Monthly Archives: August 2019

Hotels

Discover Inkaterra

After being established in 1975, Inkaterra has been at the forefront of ecotourism and sustainable development in Peru. Since then Inkaterra has been dedicated to authentic travel experiences and preserving biodiversity and local cultures. With properties in the heart of the Machu Picchu cloud forest, deep in the Amazonian rainforest of South-Eastern Peru, nestled in the cobblestoned streets of Cusco and surrounded by the rolling hills of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Peruvian landscape, and its preservation, is an important part of Inkaterra.

Since 1978 scientific research has been performed by Inkaterra in the areas surrounding each Inkaterra hotel, and the Cabo Blanco coastline, with many managed by the Inkaterra Asociación. These studies on flora and fauna are used to create a benchmark to compare the future impact of the brand. Such as the bird banding project, to gain valuable data for various species from gender and age to demographics and migratory patterns.

Many of these scientific studies impact the conservation projects and activities at Inkaterra. For example, the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway – a bridge system 100ft (30m) above the ground with two observation towers, eight platforms, and seven hanging bridges – was designed to help those researching the ecosystems that inhabit the rainforest canopy.

Eco-conscious travellers, families, researchers, volunteers, and students can immerse themselves in the vital conservation projects being carried out while staying at Inkaterra Guides Field Station such as the Bio-Orchard, where guests can discover organic native goods and learn about the diverse phases of sustainable horticulture. In addition to these activities, the local communities surrounding Inkaterra can participate in workshops to learn, discover and research, from birdwatching on the Madre de Dios river to learning the techniques of orchid and botanical painting.

Be sure to visit Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to see everything that’s happening at Inkaterra, and visit our blog and website, www.inkaterra.com to discover more about Peru.

Hotels

Inkaterra's Tea Route

Much like in many cultures, tea plays an important role in Peru. Most famous for its coca tea, the herbal infusion, also known as mate de coca, is famed for relieving altitude sickness, and thus is popular amongst travellers who are unused to the Peruvian heights.

At Inkaterra, guests are able to experience even more types of tea, as we cultivate our own leaves at our Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel organic tea plantation. Although tea is produced all over the world, from Japan to India, the only variety that has successfully adapted to Peruvian soil is the Chinese camellia sinensis, and therefore this is what we grow at Inkaterra. All of the tea we grow is free from chemicals and organic, allowing our guests to enjoy the highest quality of flavour when staying at our hotel.

Image result for tea plantation inkaterra

The process of picking and collecting the leaves takes place over the course of a day when the new shoots begin to grow. The age of the new leaves (which must be between 25 and 30 days) and the number of leaves taken from each branch are the determining factors in the quality of the tea being produced. For example, ‘Premium’ tea is the result of picking only one leaf from a branch, ‘Gold’ tea takes three leaves whilst ‘Standard’ tea uses five leaves from the same branch.

The leaves then begin the wilting process to soften them into more pliable sheets ready for rolling, a process which takes place either by hand or using a machine. The action of rolling not only forms the tea leaves into strips, but it also causes essential oils and sap from inside the leaf to be released, further enhancing the flavour of the tea. The rolled leaves are then placed in ceramic bowls and kept in a humid environment at a constant temperature of 22 degrees celsius for a period of 12 hours.

By drying the leaves, we are able to stop the fermentation process at a particular point, however, getting the timing right is essential. Not drying the leaves enough can result in a tea leaf that has a high water content, and therefore runs the risk of getting mildew. Leaves that have been dried too much are likely to lose a lot of their flavour as well as developing large areas of insolubility within the leaf itself.

The last stage of the process is the final selection that takes place after the leaves have been dried. The leaves are passed through seizes of various scales in order to separate them, before being ranked based on size and appearance.

By making simple changes to the processing methods, tea producers are able to create various different tea types from the same plant, such as Black, Green, Red White or Blue teas. At the Inkaterra plantation, we use our leaves to produce Black and Green tea.

At Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, guests are able to visit our organic tea plantation and tea house to discover for themselves the wonders of the traditional tea making and harvesting process. From taking part in the pressing process, to enjoying a glass of fresh hot or iced-tea at the Tea House in the hotel lobby, at our main restaurant or at Cafe Inkaterra, there are many ways for guests to get involved in the Inkaterra tea journey.

For more information on all of the hotels, please visit www.inkaterra.com

Events, Our Peru

Santa Rosa de Lima

Each year on August 23rd millions gather around the world to remember Santa Rosa – the patron Saint of Peru and the New World (The Americas and the Philippines), and the Indigenous natives of Latin America. In Peru and other Latin American countries, she is honoured by a National Holiday on August 30th. On this day in Lima parades will take place with many people dropping a letter of goodwill into the well that was made famous by Santa Rosa.

Rosa dedicated her life to God from a young age and she was confirmed by Lima’s Archbishop Toribio de Mongrovejo. Throughout her life she showed her devotion by consistently doing charitable works, from caring for the sick and hungry to creating and selling fine lace and embroidery. She used this money to help support her family and the poor, whom she often brought to her hut, located in her family garden and care for them. 

As a teenager Rosa attempted to join the Santa Clara monastery, but was disallowed as she could not pay the required dowry. After this she chose to continue devoting her life to God, spending her days praying, caring for the homeless, children, the sick and the poor and completing charity work and much more. It was this hard work that made the Dominican Order take note of her, and allow her entry to the prestigious Third Order with payment. Here she continued the extreme religious practices she was used to, surviving on bread and water to which she occasionally added fresh herbs and natural juices, all grown in her garden. 

Approximately 50 years after her death, in 1617, Santa Rosa was beatified by Pope Clement IX and four years later she was canonised as the first Saint in the New World by Pope Clement X. Due to her selflessness and devotion to God she is still celebrated throughout Peru and other Latin American countries to this day. 

Throughout the year there are many other celebrations that take place in Peru, such as Semana Santa, Inti Raymi and Fiestas Patrias, to find out more about festivals in Peru please visit our blog.

Conservation and Sustainability

Latest projects at Inkaterra Asociación

Since its conception in 1975, Inkaterra has long been a pioneer of eco-tourism, conservation and research. In addition to its collection of five luxury properties, visitors can also book a stay at Inkaterra Guides Field Station, located in the Tambopata National Reserve. The Inkaterra Guides Field Station is home to nature lovers, researchers, students, volunteers and eco-conscious travellers wishing to explore, and learn more about the region, whilst also offering visitors the chance to engage a hands-on experience with the research projects run by Inkaterra Asociación (ITA).

A non-profit organisation committed to scientific research, ITA believes conservation is achieved through the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as through education and biodiversity monitoring.

With plans for new initiatives constantly being developed, Inkaterra Asociación’s most recent eco-tourism project focuses on the ocean, desert and dry forest of the small fishing town of Cabo Blanco in Northern Peru. A model that can be replicated in other coastal communities, the ‘Ocean and Forest’ initiative aims to both restore and conserve the Peruvian Tropical Sea whilst also contributing to the social and economic development of Cabo Blanco.

In addition to ITA projects already in place in the area, the latest initiatives take guests from the seas to the skies of Peru. Starting in the ocean with the aim of protecting the endangered green turtles, and determining their causes of death, ITA and the Waitt Foundation have joined efforts to conserve the species, as despite international regulations forbidding its exploitation, the creature remains seriously threatened. The Project was made possible thanks to a subvention granted by Waitt Foundation. 

Through daily monitoring as well as the implementation of an awareness campaign and the education of fishermen, local authorities and tourist boards, the project aims to have a positive ecological impact on the turtles that have been seriously threatened by poaching, pollution and trawling.

Moving into the area’s shallower waters, ITA have teamed up with the National Fishing and Aquaculture Innovation Program, AGROMAR, and the Cabo Blanco Artisanal Fishing Association, in order to promote responsible methods of pearl harvesting from the rainbow-lipped pearl oyster. 

With the potential for creating sustainable jewellery, as well as launching an ecotourism experience, the programme trains the area’s artisanal fishing community through workshops, which in turn will increase marine diversity through the abolition of illegal fishing.

The last of the new additions to the Inkaterra Asociación line-up is the bird banding project. A useful scientific tool that is based on the catching, marking and releasing of bird species in a given area over a predetermined time frame, the programme allows researchers to discover valuable data for various species. This includes information on everything from gender and age, to demographics and migratory patterns.

To learn more about Inkaterra Asociación’s projects, please click here.

Events, Our Peru

2019 Pan & Parapan American Games

For the first time ever, since it was first inaugurated in Argentina in 1951, the Pan and Parapan American Games are being held in Peru. Throughout July and August, we will be joined by over 8000 athletes from 41 countries in the Americas to compete in a huge variety of sports and disciplines.

To begin the Games, a 23-day run brought the ceremonial torch from the previous hosts, Mexico, to the new host city of Lima. On July 5th the torch started its journey being lit in the traditional fashion of an Aztec Ceremony at the pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan. The journey to Lima started with the torch travelling to Machu Picchu, the historic Incan citadel in the Andes. 

After winding through the beautiful mountain trails, it passed through the town of Ollantaytambo, through the cobblestone streets of Cusco, over the breathtaking Lake Titicaca and on through 23 Peruvian towns and cities to travel the extraordinary 5500 kilometres to Lima for the Pan Am Games opening ceremony.

Travellers visiting Peru for this historic event can watch the huge variety of sports from freestyle wrestling and table tennis to the newly introduced 3-on-3 basketball and BMX freestyle. Many of the competitors will be able to qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020. 

Following the closing ceremony of the Pan American Games the Parapan American Games will take center stage. 1850 Para athletes from 33 countries will travel to Lima to compete in 18 different sports ranging from judo to football, for the chance to travel to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games.

You can discover more about Peru by speaking with our Inkaterra Explorer Guides at each of our unique hotel locations, such as Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, in Machu Picchu Pueblo and Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco, which sit along the route taken by the torch ahead of the Pan American Games opening ceremony. Be sure to visit www.inkaterra.com to start your Inkaterra adventure, and learn more about what happens all over the country.

All images from @Lima2019Games