So your custom trip to Peru is about to begin! You’re packed and ready to board the plane, and in a few hours you’ll land in what may well seem like a whole new world! We’re here for you with a list of some of the differences you’ll encounter, to help you avoid culture shock. Although part of the fun of traveling is experience new cultures, we figure it may help you feel less like an alien and more on top of things, if you know a bit about what to expect on your Peru vacation.

1- Closer personal space

As a culture, there’s a shorter distance in personal space. Peruvians stand closer, touch more frequently, and in general don’t mind accidentally nudging each other, or you, in passing. In contrast, there’s greater distance and separateness, and more regard for “individual space” among people from western countries. You may feel uncomfortable at first. I became accustomed to the greater intimacy and missed it when I left.

2- Health, Sanitation, and Safety

There are different rules in place in Peru for health and sanitation. For example, due to sensitive plumbing in many buildings, it is normal to be requested to discard toilet paper in a trashcan next to the toilet, rather than flush it. This may seem off-putting to some folks, but one does become accustomed.

Drink and brush teeth with only boiled and bottled water during your visit Most hotels and tourist restaurants are already savvy. Eat at food stands at your own risk. To avoid nasty organisms, be extra careful about ice and raw fruits and veggies.

Electricity is 220 volt, so remember to check your items so as not to destroy them when plugging into a wall socket in Peru. Transformers can be purchased to avoid ruining your electronics with a powerful surge.

3- Shopping and Transportation

In Peru, there are mom-and-pop shops on every street. This makes shopping for small items relatively convenient. Eggs are sold by the egg, tea bags by the bag, etc. Shops of one type often appear in one location. So, all of the juice ladies are in one section of Mercado San Pedro in Cusco, all of the electricians in one place, etc. Competitors, often loudly touting their goods, create a cacophony trying to attract your business.

Getting around in Peru is relatively easy. Taxis are inexpensive, and buses even cheaper; however, it is wise to get the phone number of a reputable taxi company and use them exclusively. If you plan to hail a taxi on the street, it is recommended to only use officially registered taxis. How to recognize one? Unfortunately, taxi regulations are not universal in Peru and are established by each municipality.  That said, most taxis in Peru are either yellow or white.  Moreover, registered taxis should have a taxi sign fixed on the roof of the car and license plate number painted (or a sticker) on the side of the car.  When you exit a cab ALWAYS REMEMBER to check the seats for your items.

If you choose to have the experience of riding a bus or combi, which costs less than a US dollar, be prepared for the bus caller! This is the person who assists the driver by letting everyone know the route: it’s amazing how many syllables can be fit into a thirty-second spiel. Western safety standards are nowhere in site. Ride at your own risk!

4- Authenticity and Animals!

One of the most charming parts of your Peru trip will be the sight of folks wearing colorful traditional dress, leading alpacas and llamas through the streets. In Cusco, Inca walls, staircases, and cobblestones are a part of the infrastructure that’s traversed on a daily basis. The contrast of the new with the ancient is intriguing and fascinating. (Also, guinea pigs are food.)

5- The chaos is part of the fun.

The lines are not as straight, nor the structures as symmetrical, generally speaking. You might notice that traffic rules are loosely obeyed and yet accidents aren’t as common as you would think. A friendly din, and a loud and boisterous chaos are characteristic of many places on Peru: a quality of vitality and excitement goes along with this seeming disorder. Although it may seem overwhelming at times, there’s an excitement to being part of the noisy and vibrant life in Peru.

Perhaps you’ve laid eyes on a Peruvian textile, held it in your hands and admired its flawless threadwork, vibrant colors, and intricate design?  Or maybe your experience with the textiles of Peru extends only to the photos that fill the pages of your Google search results aiding you as you plan (or dream about) your tour of Peru? Either way, it’s important to know that Peruvian textiles are as embedded in the Andean culture of Peru as Huayno music, potatoes, and the Incas. In this blog post, we share the story and innovative spirit behind the Umasbamba weavers breaking the mold and putting their humble Andean village on the map through their art.

A Background on Umasbamba

Umasbamba is a small Quechua village of about 32 families located on the outskirts of Chinchero in the Cusco region. Like many Andean villages, subsistence farming and weaving put food on the table and a roof over their heads, however, unlike other Andean villages Umasbamba is a place where education has value and a better future is actually tangible. Why? The answer is buried within the fabric of their Peruvian textiles and, more specifically, the visionary Umasbamba weavers weaving them.

The Umasbamba Weavers

While weaving is a pre-Columbian tradition still practiced in villages throughout the Peruvian Andes, the Umasbamba weavers have taken their treasured skill and built infrastructures around it that go far beyond the Sunday Market in Chinchero —  many travelers’ only introduction to Peruvian textiles and the women who weave them, and a removed one at that.

In fact, what sets the Umasbamba weavers apart is their willingness to share more than their textiles with curious travelers. They were willing to share the world — their world — behind each meticulously crafted piece, from the simple adobe mud brick structures they call home to the fields that grow the food that fills their plates. This step in their journey has earned them and their craft newfound recognition and a path forward to previously unthinkable opportunities for such a remote Andean community.

The Umasbamba Textile Museum

After years of opening their hearts and homes to travelers the world over, the Umasbamba weavers again did something unprecedented. This past July, they opened the Umasbamba Textile Museum, a place that offers travelers to Peru yet another way to deeply connect with Peruvian culture on their Peru holiday. The museum is the culmination of a long unfolding project to share the story and the art of textile weaving in Peru and, more specifically, in Umasbamba. The museum is like a one-stop-shop for travelers to learn the history behind the Peruvian textile tradition, see the weaving process unfold and to purchase textiles straight from the weavers who wove them.

Travel with Kuoda to Umasbamba

Stepping inside the traditions of the Peruvian Andes is a special experience, never more so than through the Umasbamba weavers. This immersive cultural experience takes you behind the thread in a way that puts new meaning into the textiles you may purchase. Talk about the ultimate Peru trip souvenir! Contact a Kuoda Travel Designer today to begin personalizing your Peru itinerary with unique Peru travel experiences like this one.

Before Peru popped on the radar as a popular travel destination, the country went through an extremely difficult period.

The decade of the 1980’s was riddled with internal conflict between the Peruvian government and a terrorist organization known as Sendero Luminoso, or Shining Path. In fact, this was the bloodiest period of any historical time in Peru since the Spanish conquest. An estimated 70,000 people died, most of which were ordinary civilians.

The conflict was mostly contained in the Ayacucho and Apurimac regions of Peru, some of the poorest districts in the country, with the principal players being the Communist Party of Peru, known as Shining Path or Sendero Luminoso, led by university professor Abimael Guzmán; the Peruvian government, and to a lesser extent, a leftist group known as the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement.

The Opposing Forces: Sendero Luminoso and The Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement

The Shining Path movement was borne at the San Cristobál de Huamanga University, led by a communist professor of philosophy, Abimael Guzmán. Early Shining Path actions were limited to street brawls with members of opposing groups and graffiti urging citizens to take up arms against the Peruvian government.

In 1982, the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, MRTA, launched its own guerilla war against the government. This was a uniformed group that claimed to be struggling for true democracy and denounced human rights abuses it attributed to the Peruvian state. The Shining Path, in contrast, did not have uniforms and, as it would later prove, cared little for democracy or human rights.

A Nation at War

As the Shining Path launched more and more violent attacks, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency and sent in the Peruvian Army, suspending the Constitution in several provinces in the Ayacucho district.

Military power now became predominant, and government forces unfortunately committed many human rights violations of their own in their attempts to suppress the Shining Path. Hundreds of mountain villagers became caught up in the conflicts and were massacred by the Peruvian army. A US-trained counterterrorist organization, known as the Sinchis, was later found to be guilty of particularly brutal acts against village populations.

As the Shining Path attacked civilians among the local population who they considered “class enemies”, using increasingly gruesome methods of murdering their victims; and as they showed more and more disrespect for the indigenous culture they had claimed to honor, the villagers began to fight back by forming “rondas” patrols. In one incident that took place in March of 1983, a rondas village patrol killed 13 “senderistas,” along with the Shining Path “commander” of the town of Lucanamarca. The Shining Path retaliated by murdering 69 villagers, mostly children, the youngest of whom was only six months old.

The Constitutional Crisis in Peru

Alberto Fujimori became Peru’s elected president in 1990. He began the use of intelligence agencies to sniff out Shining Path leaders. On April 5, 1992, he dissolved the Congress of Peru and suspended the Constitution, which began the Peruvian Constitutional Crisis of 1992; he drafted a new Constitution, which imposed a state of emergency and curfews. Fujimori installed military courts to try suspected members of the Shining Path and the MRTA and declared that an “iron fist” approach would now be used against them.

The Capture of Guzmán

The Shining Path responded by setting off a bomb in the Miraflores district of Lima, which killed 25 people and wounded 200. On September 12, 1992, Guzmán was captured in an apartment in the Surquillo district of Lima. This, along with increased efforts by organized campesino defense groups in the Ayacucho region, progressively weakened the Shining Path. The commander who replaced Guzmán was later captured by Peruvian authorities in 1999, after which the group splintered into small factions. Their reign of terror declined sharply, becoming limited to isolated incidents in the early 21^st century.

Peru Today

Peru has indeed made great political and economic strides in the last two decades. It can only be hoped that government services will be augmented in Peru’s most impoverished districts, so that such brutal movements don’t find fertile soil in the future.
Today, Peru is one of the safest countries to visit in South America, with petty theft being the most common crime- a far cry from the violence and terrorism that plagued its past. Be mindful of your valuables and expect to have nothing short of a safe and exciting Peruvian vacation, especially with Kuoda Travel at the wheel.

To inquire and begin planning your handcrafted Peru vacation itinerary, contact a Kuoda Travel Designer today.

Main Photo Source: peru21.pe

Cusco offers a variety of accommodation options, ranging from budget-friendly to upscale. Of the city’s high-end hotels, Inkaterra’s La Casona is perhaps the most beautiful and an unparalleled choice for luxury travel in Peru. La Casona is the first hotel in Peru to be granted membership in the elite Relais and Chateaux collection of hotels, a distinct membership offered to properties providing exemplary and truly unique luxury properties and also transcending experiences elevating the conceptual standard that is “art of living”.

Accommodation: Stay in Luxurious Suites

La Casona is located in Plaza Las Nazarenas, a short walk from the city’s central plaza, the Plaza de Armas. This suites-only hotel is set in a 16th-century colonial mansion. Closed to the public, this grand building is designated a National Historic Monument. The mansion has been painstakingly restored, blending Peruvian design elements with convenient amenities. With only 11 suites in total, you’ll feel like you’re staying at your own private manor along with the welcome addition of modern comforts that wouldn’t have been available to its historic residents.

Suites feature antique furnishings with a choice of a king or two twin beds. All rooms include a fireplace and heated floors, with some also offering private balconies. Bathrooms feature showers and Roman (oversize) tubs, handcrafted toiletries and plush towels.

Dining: Don’t Miss the Exceptional Breakfast Buffet

Most hotels in Cusco include breakfast in their room rates, but the breakfast buffet offered at La Casona goes above and beyond the usual standard.

Service: Enjoy Extra Perks

Room rates also include a welcome gift, afternoon tea and free Wi-Fi. Like the décor, the hotel’s level of service is befitting aristocracy. The concierge and butler can tailor the experience to your preferences and help you plan customized excursions and activities around the city.

Get in touch with us today to book a stay at this one-of-a-kind hotel, as well as plan the other details of your private Peru vacation.

 

INKATERRA LA CASONA
Member Relais & Châteaux since 2010

Plaza Las Nazarenas 113
00000, Cusco
Tel.: + 51 1 610 0400

Website:
http://www.inkaterra.com/inkaterra/inkaterra-la-casona/the-experience/

Many travelers pass through Cusco en route to Machu Picchu, but this compelling city deserves more than a short stop-over. Cusco is one of the most vibrant cities in Latin America.

An Incan City at Heart

Cusco is situated in the heart of the Andes Mountains, at an altitude of approximately 11,150 feet (3,400 meters) above sea level. Hundreds of years ago, Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire. This powerful civilization ruled a large part of South America before being displaced by the Spanish in the 16th Century.

Cusco fell on hard times after the Spanish conquest, but the discovery of Machu Picchu in the early 20th century signaled the beginning of a renaissance for the city which later received declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The innumerable delightful amount of churches and convents are testament to the city’s unique conservation, beginning with the churches throughout the central historic district and the Cathedral in particular as the most striking example.  Between independent travelers and private tours, Machu Picchu and Cusco attract more than one million international visitors every year.

The city is proud of its Incan heritage, with modern Cusco blending ancient traditions with influences from its Spanish settlers. You can sense the city’s rich history as you wander through its old colonial streets building that were constructed using the foundation of Incan stonework and architecture. You’ll find numerous excellent museums all over the city, dedicated to the mixed cultural heritage that has made Cusco such a unique, fascinating place to visit.

Take a Tour of Cusco

In 1950, a terrible earthquake struck Cusco, seriously damaging over half of the city’s buildings. Although numerous colonial churches and adobe houses were left in ruins, almost all of the city’s Inca sites remained intact.

Some notable Inca sites in the city include Koricancha, which was once the most important temple in the Incan Empire; as well as Sacsayhuaman, a citadel found on the northern outskirts of the city.

A compact and open city, Cusco’s appeal is further enhanced by its walkability. It’s easy to stroll between various sites, soaking up the city’s infectious energy as you go. Cusco’s narrow colonial streets are a sea of noise, color and smells, making a stroll through the city an intense yet wonderful experience.

Cusco is also home to some of Peru’s finest restaurants and services. Although Lima is recognized as the country’s Mecca for foodies, Cusco is not far behind. Cusco’s restaurants are using traditional ingredients and techniques to create modern interpretations of classic Peruvian dishes. With Gaston Acurio’s Chicha leading to way, the city’s talented chefs are enticing more and more visitors to come to Cusco as much for its food as anything else.

Cusco also offers some of the top hotels in the country. Unique accommodations like Hotel Palacio Nazarenas and La Casona are redefining luxury travel in Peru, and are consistently voted among the best places to stay in South America. Cusco’s innovative hotels and attractive restaurants add a cosmopolitan flair to the city, while its rich customs and intriguing historical sites connect it to the past allowing the city to strike a perfect balance between history and traditional culture.

We can help you plan a rewarding stop in Cusco as part of your personalized trip to Peru. Meet one of our friendly travel designers and contact us today to get started!

One of the questions our customers most frequently ask is about how to combine adventure and luxury travel in Peru. The answer is that you’ll find these two travel styles often complement one another more than you might think, particularly in Peru.

This country is a natural playground but also offers extensive upscale facilities that make it possible to pamper yourself at the end of an active day. From Amazon luxury cruises to “sky lodges” perched on top of mountains, Peru offers endless opportunities to mix elegance with exploration. Let’s take a look at a few sample itinerary suggestions to give you a better idea of how you can experience authentic, glamorous adventures on your private luxury Peru tour.

Lima

Known as the City of Kings, Lima is Peru’s cosmopolitan capital. Take a tour of the city’s colorful historic district (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), visit magnificent and ancient pre-Colombian archeological sites, browse boutiques and art galleries for high-quality handicrafts, or explore exotic food markets. We can arrange private cooking classes, ceviche-making classes, or tastings of local specialties. Treat yourself to a meal at one of the city’s world-renowned restaurants, such as Central, Gaston y Astrid, or Maido.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, Lima is an excellent base for surfing the action packed Pacific Ocean, cycling though bustling streets, and paragliding along the cliff hanging coastline of the Costa Verde. Embark on a rafting excursion to one of the nearby towns, such as Lunahuana or Huancaya. Huancaya also offers great opportunities for rainbow trout fishing.

However you choose to spend your days in Lima, you’ll appreciate finishing them at one of the city’s high-end hotels, such the Miraflores Park Hotel or Hotel B, Lima’s first luxury boutique hotel.

 Sacred Valley

Embark on a four-day trek along the iconic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Your private guide and porters will escort you on this spectacular hike through the Andes. Walk in the footsteps of the Inca, exploring their fascinating structures and taking in stunning views of the surrounding mountains and jungle along the way. At the end of each day, enjoy superb cuisine, soothing treatments performed by a private masseuse, and accommodation in deluxe tents. After arriving at Machu Picchu, explore the ruins with your private guide and spend one night at the Sanctuary Lodge. Return to Cusco in style via the opulent Hiram Bingham train.

Spend a night at the spectacular Skylodge Adventure Suites. The Skylodge is accessed by an exciting 1,312-foot (400-meter) climb by via ferrata or zipline. Touted as the world’s first hanging lodge, the Skylodge is a transparent hanging bedroom which offers a 300-degree view over the Sacred Valley. Suites feature solar-powered lighting, high-quality mattresses, and down pillows. Gourmet meals with wine pairings are included in the price of a package.

Cusco

As part of your personalized luxury trip to Peru, your guide will lead you through Cusco and its narrow streets, providing insight into the city’s eclectic Inca and Spanish heritage. You can visit local markets, art galleries, boutiques, and artisan workshops. If time allows, you can also include trips to important archaeological sites found on the outskirts of the city, such as Sacsayhuaman. Your evenings will be spent dining at some of Cusco’s top restaurants.

Relax in comfort in one of the Cusco’s ultra-luxe hotels before embarking on thrilling excursions horseback riding, mountain biking, or hiking in the nearby valleys and mountainsides. Go paddle boarding at Piuray Lake, which sits over 9,842 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level.

For hikers, there’s many more trekking options in this region a part from the Inca Trail. Consider taking on the Salkantay Trek around the mountain of Salkantay (6,271m – 20,574ft). There’s also Ausangate (6,384m – 20,944ft), another sacred snow-covered peak, which offers a convenient looping trail. On a clear day, you can spot Ausangate dominating the southern horizon of Cusco.

Amazon

If you’ve always dreamed of an Amazon luxury tour, consider a voyage on a luxury yacht expedition: The MV Aqua or the MV Aria. One of the best river tour expeditions in the World, starts in Iquitos, the largest city in the world accessible only by boat or airplane.

These five-star yachts will redefine your expectations of traveling by boat. All feature deluxe suites with eco-sensitive stone bathrooms and air-conditioning. Huge picture windows allow guests to admire the river scenery outside while relaxing on their California King-Size beds. Dine on meals using local ingredients prepared by some of Peru’s top chefs.

Smaller launch boats transport you on wildlife-viewing excursions to see pink river dolphins, caiman, and colorful birdlife. These fine boats all feature comfortable padded seating, with the observation deck of the MV Aria also including an outdoor Jacuzzi.

Another remarkable base for luxury tours of the Amazon is Iquitos’ Treehouse Lodge. This lodge offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the magic of sleeping in a tree, without sacrificing on comfort.

These unusual tree house accommodations offer cozy beds with crisp white linens, as well as cool water showers, eco-friendly bathrooms, and protective mosquito netting. The tree houses are surrounded by a transparent layer of mosquito netting, which allows for unobstructed views of the surrounding natural scenery and wildlife. Fantastic meals, which emphasize local ingredients, are served in the main lodge.

These are just a few examples of the ways to combine life-changing adventures and swish amenities in Peru. Contact Kuoda Travel today to learn more about these itineraries and other options for luxury travel in Peru.