JULY 2016 ISSUE 1 A MAGICAL TRIP THROUGH THE IMPERIAL CITY OF CUSCO TOURING THE HIGHEST NAVIGABLE LAKE IN THE WORLD THE WHITE CITY AND ITS VOLCANOES THE MOST GIGANTIC ON THE PLANET 1/ “I do not believe that civilizations have to die because civilization is not an organism. It is a product of wills.” Arnold Joseph Toynbee. 2 / INCA TRAIL Torre Tagle Palace. EDITORIAL Peru possesses a cultural wealth of exceptional value. For millennia Additionally, new market niches have been developed, such as bird now, our territory has been home to the most important historical watching; thermal baths; medical tourism; and the culinary tourism development processes of humankind. The prestigious British that is being consolidated through the organization of the Mistura historian Arnold Toynbee named Peru one of the eight “cradles of international culinary fair. This effort has become a common thread world civilization” and highlighted the abundance and originality of that runs through the entire Peruvian State, projecting us abroad its contributions to the planet’s cultural heritage. with an immense potential from three different perspectives: as a commercial product; as a structure for the promotion of tourism; Behind the magnificence of Machu Picchu, the mystery of the and from a cultural point of view. Nazca Lines, the refinement of the Lord of Sipán, the symbolic force of the Temple of Chavín, and the primordial fire of the city of Caral All these efforts have generated a kind of tourism revolution in Peru, lie 5,000 years of civilization; few peoples in the world can boast of which received 3.5 million foreign tourists in 2015 and in September such privilege. We are a country with a profound historical memory, 2015 it recorded 2.5 million, who will jointly contribute US$3.8 billion and it is precisely here that the richness of our tourist attractions is to our economy. rooted. Nowadays, tourism accounts for 7% of Peru’s GDP. It is one of If Peru aspires to stand out from other tourist destinations in the fastest-growing sectors in the country, employing 11% of the today’s competitive global market, it must take full advantage of economically active population. Behind only the mining and fishing its cultural “added value” and offer visitors high-quality services sectors, tourism now ranks as the third-largest industry in Peru, and experiences that make their stay in our country a unique, expanding at a pace of 25% annually over the last five years, making unmatchable experience. In other words, we must create it the highest growth rate in South America. competitive products based on our diverse and magnificent cultural heritage, which is not only limited to archaeology, but also Thanks to these results, we believe our country is on the right path includes other living expressions such as our exquisite handicrafts, to consolidating and establishing one of the most attractive and traditional celebrations, and above all, consolidating our renowned flourishing tourism industries in Latin America and the world. A cuisine, which means that our current objective should be obtaining comprehensive political vision that includes priority and emerging Lima’s recognition as the culinary capital of the Americas. With that markets, and a defined strategy that makes it possible to fine-tune challenge ahead of us, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ordered the public-private alliance using the capacities of our Diplomatic the 135 Peruvian Missions established in every region of the world, Missions abroad as a fundamental instrument for the promotion their infrastructures and broad network of political, commercial, of trade, tourism, and investment in favor of Peru: these are the business, academic, and cultural contacts, to make a concerted contributions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the service of the effort together with our strategic partner, the Peruvian Non-Profit State. Culinary Association (APEGA). Our Missions abroad are the Peruvian State’s most important networks in the globalized system The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeks to contribute to this of the twenty-first century, with knowledge and experience in the national effort. It is for this reason that it decided to publish this promotion of cuisine, tourism, and the export of Peruvian products issue of INCA TRAIL magazine, which I am pleased to present. and brands to the rest of the world. Our objective is to promote an alliance with the main actors in the tourism industry, both public and private, in order to jointly tackle Likewise, the natural backdrop against which Peru’s development three of the biggest challenges in the sector: the quality of the occurred is as fascinating and varied as our country’s cultural service received by visitors; the effective protection of their safety; expressions, constituting a component that only adds to the wealth and the development of infrastructure. of tourist attractions we can manage and promote. For this reason, Peru has been forging a State Policy in recent years focused on Our memorable historical past, the universal value of our culture that sharing with the rest of the world all the virtues that history and synthesizes the contributions of so many others, and the promising nature have entrusted us with. outlook of our insertion into the world tourism market are worth the effort. As such, national policies have segmented tourism by specialization. In other words, cultural tourism, which takes place primarily in the Ana María Liliana Sánchez Vargas de Ríos south (Cusco, Arequipa, and Puno) and revolves around Machu Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru Picchu; and business tourism, which is concentrated primarily in Lima, associated with the Peru’s current cycle of economic expansion. 3/ Edition 01 TOURIST DESTINATIONS PERU: A COUNTRY WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED Peru is a country just waiting to be discovered, with a millennia-old history. It offers foreign tourists endless choices and the possibility of living a truly unique experience: history, culture, nature, adventure, and much more, all in one destination. ECUADOR COLOMBIA The impressive archaeological heritage left behind by pre-Hispanic civilizations are a testimony to its July, 2016 art, customs, and development. But this Andean nation is not only about the past and its historical legacy. With its breathtaking diversity Ambassador Ana María Liliana Sánchez Vargas de Ríos of climates and ecosystems, Peru belongs to the select group of eight “mega-diverse” countries Minister of Foreign Affairs worldwide, making it a privileged destination for nature lovers and ecological tourism. ío Am R a z Manglares de Tumbes o n a TUMBES IQUITOS s Ambassador Eric Anderson Machado Punta Sal RN Allpahuayo - Mishana Secretary General Máncora USEFUL INFORMATION Caboababo BlancoBlanco Nauta n ño Ma ra o li Sullana a Rí y ColánCo a ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chulucanas c U PIURA o Ambassador Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels CLIMATE Catacaos BPB Alto Mayo RN Pacaya - Samiria Lima has a mild, humid (up to 90%) climate. The temperature during summer ranges from 23° Ambassador Alfredo Raúl Chuquihuara Chil Bayóvar Yurimaguas to 30° C (73° to 86° F); and in the winter, from 14° to 18° C (57° to 64° F). MOYOBAMBA Ambassador Augusto Freyre Layzequilla TúcumeTúcT Karajia CURRENCY CHACHAPOYAS i Bosque de l Pomac a Kuélap y Tarapoto a Peru’s official currency is the Sol. It comes in coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 céntimos, c Lambayeque U o CHICLAYO Sipán í as well as 1, 2, and 5 soles. Bills come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 soles. R PimentelPimentel R Laguna Baños del Inca í o El Sauce PHOTOGRAPHY M CAJAMARCA a BRASIL r a ñ PN Río Abiseo Promperú EXCHANGE RATE o R n í ChicamChicama o El Brujo H MBA Comunicaciones Variable. It currently fluctuates between S/ 3.45 and S/ 3.50 per dollar. We recommend Huamanchuco u a l l Huanchaco a TRUJILLO g Rumbo Económico changing your money in banks or money exchange agencies. Chan Chan El Sol y La Luna a OFFICE HOURS Salaverry PUCALLPA Banks are usually open from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 Chimbote PN huascarán R í a.m. to 1 p.m. Exchange agencies are usually open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Supermarkets and o Tingo María U HUARAZ Huari c malls are open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. PN Tingo María a Casma y a Ministry of Foreign Affairs li TELEPHONE HUÁNUCO Peru’s international country code is 51, and Lima’s city code is 01 (when calling from outside Pozuzo Jirón Lampa 545, Lima 1, Peru Chiquián Telephone Exchange: (511) 204-2400 Lima). There is a major network of public telephones for local, national, and international calls. ZN Huayhuash CERRO Oxapampa Website: http://www.rree.gob.pe Caral DE PASCO R ío Lago Junín U INTERNET La Merced r u Iñapari b a m Inca Trail magazine is distributed free of RNN LanchaLanc y Canta R There are many internet cafés in Lima. This service costs around S/ 1.50 per hour. b ío a E cost worldwide. This publication accepts no n Callao e responsibility for the content of third-party LILIMA HUANCAYO TA XE S PN Manuanu advertisements. The Sales Tax (VAT) is 18%. In Peru, all products and services, except for books, are subject RP Nor Yauyos - Cochas ManuM PUERTO Pachacamác MALDONADO Special Publication for the General Directorate to this tax. HUANCAVELICACA Lunahuaná OllantaytamboOllanta of Economic Promotion of the Ministry of Four- and five-star restaurants often charge a 10% service tax. Cerro Azul SHH Macchu Picchuchu RN Ta mbopata Incahuasi AYACUCHO Macchu Picchu Urubambabab TIPPING Choquequirao Foreign Affairs of Peru.