UJ #12 - 60 unique experiences in Peru

ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
60 unique
experiences in Peru

Since 1956, sharing with
the world our passion for Peru
Iquitos / Amazonas
Cusco / Machu Picchu / Sacred Valley
Lima
Puno / Lake Titicaca
Arequipa / Colca Canyon

INDEX
INDEX
AdVENTURe
festivities
hospitality &
unique
transports
NATURe
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ULTIMATE J0URNEYS
GERARDO SUGAY / LIMATOURS
CONTENT EDITOR
LIMATOURS
EDITOR
CAROLINA SAN ROMAN / KM CERO
EDITION ASSISTANT
KARLA HUERTAS / LIMATOURS
GERALDYNE LONGORIA / KM CERO
CULTURe
gastronomy
shopping
ART DIRECTOR
KM CERO
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
CHRISTIAN DECLERCQ / KM CERO
GRAPHIC DESIGN
MIGUEL SANTAYA
WRITERS
PAOLA MIGLIO
ARMANDO AVILA / LIMATOURS
TRANSLATION AND CORRECTION OF TEXT
PETER SPENCE
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ANA PAULA ALBIN
RODRIGO CABRERA
CHRISTIAN DECLERCQ
DILMAR GAMERO
SERGIO SALAZAR
BETO SANTILLAN
MICHAEL TWEDDLE
ARCHIVO IDEAS Y MAS IDEAS
ARCHIVO KM CERO
ARCHIVO LIMATOURS
ARCHIVO PROMPERU
ARCHIVO SHUTTERSTOCK
ALL PERU
11/ Peru Birding Rally Challenge
Compete in the annual events or create
your own challenge
16/ Wrap yourself in the world’s finest fibres
5000 years of textile tradition
32/ Find your own “El Dorado”...
and silverado too
It’s easy, fine craftsmanship abounds
51/ Stroll around the historic centres
of Arequipa, Cusco and Lima
Three World Heritage Sites, and each one original
54/ Try Andean meats
Healthy, tasty, and now sophisticated
56/ Wings Over Peru
See the best of Peru in 9 days by private aircraft
60/ Celebrate Peru’s traditional festivities with us
66/ Buy Peruvian folk art
We have items for all tastes and budgets
71/ A variety of infusions and award
winning coffee in Peru
Drink them at dawn or at dusk and you’ll
understand why
83/ Discover more wonders in Peru from
the comfort of your own home
LIMA
8/ Lima is flying high
Rediscover the City of Kings
13/ Cebiche 2.0
The “carretillero” conquers Peruvian palates
14/ Conqueror or sybarite?
Be both in the Casa de Aliaga
19/ #1 Central #2 Maido
Latin America’s best restaurants are in Lima
21/ Admire the best collection
of pre-Columbian art in the world
See it at the Larco Museum
25/ A day in the life of Gaston
Savour the creativity of the father of Peru’s
gastronomic revolution
26/ Fly into the past (circa 3000 B.C.)
Caral, the oldest city in the Americas
With Aerodiana
28/ Enjoy the best sea view in Miraflores
From the JW Marriott Hotel Lima
31/ Mistura, the fair that changed everything
Join the feast: September 2017
46/ Work, meet or relax
in Latin America’s most sustainable hotel
The Westin Lima
58/ Experience Barranco’s cool vibes in style
In the arts boutique Hotel B
68/ Peru is grateful to Amano-San
Visit the Amano Museum to find out why
73/ We recommend our new nigh tour in Lima:
Pachacamac, ancient oracle and brand new museum
74/ The best open-air view in Lima from
the SkyTerrace
Reserve it exclusively to go with your partner,
your family or with a group
SOUTHERN CIRCUIT
CUSCO
9/ Immerse yourself in deepest Peru
Huilloc, an Andean community at 3500 m.a.s.l.
18/ Celebrate Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun
Privileged access and VIP service
23/ Come to where time stands still
Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town
24/ Let yourself go at the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
The most luxurious hotel in Cusco
29/ Pioneering spirit? Explore Choquequirao
The new Machu Picchu
34/ Take part in a spiritual ceremony
of an offering to the Pachamama
With the Queros in Salkantay
44/ You don’t have to be an astronaut
to eat “super foods”
Come to Cusco Restaurants where
we have them all
49/ Treat yourself on the Inca Trail
Champagne, massages, haute cuisine
and hot water: everything is possible
52/ Stay in Cusco’s best hotel
The JW Marriott El Convento
72/ Not suitable for sleepwalkers
The Skylodge above the Sacred Valley of the Incas
78-79/ To get to a wonder of the
the world you must do it in grand style,
and Machu Picchu gives you two options:
The Inca Rail Presidential Class
PeruRail’s Hiram Bingham
80-81/ And when you are in the sanctuary,
thank the apus, Andean gods
Admire the beautiful landscape...
… or go for the triple crown
82/ Also make time to see
the Inkaterra orchid walk.
It has 372 species!
PUNO
20/ Dream under the stars on top
of the world
Amantica Lodge, Lake Titicaca
70/ Spend the night on board of a legendary ship
on the highest navigable lake in the world.
The Yavari, Lake Titicaca
AREQUIPA
22/ Tame the white waters of Cotahuasi
The steepest canyon in the Americas
59/ Front row seats to see condors in flight?
Colca is your ticket
ICA
10/ Fly over the Nasca lines
With Aerodiana
62/ Combine history, nature
and adventure in Paracas Bay
Luxury, pleasure and relaxation
available at the La Hacienda Hotel
63/ Pisco sour or chilcano?
You decide!
76/ Get an adrenaline rush on the highest
dunes in South America, in Ica
AREQUIPA / CUSCO / PUNO
12/ Travel in a new classic
The Belmond Andean Explorer
NORTHERN CIRCUIT
ANCASH
50/ Climb Huascaran
The highest tropical mountain in the world
LA LIBERTAD
45/ Surf the longest wave in the world
Chicama: 7° 42’ 14.4” S / 79° 27’ 3.599” W
LAMBAYEQUE
55/ Visit the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum
In private with the curator himself
PIURA
48/ La dolce vita, every day of the year in Piura
Vichayito Bungalows & Carpas by Aranwa
75/ Do you like big game fishing?
Cabo Blanco holds 7 world records
LA LIBERTAD / LAMBAYEQUE
65/ Archaeology aficionado?
Tour the Moche Route and maybe you’ll
discover a new treasure
AMAZONIA
AMAZONAS
33/ Discover Kuelap, the “city in the clouds”
And now you can get there in a new cable car
64/ Bathe at the foot of an Amazon waterfall in Gocta
LORETO
15/ Let the star be your guide in the Amazon
All-inclusive cruises
on the M/V Amazon Star
30/ Get the best of both worlds in Pacaya Samiria
Unique biodiversity and a luxury cruise with Delfin Amazon
Cruises
MADRE DE DIOS
53/ The most diverse national park in the world?
Stay at the Tambopata Research Center
and see for yourself
69/ Do you support sustainable and inclusive
development?
You’ll find a good example at Posada Amazonas
LIMATOURS, 60 YEARS GROWING WITH
TOURISM IN PERU
36-43/ Interview with Carlos Alberto Arrarte
Chairman of the Board of LimaTours
/5

EDITORIAL
Private sailing on Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake.
Dear reader:
This year we celebrate our “first” 60 years crafting magnificent experiences in Peru one guest at a time. In this Anniversary
Issue of ULTIMATE JOURNEYS - Travel in Peru, we have selected 60 unique experiences that can only be enjoyed in our
wonderful country, and we are committed to designing a new unique experience every year from now on.
Lovers of culture, those keen on learning about our history, can visit impressive archaeological sites, enrich their knowledge
in amazing museums and tour places declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
For adventure and nature enthusiasts, we have activities that allow you to enjoy and discover our immense biodiversity and
challenge our majestic geography.
For travellers who seek to interact and share live styles, traditions and customs, we have chosen the most emotional and
spiritual experiences that Peru has to offer.
And for aficionados to the good life, who like to stimulate and satisfy the senses, we present the best of Peruvian hospitality,
gastronomy, travel and entertainment.
In addition, we feature an interview with Carlos Alberto Arrarte, Chairman of the Board of LimaTours, who has a vast and
impeccable career promoting tourism in Peru. He shares with us the company’s history and its active participation in the development
of the country’s tourism industry, as well as the plans for the future of the organisation.
Enjoy reading and learning!
Your friends from LimaTours

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Christian Vinces
Lima is flying high
Rediscover the City of Kings
Lima is the only South American capital on the coast. Facing the
sea is an extensive cliff that reaches 100 metres high in parts.
There are a number of good parks on the cliff top, including a perfect
site for paragliding over the bay: Parque Raimondi.
Flying is safe because the pilots have several years of experience.
In less time than you think you can be on board and flying over the
promenade, the Costa Verde and the Pacific Ocean itself; the sea
breeze strikes the cliff and is forced upwards, enabling you to gain
and maintain adequate altitude. Experience is not necessary, just a
sense of adventure and a desire to feel completely free.
And there are other aspects of Lima that are flying higher too. The
city now has 9 of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America. Its new
Convention Centre, new hotels and the extension to the international
airport are making it a regional leader for meetings and conventions.
The arts and cultural scene is experiencing an explosion
of creativity and night time in Lima is more and more fun. It’s time
to come back.
The LimaTours Foundation works with the
members of the Huilloc Community with
volunteer activities, children's nutrition and
health programs, business development
projects and other CSR and Sustainable
Tourism initiatives; always engaging our
clients, guests and staff in the process.
Immerse yourself in deepest Peru
Huilloc, an Andean community at 3500 m.a.s.l.
Everyone can travel to Cusco. But few have the
chance to live an authentic experience with local
people. Those who go to Huilloc are lucky. This
small Quechua-speaking community is located in the
Sacred Valley of the Incas, 30 minutes from Ollantaytambo;
and although the centuries have passed,
its people maintains the customs and traditions
passed down from their ancestors. The Inca legacy
is still alive; spending a few days in this community
is like going back in history and learning to connect
with nature. Getting away from a world whose speed
overwhelms us and returning to an organic and pacific
era.
As well as living with the inhabitants of Huilloc, you
can go on walks, take part in collective tasks, work
in the fields, make clothing, see ancestral rites and
share in the education of the children. As if this were
not enough, you can visit the cave and ruins of Sutuq
Mach’ay and learn about native and medicinal plants.
Sharing is the only way to understand the true life of
a people.
Heinz Plenge
/9

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
In the 1970's, LimaTours supported
the work of Maria Reiche, the first
researcher and custodian of the
Nasca Lines. Since then, we have
brought more visitors to this unique
UNESCO World Heritage Site than any
other tour company in Peru.
Marvellous spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis).
The Biriding Rally Challenge
is a team competition
between countries consisting
of observing the largest
number of birds during the
8 hours it takes to cover the
established circuit.
Talia Barreda / PROMPERU
Fly over the Nasca lines
With Aerodiana
Peru Birding Rally Challenge
Compete in the annual events or create
your own challenge
Michael Tweddle
San Jose is in the middle of the Ica desert, south of the department of Lima alongside the Southern
Pan-American Highway. It contains one of mankind’s greatest enigmas: the Nasca lines, a group
of geoglyphs representing animals, objects and plants measuring up to 300 metres long and covering
an area of 1000 square metres.
Their true size cannot be appreciated from ground level; you can climb up to a viewing point or better
still, take a flight over 15 of the classic figures, including the whale, compass, trapezoids, astronaut,
monkey, dog, hummingbird, spider and condor.
There are five flight options: some cover 13 and others 15 figures. Some packages also includes
excursions to the towns of Pisco and Ica, all using Aerodiana. That is the only way to appreciate the
immensity, perfection, genius and skill of this culture. The best time to go is in the mid-morning or
mid-afternoon.
If you are a bird watcher and are going to Peru, here are five species that you absolutely must see:
The long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), endemic in Peru and in danger of extinction. It lives in the
montane rainforest of Amazonas and San Martin (1900 to 2400 m.a.s.l.)
The giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) is found above 1500 m.a.s.l. in the north and south of the country. Its
territory is the semi-arid regions of the coast and Andes. It flies more slowly than the smaller hummingbirds and
resembles a swallow.
The cock of the rocks (Rupicola peruviana), usually lives between 400 and 2500 m.a.s.l. in the Amazon cloud
forests.
El marvellous spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) is an endemic bird that lives in the north and in the high jungle.
The golden-backed mountain tanager (Buthraupis aureodorsalis), which lives on the eastern slopes of the
Andes, in pygmy forests with arboreal vegetation.
/11

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Cebiche 2.0
The “carretillero”
conquers Peruvian palates
Cebiche is known the world over for its freshness and delicious flavour. There are
various variations of the classic recipe that are equally delicious and give the dish
a distinctive style; one of these is the “carretillero” or ‘street vendor’. This cebiche
adds fried squid and the flavour of street-vendor’s Cebiche to the original recipe. As
you can see, the name comes from the barrows at which any passer-by can stop
to enjoy one and see it being prepared. The taste for carretillero cebiche became
popular to the extent that some of the best restaurants have added to their menus,
extending its appeal.
PeruRail
Travel in a new classic
The Belmond Andean Explorer
Traversing the Andes onto the Andean plateau in Peru by luxury train is not something you experience
every day. The Andean Explorer takes you from the mystical Cusco, navel of the world, to Puno in
elegance and comfort. It also brings travellers close to nature, as it has an observation coach from which
you can enjoy the majestic scenery encountered along the way.
The route is one of the most beautiful in the world and the trip lasts almost eleven hours. Between Wanchaq
station and Puno the train includes dining cars designed after the fashion of the Pullman cars of the
nineteen twenties. A gourmet lunch is served, with drinks, music and moments of infinite peace.
This train was awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015 and won the World Travel Awards
2012 as South America’s Leading Luxury Train.
LimaTours
/13

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Conqueror or sybarite?
Be both in the Casa de Aliaga
In 1976, the 15th generation of
Aliagas in Lima agreed to open
their family home to private visits
exclusively for guests of LimaTours,
as part of a first-in-Peru initiative
of heritage preservation through
sustainable tourism. The programme
has been a successful model for all
stakeholders, for 40 years.
The historic centre of Lima contains an old town
house that has remained unchanged over the
years: the Casa de Aliaga. During the day, the sun
filters into the elegant Andalusian courtyard and
you can wander through rooms that have witnessed
500 years of history. This is one of the oldest
houses in Lima, occupied without interruption by
the same family, who have kept it in perfect condition.
One of the current generation, chef Jeronimo
de Aliaga, has created an unforgettable experience
in the 16th Century dining room.
Decorated in the old style, the tables set for lunch
or dinner await diners ready for a surreal adventure.
The fortunate ones are few, as there are not
many places. But the menu is fresh and flavourful,
with the produce shown off in an intelligent and
high-quality manner: there are organic products,
both local and imported, fish and shellfish and a
fusion of light classy flavours. An honest cuisine
delicately prepared; a harmonious mixture of tradition
and modernity.
Christian Declercq
Let the star be your guide
in the Amazon
All-inclusive cruises
on the M/V Amazon Star
JohnMurphyPhotography
Sailing in the River Amazon is an unbeatable adventure, but cruising in the Amazon Star is better still.
The vessel is spacious and includes a bar, restaurant, lecture room, observation deck as well as comfortable
cabins with air conditioning, large windows and private balconies from which you can observe the
surrounding natural world. The jungle is a place to explore, make contact with its flora and fauna and listen
to its intimate sounds. Have a close encounter with nature on an excursion launch or walking through the
jungle foliage, before relaxing in the lecture theatre, on the terrace or in your cabin. You will be received
a board with a delicious Peruvian cocktail and will not have to worry about anything for the rest of the
trip.
DIVERSITY FOR
NATURE LOVERS
The jungle is home to more than
800 species of birds, thousands
of species of insects, fish and
reptiles such as the anaconda
and the black caiman. You can
also see arum lilies, jungle
orchids, huge trees and natural
medicinal products used to treat
various ailments. The jungle is
a paradise for lovers of biology,
bird watchers and adventurers
willing to penetrate deeper into
the Amazon forest.
/15

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Cesar Vallejos / PROMPERU
PIMA COTTON
Peruvian cotton from 1000 B.C.
is little different from Gossypium
barbadense, which produces pima
cotton and was introduced into
the Piura region of Peru by Emilio
Hilbck Seminario in 1922. Thanks to
the seeds, the soil and the coastal
microclimates, Peruvian pima
cotton is the finest in the world,
comparable only with Egyptian
cotton.
Wrap yourself
in the world’s finest fibres
5000 years of textile tradition
Peru’s textile art is famous and appreciated
all over the world. From the traditional
and complex artisanal fabrics of each region,
inherited from ancient cultures who have
passed their skills down the generations. Today
you can acquire the work of contemporary
designers who use vicuña and alpaca fibres
to create clothes that respect the traditional
essence while adopting more modern lines. The
yarns are spun from carefully chosen fibre from
highland breeders, ensuring the protection of
the species and encouraging their conservation.
Clothing and accessories made from Andean
camelid wool are characterised by their strong
colours, soft texture and unique designs of jackets,
shawls, scarves, jumpers and dresses,
among others. The fine weave, detail and delicate
finish further highlight the quality of this
impeccable and sought-after material.

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
LimaTours offers the chance to
enjoy Inti Raymi from privileged
vantage points. If you wish,
you can see the start of the
celebration from a private room
opposite Coricancha; you can
reserve the balconies of exclusive
restaurants on the Main Square
to watch the Inti Raymi pass
by while enjoying a delicious
brunch, or take private transport
to Sacsayhuaman where the
principal ceremony takes place
and where you can see the event
in close-up, opposite the stage.
Celebrate Inti Raymi,
the festival of the sun
Privileged access and VIP service
The most important festival during the Inca Empire
was Inti Raymi, in honour of the Sun, the Incas’
most important deity. It began during the reign of
Pachacutec and is celebrated at the beginning of
the winter solstice (June), when the sun is farthest
away from the earth; that was also the end of harvest
time, a sort of new year.
Today history repeats itself thanks to a historical reenactment
developed by Faustino Espinoza Navarro,
an expert in the Quechua peoples, and historian
Humberto Vidal Unda based on the Comentarios
reales de los incas by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
(1612). It is held on the 24th of June (Farmer’s Day)
and Cusco celebrates a work that involves around
600 actors in a spectacle of colour and dance. The
celebration starts in Coricancha, then moves to the
Main Square and ends in Sacsayhuaman with the
central ceremony.
Chrisitan Declercq
This may well be one of your best
experiences ever. Especially if you
like good food and fine dining. What
chef Virgilio Martinez and his team
have achieved with Central —fourth in
the San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna
list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
and first in the Latin America edition—
is gastronomy at its best. Each dish is
the result of exploration and research
carried out as part of the chef’s Mater
Iniciativa project and is an example of
continual evolution and discovery of
our country's resources.
You may eat things you have never
tried before, but technique and
creativity mean that they will seem
familiar. It is the interplay of memory
and flavour, aromas and challenges.
There are four menus: two long ones of
17 items (one vegetarian) and two short
(one is the vegetarian option). There are
also two drinks lists: wines and spirits,
and nectars, extracts and infusions. Try
it and let yourself be enchanted.
Archivo Ideas y Mas Ideas
#1 Central #2 Maido
Latin America’s best
restaurants are in Lima
Cena en Central, restaurante
nº4 del mundo
Peruvian Restaurants in the Latin
Americas’s 50 Best Restaurants:
• Central #1
• Maido #2
• Astrid & Gaston #7
• La Mar #12
• Osso Carniceria y Salumeria #27
• Rafael #30
• Fiesta #34
• Malabar #38
• Isolina #41
/19

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Lake Titicaca, in Puno region of the Andean
plateau, is the highest navigable lake in the
world, at 3812 m.a.s.l. (average height) and an
area of 8562 square kilometres, sailing on it is an
unbeatable adventure. In some parts you feel as if
you're at sea, and there are even small waves to
augment the sensation.
One of the lake's islands, Amantani, contains a
lodge offering experiences that are almost unreal.
Amantica Lodge has large comfortable suites with
a view of the lake —and wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling
windows— as well as a menu that explores the
wealth and variety of local produce, which it uses
to create dishes accompanied by an extensive
cellar of wines and sparkling wines.
It also offers activities that include ancient
practices sacred to the Incas, such as coca leaf
readings performed by a shaman, and ceremonies
dedicated to the Pachamama, observation of the
stars guided by an expert astronomer, fishing,
cooking and tasting classes, walks, trekking and
kayaking.
Admire the best collection of
pre-Columbian art in the world
See it at the Larco Museum
Dream under the stars
on top of the world
Amantica Lodge, Lake Titicaca
French architect Tom Gimbert came to Peru
to design projects based on sustainability. His
projects include the Ecolodge in Mancora and
the Amantica Lodge, both having their own
style and supported by the local community.
LimaTours and Tom Gimbert have worked
together to create similar projects in different
parts of Peru.
Nicolas Villaume
Larco Museum
The Larco Museum, founded by Rafael Larco Hoyle, is off the classical Lima tourist
route. This refuge of peace and culture, surrounded by high white-painted walls and
gardens filled with bougainvillea, houses a private collection built up over the years by the
Alvarez Calderon family, descendants of Rafael Larco, and now impeccably displayed to
the public.
This museum reveals an important part of our pre-Colombian history and the Andean
cosmovision through its different artefacts, and at the same time has the most impressive
collection of erotic ceramics known as huacos, studies and maps. It is a place you
could spend a long time in; and especially taking advantage of a first-class guide who
invites you to keep asking questions and enriching your spirit.
After marvelling at the impressive
collection of pre-Hispanic exhibits
in the Larco Museum, visitors can
enjoy its relaxing café-restaurant
on the terrace, opposite beautiful
gardens and with a view of a pre-
Hispanic pyramid and a colonial-era
mansion. The menu offers typical
Peruvian dishes and international
fusion cuisine. An excellent way to
end the tour.
/21

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Christian Declercq
LimaTours
The ascent of Cotahuasi begins in the villages of
Siguas, Corire and Aplao (Majes, Arequipa), the
trail passes through Chuquibamba to reach more
than 4500 m.a.s.l., between the Solimana and Coropuna
volcanoes. From there the river descends to the
Cotahuasi Canyon, considered the fourth deepest on
the world (3535 metres), after Yarlung Tsangpo (China,
5590 metres), Apurimac (Peru, 4691 metres) and
Kali Gandaki (Nepal, 4375 metres).
It is navigable by the brave. The route is usually covered
in 4×4 trucks and the expedition lasts three to
four days and generally everything is included.
In addition to observation of the flora and fauna in the
area, you shoot the Sipia rapids and visit interesting
archaeological sites and pre-Inca ruins in the margins
of the canyon.
This is not an adventure to be taken lightly. Although
the guides are experts some experience is necessary
and you have to be able to swim: the rapids on the
River Cotahuasi are level III and IV, with a few class V.
Tame the white waters
of Cotahuasi
The steepest canyon in the Americas
Come to where time stands still
Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town
Ollantaytambo is synonymous with good walking
and maize with cheese. Its peaceful
Main Square is the place for sellers of the largegrain
variety —appellation of origin— straight
out of the pan, and lumps of fresh creamy cheese.
Sometimes you can also get humitas, a sort
of tamal made from white maize that is soft and
delicate. Biting into one is a taste of heaven and
they give you the strength to cope with the hundreds
of stairs leading to one of Cusco’s greatest
treasures.
Ollantaytambo is one of the most interesting
places in the Sacred Valley, famous for its huge
ceremonial centre erroneously referred to by
many as a “fort”. But in fact it is the town itself
that enchants; it dates from Inca times and retains
the original structure and architecture, but it
is inhabited. Stone buildings separated by courtyards,
the walls full of recesses. Its families live
a quiet communal routine between perfect 15th
Century stone wall. Its streets, aqueducts and
small woods make up an ancient landscape
transmitting peace and good energy.
Stay for a couple of days and lose yourself in a
natural idyll that you will not find anywhere else.
The future preservation of
Ollantaytambo is assured.
The community, the
municipality, provincial,
regional and national
governments and the main
actors in the private tourism
sector represented by
TurismoCuida have united to
carry out the Plan Wallata,
which will make this district
a model of responsible and
sustainable development
and an exemplary cultural
tourism destination.
LimaTours is a founding
member of TurismoCuida.
/23

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Belmond
Let yourself go at the Belmond
Palacio Nazarenas
The most luxurious hotel in Cusco
A day in the life of Gaston
Savour the creativity of
the father of Peru’s
gastronomic revolution
The library contains incunabula and
has a view of the little chapel, which is
used for private events.
The Hypnôze Spa, inspired by Andean
culture and with Inca touches,
specialises in aromatherapy and uses
local ingredients such as herbs, pink
salt from Maras, purple maize and
coca leaves. The Senzo restaurant
offers dishes made from local
ingredients.
There is also a business centre if you
ever have to reconnect with the real
world.
Plaza Nazarenas is one of the greatest pleasures you can find in the city of Cusco.
Formerly a convent and restored by the Belmond chain and the Ministry of
Culture, it has become one of the world’s best hotels and, according to TripAdvisor,
the best in South America.
It combines the history of Cusco and contemporary design. Your stay varies between
pampering and luxury: magnificent swimming pools, chocolates, an open
bar, fresh fruit and even a butler to resolve any doubts you may have.
The lobby is decorated with exquisite items of glazed Cusco ceramic ware inspired
by the designs of Talavera de la Reina. The rooms are large and elegant, with Roman
baths and European showers, the beds are soft and the sheets fine, inviting
you to enjoy and to rest.
Within the Inca walls, the colonial floors and courtyards and an image of the Lord
of Huanca create a haven of elegance and peace. No dream is impossible in Plaza
Nazarenas. A word of advice: When the moon is full and the sky clear, there is no
better place to be than the pool.
LimaTours' award-winning gastronomical tour
programme PeruGourmet was designed in 2006
with the expert advice of Gaston Acurio and was the
pioneer model of today's ever more popular Peruvian
culinary tours.
If there is one thing you must not miss in
Lima it is a meal at one of Gaston Acurio’s
restaurants. He is the father of Peruvian gastronomic
revolution, and has created a network
of unbeatable establishments in which
you can dip into the crucible of cultures that
make up our national cuisine. We recommend
two alternatives (interchangeable, of
course) because one day is not enough.
Try, for example, Chinese breakfast snacks
in Madam Tusan - our favourites? quinoa tamales,
Peking duck rolls and meat-filled rice
and pumpkin balls. If you are looking for something
more classical, then there is Tanta,
for sandwiches and good coffee; Tanta also
has the complete Melate Chocolate range of
puddings by Astrid Gutsche.
At mid-morning, try La Mar for fresh flavours
and an emphasis on seafood. Panchita is
the place for lunch: creole food by Martha
Palacios, one of the most respected exponents
of this style in Peru; or Astrid & Gaston,
which has a sample menu: tasty tasters
of traditional Peruvian cooking prepared in a
more contemporary style.
And at the end of the day, Papacho’s is a
friendly place for a good hamburger made
using beef from carefully reared cattle (our
favourite is the Miraflorina), and Los Bachiche,
Italian - Peruvian fusion that includes
crispy pizzas and the freshest ingredients.
Acurio Restaurants
/25

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Proyecto Especial Arqueologico Caral - Supe
The LimaTours' Trust
has supported the Caral
Archaeological Project since
its inception in the 1990's. Our
award-winning programme
Wings over Peru was the first
to feature an overflight of the
5,000 year old site. We were also
the first DMC to offer Supe as
a port of call for international
cruise lines, from which to visit
the UNESCO World Heritage Site
as a half-day shore excursion.
Fly into the past
(circa 3000 B.C.)
Caral, the oldest city in the Americas
With Aerodiana
The first time we went to Caral we drove. We crossed
a small river then walked through a desert area
before reaching one of the most amazing buildings of
antiquity. Because Caral is not just a series of ruins,
but the oldest city in the Americas and its energy
seeps from every adobe brick.
Can you imagine seeing this city from the air? Well,
now LimaTours offers this services in the same
comfortable aircrafts that we use in Nasca.
Caral is proof positive of the formation of the first
Andean civilisation approximately 3000 B.C. With
the convergence of people living on the coast, the
highlands and jungle, it became the centre of a large
network of exchange and reciprocity, both commercial
and cultural; that was why it was the most important
society in the Supe Valley.
Its main crop was cotton and its diet was based on
fish and other seafood. Flying over the city you can
see the pyramids, housing and circular temple.

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Miraflores is one of the most traditional and cosmopolitan
districts of Lima. It has been a resort and the home of
writers and good food, beside the eternal sea. It includes one
of the busiest sections of the promenade that runs along the
capital’s coastline, with parks popular with both Limeños and
visitors.
There is a cycle path and space for sports and picnics, pop
ups gastronomic events, art such as concerts and theatre, as
well as public art provided by local artists, as well as one of the
city’s most modern shopping centres: Larcomar.
Enjoy the best sea view
in Miraflores
From the JW Marriott Hotel Lima
The district also contains one of the city’s most modern hotels:
the Marriott. Spacious and luxurious rooms provide you with
magnificent panoramic views while you enjoy the comfort and
good food. The hotel boasts one of the best and most enjoyable
buffet breakfasts in Lima, with organic options prepared
while you wait. Its restaurants hold festivals of world gastronomy
and cocktails. In addition there is a superb gymnasium,
conference rooms and facilities for weddings.
Pioneering spirit?
Explore Choquequirao
The new Machu Picchu
Gihan Tubbeh / PROMPERU
Many people call Choquequirao “the other Machu
Picchu”. It was built for political and military purposes
and one of the most demanding and unforgettable of
treks. To get there you start from Cachora (2903 m.a.s.l.),
a village in Apurimac, on the road from Cusco to Abancay.
Choquequirao (“golden cradle”) is the name of the hill on
which this citadel was discovered, at 3033 m.a.s.l. The
route starts with a walk and descent to Cocamasama
(2100 m.a.s.l.) to the first camp site at Playa Rosalina
(1750 m.a.s.l.) The following day takes you to the hamlet
of Santa Rosa (2100 m.a.s.l.), Marampata and finally
Choquequirao.
This archaeological site was also one of the secret
places of the last Incas as they were threatened by the
Spanish Conquistadors. These included Vilcabamba,
Machu Picchu and Espiritu Pampa, bastions of the Inca
resistance, which can also be reached on a twelve-day
trek. A trip for warriors only. Despite the distance on
the map from Choquequirao to Cachora it is only 30
kilometres, but the route is difficult and the return trip
can last as long as four days, so you should be in good
physical shape before you start.
The route is part of the Royal
Inca Road or Qhapac Ñan,
recently declared UNESCO
World Heritage Site. PureQuest,
the adventure travel brand
of LimaTours, is sponsoring
a research expedition to
identify and develop rural
tourism projects to benefit
the communities along the
Ecuador-Peru section on the
Qhapac Ñan.
JW Marriott Hotel Lima
/29

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Delfin Amazon Cruises
Mistura:
LimaTours is a proud
founding member
of APEGA - Peru's
Gastronomical
Association and the
organiser of Mistura.
Christian Declercq
the RESERVe
Pacaya Samiria was declared
National Reserve in 1982. It has an
extention of 2’080,000 hectares
and it is the second largest protected
area in Peru.
The reserve is the habitat of about
1,025 species of fauna, some
threatened, such as the Black
Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), the
Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus
inunguis), the Pink River Dolphin
(Inia geoffrensis) and the Jaguar
(Panthera onca).
Get the best of both worlds
in Pacaya Samiria
Unique biodiversity and a luxury cruise
with Delfin Amazon Cruises
The Pacaya Samiria Protected Area is in Loreto,
in the Peruvian jungle and is the dream of all
naturalists and lovers of biodiversity. Can you
imagine sailing on its rivers in a luxury cruiser
outfitted in exquisite luxury?
Now you can spend several days experiencing the
Amazon jungle itself, where trees and sky are reflected
in the deep dark water, in magnificent cruise
liners. They bring travellers close to the immensity
and passion of nature, but without relinquishing
comfort or safety.
The luxurious ships Delfin I and Delfin II include sophisticated
and exclusive suites with jacuzzi and panoramic
views of the river. The cruise also includes
massage services, gourmet lunch and dinner and a
bar open all day, as well as activities such as fishing
for piranhas, walks in the forest and visits to local
communities. The experience is unforgettable and
heart-warming. Just the escape you need.
Mistura, the fair
that changed everything
Join the feast: September 2017
Who hasn’t heard of Mistura? The huge food fair that
started with the idea of reviving Peru’s traditional
dishes and encouraging Peruvian cooks and products, is
now in its ninth year (2016) and has attracted more than
one hundred thousand people in this time.
Why the euphoria? Because it is a festival of flavours and
aromas, because more than two hundred farmers from
all over the country sell their produce directly to the public,
and because it has good food and drink and an opportunity
to learn about the whole country in one place.
There are also talks and conferences on regional cooking,
areas dedicated to pisco and artisanal beer, street
food, dancing and concerts.
It is also important to note that Mistura is a platform for
promoting competitions such as the Teresa Izquierdo Prize
for local soup kitchens, as well as other subjects related
to gastronomy. For example, last year concentrated
on biodiversity and nutrition with acts to raise awareness
of the importance of caring for the environment and natural
resources.
/31

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Find your own
“El Dorado”... and silverado too
It’s easy, fine craftsmanship abounds
Peru has an ancient tradition of silversmithing that goes back to pre-Hispanic times. The colours, shapes and
patterns used in metalwork describe the identity, origin and history of the ancient inhabitants of Peru. This
tradition of producing skilled and beautiful work in gold and silver continues today, and hand-made pieces include
typical filigree work from Catacaos (Piura) and contemporary designs with simple and delicate lines in 18
carat gold and sterling silver. There are many places where you can acquire jewellery in Peru, fine handiwork to
take home with you as part of the country’s history and tradition.
CULTURA
Renzo Giraldo / PROMPERU
Luis Gamero / PROMPERU
Discover Kuelap,
the “city in the clouds”
And now you can get there
in a new cable car
Amazonas, in Peru’s northeast, is the land of the
Chachapoyas culture, one of the country’s most
important, and the location of Kuelap. This fortress,
at an altitude of 3000 m.a.s.l., is in a very rugged area
and at present can only be reached on foot.
But this will change in October 2016 with the completion
of an aerial cableway capable of carrying up
to 500 people in 20 minutes in 26 gondolas, from the
village of Tingo (on foot the journey takes two to three
hours). It will be like flying over this spectacular zone:
the fort was built by the Chachapoyas and is protected
by an eight-metre wall. It is a stone citadel decorated
with anthropomorphic figures and animals carved
in stone and demonstrates the ability of the ancient
inhabitants to adapt to and live in harmony with their
surroundings.
The territory includes rugged mountains, cloud forests,
fast-flowing rivers and unexpected bogs. To get
there you first have to go to the town of Chachapoyas,
which can be reached by air or road from Lima;
from there it takes a further two hours to get to Tingo.
BASE CAMP
Chachapoyas, capital of
Amazonas, is one of the
oldest and best preserved
cities of the viceregal period.
Its ancient buildings with
their tiled roofs, balconies
and interior courtyards are
surrounded by gardens and
smallholdings. One example:
la Casona Monsante, which
contains orchids and more
than 1500 exotic plants from
the region.
/33

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
The trek to Salkantay, a mountain rising to
6271 m.a.s.l. in the Vilcabamba Range (Cusco),
is not an easy undertaking. Nevertheless the
experience is so intense that anyone who has
the physical strength, the desire and the time
available, should add it to their itinerary.
You leave Cusco for the village of Mollepata and
from there to Cruz Pata and Soraypampa (3850
m.a.s.l.) The route to Pampa Salkantay is more
arduous and passes close to Mount Humantay
before reaching the highest point: the Salkantay-
Humantay pass, at 4500 m.a.s.l., from which
some imposing glaciers can be seen.
Here, by Lake Humantay, is where a traditional
ritual of thanks to the gods takes place. The tribute
to Mother Earth is the responsibility of the
community of Quero, a village near to Ausangate,
which is considered the last bastion of the
Incas and is part of the Cultural Heritage of Peru.
The people of Queros have chosen to maintain
the culture, farming techniques and customs of
the Inca Empire up to the present day.
The descent to Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes
—now Machu Picchu Pueblo— begins at
last, for a visit to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
Ana Paula Albin
Take part in a spiritual
ceremony of an offering
to the Pachamama*
With the Queros in Salkantay
*Mother Earth
DISCOVER OUR WORLD
WE INVITE YOU TO DISCOVER OUR COLLECTION OF EXCEPTIONAL
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES IN THE WORLD’S MOST REMARKABLE LOCATIONS.
INDIVIDUAL, INSPIRED, AND IMAGINATIVE, THE WORLD OF BELMOND
IS A WORLD LIKE NO OTHER.
Consider
The best time to do the trek is between
May and October, in the dry season.
The coldest month to do it is June. The
clothes should be for sierra weather: there
is heat during the day and cold at night.
Do not forget basics like headache pills
(altitude sickness) and band aids, as well
as sunglasses, sun block and hat. The high
sun burns.
If you are going to visit communities and
want to support them in some way, you
can carry notebooks, pencils and colors for
children.
OUR EXCEPTIONAL PERUVIAN EXPERIENCES
Peru, Cusco, Belmond Hotel Monasterio
Peru, Cusco, Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
Peru, Lima, Belmond Miraflores Park
Peru, Machu Picchu, Belmond Hiram Bingham train
Peru, Machu Picchu, Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
Peru, Sacred Valley, Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado
Peru, Machu Picchu - Puno - Arequipa, Belmond Andean Explorer train (2017)
Reservations: +51 (1) 610 8300 | email: perures.fits@belmond.com

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Photos
Archivo
LimaTours
LIMATOURS,
60 years
growing with
tourism in
Peru.
Interview with its
chairman,
Carlos Alberto
Arrarte
ENTREVISTA
How did LimaTours start? Tell us a little
about its history.
At the beginning of the nineteen fifties, our
founder Eduardo R. Arrarte was working as
a flight assistant with Pan American - Grace
Airways (Panagra). During that time he found
himself giving advice and suggestions to the
growing number of visitors from the United
States flying to Lima, who had made no preparations
for their visit.
In 1956 when he was 32, with four small children
at home —I was two at the time— and
encouraged by my mother, my father decided
to leave the airline and start his own business
offering tour and guide services to the
“first tourists” to come to Lima, hence the
company’s name: LimaTours.
Centre: Carlos Alberto Arrarte,
Chairman of the Board of LimaTours.
From left to right: Jose Pedraza, Managing
Director; Gustavo Moreno, IT Manager; Miluska
Galdo, East USA/Canada Regional Manager;
Suzanne Torres, Manager of Field Operations;
Sandra Barrios, West USA/Canada Regional
Manager; Neptali Franco, Resources and Field
Operations Director;
Gerardo Sugay, Marketing
Manager; Francois Morin, HBG Global Brands and
New Business Director.
Absent: Ronald Vera, Latin America, Spain, Italy
And Portugal Regional Manager (on a sales visit
to Spain and Portugal); and Cynthia Zagazeta,
Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific Regional Manager
(on a sales visit to Germany).
/37

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Furthermore, Eduardo R. Arrarte became a leading
figure in the expanding international tourism industry. He
founded and/or headed the following organisations: South
American Travel Organization (SATO), the Confederation
of Travel Organisations in Latin America (COTAL) and
the Universal Federation of Travel Agents Associations
(UFTAA).
Left:
Eduardo R. Arrarte,
founder
of LimaTours
Above:
A family company,
the 1980s.
Below:
First fleet of buses.
Right:
First office in Cusco.
Opposite page:
First office in Lima.
The first office was strategically located very close to
the Gran Bolivar Hotel in the heart of Lima’s historic
centre, where most of the future clients would stay.
The hotel receptionists were the first “strategic partners”
of the company; they referred Eduardo and his
team to the guests. At that time they would offer a
visit to Lima, an excursion to the historic sanctuary
of Pachacamac that included an alfresco lunch, or an
evening tour with a gourmet dinner at Trece Monedas.
Visitors could choose any combination of these three
activities, or simply hire a car and guide by the hour. All
private and using black Cadillac limousines. The more
adventurous clients could acquire a three-day package
involving two nights in Cusco and Machu Picchu,
subcontracted by the company from a local operator.
What has LimaTours as the leading tour operator
meant for the development of tourism in Peru?
The nineteen sixties brought more flights, more tourists
from the United States and more hotels in Lima. Cusco
and Machu Picchu became the main attractions in
Peru and South America. The River Amazon and the
tropical jungle welcomed the first “eco-tourists”. Travel
agents in the United States became our principal partners
for promoting tourism to Peru. LimaTours helped
tourism in Peru to grow by opening offices in Cusco
and Machu Picchu, investing in “Amazon Cruises” and
“Explorama Tours” in the Amazon region.
At the same time Peruvians started to travel abroad
on business and on holiday; so the company opened
an outbound travel division to serve this growing demand.
By the end of the decade LimaTours was firmly
established as Peru’s leading tour operator and travel
agency.
The nineteen seventies saw the expansion of the
European market and consolidation of the Southern
Circuit, which included Cusco, Machu Picchu and
the Sacred Valley, Nasca and Paracas, Arequipa and
Colca, Puno and Lake Titicaca, Puerto Maldonado
and Tambopata National Reserve, as well as Lima. LimaTours
was the pioneer of land programmes of the
Southern Circuit sought after by tourists from France,
Germany and Italy; so it opened offices in Arequipa
and Puno to serve the increasing demand. The Hotel
Plaza in Lima was built by the company for European
visitors. Wholesale tour operators in the United States
and Europe became key partners in the development
of tourism in Peru.
When did the next generation join the company?
The nineteen eighties saw rapid changes and high growth
in LimaTours: a new building for a modern head office; a
new fleet of German-made Mercedes-Benz with buses,
minibuses, vans and limousines deployed throughout the
country; improvements in client service and facilities nationwide;
improvements in client-partner marketing and
sales support. At the same time it opened sales offices
in the United States and Europe; developed specialised
services to cater to the cruise and incentive segments,
as well as pioneering initiatives for the conservation of
our cultural heritage through tourism. At that time, during
the eighties, my siblings and I, “the second generation of
Arrartes”, reached senior management positions in the
family firm and leading roles in Peru´s travel industry.
The end of the eighties and early nineties were difficult.
Social and political strife throughout the country, as well
as health and safety problems in Lima discouraged tour
operators all over the world from promoting tourism to
Peru. LimaTours went through a process of down-sizing
and divesting. In the second half of the nineteen nineties,
Peru’s government returned the country to stability and
prosperity. Tourism rebounded quickly and with renewed

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Left:
Collaborators
on the 5th anniversary of
LimaTours.
Right:
Eduardo R. Arrarte,
president of SATO.
vigour and by the start of the new century the company
was once again financially solid and commercially
competitive.
The new millennium brought renewal and evolution
for LimaTours. After the nineteen nineties and the
negative impact of the 9/11 attacks, our vertically integrated
operating model was changed to a lighter
structure with a more nimble and flexible organisation.
The growth of our traditional business in the mature
markets of the United States and Europe was complemented
and diversified by the emerging markets of
Latin America and Asia. We became the tour operator
of choice in Peru for the growing cruise and LGBT
markets.
We supported efforts by PromPeru to increase the
number of tourism products in Peru by promoting the
Northern Circuit, which includes Caral and Chavin,
the Moche Route, Kuelap and Chachapoyas, and the
beaches of Piura and Tumbes. We developed new
cruise programmes on the River Amazon and Lake
Titicaca, as well as an exclusive itinerary around Peru
with private aircraft. The LimaTours Foundation was
created to steward our many corporate social responsibility
- CSR activities.
For our 50th anniversary in 2006, we conducted a
campaign to inspire and empower all the members of
the organisation and to infuse our strategic partners,
clients and suppliers with the spirit of our founder, his
passion for Peru and his commitment to quality, vocation
for service, creative thinking, long-term vision,
fair trading and responsible leadership. It was a very
successful exercise. In subsequent years, LimaTours
multiplied its sales volume and income; it earned international
certifications for quality, health and safety,
social responsibility and environmental sustainability;
the company was selected as a Great Place to Work
in Peru for five years and won the Creativity Award four
times, with new products such as the Peru Collection,
“Wings Over Peru”, PeruGourmet and “Ultimate
Journeys”.
Today the company is part of an international
group. How has this process come about?
The second decade of the 21st Century brought
changes in the company’s ownership and a more
global view of how to do business. We have maintained
our values and our specialist role as “your office
in Peru”. LimaTours is now owned by the Hotelbeds
Group HBG, part of its Destination Services division,
which includes leading tour operators in nearly fifty of
the world’s most attractive destinations. In addition
to the complete range of tourism services provided
under our own commercial name as LimaTours, we
are now the Peruvian operators of HBG’s specialist
brands: Pacific World for MICE; Intercruises for cruise
and port services and PureQuest for adventure tourism.
Sharing best practices and combining the resources
of the HBG global organisation gives LimaTours competitive
advantages and unique opportunities for supporting
our partners and clients throughout the world,
thus mutually strengthening our businesses. Good
examples of this are our recent investments in expedition
vessels and adventure equipment on the Amazon
and in the Andes respectively, as well as our on-line
platform for real-time management of client relations,
bookings and inventory control, which we call “Aurora”.
What is the company’s vision for tourism in Peru?
Peru is, perhaps, the richest country in the world. This
has become our mantra after sixty years of exploring
its magnificent geography, discovering its unique wonders
and learning about its ancient cultures, interacting
with its generous and hospitable people, enjoying
its cuisine, admiring its traditional arts and crafts and
taking part in its lively fiestas. Sharing all of this with
thousands of visitors from all over the world is most
gratifying. When these visitors placed in our care tell
us about their “transforming experiences”, their “spiritual
encounters”, their “incredible adventures”, or that
their trip was “fantastic” or “the best vacations ever”,
we know we are doing things the right way.
We know at first hand the impact Peru’s riches have
on visitors and, therefore, the potential our country has
to become one of the world’s most desirable destinations
for the most demanding travellers. To get there
we need to complement our excellent attractions with
superior services. And we are busy doing just that: the
public sector and private companies, local and foreign
investors, small companies and international businesses;
all are improving the level of quality, innovation,
creativity and competitiveness of “the Peru travel
product”. And it’s working. The number of visitors to
Peru continues to grow faster than the global average;
length of stay and average daily spending continue to
improve; repeat visits by people from neighbouring
markets are increasing. We are winning global and
regional awards with our cities and destinations, as
well as with our hotels, restaurants, airports, airlines,
trains, cruises, tour operators and guides.
Our new government has declared tourism to be a
“priority industry” for Peru’s strategic development,
with a view to the bicentenary of the country’s independence
in 2021. The new international airport in
Cusco, the expansion of the Lima airport, improvements
to access and the visitor experience at Machu
Picchu, the new cable car service at Kuelap —with
another planned for Choquequirao—, the new Lima
Convention Centre, improvements to the country’s
road system and the promotion of new investment vehicles
such as public-private partnerships (PPP) and
Works for Taxes (WxT) will benefit and contribute to
the development of incoming and domestic tourism.
The private sector is complementing this expansion
with new hotels and cruise ships, new airlines and
regional routes, new products and improved services
that will attract and exceed the expectations of the
most demanding travellers. And all of this is taking
place while complying with the best current practices
and standards for sustainable development, social
responsibility, care for the environment, inclusion of
rural communities and fair trade. We seek to maximise
the benefits of tourism in Peru and at the same
time minimise the foot print that increased numbers of
tourists leave on mature destinations.
We are optimistic about the future of tourism in Peru
and we see our destination as a world leader and a
model to be emulated.
Above:
LimaTours personnel in the
Plaza San Martin, 1971
Below:
LimaTours, tourism pioneers in
the Amazon. ​
/41

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
at a time; our partners throughout the world, who
share our passion for Peru and all things Peruvian;
our suppliers and the “cast of characters” who help
us make magic in Peru. All of us involved directly or
indirectly in tourism in Peru believe that this is the
perfect industry to drive our nation’s development: it
is sustainable, it creates jobs and generates foreign
currency, it cements national identity and self-esteem
among the population and promotes peace and
understanding between different cultures.
Above:
LimaTours trip 2015. The
whole staff go to a different
destination in Peru every year.
Below:
Rural community tourism
programme in Huilloc -
the LimaTours Foundation.
Opposite page:
50th anniversary celebration,
2006.
What is most gratifying to you about being part
of LimaTours and tourism in Peru?
What I, personally, find most gratifying about working
in LimaTours and tourism in Peru is the incredible
privilege we have of being able to improve people’s
lives and make them happier and enrich them: the
visitors in our care, who enjoy great vacations in this
marvellous part of the world and frequently have
“transforming experiences”; our collaborators, who
grow personally and professionally more fulfilled by
designing and managing these experiences one guest
LimaTours is the pioneering company in Peruvian
tourism. Sixty years on, what new projects
and plans do you have?
“The best of LimaTours is always in our future”. Our
founder liked to say that. Thus, whilst at present our
history and reputation make us an “established and
blue-chip” company, our entrepreneurial spirit and
innovative culture keep us acting like a “young startup”.
We think of LimaTours as a design studio curating
bespoke experiences for visitors, or an R&D (research
and development) laboratory for dream vacations,
rather than just a tour operator. Creativity and
innovation are in our DNA, as are our four fundamental
corporate values: liberty, initiative, transparency and
originality. “Changing the game and re-inventing
ourselves” is what we do best, as well as making our
guests happy and being the best partners in Peru for
clients throughout the world.
New plans and projects
-Construction of two new vessels: a luxury small ship for Amazon
expedition cruising and a fast boat with a supplementary oxygen
system for trips on Lake Titicaca.
-New adventure programmes with luxury mobile camps for the
Qhapaq Ñan (Inca Trail) and the Moche Route.
-New minibuses and vans in Lima and Cusco for family and small
groups touring.
-Expansion of our bookings management platform Aurora,
including dynamic packaging and pricing.
-A new office in Trujillo to manage the growing demand for tours
and cruises on the Northern Circuit.
-Through the LimaTours Foundation, and as founder members
of TurismoCuida, we have built an alliance with the Municipality
of Ollantaytambo to design and implement a 5-year sustainable
tourism development plan known as the “Plan Wallata”.

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Cusco Restaurants
You don’t have to be an astronaut to
eat “super foods”
Come to Cusco Restaurants where
we have them all
Surf the longest wave
in the world
Chicama: 7º 42’ 14.4” S / 79º 27’ 3.599” O
Chicama beach in northern Peru (province of Ascope, La Libertad) produces the
longest wave in the world. It is a left-hander nearly two kilometres long and 2.5
metres high. It breaks when the tide is high and it runs south or south west. You
can ride it for more than three minutes if you’ve got the strength.
Expert surfers say that the beach has other waves, such as Mal Paso, with a
height of up to five metres. This is a paradise for surfers; as well as holiday cabins,
alternative accommodation and even specialist hotels with all conveniences that
enable you to disconnect from the world and lose yourself in the peace and silence.
On top of that, there is good fresh seafood prepared while you wait.
Beto Santillan
Peru has surfing suitable for everyone
from beginners to skilled surfers.
PureQuest Adventures organises
specialist tours throughout the year to
northern Peru, including the legendary
waves at Chicama and also worldclass
waves at Pacasmayo, which
average 300 to 500 metres on normal
days, in addition to the breaking points
at Puemape and reliable waves at
Huanchaco, perfect for all skill levels.
GREAT
SUPER FOODS
The Cusco Restaurants
chain has 7 outlets providing
exquisite dishes based on
superfoods.
All of these items, raw or
processed for transport, can
be bought in markets, organic
farmers and supermarkets.
Thanks to its variety of ecosystems —84 of the 117 recognised ones in the world— Peru possesses enviable
biodiversity and is considered one of the ten major megadiverse countries. New species are being
discovered every day and we are a major provider of genetic resources for domesticated plants. Indeed, Peru
has many seed banks containing seeds dating from ancient times.
Thanks to this diversity, Peru is considered the cradle of the most important superfoods, those with concentrations
of natural properties and nutrients that are highly beneficial to health. For example, cereals and
pseudocereals such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), rich in proteins and low in fat and used by NASA as
part of its astronauts’ rations; kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus), a source of vitamins and minerals used as
flour in baking and confectionery; and kañihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule), a cereal containing a high level
of protein. There are also root crops such as maca (Lepidium meyenii), tubers such as yacon (Smallanthus
sonchifolius) and mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum), and fruit like camu camu (Myrciaria dubia), native to the
Peruvian Amazon, which contains up to 3 grams of vitamin C in each 100 grams, almost forty times more
than in oranges.
/45

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center
CERTIFICAtIoN criteria
The Westin Lima has been awarded
certificates for:
- Practices on the land on which the
property is built.
- Efficiency in water use and management.
- Optimisation of energy use and minimal
emissions.
- Materials and waste management.
- Interior environment quality.
- Innovation in design and processes.
Work, meet or relax
in Latin America’s
most sustainable hotel
The Westin Lima
The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center is a guarantee of comfort and enjoyment. An extension
of this concept involves the environment and now that we are partners in its care we
can feel in an even better mood. Because the Westin holds a LEED EB: OM (Existing Buildings:
Operation & Maintenance) certificate granted by the Green Building Council in the United States
to existing buildings that employ environmentally friendly operating and maintenance practices.
The company has only 16 hotels in the world and this is the only one in South America; it also
obtained the highest score in the certification process of any in Latin America. This distinguishes
key aspects of its commitment to reduce environmental impacts and increase comfort for its
guests.
The complete experience also includes a visit to the relaxing spa, the renowned Maras restaurant
headed by chef Rafael Piqueras and the new El Salar bar, a comfortable meeting place with a
comprehensive cocktail list.
Would you like to discover Machu Picchu?
Winding through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, deep into the heart of Peru´s
ancient past, Inca Rail transports travelers in complete comfort and harmony to
magnificent Machu Picchu. Offering four levels of service and eight daily trips
between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, Inca Rail is a luxurious way to enjoy
the 1.5 hour excursion. Spacious seats, panoramic views, UV-protected windows,
air conditioning, fine Peruvian cuisine and impeccable service await travelers.

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
La dolce vita,
every day of the year in Piura
Vichayito Bungalows & Carpas by Aranwa
Christian Declercq
The north of Peru has some of the country’s finest beaches. Near to Mancora and Los Organos, very popular
and accessible beaches (Piura), there is an oasis of peace and tranquillity called Vichayito, where the sand
is fine and the waves tranquil.
There is also a magic place called Vichayito Bungalows & Carpas by Aranwa, which invites you to enjoy romantic
sunsets and delicious food made from fresh local ingredients. Its bungalows and Bedouin tents are unique
in Peru, on the shore of the turquoise, palm-fringed Pacific. Every facility is provided, even private terraces
with hammocks. In addition to the beach bar, restaurant and an excellent swimming pool, K’oral Spa provides
treatments using products made from local ingredients, making full use of the synergy of nature and wellness.
Christian Declercq
Treat yourself on the
Inca Trail
Champagne, massages, haute cuisine
and hot water: everything is possible
In the 1990's, at the request of a Virtuoso
Adventure Specialist, LimaTours operated the
first luxury Inca Trail hiking programme to
Machu Picchu, including gourmet cooking,
massages, hot-water showers, chilled
champagne and personal coca leaf reading
sessions with a master Andean shaman. Today,
under our PureQuest active travel brand, we
continue to provide life-changing experiences for
those avid adventurers who wish to go over the
top, when hiking to the top.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is not an easy trip;
with each step you discover what your body is capable
of while marvelling at the wonders created by nature
and by our own ancestors.
This route, which once linked Cusco and Machu Picchu,
can be traversed in four days and three nights or
three days and two nights, but is much better if you
choose one of the luxury options in which all you have
to do is walk and enjoy the flowers and wildlife.
The trail’s 40 kilometres contain significant climbs and
descents, as well as stairs and bridges. You walk by
day and at spend the night at specially prepared camp
sites in insulated tents provided with comfortable sleeping
bags.
But the luxury doesn’t stop there. The food is gourmet
too, prepared by a private chef, and there is a masseur
to help walkers relax before or after a hot shower at the
end of the day. To drink there is everything from water
to champagne for a toast at the end of a good walk.
/49

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Dickens Rondan / PROMPERU
Three Peruvian cities have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Those that
have maintained their colonial heritage despite the passage of time and natural disasters.
Arequipa has another interesting historic centre, one of the best preserved in the country
and one where colonial relics can be found on every street: interior courtyards with gardens,
balconies and small squares. Founded on the 15th of August 1540 at the foot of the Misti
volcano, it was built from sillar and the architectural style of the religious buildings in its historic
centre has local and European echoes.
Cusco is another city with colonial-style buildings intermingled with ancient vestiges of the
Inca Empire. The Main Square is dominated by the cathedral and the El Triunfo, Sagrada
Familia and Jesuit churches. It is lined by stone colonnades topped by suggestive balconies.
Lima, the coastal capital, has kept its old town houses and other buildings open to the public.
From public spaces such as the Main Square to churches like the cathedral and San
Francisco, as well as palaces like Torre Tagle and the Casa de Aliaga.
The Historical Centre
of Lima was declared
Worl Heritage by
UNESCO in 1968 due to
the work done by the
Lima Trust, a non-profit
organization created
and presided at that
moment by Eduardo
Arrarte, founder of
LimaTours.
Yes it's possible. Although
the route is arduous
and highly specialised,
expeditions led by experts
are available. The minimum
duration is seven days
and we recommend doing
this between May and
September.
Temperatures vary between
–10 and –4 °C, so it is not
for everyone, although the
adventure is tempting.
More accessible is the
route through Huascaran
National Park, which can be
completed in a day.
Climb Huascaran
The highest tropical mountain in the world
Nature sometimes defies all logic with surprises that leave us speechless. Huascaran, the highest
tropical mountain in the world, located in the Cordillera Blanca (Ancash) is one such case.
It has three summits: the north summit is 6655 m.a.s.l., the south 6768 m.a.s.l. -the highest point in
Peru and in any intertropical zone- and Chopicalqui to the east is 6354 m.a.s.l.
Legend has it that Huascaran was a woman consumed with jealousy because her husband abandoned
her for another who was a better cook, so she castrated him and fled with her two children.
When they stopped to rest, the family was turned into the Cordillera Blanca and their tears into the
rivers Santa and Marañon.
Huascaran National Park, which surrounds the mountain, contains an impressive diversity of flora and
fauna. The intertropical zone that includes the park and mountain is home to an abundance of species:
there are approximately 779 species of flora in 340 genera and 104 families; as well as around
120 species of birds and 10 of mammals.
Stroll around the historic centres
of Arequipa, Cusco y Lima
Three World Heritage Sites,
and each one original
Christian Declercq
/51

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis).
Stay in Cusco’s best hotel*
The JW Marriott El Convento
*CondéNast Traveler, Nov. 2016
The JW Marriott Hotel El Convento, besides being the capital of the ancient Inca Empire, holds within its walls
the secrets of this ancient civilization. Designed around a colonial convent, it has archaeological exhibition
halls; in them, remains of Inca buildings that were found during the excavation works are shown, highlighting the
overlapping of cultures in the city is. Guests may choose between 153 rooms, including seven suites, all equipped
with supplemental oxygen system for maximum comfort. The hotel offers luxurious facilities including an exclusive
spa - relaxation pool, dry sauna and steam chamber-, gallery, boardroom and “Quespi” its fine restaurant where
delicacies prepared with local ingredients are served.
Talking about the jungle, and specifically about the Tambopata National Reserve, is to talk about life itself. The area,
located in the department of Madre de Dios, contains possibly the greatest biodiversity on earth, housing more
than 10,000 species of plants, mammals, birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles in an area of 274, 690 hectares.
Tambopata is a destination to be in contact with nature, explore its forests, browse their wide rivers, enjoy its rains and
its gastronomy. Tambopata Research Center, which began as headquarters for in depth explorations of Amazonian
nature and wildlife, is the most remote lodge in the Amazon and allows visitors to see monkeys, various types of
birds, insects and even jaguars. It has only 18 rooms built with local materials and a unique infrastructure that will
allow you to blend in with the environment from comfort, making your time in the jungle a real venture into the heart
of the biosphere.
The most diverse
national park in the world?
Stay at the Tambopata Research Center
and see for yourself
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
Christian Declercq
/53

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Try Andean meats
Healthy, tasty, and now sophisticated
the guinea pig,
flavour with a
plus
Guinea pigs have become
a good business for the
country women who rear
them, enabling them to
support their families
and contribute to their
communities. Particularly
now that their meat is
considered a delicacy in
sophisticated restaurants
listed as some of the best in
the world.
If you like meat and visit Peru without trying a good cuy chactado, llama charqui or alpaca anticuchos, then
you have sinned! These tasty and traditional meats are also healthy and were an important part of the diet
of our ancestors. Although alpaca is not widely sold, it is very popular in Cusco and Puno. Recommended
for its low fat content, it can be used in pesque, fried or in a good roast. On the Andean plateau, llama meat
is usually dried in the sun to preserve it. To this day it is an important source of protein. You should also
try olluco with charqui and rice, a nourishing daily classic. Guinea pig has a delicate flavour —something
between rabbit and chicken— has very little fat and is highly nutritious.
Different areas prepare it differently, and in each town the chactado or stew is distinctive. Today you can find
it on the menus of the most exclusive restaurants, although in its classic form it is served whole, head, teeth
and all, and at the end of the meal there’s nothing left.
Luis Gamero / PROMPERU
Visit the Royal Tombs
of Sipan Museum
In private with the curator himself
In 1997 archaeologist Walter Alva discovered the
tomb of the Lord of Sipan, an ancient ruler of the
Moche Culture (3rd Century B.C.) This discovery was
a landmark in American archaeology as it was the first
time a royal burial from a civilisation that pre-dated the
Incas had been found complete and undisturbed.
Located in the village of Sipan, Chiclayo, everything
found in the tomb is now in the Royal Tombs Museum.
And here’s the good part: Walter Alva himself takes
private visitors round the museum’s displays.
The museum was built in the Province of Lambayeque
and opened in 2002. It was inspired by the ancient
truncated pyramids of the Moche civilisation and holds
more than two thousand gold artefacts. In centre place
is the Lord of Sipan with his warrior’s clothing, the
burial chamber with its eight accompanying skeletons
and around thirty human sculptures representing the
sovereign’s political retinue.
It is a faithful reconstruction of the royal court of a Moche
warrior king and his entourage. The discoverer,
Walter Alva, will answer any questions you may have
during the visit.
LimaTours was a sponsor
in Walter Alva's excavation
project that led to the
discovery of the Lords of
Sipan treasure, featured in a
special National Geographic
Magazine issue and
beautifully showcased in a
state-of-the-art museum
in Lambayeque, in Peru's
northern coast, as part of
what is now known as the
"Moche Route".
Chullpi Mapi
/55

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
www.atsaperu.com
Wings Over Peru
See the best of Peru in 9 days
by private aircraft
Luxury
as you
LimaTours earned
top prize at the 2006
National Business
Creativity Awards for
the "Wings over Peru"
programme, which was
launched in celebration
of the company's Golden
Jubilee. LimaTours has
won five such awards
for business creativity
and product innovation
in the last 10 years.
This is probably the most luxurious and independent
way of getting to know Peru: a private aircraft that
enables you to overfly some of the country’s treasures,
such as the sacred city of Caral or Huascaran National
Park.
The route starts in Lima with a tour of the city and the
Larco Museum -one of Lima’s most important- which
has more than forty five thousand items from Peru’s
pre-Hispanic past. After this is a visit to a typical country
hacienda to see Peruvian paso horses followed
by dinner in the Casa de Aliaga. The next stage is the
north: Trujillo and Chiclayo, two of the most important
cities and home to the Moche tradition.
The fourth stop is in Arequipa, the white city, with
its colonial and republican-era mansions and its superb
food. On the way you overfly the Valley of the
Volcanoes and Colca Canyon. Then it’s time to go to
Cusco: the city itself, the Sacred Valley and Machu
Picchu, as well as unforgettable experiences such as
canoeing and lunches in old country houses.
The nine-day tour ends in Nasca, south of Lima, where
you will fly over the impressive Nasca lines in the
middle of the desert.
Pilar Olivares / PROMPERU
Deserve
Imagine flying to Peru or any destination, at any time, in a private and confortable plane with premium
on-board services, without the risk of losing your flight and avoiding unnecessary delays.
“You decide when and where, the rest leave it in our hands”
reservas@atsaperu.com + (511) 363 - 7457

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
ART, HOTEL and BAR
The items decorating Hotel B are from
the collections of Susana and Lucia de
la Puente and the Lucia de la Puente
Gallery.
The small terrace bar of Hotel B is one
of the most desirable spots in Lima.
Agreeable and with a view of Paseo
Saenz Peña, it is calm and a perfect
place for intimate conversation.
Tea is served every day in the library
from four to six in the afternoon. This
leads directly onto the inner terrace,
decorated with jasmine and fig trees.
Experience Barranco`s
cool vibes in style
In the arts boutique Hotel B
El Hotel B is the first arts boutique hotel in Lima and one of the ten best in South America according
to Travel + Leisure magazine. A space in the capital’s bohemian district of Barranco, with its
restaurants, galleries, cafés and fashionable bars.
The building is the old summer residence of the Garcia Bedoya family, designed by French architect
Calude Sahut and up to a few years ago had been completely abandoned. Today, the seventeenroom
residence (dating from 1914) is a prime example of a mansion from the Belle Époque.
Architect David Mutal was responsible for the remodelling work. He found it to be in a ruinous state
but managed to recover certain materials such as old marble floors, columns and pine beams.
The result is a singular hotel with an atmosphere redolent of times past: large rooms with picture
windows that let in plenty of natural light and a terrace exclusive for guests, as well as symmetry in
design and a great art collection. You’ll have an unforgettable stay: close to art, good food and sea
breezes.
Hotel B
Front row seats
to see condors in flight?
Colca is your ticket
Nowhere in Peru is better for watching condors in flight than the Colca Canyon.
This impressive bird, with its black plumage and white neck, takes wing
early in the morning displaying itself to watching admirers.
The Colca is the fifth deepest canyon in the world at 3200 metres, after the Cotahuasi
Canyon and the principal vantage point in the valley is Cruz del Condor,
where you can see condors flying down from the mountains to the sea every
morning.
You need at least three days for a visit to Colca: to enjoy its enchanting villages,
each with its own special characteristics. For example Chivay is the starting
point for the trip, where you decide whether you are going to take the left or
right bank of the River Colca. On the right bank are Coporaque, Ichupampa,
Lari and Madrigal; while Yanque, Achoma, Maca, Pinchollo, Cabanaconde and
Tapay are on the left. To the north east an unmade road leads to the villages of
Tuti, Callalli and Sibayo.
Rodrigo Cabrera
Embroidery from Colca
is famous throughout
the country for its colour
and beautiful finish.
The villages of the Colca
give the traveler the
chance to live the simple
country life through
community experiences
with lodgings and meals.
/59

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Dilmar Gamero
Celebrate Peru’s
traditional festivities
with us
Religion festivals are celebrated in Peru like nowhere else. In Puno enjoy the Virgen
de la Candelaria Festival considered to be the largest celebration in America and
a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Event, in which dance groups from all over
the country parade and compete. Take part in the solemn procession of the “Señor
de los Milagros”, whose image, painted in the 16th Century, is kept in the church of
Las Nazarenas in Lima; a replica has been carried through the streets of the city in
October since 1687. You can also join one of the more traditional Andean religious
pilgrimages: Qoyllorit´i, which is a gruelling trek to the sanctuary of the religious image
and takes place between May and June (4600 m.a.s.l., Cusco) on Mount Sinakara,
during which dancers and singers pass around fourteen crosses. Celebrate
the “fiesta of Paucartambo”, also in Cusco, dedicated to the Virgin of Carmen. The
fiesta is a homage to “Mamacha Carmen”, to ask for her protection and blessing and
is held from the 15th to the 18th of July in the colonial-era town of Paucartambo.
Michael Tweddle
Christian Declercq
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU
SEÑOR DE LOS
MILAGROS: what’s
happening
around
Festivals and processions attract
people, and also vendors. These
celebrations are no exception to
this tradition. The first attracts
food vendors, grilling guinea pig,
beef and offal on the pavement
to go with their boiled sweetcorn
and mazamorra. The second is
associated with the traditional
dishes of the "purple month":
sweets, anticuchos made from
beef heart, picarones and Doña
Pepa turron.
/61

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Hotel La Hacienda Bahia Paracas
Combine history, nature and adventure
in Paracas Bay
Luxury, pleasure and relaxation
available at the La Hacienda Hotel
The Pisco Route, following our flagship spirit, is already an official
destination in Ica. We suggest a trip on which you will get to know
the history and manufacturing process of this famous drink, which covers
the Provinces of Ica and Chincha. During the trip you will see the
different pisco distilleries and taste their products guided by an expert.
Pisco is used to make typical Peruvian cocktails like pisco sour -our
flagship cocktail- or chilcano, which has recently increased in popularity,
each with a particular flavour. Perfect to accompany Peru’s great
food. Choose your favourite and enjoy the pisco experience.
Gihan Tubbeh / PROMPERU
RELAXATION
ON THE ROAD
The Pisco Route in Ica Region
includes various options. Horse
riding, boat trips to the Ballestas
Islands, visits to the Paracas
National Reserve, surfing, kite
surfing or kayaking, visits to
Huacachina Lake and flights over
the Nasca Lines and more.
Pisco sour
or chilcano?
You decide!
PARACAS NATIONAL
RESERVE
A trip to this reserve is a dream
come true: vast beaches, peace,
unending desert and culture. It is
Peru's only maritime protected area
and is the home of a unique variety
of marine fauna, as well as vestiges
of the enigmatic Paracas culture.
There are daily trips from the hotel
that include tours of the reserve, the
Ballestas Islands, the Julio C. Tello
museum and the Candelabra.
Paracas looks different today. This bay in the department of Ica, three hours from Lima,
has become a destination for pleasure, adventure and relaxation. La Hacienda Bahia
Paracas, a hotel where sea and swimming pool merge and reach even as far as the rooms,
is on the shore. Yes, you read that right, you can wake up in your small and fully-equipped
suite, go out onto the terrace and take a dip in the infinite blue waters.
The hotel's design reinterprets an old coastal hacienda and is a combination of elegance
and simplicity. Each room is carefully decorated, they have the best hotel beds we have ever
tried: soft and comfy.
All this is complemented by excellent food that uses local ingredients and fresh seafood, by
the Oceano Spa that uses materials from the coast, by the launch Hacienda, in which you
can have breakfast and take private excursions and by a museum containing around 250
pre-Hispanic items.
/63

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Bathe at the foot of an Amazon
waterfall in Gocta
When in 2006 a group of explorers, led by the German Stefan Ziemendorf was able to measure the Gocta
Waterfall, they discovered that it was one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, with over 770 meters high.
This natural wonder is located in Amazonas in northwestern Peru. The journey to reach it begins at the city of
Chachapoyas towards the village of Cocachimba; from there, a local guide takes visitors to the falls. As visitors
make their way through the humid rainforest, the notice of arrival is given by the waterfall itself, as the sound
of water against the rocks reaches the hikers. The view of the majestic fall from up close completes the experience;
the water and winds are intense but some are encouraged to blend even more with nature and take a
renewing bath.
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU
Archaeology aficionado?
Tour the Moche Route and maybe
you’ll discover a new treasure
Flor Ruiz / PROMPERU
The north of Peru contains the country’s most
impressive archaeological sites. A trip up north,
then, promises culture, but also beaches, nature
and excellent food. The Moche culture flourished in
the Moche, Chicama and Viru valleys from the 3rd to
the 8th Centuries A.D. They were the creators of the
famous portrait ceramics called “huacos retratos”
and they also built Huaca de la Luna and Huaca del
Sol, with their outstanding friezes.
The 12th to the 15th Centuries A.D. was the era
of the Chimu culture, extraordinary gold and silver
smiths and farmers. They built extensive irrigation
networks and their capital was the vast mud-brick
city of Chan Chan, the largest of its kind in pre-Hispanic
America and the second largest in the world.
The Incas conquered this area only in the 14th Century.
Many ruins remain of these cultures apart from those
already mentioned. The Lord of Sipan was discovered
in the Huaca Rajada Archaeological Complex in
Lambayeque, in 1987; the tomb of a priestess was
also discovered at San Jose de Moro, Chepen and
at the same time the El Brujo complex in Magdalena
de Cao was investigated.
the lady of CAO
The Lady of Cao merits a
special mention; a discovery
comparable to that of the Lord
of Sipan that changed our view
of history, as it was thought that
only men ruled in ancient Peru.
The Lady of Cao may have been
a governor in the theocratic
society of the River Chicama
valley. Her tomb was discovered
in the Cao Viejo burial mound,
part of the El Brujo complex in
the district of Magdalena de
Cao, 60 kilometres from Trujillo.
There is a special gallery in
which you can see her mummy
and implements found in her
tomb.
/65

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Buy Peruvian folk art
We have items for all tastes
and budgets
Peru has a long tradition of ceramic and craftsmen
and carvers. Ceramic work in Peru goes back to
pre-Inca times and cultures such as the Moche achieved
high levels of skill, as can be seen from their portrait
and erotic ceramics and other items. The Moche
and other cultures displayed their cultural and religious
beliefs in their work, and this continues today in different
parts of Peru, with characteristics specific to each
region. Traditional Peruvian handicrafts especially
means the the retablos from Ayacucho —folk art containing
figures telling different stories— and the Pucara
bulls, ceramic figures in the form of a bull placed
on house roofs in certain highland villages to ensure
happiness and plenty for those within. Peruvian handicrafts
tell many stories with their colours, shapes and
designs. Unforgettable memories of your time in Peru.
Christian Declercq Christian Declercq Gihan Tubbeh / PROMPERU
/67

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
CULTURes
The Amano museum of pre-
Columbian textiles has pieces
from the Chavin, Paracas,
Nasca, Mochica, Huari,
Sihuas, Lambayeque, Chimu,
Chancay, Chuquibamba
and Inca cultures. A gallery
also shows the whole
manufacturing process from
raw material through dyeing,
spinning and adequate choice
of loom.
Peru is grateful to
Amano-San
Visit the Amano Museum to find out why
The Amano Museum is one of Peru’s best-kept secrets.
It specialises in textile art and its collection
was started on the initiative of a successful Japanese
businessman called Yoshitaro Amano, who invested
most of his fortune in an attempt to protect Peru’s cultural
heritage.
During his travels he acquired and preserved objects
abandoned by grave robbers in the coastal desert.
Amano was founded in 1964 as one of the first buildings
to be designed as a museum. The family was
responsible for remodelling the building almost 50
years later, modernising the museum and introducing
the latest display and conservation techniques for its
important collection of pre-Hispanic textiles.
The tour starts with a history of textiles throughout the
world, where they were made and the earliest raw materials
used. Then comes their development in Peru
and the history of the country’s various cultures. There
are 120 works of art in total. Finally, visitors have privileged
access to a store room containing more than
400 pieces showing the development of textiles by the
Chancay culture. A private guided visit lets you see
this unique Peruvian museum at leisure.
Amano Museum
Do you support sustainable
and inclusive development?
You’ll find a good example at
Posada Amazonas
Posada Amazonas is in the Puerto Maldonado jungle;
it is an enchanting project that not only offers
comfortable and adventurous lodgings, but also the
closest contact with nature.
The lodge belongs to the Ese-Eja Native Community
in Infierno, and is managed in association with Rainforest
Expeditions. Its location is simply magical: inside
the Ese-Eja Community Reserve, adjoining the Tambopata
Nature Reserve.
There are only thirty rooms surrounded by exotic marvels;
despite being close to the town of Puerto Maldonado,
Posada Amazonas enables you to penetrate
the jungle and carry out activities such as canopy
walking, with its spectacular views from thirty metres
above the forest floor.
Rainforest Expeditions
WHAT TO DO
AT POSADA?
You can also visit ethno-botanical centres
and traditional clinics run by shamans,
paddleboard in the lake; take excursions
to the community’s smallholdings and help
with their daily work gathering food and
minding their crops and animals; you can
even relax in the lodge’s welfare centre. An
intense and unforgettable experience in the
Amazon jungle.
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LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Yavari
Christian Declercq
Spend the night on board of a
legendary ship on the highest
navigable lake in the world
The Yavari, Lake Titicaca
In 1862 more than 1000
crates arrived at the
port of Arica containing
the parts from which
the Yavari would be
assembled. They were
taken by rail to Tacna;
from there they were
taken by mule across
the desert and the Andes
Mountains to Puno, and in
1869 construction work
began.
The highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca (Puno) has a well-kept secret.
Alongside the jetty of the Sonesta Posada del Inca hotel is the Yavari, a gunboat dating
from the mid 1800’s, which was ordered by the government of President Ramon Castilla
for the export trade.
Construction was entrusted to James Watt Foundry in Birmingham, England. In 1982
Englishwoman Meriel Larkin found the vessel abandoned at a pier in Puno and began the
task of restoring this marvel.
She was opened to the public in the 1990’s as Peru’s first museum ship; but today she is a
pleasant place to spend the night. Dinner is delicious and speaks of a romantic adventure.
The night is restful and unique. And when you wake up, enjoy the view from the deck and
a hot coffee made from local beans and admire the lake that seems as big as the sea on
board a ship at 3800 m.a.s.l., it’s the experience of a lifetime.
A variety of infusions and
award winning coffee in Peru
Drink them at dawn or at dusk
and you’ll understand why
Down to earth in the highlands, accustom yourself to
high altitude naturally, with a strong infusion of coca
leaves; the perfect way to recover your equilibrium and
warm you through and through. Our biodiversity makes
Peru a country with abundant natural resources. One
of these is the coca bush (Erythroxylum coca), sacred
to the ancient cultures because of its benefits for body
and spirit. It is used to restore energy, as a digestive
and analgesic, and for its curative effects. But Peru also
provides other plants, such as muña (Minthostachys
mollis), also known as “Andean mint”, a digestive
drunk like tea. And of course Peru also has some of
the world's best coffee -ever more popular thanks to
its growers. But wherever there is coffee there is also
cacao, in a wide range of varieties: cacao chuncho
from Amazonas, San Martin and white cacao from
Piura. Another drink available on street corners and
restaurants in different cities is emoliente, made from
barley, sugar, medicinal herbs and lemon juice, and
which is usually accompanied by pollen, honey and
carob syrup. Mild infusions, intensely-flavoured coffee
and hot tasty chocolate: just some of Peru's many
bounties.
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LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Not suitable for sleepwalkers
The Skylodge above the Sacred Valley
of the Incas
You can find Skylodge Adventure Suites in the Sacred Valley just
15 minutes from Ollantaytambo: it's a sort of hanging camp at
the summit of a 400 metre mountain. It's quite an adventure and to
get there you have to climb up a rock face, the face has steel hooks
embedded in it to help you and a fixed steel wire rope secures
climbers for the whole ascent. This is known as a via ferrata and the
climb takes almost four hours. When you get there you can spend
the night on the summit. What matters is a desire to get there and
comfortable clothes that do not impede your movements.
If you decide to spend the night on the mountain top, get ready to
sleep in a suspended transparent capsule that can accommodate
up to four people, where you can watch the stars and admire the
scenery until dawn. Not recommended for those who are afraid of
heights.
Natura Vive
Pachacamac is about an hour south of the capital,
Lima; a pre-Hispanic sanctuary once visited
by thousands of pilgrims during Andean rituals.
History tells us that the site was an oracle
that would predict the future, resolve doubts and
provide answers; and would even control the movement
of the earth. The fertile Pachacamac valley
is magically located close to the sea shore. From
its highest points you can see green fields and the
wide Pacific Ocean.
The sanctuary’s new site museum completes the
experience; it is organised thematically and covers
the period from the 2nd Century AD to the establishment
of the Incas in 1470. It was built in 1965 by
Arturo Jimenez Borja to preserve and display material
found in the area. Today, remodelled and refurbished
—it was one of the 7 finalists for the Mies
Crown Hall Americas Prize—, it explains why the
reasons for its existence and exhibits the main artefacts
discovered there, such as the Pachacamac
idol, the entrance curtain adorned with spondylus
shells, ceramics from the Wari period (700-1100
d.C.), Inca quipus and other items.
Christian Declercq
We recommend
our new night tour in Lima:
Pachacamac, ancient oracle and
brand new museum
PACHACAMAC
at night
The existing daytime trips
to Pachacamac there will be
now night time experiences
as well. For those interested
we recommend wearing
comfortable clothes and
trainers; if you're going by day
take adequate protection (a
hat, sunglasses and sunblock)
and water and follow the
guide's instructions closely
so as not to cause damage to
the ruins.
The SUITES
Every hanging module is made from
aerospace alloy and high-strength
polycarbonate. They have up to four beds
with feather duvets, a dining room and
private bathroom. You enter through a
hatch in the top of the capsule, which has
six windows, four ventilation ducts and
lighting - all completely environmentally
friendly. Once inside you can take your
harness off for greater comfort.
/73

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
The best open-air view in Lima
from the SkyTerrace
Reserve it exclusive to go with your partner,
your family or with a group
LimaTours
THE OLD MAN
AND THE SEA
Ernest Hemingway came to Talara
(Piura) in 1956 looking for black
marlin, made famous in The Old Man
and the Sea. He went to Cabo Blanco
Fishing Club, where Alfred Glassell Jr.
had landed one weighing more than
700 kilos and measuring 4 metres
long. A record that stands to this day.
Hemingway caught only four marlin,
one of a little more than 300 kilos.
Do you like
big game fishing?
Cabo Blanco holds
7 world records
The 18th, 19th and 20th floors of the historic Crillon Building, a former
traditional hotel of the capital, used to be the favorite place of limeños
in the sixties and seventies to spend their evenings. Famous characters
of music, art and sport such as Maria Felix, John Wayne, Nat King Cole,
Muhammed Ali, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards stayed there. Today, these
house the LimaTours modern offices From LimaTours´ SkyTerrace, on
the 20th floor, you will enjoy an amazing panoramic view of Lima while you
enjoy delicious cocktails, the cafeteria, games area and our Zen garden,
all as a special extra within your Lima City Tour or the culinary experience
at Casa de Aliaga, to give you a fresh perspective of the city.
Cabo Blanco, in northern Peru’s
Piura Region, is a small fishing
village made famous by the writer
Ernest Hemingway, from which it
is possible to catch impressive
black marlin. It is easy to get to
and although it cannot be seen
from the highway, everyone there
knows how to get to it.
Today, Cabo Blanco is more than
just a beach popular with surfers
and holiday makers seeking peace
and tranquillity, it is also a paradise
for sports fishermen.
You can go out from the beach
itself in small boats with local
fishermen acting as guides, but
there are also ambitious projects
including fleets of deep-sea launches
and jetties.
Mailonline
/75

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Get an adrenaline rush
on the highest dunes
in South America, in Ica
Surfing over the sand dunes is something you have to do at least once
in your life. Freedom, the wind in your face and the sensation of letting
go is indescribable. And all around: nothing but desert and peace. Surfing
Duna Grande or Cerro Blanco, two of the highest sand dunes in South
America (Nasca, Ica Region, south of Lima) is even more exciting. Slopes
from the summit are short and gentle, inviting you to try sandboarding. But
there are some steep slopes of around a thousand metres on which you
can reach really high speeds. As well as sandboarding, sand buggies are
also available: motorised vehicles that are more comfortable but provide
Sandboard y areneros desierto
great skill to drive one.
de Ica - Cerro blanco la duna
más alta de SudaméricS
almost the same level of adrenaline. You don’t so much need stamina as
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ADVENTURE
As we have mentioned, you need to be in good physical
shape and have sufficient stamina for this adventure,
as the expeditions combine walking as well as
sandboarding. Although the trek is not very arduous at
first, it becomes so on the sandy slopes of the dunes.
It takes about three hours to reach the summit.
Marco Garro / PROMPERU
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CONTACT US: buengourmetperu@gmail.com ✆ 981419945 - 981299956

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
To get to a wonder of the world
you must do it in grand style, and
Machu Picchu gives you two options:
The Inca Rail
Presidential Class
There is no better way to get to a wonder of the world than to do it in a wonderful ride. The Presidential Class
is a refined train with private wagons that hold exclusively private groups of maximum 8 people. During the
amazing journey, you can share with your companions an exquisite menu, enjoy a courtesy bottle of champagne,
free bar and the best wines of the region. The inside is elegantly decorated and has comfortable seating,
large spaces and windows that become beautiful pictures thanks to the incredible mountain scenery, vegetation
and Andean sky. Enjoying this journey with your loved ones is an experience you will always cherish.
Christian Declercq
PeruRail
PeruRail’s
Hiram Bingham
If you thought you had seen everything in this world,
you’ve missed this: a luxury train journey from Cusco
to Machu Picchu village and the magnificent sanctuary.
The Hiram Bingham train, named after the explorer
who “discovered” Machu Picchu, it exudes luxury
and is built in the style of English railways in the
19th Century.
The coaches have only 42 seats, their design is inspired
by coaches brought from Singapore and is similar
to those of the Orient Express that ran from Paris to
Istanbul 1833 and 1977.
The Hiram Bingham train departs every
day from Monday to Saturday. It stops
at Ollantaytambo for a few minutes. The
journey takes four hours.
You can take the outbound service, stay
for a night in the village or the sanctuary
and return the following day.
The journey includes a guide, transport
and entrance to the sanctuary, as well
as tea at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel.
The experience is one of luxury at its finest: from the
views during the journey to the service, which starts
with the friendly smiles of the train crew. Beautiful details
are everywhere from art nouveau vases to embroidered
linen, glassware and crockery. The bar is
always open, with background music and musicians
playing creole rhythms to go with your chilcano or pisco
sour.
Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the
time you board the train. Everything is tasty and as
exquisite as the journey itself. We suggest you don’t
go to sleep as this is a once in a lifetime experience.
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LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
And when you are in the sanctuary,
thank the apus, Andean gods
What you should know
Only 200 people per group can make the ascent to Huayna Picchu
(first group from 7 to 8 a.m., second group from 10 to 11 a.m.) We
recommend you reserve your place. The climb can take an hour and
a half or more for each stage, depending on your physical condition.
The largest mountain rises more than 652 metres over the Lost City
and the ascent is moderate to difficult.
The climb up Putucusi is for those in good physical shape only,
who like climbing and do not suffer from vertigo. The route is more
difficult and takes between three and four hours.
Rodrigo Cabrera
Admire the Ver beautiful Machu landscape... Picchu
desde la puerta del
Machu Picchu in Cusco attracts thousands of travellers every year. A magic sanctuary that enchants but
also radiates energy, especially at dawn from the Puerta del Sol when the light filters through the imposing
sol
buildings that have survived for centuries.
Mountains surround the scene and one can only enjoy the silence and share a little peace. The mysticism of
Machu Picchu cannot be put into words, it has to be sensed.
Located at 2430 m.a.s.l., you have to know what to look for to understand it. Its key aspects are the main
square, the temple of the condor, Intihuatana, the three windows, the water mirrors room, the Inca’s palace, the
sacred stone and Intipunku with its panoramic view, and the climb to Huayna Picchu.
One kilometre south from Machu Picchu takes you to Puerta del Sol or Intipunku. This was probably a look-out
controlling access, due to its strategic location: it offers a view of the whole complex. It is also the entrance gate
to Machu Picchu when hiking the Inca Trail.
… or go for the triple crown
Since 1956, LimaTours has hosted
close to 1 million people from all
over the world in their visit to Machu
Picchu and helped them discover
the "Lost City of the Incas" in their
own personal way.
Chrisitan Declercq
This challenge is not for everyone; it’s for those with a
spirit of adventure and conquest, and involves scaling
three peaks: Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and
Putucusi, in the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
The sanctuary is a protected area and covers 32,592
hectares, defined by Mount Salkantay (6271 m.a.s.l.)
and Mount Veronica (5822 m.a.s.l.), and includes the
whole of the Inca Trail from km 82 on the railway linking
Cusco with Quillabamba. The whole site provides
a beautiful panoramic view. You first arrive at Machu
Picchu and then climb Huayna Picchu and Putucusi.
Huayna Picchu is the highest mountain close to Machu
Picchu and contains some interesting Inca ruins.
From there you can get to the Temple of the Moon,
one of the finest examples of masonry in the sanctuary.
Putucusi is opposite the city and it takes around two
hours to reach the summit, depending on the climber’s
physical condition. The end result is breath-taking: one
of the best vantage points in the area.
/81

LIMATOURS / 60 YEARS
Peru is one of the countries classified as megadiverse,
and one of its treasures is the variety and quantity of its
orchids: more than 10% of the total number of species in
the world (around 30,000).
With great dedication and effort, Inkaterra Asociacion
(ITA) has built an admirable sanctuary at the Inkaterra
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. An orchid trail has been
created as a result of work carried out with the “Centro
de Investigacion y Conservacion de Machu Picchu”. You
can see 372 native species —consisting of 80 genera—
at least 15 of which are newly discovered. A number of
TO CONSIDER
According to the American Orchid Society,
the Inkaterra Orchid Trail contains a world
record number of endemic species: 372.
From the world’s largest orchid,
Phragmipedium caudatum, to small species
that can be seen only with a magnifying
glass, and others new to science.
Inkaterra
distinguished scientists and observers have already
visited the Trail. Despite our meagre knowledge of the
subject, we have visited a couple of times.
A visit when the orchids are in flower is fantastic. The most
intense colours and shapes intertwine with the rainforest
foliage and there is something new round every corner.
It is a trail to approach calmly, so as to see beauty in its
purest form. And don’t forget to take a camera.
Orchid (Telipogon koechlinorum).
Discover more wonders in Peru
from the comfort of your home
Satellite Imaging Corporation
Also make time to see the
Inkaterra orchid walk.
It has 372 species!
Archaeologist and professor Sarah Parcak, winner of the 2016 TED prize, managed to explore
and discover archaeological sites from space using satellite images, analyzing them using
complex algorithms to see changes in vegetation. The project will be officially launched in
January 2017 and the first place to be investigated will be Peru, elected to begin for its incredibly
vast archaeological heritage; an opportunity for Peruvian and archeology lovers to discover and
continue searching the wonderful history of the country. Her vision is the Global Xplorer Project,
an online platform that will allow anyone to search and give notice of possible archaeological
sites and warn of damage or threats to heritage.
In coordination with
Sustainable Preservation
Initiative, sustainable
development programs
are being planned with
communities surrounding
archaeological sites, involving
the local population in the
project.

Off the beaten track by the old Inca bridge, in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.