Inkaterra is proud to announce its nomination for the 2026 Virtuoso Sustainability Awards in the Protecting the Planet category, an acknowledgement of José Koechlin’s vision, whose legacy of conservation marks its 50th anniversary this year. Since its foundation, Inkaterra has championed regenerative tourism in Peru, proving that travel can restore ecosystems, generate scientific knowledge, support local livelihoods and inspire a deeper connection with nature. Virtuoso is America's most prestigious organization for promoting luxury tourism,

The nomination highlights Inkaterra's flagship initiative, "Regenerating Life in the Andean Cloud Forest of Machu Picchu." In the early 1970’s, the grounds where Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel was established were a landscape heavily impacted by logging and cattle grazing. Over the years, the landscape has been gradually restored through long-term conservation, natural regeneration and scientific management, transforming a degraded ecosystem into one of the world's most remarkable biodiversity hotspots.

Today, it is home to 317 bird species registered at eBird, and 372 native orchid species (the world’s largest native orchid collection in its natural habitat according to the American Orchid Society) while research conducted by Inkaterra Asociación has contributed to the discovery of 28 species new to science. This transformation demonstrates how sustained regenerative tourism can restore ecological integrity over time.

Beyond protecting biodiversity, the initiative demonstrates how tourism can actively regenerate territory. Inkaterra's award-winning organic tea—recognized with five medals at the Teas of the World Awards in Paris, including one Gold and two Silver medals—illustrates how conservation and sustainable production can create tangible economic opportunities for local communities.

Virtuoso’s nomination also celebrates Inkaterra's broader vision for scaling regenerative impact. This includes the One Million Trees Initiative, which seeks to expand successful forest restoration models across the Andean cloud forest, as well as the achievement of Machu Picchu becoming the world's first Carbon Neutral Wonder of the World, establishing an international benchmark for climate action in tourism.

The winners will be determined by a live vote and announced on Monday, 10 August, as part of Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas.

Peru's leading newspaper, El Comercio, highlighted the inauguration of the On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas exhibition at the Shanghai Museum, recognizing it as a landmark moment for the international promotion of Peru's cultural heritage. Open through 14 November 2027, the exhibition has already earned extraordinary public interest, with more than 300,000 tickets sold during the presale, underscoring the strong appeal of Peru’s and Mexico's ancient civilizations with Chinese audiences.

At the heart of the exhibition is Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, an immersive experience featuring more than 300 archaeological treasures from the Larco Museum. Following highly successful presentations in Boca Raton, Paris, Milan, Sydney and Tokyo, Shanghai represents the exhibition's largest and most ambitious venue to date, becoming the most comprehensive exhibition on Peru's ancient civilizations ever presented in China.

As the only Peruvian private company participating in the exhibition, Inkaterra has supported this international initiative since its inception, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to promoting Peru as a world-class destination where culture, biodiversity and conservation are deeply interconnected.

The exhibition also represents a unique opportunity to strengthen Peru's presence in one of the world's fastest-growing outbound tourism markets. By presenting Machu Picchu within the broader story of Peru's ancient civilizations, it seeks to inspire future travelers while fostering a deeper appreciation of the country's rich cultural legacy.

“We are proud to help share the artistry, biodiversity, cultural richness and worldview of Peru with Chinese audiences, strengthening the ties between two civilizations with profound historical legacies,” says Inkaterra founder and exhibition partner, José Koechlin.

For Inkaterra, this milestone reflects a vision that has guided the company for five decades: showcasing Peru not only through its archaeological treasures, but also through the extraordinary natural heritage that defines the country and inspires conservation for future generations.

Travel+Leisure, one of the world's most influential tourism publications, has highlighted Inkaterra Cabo Blanco, introducing readers to the brand’s first property on the northern Pacific coast of Peru. The article describes Cabo Blanco as a destination where understated luxury, remarkable biodiversity and the rich history of one of the world's most legendary fishing villages come together to create an experience unlike any other in South America.

Inkaterra Cabo Blanco marks a significant milestone for the company soon after being awarded with five Michelin Keys for excellence. Completing its presence across Peru’s three great natural regions—the Amazon rainforest, the Andean cloud forest and the Pacific coast, the new deluxe property features spacious beachfront suites, locally inspired architecture, wellness experiences and immersive encounters with the surrounding marine and coastal landscapes, offering guests an authentic connection with one of Peru’s most extraordinary destinations.

Travel+Leisure also revisits Cabo Blanco’s legendary past as one of the world’s most celebrated sportfishing destinations. In 1956, Nobel-Prize laureate Ernest Hemingway visited Cabo Blanco where the filming took place of the adaptation of his novel, The Old Man and the Sea. The 1950’s cemented the village’s place in fishing history, with the capture of the world-record 1,560-pound black marlin and the world-record tuna landed in 1957. Today, Inkaterra honors this remarkable heritage through the restoration of the Hemingway’s iconic fishing boat Miss Texas, preserving a symbol of Cabo Blanco's golden era while leading a new chapter dedicated to the recovery and conservation of the Tropical Pacific.

Beyond the guest experience, the article recognizes Inkaterra's long-standing philosophy of conservation. Building upon five decades of pioneering ecotourism in the Amazon and the Andes, Cabo Blanco extends this vision to Peru's northern coast through initiatives that promote marine and dry forest conservation, scientific research and sustainable community development, once again demonstrating how hospitality can contribute to the long-term protection of exceptional natural and cultural landscapes.

Green Initiative has highlighted Inkaterra as the world's first Climate Positive hotel brand in its latest publication, explaining the evolution from carbon neutrality to climate positivity under the ISO 14068-1 international standard. The recognition reinforces Inkaterra's long-standing commitment to demonstrating that hospitality can become a force for environmental restoration.

According to Green Initiative’s blog, Carbon Neutral organizations measure, reduce and compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net-zero emissions. Climate Positive, however, goes one step further by creating a net positive impact on the climate through ecosystem restoration, carbon removal, and activities that generate lasting environmental benefits beyond neutrality.

This distinction reflects the philosophy that has guided Inkaterra for five decades. Through scientific research, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and community engagement, the company has consistently demonstrated that tourism can not only minimize its environmental footprint but actively contributes to the recovery of nature.

Today, initiatives such as Machu Picchu Carbon Neutral, One Million Trees, and the new marine and coastal conservation model being developed at Inkaterra Cabo Blanco continue to expand this vision, proving that regenerative tourism protects biodiversity while creating resilient landscapes and sustainable opportunities for local communities.

The recognition by Green Initiative reinforces Inkaterra's position as an international leader in sustainable hospitality and underscores the growing importance of moving beyond carbon neutrality towards a truly Climate Positive future. Read the full article here.