Adventure + Tourism an Invitation to Adventure
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Perú Adventure + tourism An invitation to adventure Travel has always been a part of us. The Peruvians have always recognized the THIS IS THE STORY OF A epic travels of Odysseus in Homer´s tales. tremendous natural wealth of their land: Plumbing the ocean´s depths in submarines, gorges, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, valleys and through the science fiction of Jules Verne. forests. And they have always understood COUNTRY CALLED PERU, The encounters of the giant Gulliver with that their flora and fauna form an integral Lilliputians. Captain Ahab´s obsessive search part of a landscape that is climatically and THAT BOASTS THREE in his whaling craft. geographically so diverse. This mosaic starts at the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary NATURAL REGIONS AND What is it about these stories that so with its trekking paths that cross verdant stimulates the imagination? What do these mountains and follow traces of old Inca EIGHT ALTITUDINAL ZONES. journeys really hold for us? We believe it is roads. It continues through the meandering the allure of nature, of what might await, rivers of the Amazon jungle that penetrate YES, THIS IS GEOGRAPHY. unforeseen, at the destination. And also, what its dense forests. And the rapids of a ravine we might discover about ourselves: the spirit made for kayak descents. Or the bays of the HERE, WE PRESENT THE of adventure. It seems as if there is no corner Paracas National Reserve and their untamed of the world that has not been photographed winds, ideal for nautical sports. The snowy ADVENTURE THAT AWAITS in the age of Google Earth. It is as if human peaks of Ancash are prized by international beings have trodden every one of the natural mountaineers. And the canyons of the Colca reserves. And yet, that’s not the case. in Arequipa are the place to contemplate the YOU IN THIS LAND. flight of the condor. Because of a geographic accident, Peru has Loreto become a great adventure destination in This same geography makes for a biodiversity Amazonas world tourism. The Andean Mountain Range of climates and scenery. It also encourages is the longest chain on the planet and crosses the growth and cultivation of foods that its territory vertically. It is this very terrestrial are natural, healthy and ideal for nutrition, presence that has defined Peru´s ecosystems whose finest qualities are expressed here in and landscapes for millions of years. There is Peru: superfoods such as quinoa, amaranth, more than just coast, mountains and jungle sacha inchi and maca; fruits such as lucuma, Ancash in Peru; the mountains divide the country into custard apple and goldenberry; vegetables eight altitudinal zones. They have also shaped such as asparagus. Each region of the country Cusco the temperament of Peruvians. Twelve World has its own particular nutritious richness. Lima Heritage Sites are testimony to ancient ways Ica of understanding and living amongst the Peru is the perfect destination to continue landscapes: the middle of a desert, on a steep writing new travel stories. Arequipa mountain, or beside a lake. -2- -3- Elevation index CHOQUEQUIRAO HUAYHUASH INTENSITY AND HEIGHT (CUSCO) (ANCASH) Peru´s eight altitudinal zones are Trekking in the Andes Mountaineering, trekking a way of conceiving its different (3104 meters) ecosystems, from its 2250 kilo- and bird watching meters of coast along the banks (between 3300 and 6634 of the Pacific Ocean, to Huasca- meters) ran, the highest snow-capped COLCA KUELAP mountain in the Andes, at 6768 (AREQUIPA) (AMAZONAS) meters. Towards the country´s Canoing, rafting, kayaking, Trekking, horseback riding and eastern side, the highland and lowland jungles lushly open out. horseback riding and zip lining flora and fauna watching In the middle, the almost tropical in the valley and the canyon (between 2300 and 3000 climate of its beaches and bays contrasts with the dry cold of the (between 3000 and 5000 meters) puna and plateaus. But there is meters) also room for rainforests. And for freezing lakes lapping the AMAZONAS RIVER foothills of high peaks, or warm (LORETO) lagoons flanked by mountains Hiking, kayaking, piranha covered with vegetation. We wanted to locate the destina- fishing, paddling and canopying tions we present here in this ma- (between 70 and 220 meters) gazine according to their eleva- tion, using this contour line that represents a challenging and ex- citing mountain. PARACAS Choquequirao was chosen (ICA) as the best destination Diving, sport fishing, kayaking, paragliding, on the Best in Travel 2017 cycling, windsurfing and list, published by the sandboarding Lonely Planet guidebook. (between 12 and 786 meters) The Huayhuash Mountain Range Reserved Area is located in the highest mountain range in the country. -4- -5- Destinations With perimeter walls of up to 20 meters A NATURAL ADVENTURE Amazonas in height, Kuelap, the most important urban center for the Chachapoyas cul- ture, has an area of six hectares and is CLOSE TO THE CLOUDS located at the top of a mountain of more than 3000 meters, as if it were a sentry An ancient stone construction on a confused by the landscape. It is said that the name comes from a pre-Inca term mountain top, an imposing waterfall meaning “forest in the clouds”. There is mist. There are limestone and clay cons- and a lagoon that seems like a mirror tructions, bromeliads, orchids, moss and Lima lichens. A characteristic of the rainforest made of water. landscape. -Amazonas- Until recently, reaching Kuelap from Nuevo Tingo, one hour from Chacha- poyas, the capital city of Amazonas, took an hour and a half. The journey was 72 kilometers, along winding paths. Since 2017, the section from Nuevo Tingo can be traveled in just twenty minutes, thanks to a modern cable car crossing gorges and mountains. The Kuelap Cable Car pro- Lagoon of the Condors ject—26 cabins, each with capacity for The prize for There are no condors: but the people eight passengers—mobilizes many more walking five who lived here decades ago assure us tourists in a faster and more efficient that these majestic birds used to circle manner offering a magnificent experience kilometers from above. It is also known as the Lagoon of with the view. the Mummies because close to its banks, Cocachimba on an elevated steep slope parts of an With the improvements of the roads ancient Chachapoya and Inca mauso- that link Chachapoyas with the towns of is reaching Gocta, leum were discovered: 200 mummies San Martin, forming part of the northern one of the highest sheltered in six chullpas (tombs), quipus Amazon circuit, Cocachimba appeared on (a Pre-Hispanic counting system), and the map, with almost the same sponta- waterfalls in the samples of rock art on the walls. neity as the region´s Andean cock of the rock, hummingbirds and wild orchids. world. Today it is certainly a challenge for The circuits (hiking or on horseback) to trekking enthusiasts. The road leaves see Gocta waterfalls up close begin from the town of Leymebamba and crosses the village of Cocahimba. It is an immen- marshes and steep mountains until it se fall of water—one of the highest cas- reaches a lagoon with green and dark cades in the world—, equivalent to twice reflections. An almost cinematic lands- the height of the Empire State Building in cape greets the visitor: a mirror of water New York. It actually drops a total of 771 flanked by vegetated slopes and envelo- meters over two falls: the first measures ped by a curtain of mist over 231 meters and the second 540 meters. It the surface—with a length of four kilo- is a natural spectacle that makes the five meters and a width of two—. kilometer journey from Cocachimba well worth it. Location: Luya and Bongara provinces Location: Chachapoyas province in the in the department of Amazonas department of Amazonas Elevation: Between 1800 and Elevation: 2600 meters 3050 meters High season: From May to September Temperature: From 15 (min.) to Temperature: 15 °C (on average) 25 °C (max.) -6- -7- Destinations THE AUSANGATE TREK LARES THE SALKANTAY TREK The demanding hike around Au- This is one of the lesser-known tre- In Quechua, its name means “savage sangate´s perpetually snow-capped ks. Yet nevertheless, it provides an mountain”. The slopes of this snow- peak can take several days, but the unforgettable experience. The route— capped mountain are known for their route is outstanding for the unique known also as the Weavers Way—be- technical difficulty and each year -at charm of its scenery, amidst lagoons, gins in the district of Lares, to the north tract mountaineers from all over the hot spring pools, valleys of pas- of the city of Cusco. There is also access world. However, a network of trekking ture where wild llamas and vicuñas from the Sacred Valley of Urubamba. paths can also be found nearby. The graze, canyons and snowy peaks. From the start of the hike, the Andean best-known hike takes four days and Ausangate is a sacred mountain, re- scenery of the Veronica, Sahuasiray, can start in Limatambo, Mollepata or garded as the source of water. Its in- Pitusiray and Chicon peaks alternate Soraypampa. Two imposing peaks habitants offer ritual ceremonies as with archaeological remains and Que- dominate the landscape: Humantay payment to the land. Depending on chua-speaking villages. The trek also and Salkantay. This destination also access, it is possible to also visit the allows contact with traditional cus- offers the possibility of discovering na- mountain of “seven colors” in the Vil- toms, such as llama and alpaca gra- tive wildlife—from vizcachas and al- canota range. Its strange pigmenta- zing, tuber cultivation and, of course, pacas, to condors—.