish colonial style upon Inca foundations. Cuzco is friendly, vibrant and exciting and there is always plenty to do here with a good choice of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs and fantastic handcraft shops. On a hill overlooking the city is the mighty Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which is definitely worth a visit.

Belmond Hotel Monasterio Dating from 1592 this is former monastery on the site of an Inca palace. Now a Belmond property it is one of our favourite hotels in South America, with superb facilities, excellent staff and attention to detail. Some Rooms have oxygen piped into them to counter the effects of altitude. Highly recommended.

Aranwa Cuzco Boutique Hotel A 16th century colonial mansion converted into a delightful boutique hotel set around an attractive courtyard.

Casa Andina This local chain offer a range of 3-4 star hotels in Cuzco; their Private Collection properties are slightly better than their classic hotels

La Casona

Boutique colonial property with 11 rooms dating from the 16th century part of the award-

winning Inkaterra group. Simply superb.

Andean Wings Beautifully resorted 17th century house with 16 rooms, 2 blocks from Plaza de Armas.

Sacred Valley of the Incas The Sacred Valley is around an hour and a half from Cuzco and is dotted with villages, Inca sights, Andean markets and activities such as white-water rafting and mountain biking. We recommend climbing to the top of the fortress of Ollantaytambo to see the size and scale of the stonework. The salt pools at Maras have been used since pre-inca times.

Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado A choice of deluxe rooms, superb suites or luxurious villas in delightful grounds next to the Urubamba River Explora Valle Sagrado Explora will be opening their new property on 1 July 2016. 50 rooms; transfers and all excursions included (including Machu Picchu). 3 night minimum stay.

Machu Picchu A visit to Machu Picchu is always something special and exciting, even for frequent travellers to Peru. Entry is restricted to 2,500 visitors per day and just 400 are permitted to climb Huayna Picchu, the mountain behind Machu Picchu on a timed entry ticket (it takes about 90 minutes). Machu Picchu is open between 6.00 am and 5.30 pm. The first bus from Aguas Calientes, the village below Machu Picchu, leaves at 5.30 am. The last bus departs Machu Picchu at 5.30 pm.

Andean Explorer Train to Lake Titicaca

Travel in style on the Andean Explorer train between Cuzco and Lake Titicaca. This is one of South America’s great railway journeys.

The service departs at 8 am four times a week on Mondays,Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between April and October. Between November and March there is no Friday service. The service arrives at its destination around 6.30 pm

Trains to Machu Picchu Peru Rail and Inca Rail run regular trains from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. We will arrange transfers from your hotel in the Sacred Valley (or Cuzco) to fit as necessary The luxurious Belmond Hiram Bingham service run by Peru Rail is particularly good with brunch on the way up and dinner on board for the return journey. The Presidential class carriage on the Inca Rail service has a capacity of just 8 passengers and includes an excellent menu and panoramic views.

Top tip: You can travel up to Machu Picchu by the regular service but return in style on either the Belmond Hiram Bingham service or in Presidental class on Inca Rail.

Machu Picchu accommodation You can visit Machu Picchu as a day trip from the Sacred Valley but a better option is to spend the night either at the hotel at Machu Picchu itself or in the local village.

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge This is the only hotel next to Machu Picchu and if you wish to stay here early booking is essential. Very busy during the day. Quiet at night when the citadel is closed.

Inkaterra Pueblo Machu Picchu Delightful casitas in a wonderful setting; highly recommended.

Hotel Sumaq A fine hotel in the local village; good facilities.

El MaPi An excellent choice for independent travellers.

NB. At the time of publication we are hearing rumours of a change to the service in 2017. We are expecting an announcement imminently and will post any information to our blogs.

Titilaka Lodge This is the best hotel at Lake Titicaca, located on a peninsula near the village of Chucuito, 19km from Puno.

We recommend excursions to the Uros Islands and to Taquile on Lake Titicaca.

Revealed Travel

Amazon Rainforest Although Peru is widely thought of as an Andean country in fact 60% lies within the Amazon basin. The Tambopata National Park, near Puerto Maldonado, is an ideal base for exploring the jungle. We thoroughly a visit to Sandoval Lake, which involves a short journey by motorboat followed by a walk of through primary and secondary rainforest and then a journey by dugout canoe across the oxbow lake, keeping your eyes peeled for giant otters, hoatzin and other birds and up to six types of monkey, including red howler, brown capuchin and squirrel monkeys.

Corto Maltes

The Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge has just 27 wooden bungalows on stilts in the Tambopata rainforest on the River Madre de Dios near Lake Sandoval. All activities and excursions are included but the order of services may change depending on weather conditions.

Reserva Amazonica

Located in 12,000 hectares, the Reserva Amazonica offers a choice of half and full day guided excursions including rainforest walks, trails and river excursions. They also offer a 30m high canopy walkway which is best avoided if you are not confident with heights or suffer from vertigo.

Hacienda Concepcion

Approximately half an hour by boat down the Madre de Dios river from Puerto Maldonado. The Hacienda has 19 bungalows and 6 family rooms. We recommend an excursion to the Cachuela clay lick and to Lake Sandoval. Children might be interested in their Brazil nut experience.

Other News

South East Asia Revealed

Revealed Travel has launched a new website for South-East Asia which includes newly-emerging Myanmar, the vast archipelago of Indonesia, land-locked Laos, Cambodia and Angkor Wat, fascinating Vietnam and Thailand, the country of smiles.

www.southeastasiarevealed.co.uk

Ecuador Earthquake Appeal

The LATA Foundation, the charity set up by the Latin America Travel Association, is appealing for donations following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador on 16 April 2016. Funds will help to provide immediate humanitarian relief and to rebuild and restore the tourism industry along the coast. www.justgiving.com/lata

01932 424252

www.perurevealed.co.uk www.southamericarevealed.co.uk

part of the Revealed Travel group owned by Mercator Enterprises Ltd