On June 29th, as part of the festivities of Saints Peter and Paul, the artisanal fishing community of Cabo Blanco marked Fisherman’s Day sailing in the Peruvian Tropical Pacific. Committed to the conservation of ocean biodiversity, Inkaterra Asociación promotes the recognition of this ancient sailing tradition, which nowadays plays a key role in the conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources.

Contributing to the resilience of coastal communities in northern Peru, Inkaterra Asociación has led the initiative that enabled the Ministry of Culture to declare Cabo Blanco's artisanal fishing as a Living Cultural Heritage since 2018.

This spectacular seascape embodies both the spirit and the driving force of Cabo Blanco, one of the world’s great historical fishing areas, where Ernest Hemingway and many Hollywood legends pursued the sun back in the 1950’s. Cabo Blanco holds two game fishing world records that remain unmatched – the legendary 1,560-lb black marlin (August 1953) and the 435-lb bigeye tuna (April 1957).

Rooted in the essence of Cabo Blanco’s artisanal fishing tradition, Inkaterra is developing a comprehensive ecotourism project. Our goal is the restoration of one of Peru’s most iconic marine destinations and achieving a global model of sustainability for coastal communities. Along with its first hotel established on the Peruvian coastline, Inkaterra Cabo Blanco seeks to embrace the area’s natural, historic, and cultural wealth through a combination of sustainable infrastructure, scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and authentic experiences with a strong local identity.

Discover the story behind Hemingway’s restored boat in Cabo Blanco by clicking the button below, and follow us for the latest news on the upcoming opening of Inkaterra Cabo Blanco.

Natural Habitat Adventures (Nat Hab), a leader in responsible nature-based adventure travel, in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Inkaterra, has introduced the first all-electric van (EV) for tourism use in Peru.

Nat Hab partnered with the Chinese company Maxus to import a spacious, passenger-ready electric vehicle tailored to its Peru tourism programs. Powered by a high-capacity battery, the EV eliminates the gasoline or diesel emissions. Beyond its environmental benefits, the EV also offers economic advantages, with lower operating costs due to fewer moving parts and no need for fuel or oil changes. Additionally, its quiet, smooth ride enhances the guest experience, making it a cleaner, more efficient alternative to traditional vehicles.

As part of Nat Hab’s electric vehicle initiative, the company has installed an electric charging station at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Hotel amid the evergreen mountains of Cusco’s Sacred Valley. Pioneering ecotourism in Peru since its establishment in 1975, Inkaterra encourages the strategic partnership with Nat Hab as it furthers both brands’ goal of supporting sustainable innovation in Peru and inspiring additional companies to follow their lead in the commitment towards conservation.

In October 2021, the United Nations recognized Inkaterra as the world's first Climate Positive hotel brand, aligned with the UN’s sustainable development guidelines - granted after the certification firm GreenInitiative evaluated the company’s carbon footprint and confirmed its Climate Positive status. This means that, in addition to achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions, Inkaterra goes further by removing more CO₂ than it emits, generating an additional environmental benefit. “Our new partnership with Nat Hab is aligned to our ethos as the first-ever Climate Positive hotel brand, and it paves the way to embrace sustainable solutions in Peru’s travel industry,” remarked Inkaterra founder and CEO, José Koechlin.

“This all-electric vehicle will not only reduce our carbon footprint but also inspire travelers to embrace eco-conscious travel that safeguards the natural beauty of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and beyond,” said Niceto Yalan, Adventure Director for Peru at Natural Habitat Adventures. “We are proud to be the first tourism operator in Peru to integrate electric technology into our transportation. While some public transit companies have begun introducing larger electric buses, no one has yet adapted passenger vans for tourism. In this regard, we are true pioneers, leading the way toward a more sustainable future for travel in Cusco and beyond.”

This month we experienced a fantastic sighting near Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción. Our helmsman Yasmani spotted a green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) curled over the roots of a fallen tree floating on the Lower Madre de Dios riverbed, right in front of the lodge’s access port.

Eunectes murinus (derived from the Greek ‘ευνήκτης’ meaning “good swimmer” and the Latin ‘murinus’ meaning “of mice”, for being thought to prey on mice) is a non-venomous boa species, considered the world’s largest, heaviest and second longest snake. It can reach about five meters long, with females larger than males in adulthood. Green anacondas are found in South America, towards the East of the Andes, from the Guianas to Paraguay, and tend to live in or around water tropical rainforests, hiding in marshes and swamps. Employing constriction to subdue their prey, anacondas eat mostly fish, birds, small mammals and other reptiles. Larger anacondas can even hunt tapirs, deer, capybaras and caimans, though these are not commonly consumed. Though local legends depict this species as a man-eater, little evidence supports this rumor.

Lauded by Travel+Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción is located in one of the most biodiversity-rich environments in the Amazon rainforest of Madre de Dios, at the Tambopata National Reserve’s buffer zone. Howler monkeys, giant river otters and a variety of birds are frequently sighted in its grounds.

Have you ever spotted wildlife during your stay at Inkaterra? Share your sightings with us, using the hashtag #InkaterraWildlife.

Inkaterra Asociación (since 1978) was officially founded in 2001, when the first biodiversity inventories began around the Cusco Amazónico lodge (now Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica). These early studies aimed to measure the positive impact of ecotourism on natural ecosystems, and confirmed what founder José Koechlin had long intuited: that Madre de Dios is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.

To date, inventories undertaken at Inkaterra areas of influence have recorded 903 bird species (comparable to Costa Rica’s total bird count), 362 ant species (a world record supported by Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson), 313 butterfly species, 100 mammals, 372 native orchids (the planet’s largest collection in their natural habitat, according to the American Orchid Society), and 1,266 vascular plant species. Inkaterra Asociación has also identified 36 species new to science, including 27 orchids, 5 amphibians, a butterfly, 2 bromeliads, and a tropical vine.

Inkaterra’s pioneering spirit lives on. In partnership with more than 200 researchers and institutions, Inkaterra Asociación continues to lead scientific research, conservation, and community-based initiatives throughout Peru — from the Amazon and Andes to the tropical Pacific coast. More than a scientific institution, Inkaterra Asociación is the soul of the Inkaterra experience. Its projects are the main source of inspiration for the experiences to which travelers are exposed at each property. They shape the brand’s identity and bring meaning to the places where it operates.

As Inkaterra approaches its 50th anniversary, Inkaterra Asociación leads bold initiatives that expand the brand’s horizons while deepening its impact. One of these is the Madre de Dios Sustainable Landscape (MDSL) — a 252,047-acre conservation corridor that protects ecosystem services, combats illegal mining and deforestation, and fosters sustainable livelihoods. MDSL is envisioned as a hub for green enterprise and local development, aiming to attract over $100 million in private investment.

Through these forward-looking efforts, Inkaterra Asociación reaffirms its founding belief: that science, culture, and ecotourism — when united with purpose — can regenerate landscapes, empower communities, and inspire a new generation of travelers.