There will never be enough time to tour and discover all that Peru has to offer tourists. It is a vacation spot par excellence and the World Travel Awards (WTA), the prestigious annual program that rewards the best destinations in the region and the world, knows it very well: the country of Incas received no less than 16 nominations! which can give it recognition in global travel if winning the gold badge of tourism.

Machu Picchu leads one of the categories (South America’s Leading Tourist Attraction) for which Peru was nominated. The capital, Lima, will compete for awards in the categories of Business Travel Destination, Leading City Break, South America’s Leading City Destination and Leading Sports Tourism Destination.

In order to choose the winners, an online vote has now been opened until July 26, 2021. Tourists, travel journalists, the media and anyone who wishes to give their opinion on the different categories of various destinations across the continent can participate here.

Vote for Peru in the 16 categories for which it was nominated:

1) South America’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here!
2) South America’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021: Lima, Peru –> Vote here!
3) South America’s Leading City Break Destination 2021: Lima, Peru –> Vote here!
4) South America’s Leading City Destination 2021: Lima, Peru –> Vote here!
5) South America’s Leading Cruise Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here!
6) South America’s Leading Culinary Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here!
7) South America’s Leading Cultural Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here!
8) South America’s Leading Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here!
9) South America’s Leading Green Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here! 
10) South America’s Leading LGBT Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here! 
11) South America’s Leading Nature Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here! 
12) South America’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination 2021: Lima, Peru –> Vote here!
13) South America’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2021: Machu Picchu, Peru –> Vote here!
14) South America’s Leading Tourist Board 2021: PromPeru – Peruvian Tourism Board –> Vote here!
15) South America’s Leading Whale Watching Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here!
16) South America’s Leading Youth Travel Destination 2021: Peru –> Vote here!

Vote for Peru in the World Travel Awards South America until July 26, 2021

Details
This will be the 24th award ceremony in the history of the World Travel Awards, considered “The Oscars of Tourism”. In last year’s edition, Peru won four awards in the categories of South America’s Leading Tourist Attraction (Machu Picchu), Leading Cruise Destination, Leading Cultural Destination and Leading Green Destination.

Source: PROMPERÚ

Long Way Up is the third installment of the traveling duo made up of actors Ewan McGregor -Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars saga- and Charley Boorman, who in addition to being an actor, works as a travel writer. In this 11-chapter series, they ride through Latin America on their motorcycles, getting to know different cities and their people, culture, and traditions.

The trip begins in southern Argentina and extends to Los Angeles. Thus, the bikers go through the winter of Patagonia, cross the Andes of South America and ride through the dangerous jungle of Central America, until they reach the United States.

Recording in Peru

Tambo Films, the production company in charge of filming in the lands of the Incas, coordinated with the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism (PROMPERÚ) the procedures so that the Apple TV + production team had the facilities and comforts for its filming and stays in the various locations of Peru.

Thus, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman visited Puno, Ayacucho, Chimbote, Huaraz, and Cusco on their motorcycles. In the last two cities, they made a special stay at the Chavín de Huántar Archaeological Monument and at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, respectively.

In addition, they took time to taste the local gastronomy at each stop, providing beneficial comments for the various dishes of Peru.

“Each city is different from the one before it, and when you are on the border, everything changes deeply: the landscapes, the people, the farmland… it is like a new chapter every time you cross the border. There is special goodness in people. When you have a problem, whether you are lost, or you suffer a breakdown, someone always wants to help you, “said McGregor about his experience in Latin America during an interview with Forbes Mexico.

The tip

If you want to see this series and enjoy the magic of Peru, you can hire the Apple TV + services through this link.

Source: PROMPERÚ

Through a press release, the foundation made known the results after developing a detailed list of the eco-friendly destinations of the moment. Among them, the Colca Canyon (Arequipa) and the Bahuaja Sonene National Park (Madre de Dios) stand out.

Colca is one of the deepest canyons in the world, with more than 4160 meters deep.

“The Colca canyon is one of the most important tourist attractions in southern Peru. It has a unique landscape, combining rugged terrain with agricultural terraces worked by our collaguas and cabanas ancestors; and that every morning allows us to see the majestic flight of the condor around the canyon, capturing the interest of thousands of visitors”, is the description that the organization gives to this beautiful place.

“The view of the Colca canyon is made through small family ventures, generating an enriching experience in which the tourist has the opportunity to stay in homes in the area, sharing roles and traditions,” adds the GGDD website.

Global Green is a non-profit foundation based in the Netherlands, dedicated to the development and recognition of sustainable destinations around the planet.

This recognition turns out to be very important due to the few sustainable destinations in this part of the planet: only 15% of the places on the list come from South America. Chile and Ecuador also offer two sustainable destinations each, while Brazil occupies 9 places on the list.

Getting there

If you are in Lima, you can fly to Arequipa, with a travel of 1 hour and 30 minutes, or if you want to get to know Peru through its roads, you can go by bus, with an approximate journey of 14 hours.

From there to the Colca Canyon, access is exclusively by land. Private cars or buses can do a time of 3 to 4 hours, with stops included so that the traveler can see the landscape.

Sources: Green Destinations / RPP

Since July 16, interprovincial travel in Peru has resumed. Airlines and ground transportation companies also resumed their services under new security protocols. And although tour packages are not yet offered, the hotel industry is also reinventing itself so that travelers feel secure in acquiring these services. A different alternative to staying active is glamping.

Do you know what glamping is? Here we explain it to you. The term results from the union of the words glamor and camping, and consists of camping elegantly, that is, with all the existing comforts. Glamping is a luxury camp, where you get the best of both worlds: you reconnect with nature by living closely with mother earth and its spectacular views and locations, as well as having all the luxuries that the most ostentatious hotels can offer.

This exclusive activity, not yet widely practiced in the country, can be an outlet for conventional tourism, which usually concentrates on large groups of people.

The best destinations

What are the favorite and best-conditioned places for glamping in Peru? Many tourists choose Cusco as their first alternative. There, you can find various options, such as lodging at Nevado Salkantay, glamping on the Inca Trail, and Peru Eco Camp. The three options vary in prices, but they do not skimp on offering the tourist a place away from the noise, surrounded by nature, and free of crowds, as there are not many conditioned tents.

But if what you want is to get away from the cold, your destination should be Ica: near the Laguna de la Huacachina there is the Ica glamping, which offers tents with an Arab style in the middle of the coastal desert.

Sources: peru.travel / PromPerú

Many will wonder what it takes to be considered a biodiverse or megadiverse country? They are all those nations in which there is a diversity of unique plant and animal species. To be considered a megadiverse, flora species must exceed 5000 unique specimens and have marine ecosystems within their borders.

For this reason, through its Travel section, the National Geographic website presented a list of the 17 most biodiverse countries on the planet. There, Peru stands out, mainly for its rugged terrain and its changing weather conditions.

“You can’t talk about Peru without mentioning Machu Picchu or the Nasca lines, but this destination is also famous for its rich and complex biodiversity given the diversity of climates and rugged terrain,” appears on the National Geographic website. “In short, in Peru, there are three distinct regions: the Andes mountains, where native animals like the llama, alpaca, and condor live, the Pacific coast, and the Amazon jungle,” they added in the note.

The 17 countries that make up this list comprise 70% of the world’s recognized flora and fauna species, despite the fact that they occupy less than 10% of the earth’s surface. 50% of South American countries (5) make up this list. And they equal the number of the most biodiverse nations to Asia (5). Africa (3), Oceania (2), and North America (2) also contribute to this select group, with Europe being the only continent without representatives.

This is the complete list of the most biodiverse countries:
1. Australia
2. Brazil
3. China
4. Colombia
5. Ecuador
6. United States
7. Philippines
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Madagascar
11. Malaysia
12. Mexico
13. Papua New Guinea
14. Peru
15. Democratic Republic of the Congo
16. South Africa
17. Venezuela

Sources: National Geographic / Peru Info

For that reason, the American magazine Travel + Leisure recounted the activities and wonders of Peru, with Machu Picchu at the forefront, which you can access from the comfort of your sofa. All you need is a good internet connection, the electronic device of your choice, and a great desire to discover and learn about the ancient culture, the rich history, and the delicious Peruvian cuisine.

360 ° experiences

Still do not know Machu Picchu? You no longer have to worry. Here we have the solution. If you want to know one of the world’s wonders, Travel + Leisure recommends the 360 ° video by YouVisit. You can know the different corners of the ruins located in Cusco with impressive image quality.

If the images of Machu Picchu impressed you, you can complement the Cusco visit with Choquequirao. This 360 ° experience, exhibited on the RoundMe website, is impressive for the panoramic images of the Inca ruins, which are similar in their geographical similarity to those of world wonder.

A look to the north
This special offers images of the Chan Chan Site Museum located in the department of La Libertad, which houses more than 15 thousand archaeological pieces. If you are a lover of history, you should not miss this exhibition of the archaeological zone that in 1986 was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

To close the visits to the various archaeological wonders of Peru, you can visit Kuélap. Watch even the smallest detail of this special video about the pre-Inca citadel located in Amazonas, in northeastern Peru. You will be impressed with its imposing fortresses, which date back to the 11th century.

Delight with the flavors
After touring Peru, we stop for a moment to taste its tasty gastronomy. What do you think of a Papa a la huancaína? Or maybe you fancy some delicious Anticuchos? If you want variety, you can try Arequipa’s gastronomy. But if what you are looking for is a dish that combines Creole with oriental, you can not miss trying Lomo saltado, one of the flagship dishes of Peru. These dishes are recommended by Travel + Leisure and you should definitely not stop trying them.

Sources: Travel + Leisure / Peru info / Peru.travel / Promperú

The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is also a protected natural area, which besides housing an important historical legacy, protects an extraordinary biodiversity. Its more than 80,000 acres, with forested areas, steep mountains, summits and snow-capped mountains, is home to a wide variety of animal and plant species.

Flora and fauna

The Urubamba River crosses from east to west to form a deep canyon; and due to its location, between the Andes and the Amazon, this natural area allows the presence of microclimates which are a source of great biological diversity.

Mammals such as the Andean fox, puma, vizcacha, añuje (dasyproctidae), coati, spectacled bear, and white-tailed deer, among others, can all be found here. With respect to birds, more than 420 species have been identified, including the rock cockerel, Andean condor, torrent duck, and the endemic Inca Wren. The sanctuary of Machu Picchu is in addition home to 377 species of butterflies, 15 types of amphibians, and 25 types of reptiles, 9 of which are types of lizards and 16 are snakes.

In terms of flora, trees include the alder, white cedar, red cinchona, pacae blanco (Delostoma integrifolium), basul, Brazilian coral tree, chachacomo (Escallonia resinosa), yanay (Nectandra furcate), and laurel, as well as forests of unca (Myrcianthes oreophylla), queñua (Polylepis racemosa) and t’asta (Escallonia myrtilloides.

A great range of orchids also grows in the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, flowers with complex shapes and singular beauty. More than 400 species have been recorded in this location, although it is estimated that there are probably more than 1,000.

Orchid Paradise

Orchids can be observed along the routes and paths that cross the sanctuary. A nature reserve, protecting more than 370 species of orchids, is located near the Vilcanota River and is managed by the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Here, you will find the world’s largest collection of native orchids, according to the American Orchid Society.

In addition to beautiful orchids, this natural paradise covering over 12 acres is home to several species of birds and butterflies. It is also a refuge for Andean bears, which are part of a conservation program.

Did you know?

•  Machu Picchu was declared a Mixed World Heritage Site (natural and cultural) by UNESCO in 1983.

•  This natural area has a dry and cold climate in the high Andean zone, being temperate and humid in the jungle brow zone. The rainy season is from November to March, although there may be fogs or showers all year round.

•  Inkaterra won third place as the best hotel brand in the world in the World’s Best Awards 2019 given by the prestigious U.S. travel magazine, Travel+Leisure.

Sources: Sernanp/ El Comercio/ RPP/ Andina/ iperu.org/ spanish.xinhuanet.com