Monthly Archives: September 2012

Experiences

A Mystical Andean Experience with The UNU Spa at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

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The recent Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2012 saw another great award for Inkaterra. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel has been placed in the top 5 Best Spas in the South and Central America region. The UNU Spa combines both the classic nurturing of a luxury Spa with a mystical Andean approach. All products that are used throughout the Spa are 100% natural, derived from local botanical extracts, providing a pleasing spiritual, sensual and soothing experience.

Few places in the world are as spiritually stimulating or as whole as those found at the centre of the Incas; Machu Picchu. A strenuous few days hiking the Inca Trail will stretch your mind and body to its limits. The UNU Spa is a welcome retreat for tired souls. Soothe your feet after a long hike with a treatment of natural mint and mountain lemon, or relax under candlelit in the Andean Sauna. The Sauna is a particular highlight, and quite a favourite amongst guests. Inspired by a variety of luxury spas, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel has created a perfect Andean experience, where stones from the local rivers are heated in a candle-lit eucalyptus hut to produce steam.

And why not indulge in a luxury face massage while you’re here? The Andean gemstone formulae is believed to help one retrieve ancient wisdom. And after pondering the mysteries of the Ancient Incas, meandering through the forest gardens spotting birds and rare orchids, and relaxing in the steam huts at the UNU Spa, you will no doubt return from your trip with more wisdom than you left with.

25.9.12

Conservation and Sustainability

Educational Travel Community: Opening doors to Open Minds

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As part of the Educational Travel Community’s commitment to advancing responsible tourism, the Educational Travel Community (ETC) hosts an annual Responsible Tourism Conference. This is to recognize the efforts of it’s members and their partners working diligently in the field to develop and implement responsible tourism initiatives. 

Educational travel facilitates deeper, more enduring connections between travellers and the communities they visit through strong interpretation, experiential programming, and meaningful engagement. The Educational Travel Conference is the world’s only travel industry meeting to bring this exclusive group of professionals together, under one roof, for several packed days of outstanding educational sessions, keynotes, and collegial roundtables designed to address a variety of critical and timely topics, as well as skills workshops, networking opportunities, and special events.

Inkaterra are pleased to announce that they have been awarded a 2nd place Honoree award from the committee for their efforts towards Responsible Tourism and education, which will see them receive a cheque for $1000 at the awards ceremony in Orlando early next year. This money will go towards enhancing the current efforts that Inkaterra take in order to pursue an educational experience for both workers and guests alike.

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Inkaterra have several programs in place that aid in educating the local communities at each of their properties. At Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica there is continual training practices in place for the Inkaterra interpreters or guides who are kept ready to teach about the enormous wealth of the biodiversity in the cloud forest and the tropical Amazon rainforest, the archaeological sites and the living cultures which assure their “Peruness”. Inkaterra also actively support the development of the Science and Environment curriculum in the local community school of Madama, located near the Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica lodge, in the district of Las Piedras, as also at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Guests are included in the educational programs also, with programs in place to create awareness and education on biodiversity and archaeological sites to guests staying in the Inkaterra chain of hotels.

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Inkaterra believe in benefiting and helping the local communities in which they operate as much as they can. By encouraging the development of local communities, taking into consideration their environment and culture, Inkaterra hope to assist in helping Peru towards a educated, sustainable and brighter future.

21.9.12

Food and Drink

Say Bye to Sushi and Hi to Ceviche

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For those who keep up to date with the culinary delights of the world will know that Peruvian food is the up and coming cuisine of the moment. The South American country’s mouthwatering cured-fish ceviches, spicy mashed-potato causas and tender alpaca steaks are going global.

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Last week saw Phil Vickery from ITV’s ‘This Morning’ take us to Peru in search of local cuisine that will tantalise our taste buds. Exploring the jungle, heading up higher than he’s ever gone before, Phil cooked with the Kalahari Bushmen and got to grips with some giant crabs. For his first Cookout, Phil headed to the Amazon rainforest deep in the heart of Peru. He met the local Ese Eja tribe, went fishing for piranhas and got a bit too close for comfort with an eight-legged beastie!

Through exploring the local communities, Phil found out about the classic national dish ‘Ceviche‘, and rustled up his own version on the banks of the river in the Amazon Basin. See below for his recipe to make your own Peruvian Ceviche at home:

Ceviche

  • Take 350-500g of any kind of raw white fish and slice.
  • Mix juice of 3 large limes and a juice from 2 ripe passion fruit juice together and add to the fish.
  • Add ½ a chopped onion and 2 cloves of chopped garlic.
  • Add a small amount of finely chopped ginger, about 1 tbps
  • Top with some black pepper, a pinch of sugar and salt and mix altogether. Leave to marinade for about 10 minutes.

Salsa

  • To make a salsa take 2 large chopped tomatoes, 1 small red pepper & red onion, 1 tbsp chopped ginger, and 1 clove of garlic crushed mix with juice of 1 large lime and 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil , along with a few sprigs of fresh mint and 1 small chopped, ripe avocado.
  • Season well with salt and pepper.

Whilst visiting Peru, Phil had the delight of staying at two of Inkaterra’s properties; The Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and The Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. Through South American Adventure Tours, Phil went on a fantastic eight day tour, which includes visits to the colourful city of Lima as well as the former capital of the Inca’s Great Empire ‘Cusco‘ and the majestic lost city of Machu Picchu. This tour includes two chances to stay at the Inkaterra properties.  South American Adventure Tours state that  ‘Peru is a magical country full of mystic encounters, customs, emotions, adventures and a history that will never fail to surprise you’. Don’t miss out on a trip of a lifetime to explore the wonders of Peru – explore today with Inkaterra and South American Adventure Tours. 

10.9.12

Conservation and Sustainability

A Sustainable Future at Inkaterra

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With people slowly growing to understand the consequences that their lifestyle inflicts upon the environment, as well the growing trend of ‘Being Green’, it has never been more prevalent for travel companies to encourage an eco-friendly, sustainable environment.

For over 37 years, Inkaterra has pioneered and promoted sustainable tourism in Peru. Throughout the years at both Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, the team has introduced thousands of people to the natural wonders and the indigenous cultures of Peru. Creating authentic experiences for their guests, with a focus around excellence in ecotourism and conservation is the fundamental meaning behind the Inkaterra experience.

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The Sustainability Policy at Inkaterra aims to preserve the environment, preserve the native cultures, and develop sustainable tourism in Peru. Here are just some of the sustainable targets outlined in Inkaterra’s policy:

  • Define and respect authentic cultural, social and environmental values.
  • Create professional development opportunities and encourage the recruitment and training of local staff.
  • Develop contingency plans for natural, social or financial disasters.
  • Encourage the development of local communities, taking into consideration their environment and culture.
  • Use environmentally friendly products and maintain good communication with suppliers.
  • Use energy and water efficiently, and provide adequate waste treatment.
  • Offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the organization’s operations, in order to be carbon neutral.

The recent Virtuoso Travel Week conference in Las Vegas, an event showcasing the news and updates from the luxury travel market, identified ‘Sustainable Tourism’ as a key emerging trend. Top destinations and travel providers expressed a strong commitment to products and practices that support this movement. Inkaterra, a leader in this recent emerging trend, has had this at the heart of all their movements since opening in 1975.

To put it simply, sustainable tourism is the desire to preserve this beautiful world in which we live in. Can you imagine a future without outstanding natural beauty like that seen at Machu Picchu and in the Peruvian Rainforest? By hoteliers creating a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy, they will be able to assist in preserving these astoundingly beautiful places that are found at all corners of our world. By embracing a sustainable living environment, we hope that our grandchildren will be able to one day experience the same beautiful locations that we have had the privilege of visiting.

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3.9.12