UJ #4 - Puno

Lake Titicaca, 

Jewel of the High Plateau 

VirgEn de la Candelaria 

Festival 

PUNO 

SPECIAL: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 

Interview with Joe Koechlin, Director 

and General Manager of Inkaterra Hotels 

Huilloc Agricultural Calendar 

/1

INDEX 

Ultimate Journeys General Manager 

EDUARDO PEDRAZA 

Content Management 

MARÍA EUGENIA DE ALIAGA/KM CERO 

GERARDO SUGAY/LIMA TOURS 

14 

Social Responsibility 

and Sustainable 

Tourism 

Special 

52 

44 

INDEX 

6/ Editorial 

8/ News and Updates 

11/ Tips 

14/ Virgen de la Candelaria 

Festival 

Virgin of living culture, the largest 

festival in Peru. 

26/ People of Lake Titicaca 

Uros, Aimara and Quechua people 

share their eco-system and 

a common history. 

32/ The Jewel of the High Plateau 

Info graph 

Editing 

Rodrigo Cabrera/Km CERO 

Coordination 

Carolina San Román/Km CERO 

Diego Guerrero/Lima Tours 

Art Direction 

Km CERO 

Photo EditOR 

Christian Declercq/Km CERO 

Graphic Design 

Miguel Santaya 

Info-Graphics 

Sandra Florián 

Writers 

Iñigo Maneiro 

Paola Miglio 

Diego Oliver 

Translation 

Lucy Ralph 

Correction of Texts 

Anne Moncreiff de Arrarte 

Photographers 

Santiago Barco 

Rodrigo Cabrera 

Christian Declercq 

Diego del Río 

Dilmar Gamero 


Km CERO 

Lima Tours 

Promperú 

Lake Titicaca, 

The Jewel of the High 

Plateau 

Info graph 

26 

34 

60 

Virgin de la Candelaria 

Festival 

50 

68 

34/ In Suasi 

Interview with Martha Giraldo 

“I jumped at the chance of 

an adventure. I didn’t imagine that 

I would buy an island.” 

40/ Altitude Sickness 

Recommendations to avoid 

altitude sickness 

44/ Culture in the Heights 

of the World 

People of the high plateau 

have known how to domesticate 

nature to perfection, leaving rich 

examples of their culture. 

50/ I’m Peru: Quinoa, Superfood 

Info graph 

52/ Interview with Joe Koechlin, 

President and General Manager 

of the Inkaterra Hotels 

“We need replicable models of 

sustainability.” 

60/ Building development 

opportunities 

The most outstanding projects 

in Peru and the companies 

that make them possible. 

66/ Tourism as a tool for 

development 

Info graph 

68/ Huilloc 

High quality cultural experience 

in an authentic community from 

the high Andean region of Cusco. 

72/ Agenda 

74/ Expat 

Huilloc Agricultural Calendar 

Info graph 

/5

EDITORIAL 

Dear Reader, 

Corporate Social Responsibility is something we at Lima Tours take very seriously. One proof of this 

is our recent International Certification of Social Accountability SA8000, awarded for the first time to 

a travel company in Peru. A second proof is the re-verification of our environmental stewardship in 

the Cusco office by the Rainforest Alliance. 

A third proof is, of course, our support of and dedication to the Huilloc Community Project, featured in this 

new issue of ULTIMATE JOURNEYS, Travel in Peru. Please do take some time to read and learn about 

(and maybe even donate to!) this wonderful program to bring the benefits and joy of community-based 

tourism to the 250 families in Huilloc, the thousands of travellers who visit and experience it, and our own 

staff who participate in and promote the project. They are all happy stakeholders! 

Responsible and Sustainable Tourism is the main theme in this issue of ULTIMATE JOURNEYS, Travel in 

Peru. The various initiatives featured, as well as the exclusive interview with Jose Koechlin of Inkaterra, 

a recognised leader in the field, should be useful for you and your colleagues in the office to know what 

Peru can offer those guests who are looking for rewarding and memorable travel experiences. 

The Lake Titicaca region is our featured destination. It is remarkably rich in culture and unique in nature, 

and a leading area for responsible and sustainable travel initiatives in Peru. 

Happy reading and learning! 

Your friends at Lima Tours 

OHSAS 18001 

BUREAU VERITAS 

Certification

news 

News 

JetBlue will fly to Peru 

JetBlue, the North American low-cost company, 

will start operating in Peru beginning on November 

21st. The airline will start flying seven times 

per week and will cover the Fort Lauderdale-Lima- 

Fort Lauderdale route. JetBlue started its operations 

in 2000 and currently has a fleet of one hundred and 

eighty-one airplanes, over fourteen thousand employees 

and operates in over fourteen countries worldwide, 

including the United States, Colombia and the 

Caribbean. 

Peru Travel Mart 2013 

One hundred and twenty foreign buyers 

attended the twentieth edition of 

Peru Travel Mart wich took place at 

Westin hotel in San Isidro on May 23-26. 

This is an important meeting where tour 

operators, hotels, restaurants and international 

wholesalers come together. The 

event features information about special 

bird watching tours, luxury and rural tourism, 

the Mistura Food Fair and visits to national 

parks. The event continues to grow. 

This year, Peru Travel Mart had double 

the number of stands and twenty percent 

more negotiation tables than it did last year.

news / TIPS 

Peruvians in 50 Best 

Two Lima restaurants have been included among 

the fifty best in the world according to San 

Pellegrino’s 2012 The World’s Best Restaurants 

ranking. Gaston Acurio´s Astrid & Gastón garned fourteenth 

place, while Virgilio Martínez´s Central came 

in fiftieth. First place was awarded to the Catalán restaurant 

El Celler de Can Roca in Gerona, dethroning 

Danish restaurant Noma, which had held the title of 

Worlds Best Restaurant since 2010. Pedro Miguel 

Schiaffino´s Malabar was ranked number seventy-six 

in the list of the World’s Best 100 Restaurants. 

Common Visa for Peru, Colombia 

and Ecuador 

The governments of Peru, Ecuador and 

Colombia have been working on a 

smart visa system that is valid for the 

three countries. The idea is that tourists who 

require a visa to enter these countries would 

be able to apply for it electronically, through 

a simple online procedure. This would avoid 

unnecessary expense for those who intend 

to visit more than one of the three countries. 

It is hoped that the new visa will go into effect 

by the end of 2014. 

SUMMUM 

TIPS 

The Origin of the Northern Cultures 

The Lambayeque Valley, one of the most fertile in the 

world, is the origin of some of the most important pre 

Inca cultures of Peru. It has a warm climate, occasional 

rains and it is part of the Equatorial Dry Forest, hosting 

an ecosystem which can only be found in Northern Peru 

and Southern Ecuador. Thirty adobe Pyramids, the largest 

concentration in South America, can be found in the Tucuman 

Valley. 

Tip 

In the Huaca de Ventarrón, a local ruin, archaeologists believe they have 

discovered the original civilization that populated Northern Peru over four 

thousand years ago, leading to the formation of the Moche and Sicán 

cultures. The first painted walls of America were discovered here and 

the novel architecture, materials and techniques used make it the first 

construction that considered the natural surroundings as a source of 

architectural design. 

On Facebook: Proyecto Arqueológico Cerro Ventarrón 


Tourism that Cares 

The Peru Chapter of U.S.-based Tourism Cares 

(Asociación Civil Turismo Cuida) has just launched 

the first national competition for projects that preserve 

and promote Peruvian cultural heritage. This association, 

formed by Aranwa Hotels Resorts & Spas, 

Coltur, Delfin Amazon Cruises, Inca Rail, Libertador 

Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Patronage Lima Tours, Orient 

Express and Viajes Pacífico, seeks to promote projects 

that are orientated towards social responsibility and the 

care and promotion of tourist attractions in our country. 

The competition is open for naturalized Peruvians and 

Non Government Organizations (NGOs). Projects were 

submitted in May and the results will be published the 

second week of August. Winning projets could receive 

funding up to S/. 50,000. For more information, visit 

www.turismocuida.blogspot.com. 

Christian Declercq

TIPs 

Pisco in the Highlands 

Since the XVI century, when the Marquis Francisco de Caravantes 

introduced the grape to America, Pisco became 

Peru´s flagship product in the world spirits market. Containing 

around forty-two percent alcohol, Pisco has experienced great 

positioning and diversification in the last few years. The brands, 

cocktails and Pisco/fruit blends (macerados) available locally have 

increased dramatically in quality and quantity, turning this drink into 

one of the most appreciated and commonly consumed beverages 

in the country. 

Tip 

In Cusco there are a wide variety of new places where you can try different 

types of Pisco, including cocktails and macerados. Original Pisco fusions are 

created using regional products such as coca, yuca, aguaymanto and other 

types of plants and fruits. One of the best places to taste Pisco is the Pisco 

Museum (Museo del Pisco), which has over forty different Pisco varieties. 

www.museodelpisco.org 

The Oldest Boat in the World 

Lake Titicaca is located at 3850 meters above sea level and is 

considered to be the highest lake in the world. Eight thousand six 

hundred km2 of fresh waters create special microclimates, which 

have encouraged the domestication of species throughout the 

centuries. There are up to forty islands shared by Peru and Bolivia 

and inhabited by fishermen, weavers and sailors whose lives revolve 

around these cold waters. 

Flor Ruiz 

The Most Biodiverse Highway 

in the World 

The South Interoceanic Highway (interoceanica 

Sur) begins at the Port of Marcona 

in Nasca, cuts through Cusco and ends 

at Iñapari on the Peruvian border with Brasil. 

Stretching for 1200 kilometres, the highway cuts 

through valleys, snowy peaks, flatlands, evergreen 

rainforests, cloud forests and lower forests. 

A journey where nature merges with archaeology, 

history and the rich cultural expresions from 

the villages and cities this highway crosses. 

Tip 

The Interoceanic Highway offers the opportunity to 

discover the essence of the country´s south in a journey 

that is rich in experiences and beauty. 

www.survial.com.pe and www.nazcacusco.com 


Tip 

The Yavarí is a boat that looks like it is made of solid gold. In fact, thousands 

of 200 kg gold pieces were made for the ship at the Birmingham shipyards 

and sent to what was then the port of Arica, Peru in a journey that took 

almost two months. They were then carried on horseback across the Andes, 

where their bearers suffered through earthquakes, revolutions and a second 

attempt for a Spanish conquest. All this activity slowed down the journey 

considerably and the gold pieces finally arrived in Arica after seven years. 

Eventually, the Yavarí was rebuilt at Lake Titicaca and it still operates today, 

offering food and accommodation and making it the most active metal boat 

in the world. www.yavari.org

Candelaria Festival 

The festival wich 

gathers together 

almost 50 thousand 

participants. It's 

south america´s 

second largest 

after the Rio de 

Janeiro Carnival. 

The Virgin of Living Culture 

By 

Diego Oliver 

Virgen de la 

Candelaria 

Festival 

Devils in the Virgen de la 

Candelaria Festival. 

The costumes can take 

up to a year to be made. 


/15

The Virgen de la Candelaria is the oldest, most colourful and popular 

religious celebration in the Peruvian Andes. 

The creativity of the masks 

impresses the thousands of 

participants. 


Traditional Puno dress can 

be seen at this festival. 


The Virgen de la Candelaria is the most revered religious image in the peruvian highlands and 

people pay homage to her every February. During this celebrations we witness the largest 

concentration of cultural expressions in the highlands, where quechuas, aimaras and 

mestizos meet. The festival wich gathers together almost 50 thousand participants is south 

america´s second largest after the rio de janeiro carnival. 

The Virgen de la Candelaria it´s probably one of 

the oldest titles for Virgin Mary, its Perú biggest 

party, bringing forty thousand dancers, around 

six thousand musicians and over twenty thousand visitors 

to the city of Puno. 

The celebration, which dates back to the Colony and 

is held at 3800 metres above sea level, lasts sixteen 

days and begins on the 2 of February, when the Virgin 

is carried on a platform and the first procession begins. 

Thousands of faithful believers follow her through 

the streets, some thanking her and others reciting prayers 

to her. The following day, the Costumes Contest 

begins. It consists of a continuous parade of regional 

dancers who dance through the city until they reach 

the local stadium where they perform typical dances 

in front of a jury. Some of the groups have as many 

as of up to three hundred members and each one 

wears a complex costume made up to one year before 

the event. They perform ancient dances such as 

the La Morenada, Los Caporales and the famous Diablada, 

a dance that is led by dancing armies of devils 

and angels whose performance portrays the battle 

between good and evil. The following day the competition 

is taken to the streets and the results of both 

days determine the winning group. 

During the following days, the Virgin is carried through 

the city while the festival takes control of the streets, 

reaching its climax on the 12 of February when all the 

dancers and followers, no longer with the competition 

at hand, pay homage to the Virgin in a long and wonderfully 

colourful procession. 

Opposite page: 

The Virgen de la Candelaria, patron of Puno is the 

most revered image in the Peruvian Andes. 

Renzo Giraldo 

Left: Christian Declercq 

Right: Rodrigo Cabrera 

40,000 

dancers 

bringing forty thousand 

dancers, around six 

thousand musicians and 

over twenty thousand 

visitors to the city of 

Puno 

/17


Above: Modern Angel, ready to battle 

against the Devil. 


Below: Strange characters invade the 

streets during the celebration. 


Opposite page: A band of musicians 

next to the Cathedral in Puno. 


Next page: Invasion. Green devils land 

in the streets of Puno. 


6,000 

musicians 

About six thousand 

musicians rattle 

the city during 

sixteen days of 

celebration 

/19

Chronicle / Crónica 

/21


A corner of the city during the festival. 


/23

Hike, Bike & Eat 

through Croatia 

DAY 1 - ZAGREB 

- Hands-on culinary course 

DAY 2 - ZAGREB / ZAGORJE 

- Fish & food market guided tour 

- Štrukli cooking & wine tasting 

- Hike through the Zagorje hills 

- Traditional Zagorje village meal 

DAY 3 - GORSKI KOTAR 

- Hands-on foraging tips in Gorski 

Kotar 

- Tree planting 

- Cycling through local villages 

- Cooking demonstration of local 

surprise specialties 

DAY 4 - uČKA 

- 2 hour hike of the Učka Nature Park 

- ATV tour and wine-tasting in Istria 

DAY 5 - OPATIJA 

- Exploring Veliki Brijun Island by bike 

- Cooking class in Opatija 

DAY 6 - PAKlENIcA 

- Hiking, Paklenica National Park 

- Visit Nin Saltworks Park 

- Visit fig plantation, Zadar 

DAY 7 - ZADAR 

- Prosciutto sampling 

- A Maraschino & fig cake feast 

Hike, bike and kayak the Croatian landscape, 

and taste the best local food and wine Croatia 

has to offer with a tantalising gastronomy tour! 

- Biking through the National Park Krka 

DAY 8 - SPlIT 

- Split gastro tour 

- Pelješac wine & oyster tastings 

DAY 9 - DuBROvNIK 

- Sea kayaking along the Adriatic coast 

- Cooking class & dinner, Konavle 

We not only understand but embrace 

our destinations’ vibrant cultures, diverse 

landscapes, traditions & climates! 

For more infomation about how our collection of specialised travel 

inbound operators can expertly craft adventure travel services visit us at 

PureQuest.com or email at info@PureQuest.com 

ACTIVITY LEVEL 

CHINA 

CROATIA 

INDIA 

Fan Na // (+86) 10 8519 8851 

fanna@purequest.com 

Mirela // (+385) 1 4920 678 

croatiasales@purequest.com 

lokesh // (+91) 11 4279 5259 

lokesh@purequest.com 

ACTIVITY LEVEL 

AlTITuDE: 

max 3200 metres 

Explore China’s icons, and yet to be 

discovered treasures. Learn traditional Chinese 

skills and gain new photography expertise! 

China Multi-Sport 

from the Great Wall to the Tiger Leaping Gorge 

DAY 1 - BEIJING 

- Visit Chinese Imperial Palace 

- Visit the Hutongs 

- Visit local family to learn kite-making 

DAY 2 - GREAT wAll 

- Hike the Mutianyu section 

- Visit the Summer Palace 

DAY 3 - XI´AN 

- Visit the Terracotta Warriors 

- Bike the Xi’an City Wall 

- Visit Muslim Quarter 

- Dumpling banquet 

DAY 4 - JIuZhAIGOu 

- Visit a Tibetan family for dinner 

DAY 5 - JIuZhAIGOu 

- Hike Jiuzhaigou National Park 

- Small workshop on landscape 

photography 

- Visit Tibetan museum 

DAY 6 - SONGPAN 

- Horseback ride through 

Songpan countryside 

DAY 7 - chENGDu 

- Visit a local park to sample a 

typical Chengdu weekend 

- Watch a Sichuan Opera 

DAY 8 - chENGDu 

- Volunteer at the Panda 

Breeding Centre 

- Visit Leshan Mountain 

- Walk Jinli Street for a night 

photography seminar 

DAY 9 - lIJIANG 

- Early morning Taichi practice 

DAY 10/11 

- TIGER lEAPING GORGE TREK 

DAY 12 - ShAXI 

- Visit Shaxi Ancient Town 

- Visit Shibaoshan Grottoes 

DAY 13 - DAlI 

- Visit local Dali villages 

- Tour the lakeside by bike 

PERU 

Eduardo // (+91) 1 61 96 973 

eduardo@purequest.com 

/25

People of the Lake 

rich in natural 

beauty, Titicaca is the 

highest navigable 

lake in the world 

and an area that has 

valuable resources 

for human life. 

It is inhabited by 

people with plenty 

of history and 

ancestral traditions, 

proudly maintaining 

their customs and 

developing a lifestyle 

that co-exists in 

harmony with their 

surroundings. 


Titicaca 

By 

Paola Miglio 

View of Lake Titicaca from 

Taquile Island. 


/27


To speak of the inhabitants of Lake Titicaca is to venture into the origins of ancestral towns that for 

centuries have lived in harmony with this natural wonder. 

36 

There are 36 islands 

on Lake Titicaca, 

the main ones being 

Amantani and 

Taquile 

islands 

To speak of the inhabitants of Lake Titicaca is to venture 

into the origins of ancestral towns that for centuries 

have lived in harmony with this natural wonder. 

The people that live on the water, the Uros, Aimaras and 

Quechuas, share the ecosystem and, in recent years, 

have adapted to modern needs. As part of this, locals 

have opened their doors to whomever wishes to spend 

time with them and learn about their style of life and vision 

of the Andean Cosmos. 

The Titicaca area hosts a myriad of plant and animal life. 

There are birds such as the Yellow Billed Pintail (Anas 

geórgica), the Andean Duck (Anas puna), the Titicaca 

Grebe (Rollandia microptera), the Puna Plover (Charadrius 

alticola), the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregronus) 

and the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). Fish include the Catfish 

(Trichomycterus rivulatus), the fish genus Orestias and 

Trout (Oncorynchus mykiis), as well as the Giant Toad 

of Lake Titicaca (Telmatobius culeus), an endemic spe- 

Opposite page: The floating 

islands of Uros, made of 

bulrushes, are visited by 

hundreds of tourists every 

year. 


Left: Musicians from Taquile 

Island, Lake Titicaca. 


Above: Boat made of 

bulrushes. Fishing is one of the 

most traditional activities in the 

Uros Islands, Lake Titicaca. 

Juan Puelles 

Below left: Meeting local 

people is one of the most 

interesting factors when 

visiting Lake Titicaca. 


Below right: A highland duck 

(Anas Puna) on the lake. 


/29


2005 

Taquile textile works 

were declared 

Masterpieces of Oral 

and Intangible Cultural 

Heritage by UNESCO in 

2005 

cies. Among the animals that inhabit the areas adjacent 

to the lake and rivers are Vicuña, Alpaca, Llama and Fox. 

In terms of flora, there are twelve types of aquatic plants, 

among those are the Southern Bulrush (Scirpus californicus), 

Waterweed (Elodea potamogeton), Lemnas (Lemna 

sp.) and Musk Grass (Chara sp.). 

The Uros and their floating islands 

The floating islands in Lake Tititcaca are inhabited by the 

Uros, an ethnic group that was distributed over the Collao 

Plateau, up until some decades ago. 

Today, their descendants have conserved and adapted 

the traditions and survival mechanisms of their ancient 

forebearers. With adept understanding of the properties 

of the Southern Bulrush, or totora, plant, they have developed 

a life on floating islands made of this material. To 

ensure the survival of the community, the Uros 

carry out various projects related to sustainable 

tourism that allow visitors to get to know their customs 

and to spend a few days in an island lodge. These lodges 

offer basic comforts and one can spend the day fishing 

for Trout, Silverside Fish and the local Carachi, among 

other activities. 

Taquile Island 

This community of Quechua people can be reached by 

climbing five hundred steps from the port to the town. 

Taquile, just like Amantaní, is a place where the culture 

of its people is what most attracts visitors. Experiential 

tourism has allowed the visitor to get to know part of the 

Andean Cosmos vision of its people. In Taquile, a visit to 

the mountains, or apus, Mulsina Pata, Takilli Pata and 

Coani Pata is essential, as is seeing the local archaeological 

remains and the Museum of Folklore. Known for 

its music and extraordinary weavings, Taquile is known 

for its unique textiles which, in 2005, were declared 

Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Since 2008, Taquile textiles also form part 

of UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible 

Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Nowadays, the 

community of Taquile has its own tourism company called 

Munay Taquile, whose profits are invested in the community 

and allow visitors to get a deep understanding of 

the population who live there. Through cultural exchange 

and shared learning, the people of Taquile guide visitors 

through their lands, telling them their story and allowing 

them to take part of their daily life. 

Above: A local man sailing his 

boat, Llachón. 


Below: Sunset on the banks of 

the highest navigable lake in 

the world. 


Opposite page: Staying on the 

lake can be a luxurious and 

comfortable experience, Hotel 

Titilaka. 


Amantani Island 

Known as the Cantuta Island for its abundance of Cantuta 

flowers, Amantani is home to pre-Inca platforms as 

well as archaeological remains left by the Pukara, Lupaka 

and Inca people. It has a population of over four 

thousand inhabitants and is located on the Capachica 

Peninsula, around 40 kilometres away from Puno 

(three hours by boat). With outstanding natural diversity, 

this is the land of the Cantuta (Cantua buxifolia) and of 

natural springs, which make it possible for inhabitants to 

work in agriculture, and the production of potato, oca and 

beans. They also work in textiles and fishing. Additionally, 

in recent years, locals have begun to carve objects of daily 

use as well as make granite tiles that are extracted from 

Llacastiti. 

Eight communities live on Amantani. They are the Pueblo, 

Santa Rosa, Lampayuni, Sancayuni, Occosuyo, Incatiana, 

Villa Orenojón and Colqui Chaqui. For overnight visits, 

the communities of Incatiana and Lampayuni are good 

options. Here the islanders transform their homes into 

accommodations with basic services, allowing tourists to 

stay and take part in daily activities as well as enjoy typical 

gastronomy and boat trips on the lake. 

Soto Island deserves a special 

mention as it is one of the four biggest 

islands on the lake and is inhabited 

by Aimara fisherman. Anapia Island 

offers experiential ecotourism, boat 

rides and opportunities to interact 

with local people. 

day 1 Cusco-Puno 

Transfer to Puno through 

the magnificent landscapes 

of the Andean plateau. 

You will see the towns of 

Andahuaylillas, Racci, Sicuani 

(where you will have lunch), 

La Raya and Pucará, before 

arriving at the city of Puno. 

day 2 FD Uros and Taquile 

(Lake Titicaca) 

Breakfast in the hotel. 

Transfer from the shore port 

of Puno to the floating Uros 

Islands. Your visit will last two 

and a half hours after which 

you will continue to Taquile 

Island where you will enjoy a 

brief talk about the island and 

its history. Return to Puno 

after lunch. 

day 3 Puno-Juliaca 

Breakfast in the hotel. 

Transfer from the hotel 

to Juliaca airport. 

Assistance with the 

outgoing flight. 

PROGRAM 

PUNO 

ISLANDS OF TITICACA 

(3D/2N) 

/31

Interview 

The lady and the Island 

artha 

IN SUASI 

Giraldo 

“I jumped at the chance of an adventure. I didn’t imagine that I would buy an island but I bumped into a man who 

told me it was for sale so I did. I knew that I had a huge challenge ahead of me.” So begins the story of how Punoborn, 

Martha Giraldo arrived in Suasi, a small piece of land in the middle of Lake Titicaca whose vastness cannot be 

measured by its size but by the magic that captures the traveller as soon as he sets foot on it. Here one disconnects, 

one loses oneself in the hills among the flowers and the breeze. This paradise created by Giraldo in Puno is one of the 

best-kept jewels in the region and a total privilege to share if you are lucky enough to visit. 

By 

Paola Miglio 

The idea was to buy [the island] and build a home; revive 

the wild plants, so that the birds and bees would 

return; so the island would recover its environment. 

Suasi was a challenge and a costly one”, says Giraldo. 

The State wasn’t interested in supporting the project and 

neither was the international community. Giraldo realised 

she needed to develop some sort of business that could 

generate income and thus the idea of setting up a very 

small lodge was born. “ I met Javier Diez Canseco when I 

was working on this project; a very dear friend and idealist 

who had never been involved in business. He was attracted 

to my proposal and we continued together. Thanks 

to his help, we were able to turn this dream into a reality: 

twelve beautiful rooms, with an unmistakably rustic feeling 

and with a very solid environmental focus including 

solar energy, aggressive recycling to avoid creating 

rubbish, a ban on the use of washing detergents, a 

program to replace non-native Eucalyptus trees with 

native trees and cuisine based on very local foods. 

We worked very hard on the exterior areas so that the natural 

landscape could be enjoyed and, at the same time, 

we decided to create a personalised service for visitors to 

ensure that each person’s experience would be unique. 

Our goal? Creating a pioneering adventure experience on 

a nationwide level which would incorporate the theme of 

conservation “. 

In June 2013, it will be 25 years since the island was purchased 

and 15 since the project began. The island, which 

originally belonged to Martha’s paternal grandmother, 

Candelaria Gálvez Olvea de Giraldo, who in turn inherited 

it from her parents, is today a proud demonstration of 

the way tourism and nature can work together. Today, 

Suasi is part of the Casa Andina Hotel Chain, a strategic 

alliance that has allowed Suasi to maintain fiscal strength 

at the same time it secures the environmentally focused 

parameters around which the project was created. 

43 

hectáreas 

Opposite page: Martha 

Giraldo lives in Suasi 

and constantly receives 

tourists who are 

interested in knowing 

more about the island. 

Walter Wust 

Above: Suasi Island, 

the perfect place to 

disconnect from the 

world. 


Below: The hotel blends 

in perfectly with the 

environment. 

Gihan Tubbeh 

As it is a private island, you have to plan your 

visit to Suasi in advance through Casa Andina. It 

is 118 km by land to Cambria and then 15 minutes 

by boat. If you wish to arrive by the lake, it is 2 

and a half hours non-stop from Puno. 

Suasi is located to the 

northeast of Titicaca and it 

has an area of 43 hectares. 

Currently, the lodge has 24 

rustic rooms and a suite. 

The lodge also has a 

gourmet restaurant, 

Excursions, trekking and 

trips around the island 

/35

Interview 

92 

species 

"We have registers, 

which are still 

unfinished. In terms of 

wild plants, there are 

92 species including 

herbs, bushes and 

trees" 

Facilities of the 

Hotel Casa Andina 

Private Collection 

at Suasi. 

Gihan Tubbeh 

Suasi offers a unique look at pristine Andean 

Highlands. Surrounded by a lake that looks like 

the sea, a visit to Suasi feels as though you are on 

another planet, with the added bonus that the island 

is managed with ecological sensitivity. 

It is unusual to have developed this proposal on the island. 

And beginning here, we have an island that is uncommon; 

it was the only private island available on the 

market. If you add to this, the marvellous mirror of the 

Titicaca, which turns it into an extraordinary viewpoint, 

we would obviously say that this is also an advantage. 

And as I have invested so much love, dedication and 

warmth in each platform, in each stepping-stone, into 

each reforestation campaign, the result is something 

that people can feel. 

Has any counting of the different species of 

plants and animals that exist on the island been 

carried out? 

We have registers, which are still unfinished. In terms of 

wild plants, there are 92 species including herbs, bushes 

and trees. There are a lot of plants that we don’t 

know, have names for or understand their properties. 

We need a register that contains the scientific name, 

common name and properties. Regarding the birds, 34 

species have been registered both from the lake and 

also smaller birds that live in the surroundings. We are 

sure that there are more but we have to carry out the 

study on a seasonal basis because the birds migrate. 

And in terms of mammals and rodents? 

The truth is that we haven’t found many. We have introduced 

a flock of Alpaca and Vicuña with the first objective 

of taking advantage of the manure to fertilise the 

soil. When we arrived, the soil was very poor and the 

land needed organic and natural material. We have also 

introduced Viscachas (a type of Andean rodent similar 

con Chinchilla: Lagidium viscacia). 

Have you introduced any crops other than 

flowers? 

Potatoes, Oca (oxalis tuberosa), barley, beans and corn 

once were grown on the island. We have maintained 

these crops on a smaller scale. We have very high quality 

potato seed, which is valued among the neighbouring 

communities.

Interview 

"Potatoes, Oca 

(oxalis tuberosa), 

Barley, beans and 

corn once were 

sown on the island. 

We have maintained 

these crops on a 

smaller scale" 

Are you still working on producing potato seed? 

We do produce it on a small scale, because our environment 

has also changed. We live close to the Bolivian 

border where there has been a significant change 

in the lifestyle of the communities, because of this, now 

we can’t find much manpower to work on extensive 

areas of land. 

Is agricultural work still carried out on the coast 

of the lake and on the island through the use of 

canals and ridges? 

No, never on the islands. Canals and ridges are a 

system used to adequately manage two of the basic 

elements of agriculture: land and water. This is associated 

with ancient cultures, like the Pukara. Supposedly, 

the first phases were before the time of Christ 

and they later evolved. They are waru waru, or ridges, 

and what happens is that connected canals are dug 

out and the earth that is obtained is used to form high 

planting beds. This type of agriculture has been replaced 

through time for different reasons. In the seventies, 

there was a boom to rescue the technology of ridges 

with the support of the international community. 

The first years provided a high performance but the 

ridges have fallen out of use once again, mainly due to 

the changes that are currently suffered by rural communities. 

Is there anywhere where this type of technology 

can still be seen on the lake? 

Yes, it can still be found on the plains of Pomata, Juliaca 

and Lampa. If you come by plane and look out of 

the window, you can see that there are still ridges on 

the high plateau area. 

Suasi looks to the future. The strength that Giraldo exudes, 

the drive and dedication that she puts into every 

details of her project is admirable. This island flourishes, 

and living there, in this hideout that encourages 

relaxation and peace, is a special experience. Her small 

home, the library and the museum, which sit next to 

the lodges, are surrounded by flowers and aromatic 

herbs that scatter their scent as a light breeze blows. 

From here, you can see the intense blue water of the 

lake, which becomes clearer as it nears the shore. It is 

Paradise. 

O x y g e n E n h a n c e d T o u r i n g 

“The oxygen enriched cabin is effective in preventing altitude sickness. 

Passengers will feel great cruising even this high across the highplateau”. 

says onboard medical advisor Dr. Dante Valdivia 

Cima Clinic in Cuzco 

"La cabina enriquecida con oxígeno es eficaz para prevenir el mal de altura. Los pasajeros 

pueden estar seguros de sentirse bien incluso en las zonas más altas del Altiplano". 

comentó el médico asesor a bordo Dr. Dante Valdivia 

Clínica Cima en Cuzco 

Alleviates altitude sickness symptoms including shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue and nausea. 

Alivia los síntomas de altitud como la dificultad en la respiración, dolores de cabeza, fatiga y náuseas. 

A higher concentration of oxygen will provide a more relaxing journey. 

Luxury Rooms on the banks of the lake. 


Una mayor concentración de oxigeno ayudará al pasajero en tener un viaje más placentero 

Oxygen departure valve 

Válvulas de salida de oxígeno 

Driver Panel 

12v o 24v Solenoid Valve 

Válvulas de 12v o 24v 

40sch Flowmeter 

Flujometro de 40sch 

Oxygen Cylinders 

Cilindros de Oxígeno 

40psi Pressure regulator 

Regulador de presión de 40psi 

Low pressure Oxygen line under bus 

Línea de Oxigeno de baja presión debajo del bus 

The additional Oxygen in BusO2, creates a special 

environment 1000m / 3280 ft lower than the actual altitude 

El oxígeno adicional en el Bus, crea un ambiente 

especial 1000m más abajo que la altura real. 

For more information, please contact your Lima Tours 

Specialist or write us to: inbound@limatours.com.pe 

www.limatours.com.pe 

Para más información, favor contáctese con su especialista 

de Lima Tours o escribanos a: inbound@limatours.com.pe

altitude sickness 

Altitude 

Sickness 

Travelling 

with 

Bus 

O 

2 

Lima Tours offers a bus service which 

features oxygen enriched air for the 

journey between Cusco and Puno. 

Passengers can tour the beautiful 

landscapes of Valle Sur and the High 

Plateau, reaching four thousand metres 

at some stages, virtually unaffected by 

the altitude. 

By 


Soroche, or altitude sickness, typically appears at altitudes over 2500 metres above sea level where 

there is a decreased amount of oxygen in the air. The most common symptoms are a general feeling of 

being unwell, headaches, disturbed sleep, nausea, indigestion, anxiety and difficulty breathing. While 

many people are not affected, if you are, the following recommendations will help you to continue your 

journey without problems: 

1 

The first day at high 

altitude take it easy 

and avoid any intense 

activities. 

2 

Keeping yourself well 

hydrated helps your body 

oxygenate. Coca tea also 

gives energy to the body, 

lessening the symptoms 

and muña, another local 

herb, is good for the 

digestion, which can slow 

down at high altitudes. 

Carbohydrates and 

fruit are digested 

more quickly. Fats, 

meat and vegetables 

are digested more 

slowly and the body 

requires more oxygen 

to process them. This 

can give rise to a 

feeling of heaviness. 

Above: Weavers from the Chillca 

community in Ausangate. 

Andean Lodges 

Right: Greeting the apus at 

Palomani-Ausangate. 

Bruno López 

Opposite page: Next to the stone 

apachetas, offerings to apu 

Ausangate. 

Bruno López 

3 4 

Travel in stages if possible, 

going from lower altitude 

into higher altitude over a 

period of days. Try to eat 

light dishes and rest more 

than usual the day before 

travelling. 

A rested body reacts 

better to altitude. 

Avoid heavy food while you 

are at high altitudes. It is 

preferable to eat smaller 

quantities more frequently 

throughout the day. In 

the evening, a comforting 

Andean soup is the perfect 

remedy. 

5 6 7 

Many hotels have oxygen 

on hand and breathing 

pure oxygen will lessen 

unpleasant symptoms 

after only a few minutes. 

There are medicines 

one can take before 

arriving which help 

alleviate altitude 

sickness. Ask your 

doctor. 

/41

info@worldcome.net 

www.worldcome.net 

Col Anil Alagh from Shaping Lives // Le Passage to India 

Shaping Lives is a pioneering initiative in India. The aim is not only to help serve 

their community but to set an example and inspire a vast growth of initiatives within 

the Indian tourism industry. It was great to hear from Col (the general manager for 

corporate social responsibility for Le Passage to India) on how the foundation aims to 

facilitate respect, recognition and warmth into the lives of less privileged. 

Creating a positive impact. 

Environmental 

Worldcome is ethically conscious 

about maintaining a clean 

environment, therefore many 

of our destinations in Europe, 

the Middle East and Africa 

actively support cleaning the 

surrounding beaches, rivers and 

hiking trails. 

Sustainability 

The consumption of natural 

resources within the tourism 

industry is a clear concern. This 

is why many of our destinations 

actively support and engage in 

sustainable initiatives within 

their inbound services. 

All our products can 

be tailored to specific 

requirements using our 

companies’ extensive 

local knowledge. 

We recognise that the enviroment, communities and cultures within whic we 

operate are vital to the success of our business. 

Human welfare 

It is very apparent that so many 

destinations across the world 

need more support to help local 

children and adults that are in 

poverty or in poor health. For 

this reason we have many of our 

inbound companies supporting 

human welfare initiatives. 

We are actively involved in over 30 projects 

and are developing our social responsibility through further initiatives. 

Foundations 

We constantly encourage a 

positive impact on our local 

communities through diverse 

activities and continuous 

support to the local NGOs. Lima 

Tours in Peru and Le Passage 

to India have both created that 

positive impact through their 

own foundations. 

What was the inspiration behind 

Shaping Lives? 

That’s a great question! Karma is 

synonymous to India. Most inbound 

tourists look forward to ‘social giving’ 

and earning ‘karma’ while exploring 

India. Le Passage to India decided to 

create meaningful opportunities for 

them through volunteering programmes. 

The well-researched 

grass root level 

NGOs work in varied 

fields ranging from 

children to senior 

citizens, from 

medical initiatives to animals and all 

across India. From this vision of Mr 

Arjun Sharma, Managing Director of Le 

Passage to India, the foundation was 

initiated, with the mandate to facilitate 

change for the less privileged. 

Do you have differrent programme 

options for the clients? 

Yes. Shaping Lives involves detailed 

planning and management between 

the operational team, the NGO and 

the traveller. Depending on the client’s 

wishes and the length of stay, there are 

various options that can be selected 

ranging from short visits to resident 

volunteering. During the visit clients 

are briefed and familiarised with the 

NGO’s work and target group. For long 

group volunteer programs or resident 

volunteers, Shaping Lives plans the 

administrative and financial detail. The 

volunteers may teach arts and crafts or 

paint and support the area where NGO 

is based. In all cases they would have 

enough time to learn more about their 

daily routines.area where NGO is based. 

In all cases they would have enough 

time to learn more about their daily 

routines. 

Are clients permitted to take 

photographs and give gifts? 

Yes please. 

But in the few 

cases where 

it is not 

permitted 

due to law 

or for confidentiality reasons, 

Shaping Lives issues an 

advisory to this effect well in 

advance via the operational 

teams. In regards to gifts, 

these are always welcome! 

Clients are able to give 

a monetary donation 

directly to the NGOs or 

contribute with their 

own activitites 

during their 

visit. 

Shaping Lives strives to create 

good karma opportunities as part of 

our clients’ Indian holiday experience.

Puno history 

10 thousand years of human existence 

For thousands 

of years, the 

communities of 

the Peruvian High 

Plateau were able 

to tame the harsh 

nature of their 

surroundings 

and they have 

left evidence of 

their rich culture 

throughout the land. 

By 


Culture in 

the Heights 

Chullpas de Sillustani: 

impressive tombs from the 

Colla culture on the Umayo 

plateau. 


/45


10,000 

years 

There is evidence 

of human existence 

dating back ten 

thousand years 

Inti Punku, commonly 

known as the gateway to 

Amaru Muru and located 

one hour from the city of 

Puno, is a place charged 

with mysticism. 


Opposite page: Puno 

landscape. 

Janine Costa 

Below: Throughout the 

years, the tombs of the 

Umayo plateau have 

been raided by looters. 


Below left: 

Cattle breeding is the 

main economic activity 

in Puno. 


Below right : 

Entrance to the Church 

at Juli. 


Around 60 million years ago, the rising of the 

Andean mountain range created a vast lake at 

3850 metres above sea level, covering what is 

now Lakes Titicaca and Umayo, the Uyuni salt flat in 

Bolivia, as well as vast areas of the highlands of Puno. 

Since then, there is a long history in which nature and 

culture have walked hand in hand. There is evidence 

of human existence dating back ten thousand years. 

Initially there were small groups of hunters who lived 

in the immediate vicinity of the lake. Later on, these 

people built up societies that bred Alpacas and Llamas 

and cultivated crops such as the potato and quinua. 

Thus, Titicaca became one of the most important 

civilised centres in Peru and it is the place in which, 

according to ancient legend, two gods named Mama 

Occllo and Manco Capác appeared from the waters, 

eventually laying the foundations of Cusco and the 

Inca Empire. 

The decline of these cultures gave rise to the kingdoms 

of the High Plateau that were situated in different 

areas around the lake, such as the collas, who 

are known for their chullpas, (large stone structures 

or funerary cylindrical towers) in Sillustani, and the lupacas, 

who occupied the areas of Juli, Pomata and 

Chucuito. These kingdoms reigned until the mid XV 

century, when the Incas conquered them. 

Like its Islands, the old people of the Uro culture are 

isolated from the rest of the local culture. According 

to researchers, the Uros people have Amazonian origin 

and their location on the floating islands of Totora 

was a defense strategy against the Inca’s attempts to 

conquer them. 

Mines and Churches 

The discovery of the Layacota mines in 1657 is a milestone 

in the history of the High Plateau. The arrival of the 

60million 

years ago 

Around 60 million years 

ago, the rising of the 

Andean mountain range 

created a vast lake 

at 3850 metres above 

sea level 

Between 400 B.C and 600 A.D., Pucará was the most important culture of the High Plateau. 

The centre of this civilisation can be found in the archaeological site of the same name, 

where the Kalasaya fortress is renowned. During the same period, the Tiahuanaco culture 

flourished in the region. Today you can visit the Sun Door (Puerta del Sol), and other large, 

carved monoliths that remain. 

/47


Spaniards and the trade prompted by their arrival 

motivated the creation of the Spanish-run settlement 

of San Luis del Alba. Conflicts between the 

Spanish and local rebels as a result of working 

conditions, gave rise to a visit from the Viceroy, the 

Count of Lemos, who subsequently flattened the 

settlement and formed the city of Villa Rica de San 

Carlos de Puno in 1666. 

Beginning in the middle of the sixteenth century, 

Dominicans and Jesuits rose up against the imposing 

churches of the south that had been created 

by the Spanish in Juli, Pomata, Ilave and Chucuito. 

Today the churches of Juli are renowned by 

the rich paintings of Bernardo Bitti (Italian painter of 

the XVI century), These churches were the starting 

point for the conversion to Christianity of inhabitants 

in the Amazon region, Bolivia and Paraguay 

and the production centre for grammar and catechisms 

in local dialects that were created by the 

followers of Ignacio de Loyola. 

Not to be missed: 

Casa del Corregidor 

Built in 1700, this is a very well conserved Spanish residence. 

Deustua 576, Puno. 

Museo Dreyer 

Archaeological collection that includes different cultures from the 

highlands and the coast. Conde de Lemos 289, Puno. 

Catedral 

Built in 1757, offers an interesting combination of Baroque and 

Renaissance architecture combined with indigenous symbolism. 

Puno Surroundings: 

Cutimbo > 22 km. 

Archaeological centre that includes rock paintings 

and funerary constructions. 

Chullpas de Sillustani > 37 km. 

Funerary towers with a beautiful view of Lake Umayo. 

Juli > 80 km. 

Sixteenth century churches. 

Pucará > 100 km. 

Monoliths dot the landscape and there is an onsite Museum at Kalasaya. 

Above: A unique 

replica of the 

sculpture La Piedad by 

Michelangelo exists in 

Lampa. 


Left: Majestic interior 

at the Santiago Apóstol 

de Pomata Church. 


Above: Chucuito, church 

seen from the posterior 

garden. 

Dilmar Gamero 

Top: Details of one of 

the columns at Juli is an 

important display of Andean 

Baroque style. 


Right: Facade of the 

Santiago Apóstol de Pomata 

church. 

Dilmar Gamero 

Above left: 

Catacombs in the 

interior of the Church 

of the Inmaculada in 

Lampa. 


Above right: 

Juli was an important 

Jesuit centre for 

evangelisation during 

the Spanish colony. 

Dilmar Gamero 

/49

51

interview 

“We need 

replicable models 

of sustainability, 

not only concepts.” 

By 


Interview with 

Joe Koechlin 

President and General Manager of Inkaterra Hotels 

/53

interview 

“The environment 

becomes the model 

for our design” 

Above: The Amazon Reserve 

Inn is located in the heart of 

the Amazon jungle, close to the 

Tambopata National Reserve. 

Above right: The Machu Picchu 

Pueblo Hotel, located in the 

cloud forest, creates a warm 

atmosphere for tourists. 

Center right: Bird watching is a 

main attraction in the Peruvian 

Amazon. 

Below: Peru has 118 different 

types of hummingbirds. 

Inkaterra 

What makes Inkaterra different from other tourist 

experiences? 

The aim. We generate conservation through tourism. 

But to conserve also means to know your surroundings 

in order to care for them and love them, which 

is why we make strict and universally valuable scientific 

inventories. For this reason, we need to offer excellent 

service; we need to be credible and to instil 

the necessary confidence so that this concept can 

be replicated. 

How do you involve nature and local culture in 

the experience you offer? 

Authenticity is the basis for everything. We transfer 

the authenticity of every place to the traveller so that 

it can be lived and experienced. Every place has its 

own personality, food, textures, colours, language, 

architecture and building materials. The environment 

we are in becomes the model for our designs. 

What has changed in the relationship between the 

tourist and the environment now with your new hotel 

project in Cabo Blanco, compared to when you 

began the adventure in Tambopata in the 1970’s? 

The visions are different. The relationship between 

people and the environment used to be one of protection, 

by isolating natural areas. Nowadays, it is more 

about allowing nature to fulfill its social role without 

isolating it from human beings that are also part of it. 

So for example, over the last forty years, new economic 

variables have been created in which research 

about environmental impact, social responsibility and 

other areas have been incorporated. 

In the 1970’s, Tambopata was not a tourist destination. 

What made you visualise it in this way? 

After Werner Herzog made the film Aguirre, Wrath 

of God, we developed a better understanding of the 

jungle. We understood that as Cusco was the main 

destination of the country, we should look for a place 

that would add value to this destination, an accessible 

place, a trail; something more direct than other 

possible experiences in the Amazon. The equation 

was simple; the difficulty was creating Tambopata as 

a tourist destination. The logic behind our Aguas Calientes 

Hotel, at Machu Picchu, was the same. 

The Amazon, and the Cloud Forest in which Machu 

Picchu is located, are fragile ecosystems. 

What is the limit for receiving tourists? 

There is no limit. It depends on the market. Tourist activity 

is and should be positive because we are talking about 

the social role that nature has. Human beings can go anywhere; 

the question is how to ensure that it has as little 

negative a presence as possible, how to achieve that the 

travelling experience becomes a way of gaining awareness 

and respect for the natural and social environment 

through which you are travelling. 

In which situation is tourism sustainable in Peru? 

We need replicable models of sustainability and certain 

local certifications that ensure that what is said is true. 

Is the tourist today more demanding in terms of 

taking care of nature and local cultures? 

Tourist today are more conscious and sensitive to all 

that. They arrive with their own ideas about what they 

are looking for but they are constantly able to learn 

more and know how to differentiate better. 

What made you follow this path? What have 

been the biggest difficulties and achievements 

in it? 

My biggest achievement has been arriving at any one 

these places and seeing how very simple people manage 

to combine an improvement in their lives with 

taking care of their environment. It is a way of being 

patriotic. The most difficult thing is the day-to-day. 

Above: An old colonial house 

is the perfect setting for stay 

in Cusco. 

Inkaterra 

/55

interview 

The enormous difficulties and inertias that remain before 

projects, ideas, proposals and new initiatives. 

Why did you choose Cabo Blanco on the North 

coast of Peru as a new destination? 

We are in a very special area, which is the joining together 

of sea currents that create unique biodiversity. 

We also represent an icon for the U.S.A, which is our 

main market: Hemingway, who used to go to Cabo 

Blanco to fish for Marlin. The climate, the history of 

these beaches….if Costa Rica attracts over 60 thousand 

tourists for fishing, why not here? And if I don’t 

do it, who will? 

How do you see yourself in the future? 

It would be better to say how I see the future. I see 

Peru being perceived in a positive way, showing all 

its potential. 

"We also represent 

an icon for the U.S.A, 

which is our main 

market: Hemingway, 

who used to go to Cabo 

Blanco to fish for 

Marlin" 

Top and center left: Cabo 

Blanco is a traditional fishing 

town. 


Below left: An excursion 

through Tambopata holds 

many surprises. 

Inkaterra 

Below right: This rainforest 

canopy walk in Tambopata 

allows visitors to experience 

Amazonian wildlife close up. 

Inkaterra

Advertorial 

Pueblito Encantado del Colca 

Aranwa 

guests at the resort’s entrance has been completely restored 

and is still used to grind grain and make flour for 

the kitchen. 

And at night, the property is transformed into 

a natural planetarium with a blanket of stars 

overhead, and a light show of shooting stars 

across the sky. 

Thought to be the world’s deepest canyon at twice 

the depth of the Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon 

has areas which are are uniquely habitable, with pre- 

Columbian terraced fields still supporting agriculture 

and human life today. In addition to the awesome 

physical splendor, visitors come to see the unforgettable 

sight of the gracefully soaring Andean condors at 

Cruz del Condor. 

For guests looking to explore the region, Pueblito Encantado 

del Colca is ideally situated for easy access 

to some of the regions best tourist experiences. Just 

ten minutes from the resort and spa sits the lovely town 

of Chivay. With its vibrant market, Chivay is a gateway 

to ancient Andean traditions, mysticism, and religious 

festivals that few have seen up close. Also nearby are 

the famous La Calera hot springs. Those feeling more 

adventurous can explore Arequipa, one of Peru’s most 

important - and beautiful - Colonial cities. Located three 

hours away at an altitude of 7,661 feet, Arequipa is referred 

to as the White City, as it is almost completely built 

of white, volcanic stone. 

A 

brand new resort and spa from the Aranwa Hotel 

Chain has opened up in Peru’s Colca Valley on 

the banks of the Colca River. A destination rich in 

Andean legends and Colonial traditions, the area is bestknown 

as the “Cruz del Condor” or Valley of the Condors 

as condors are frequently seen soaring above the 

canyon. Built with an investment of more than US$3.5 

million, the property was designed to complement the 

natural beauty of its surroundings, with a clean, modern 

style. Each of the forty-one guest rooms offer views of 

the surrounding majestic Andes Mountains and features 

solar-powered air and water heater. 

A new hotel, a new proposal, a new level of quality and 

service in the Colca Canyon, is one of the most peaceful 

destinations in Peru. The resort’s location offers spectacular 

mountain and river views and, with a low profile 

design, guests will feel as though they are staying in a 

Peruvian village in this region of Arequipa. 

Truly enchanting, the resort’s stunning grounds are abundant 

with lush gardens and are a habitat for hummingbirds, 

which can be seen throughout the property. It features 

two natural cascading waterfalls, one of which is 

accessible for guests to enjoy an al fresco swim, as well 

as a lake which is abundant with trout and offers spectacular 

views from the restaurant and patio. 

In addition to lush trees and blossoming flora, there is a 

small organic farm that provides the kitchen with fresh 

quinoa, beans, corn and more. As a nod to its Colonial 

plantation past, a water-powered grain mill that greets 

/59

Social Responsibility and Sustainable Tourism 

in light of the 

growth in the 

tourist industry 

in Peru, different 

companies have 

started to develop 

projects that aim 

to conserve nature 

and cultural 

heritage 

By 

Diego Oliver 

Building 

Development 

Opportunities 

Ai-Apaec, Principal Deity 

of the Moche culture. 


/61

cSr and tourism in peru 

Right: Huaca del Sol, emblematic 

remnants of the Moche culture. 


Below left: San Fernando 

National Reserve in Nasca. 


Below: The Cao Museum 

conserves the mysteries of the El 

Brujo archaeological complex, in 

Chicama. 


Left: Impressive terraces of 

Apurímac seen from the South 

Andean Road. 


Below: Religious fervour 

invades the streets of Sañayca. 


The concept 

of social 

responsibility as an 

ethical obligation 

of private companies 

has changed 

direction over the 

years 

The conscience of private businesses regarding the 

environment in which they operate and the social reality 

that accompanies it is an obligatory component 

for any socially responsible campaign. It is for this reason 

that, in light of the growth in the tourist industry in Peru, different 

companies have started to develop projects that aim 

to conserve nature and cultural heritage by providing the 

tools that will allow local communities with low resources 

to raise their living standars. 

The concept of social responsibility as an ethical 

obligation of private companies has changed direction 

over the years. Although it started out with an effort 

that was mainly based on welfarism, today it is characterised 

by the management of projects that involve 

the participation of local communities and generate 

opportunities for sustainable development. The 

continual growth of the tourism industry, which currently 

contributes with six percent of the GDP, is a real and accessible 

opportunity for many Peruvians. Some projects 

worth mentioning are: 

The Southern Inter-Oceanic Highway, a road that 

seeks to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans 

with Peruvian and Brazilian territories, is an ambitious 

project led by two companies that are developing 

different parts of the road. They are Graña y 

Montero, which has built the stretch that connects 

the city of Nasca on the coast with Cusco in the 

highlands, and Odebrecht, which has worked on the 

stretch of road that joins Cusco with Madre de Dios 

and the Amazon, on the border with Brazil. 

Odebrecht is developing several projects in its areas 

of influence across the Cusco and Madre de Dios regions, 

under the program called Southern Inter-Oceanic 

Initiative: Integrating Conservation and Development. 

Among this projects are the development of 

the productive capacities of the alpaca, guinea-pig, 

cacao and flower production, as well as the improvement 

of communities situated in Cusco and Tambopata. 

The creation and implementation of plans 

aimed towards the development of local tourism also 

/63

cSr and tourism in peru 

Left: The Chaparri private 

conservation area is home to 

the Peruvian Spectacle Bear. 


Below right: Boat on the shores 

of the Tambopata River. 


Below: Colourful guacamayos 

stand out in the green of the 

jungle. 


Right: Yaca historical 

hacienda in Abancay. 


a journey that 

reaches over four 

thousand metres 

above sea level and 

which connects 

hundreds of small 

towns on the way 

form part of this project as well as the promotion as 

the Southern Inter-Oceanic Highway. 

This corridor will perhaps become the most bio diverse 

in the world, as it runs through a variety of 

zones and climates across Peru. The highway begins 

in the city of Nasca, located in the Ica desert, 

close to San Juan de Marcona, an area in which one 

of the most important natural coastal reserves in the 

country is located. Here it heads inland into the Andes 

towards the highlands of Ayacucho, Apurímac 

and Cusco and then descends into Madre de Dios. 

The road provides the opportunity to appreciate 

the changing vegetation, wildlife and climates 

throughout the ecological areas in a journey 

that reaches over four thousand metres above 

sea level and which connects hundreds of small 

towns on the way. 

In the North of Peru, in the department of La Libertad, 

two of the oldest sustainable tourist projects in the 

country are situated. Backus, the largest producer of 

beer and beverages in the country has, since 1992, 

promoted the excavation, investigation and recognition 

of the Huaca de la Luna, which currently 

receives around one hundred and twenty thousand 

tourists per year and which has a direct 

impact on the economy of the local population. 

The same occurs with El Brujo, an archaeological 

complex that has been recovered through funding 

from the Wiese Foundation. The Señora de Cao, a 

mummified burial, was found here, as was the tomb 

of a Moche governor. The findings in the tomb are 

comparable to the findings buried with the Lord of Sipan. 

The Lord of Sipan findings are housed in a local 

museum which opened in 2009. Lima Tours has also 

been developing a sustainable tourism project in the 

community of Huilloc in Cusco, a traditional Quechua 

village of approximately two hundred families that is 

located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After a series 

of conservation efforts were carried out with representatives 

from the community, a program was started 

which sought to activate a rural community tourism 

product that meets the high standard of Lima Tours. 

The starting point for this process has been to collect 

testimonies of people within the community, who, 

through their collective memory, have made it possible 

to detect different cultural activities in the agriculturalfestive 

calendar. This has resulted in the design of six 

activities in which the visitors can participate. It has 

been calculated that this project, which aims to introduce 

visitors to local culture through the concept of 

‘A Day in the Inca Empire’, will receive three thousand 

tourists in its first year and four thousand in the second 

year. 

/65

Huilloc 

Huilloc 

Huayruros Sanctuary 

By 

Diego Oliver 

Huilloc, a traditional community 

that is located in the Sacred Valley 

of the Incas, is a small population 

of Quechua speakers who conserve 

ancient Andean traditions. As part 

of the sustainable tourism project 

run by Lima Tours, today it is 

possible to have an unforgettable 

and high quality cultural 

experience in this authentic 

community from the high Andean 

region of Cusco. 

In Huilloc, the 

world is perceived 

as a complete, 

constant and 

inevitable 

exchange between 

runa (man), 

pachamama 

(nature) and the 

wak’as (deities) 

Around twenty years ago, the people of the Huilloc 

community lived somehow isolated from the Western 

world. They spoke only Quechua, did not use 

electricity and the barter system was their main method 

of commercial exchange. However, poverty, which led to 

high levels of malnutrition and illiteracy in children, motivated 

the representatives of the village to seek out tourist 

agencies who would be willing to include the community in 

their plans for cultural tourism. 

Today Huilloc, through a project carried out jointly between 

Lima Tours and the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, 

opens its memory and traditions to foreign visitors 

in the frame of a tourist program that aims towards sustainability, 

fair trade and the conservation of the community’s 

cultural expressions, their most valuable resource. Descendants 

of the Incas, the people of Huilloc conserve 

traditions and codes that go back centuries. Their 

unique dress, using black and red garments, represents 

the colours of the huayruro - a seed that is said to bring 

luck. The community activities follow a yearly calendar that 

revolves around agriculture and times of sowing and harvesting. 

HUILLOC PROGRAM 

In this experience one visitor is selected by the Huilloc community to take on the responsibility of being the ancient, 

Inca messenger, or Chaskiq. The rest of the group will accompany the selected person on his or her adventure, 

delivering a sacred message to the Aya Urqu archaeological site. On the way, we will visit the sacred Sutuq 

Mach’ay cave and pay our respects, praying to the earth and the gods for a good trip. While we travel, we will enjoy 

agricultural landscapes and learn about native curative plants. The pututu, which is an ancestral instrument, will 

announce our arrival at Aya Urqu, and we will prepare ourselves for the delivery of the sacred message, or Khipu. . 

During the delivery, a local wise man will announce the ancestral Dance of the Condor, which will be performed by 

two, designated locals, immersing us in Inca spirituality. 

1 CHASKIQ 

In Huilloc, the world is perceived as a complete, constant 

and inevitable exchange between runa (man), pachamama 

(nature) and the wak’as (deities). It is world in which 

the members of ayllus, or mountain regions, are brothers; 

-whether they are men, mountains or condors - and they 

all live within the community. And it is under these premises 

that the visitor will be received in Huilloc, known as the 

Huayruros Sanctuary. 

DESCRIPTION 

DURATION 

Period 

location 

TOURISM TYPe 

MAIN attraction 

COMPLEMENTARY ATTRACTION 

PROFESSIONAL GUIDE 

Four hours 

all year 

cusco, Urubamba Province, Ollantaytambo District, Rural Community of Huilloc. 

rural community tourism 

inca culture: The experience of living like Incas. 

Nature: Mountains, valleys, Andean landscapes 

culture shows: Traditional clothing from Huilloc, Ancestral agriculture. 

Quechua language and language required by visitor. 

Opposite page: 

Agriculture is 

important for the 

community. 


Above: Faces from 

Huilloc. 


/69

Huilloc 

HUILLOC PROGRAM 

Celebrate the creation of Huilloc garments by learning how to make clothing using traditional techniques. From 

dying cloth with natural colours, to learning about traditional weaving, you will hear the local secrets of how to 

make the best quality clothing. Understand the different garments used by children, young people and adults. 

Learn how to interpret the meaning and importance of the iconography on each piece of clothing. And, if you wish, 

acquire a beautiful Huilloc garment as a way to contribute to the spiritual strength and identity of the Inca people. 

4 Role in the 

Creation of Garments 

Right: Intense colours 

characterize textiles 

from Huilloc. 


DESCRIPTION 

duration 

Period 

location 

TOURISM TYPe 




three hours 

all year 



traditional art textiles 

Inca spiritual experience 

contact with Quechua speaking people. 

culture shows: Traditional clothing from Huilloc, Ancestral agriculture, music and traditional singing. 

nature: Mountains, valleys, Andean landscapes 

Quechua language and language required by visitor 

Yanapanakuy 2 

The Yanapanakuy experience offers the opportunity to participate in the collective work of the community, 

called minka in Quechua. Help with the repainting of the educational institute building, the health centre, 

communal salon and other buildings. Vistors can learn how to manage the waters of Willuq and its tributaries. 

Additionally, visitors can help with local reforestation, aiding workers to replace the trees tha are used for fuel or 

building houses. 

Take part in the ancient Inca practice of Willaq Uma, Andean priest, in which a sacred ritual is performed in order 

to harmonize the spiritual energies of man, of nature and deities. This powerful, traditional ceremony allows each 

participant to express his o her aspirations and desires and bring them into harmony with the cosmos. 

5 Willaq Uma 

DESCRIPTION 

duration 

Period 

location 

TOURISM TYPe 




two days, one night 

all year 



living in the Huilloc community. 

Nature and landscape 


DESCRIPTION 

duration 

Period 

location 

TOURISM TYPe 




three hours 

all year 




Nature: mountains, valleys, Andean landscapes 

culture shows: traditional clothing from Huilloc, keeping of ancestral agriculture. 


Kusi runa 3 

In this activity, we will work on local farms, or chacras, along side local workers. Experience how the Andean man 

(runa) lives his daily life as you become part of the community, dressing in the typical Huilloc poncho and using 

traditional tools. Male visitors will carry out agricultural tasks while women visitors will work in the home. Your day 

ends with a spiritual dialogue as expressed through local dance and music. 

Visit the rural Huilloc community where you will learn about their vision of how to bring up children. As part of this 

experience, locals will discuss the role of children within the Andean vision of a reciprocal relationship between 

man, nature and the deities. You will learn about the special garments made for children that feature an immense 

wealth of iconography and thus educate the young about both their past and their community’s vision of the future. 

This will be an extraordinary spiritual experience. 

6 Yachay wasi 

DESCRIPTION 

duration 

Period 

location 

TOURISM TYPe 




three hours 

all year 




Inca spiritual experience 

contact with Quechua speaking people. 

culture shows: Traditional clothing from Huilloc, Ancestral agriculture, music and traditional singing. 

nature: Mountains, valleys, Andean landscapes 

Quechua language and language required by visitor 

DESCRIPTION 

duration 

Period 

location 

TOURISM TYPe 




one and a half hours 

school year, April to December, except for the second two weeks of July ( school holidays). 



intercultural learning 

Fish farm 

interpretation centre 


/71

agenda 

AGENDA 

Mistura 

From September 6th to 17th Lima’s celebrated gastronomy 

festival, Mistura (www.mistura.pe), will take place on the 

Costa Verde in Magdalena del Mar (www.mistura.pe). This 

year the central theme is Water and Hydro Biological Resources. 

POZUZO TOURISm WEEK 

From July 24th to 30th, the jungle city of 

Pozuzo in Oxapampa, will celebrate its 

Tourism Week. Colonised by Austrians in 

the mid 19th century, Pozuzo remains a city 

where European and jungle people and cultures 

mix making this a unique celebration. 

Locals organise the selling of handcrafts, the 

preparation of regional food and celebrate with 

traditional dances and sports competitions. 

SABOGAL AT THE MALI 

From July 10th until November 3rd the Lima Art Museum 

(MALI) will present one of the largest and most 

ambitious exhibitions ever organized around the 

works of celebrated Peruvian artist José Sabogal (1888- 

1956). The exhibit includes photographs and documents 

along with four hundred works of art by both Sabogal 

and artists who influenced him or were influenced by him. 

Lima Cinema Festival 

The Lima Film Festival will take place from 

the 9th to the 17th of August and is organised 

by La Pontificia Universidad Católica 

del Perú (PUCP). Now in its 17th year, 

the festival is an excellent opportunity to see 

the best of current Latin-American cinema on 

the big screen. 

Concerts 

Lima has become a centre for international concerts. This season 

the city enjoys shows by Julieta Venegas (July 5th and 6th), Paco 

de Lucía (October 29th) Herbie Hancock (August31st), La Mala 

Rodríguez (September 5th), The B52’s (September 28th), Andrés Calamaro 

(October 24th), Ringo Starr (November 11th) and Philip Glass 

(November 23th). Tickets are usually sold through Tu Entrada (www. 

tuentrada.com.pe) or at Teleticket (www.teleticket.com.pe). 

/73

Expat 

Director of Tourism and International Relations for the Lima Art Museum (MALI) 

By 

Diego Oliver 

María Luisa 

Muñoz-Cobo 

Born in Madrid, María Luisa Muñoz-Cobo arrived in Lima a year ago 

accompanying her Peruvian husband whose work was bringing him 

home again. An art historian with a masters degree in Communications 

and Cultural Management, Maria Luisa was soon hired as THE DIRECTOR 

OF TOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FOR THE LIMA ART MUSEUM (MALI) 

A NEW POSITION THAT AIMS TO CONSOLIDATE THE MUSEUM AS A CULTURAL 

REFERENCE POINt IN THE REGION. 

Diego Oliver 

What do you think of Peru? 

It seems to be a country of incomparable 

cultural and gastronomical wealth. The 

fusion that exists between the native and 

Spanish influence fascinates me. I am attracted 

by the food. My favourite dishes 

are lomo saltado, cebiche and causa. And 

I love the people. Peruvians are very warm 

and make you feel very at home. They are 

excellent hosts. And Lima is a city that has 

evolved very much over the last years. 

There is everything here. 

How would you describe your experience 

working at the MALI? 

I am very happy working at the MALI 

because I am running a new area called 

Tourism and International Relations at a 

very interesting moment because, after 

such a huge remodelling of the first floor, 

we are about to reopen the second floor 

where the permanent exhibitions will be 

on display. 

And what is the reason behind the remodelling? 

It is about taking the Museum to another 

level and seeing that it has all the characteristics 

of any other big international 

museum. The first floor has undergone an 

important redesign of the interior and the 

second is in the process of a complete renovation. 

When it is finished, the museum 

will be unique in this country. Three thousand 

years of the history of Peruvian art 

will be exhibited in it with a new museography, 

touch screens, augmented reality 

and audio guides. Over the past years, 

over one hundred pieces of art have been 

bought that fill certain gaps and contribute 

a narrative line in terms of the history of 

Peruvian art. Here you find anything from 

gold nose rings to contemporary photography. 

What makes MALI important? 

As well as exhibiting the most important 

collection of Peruvian art, it is also an important 

leisure centre which is accessible 

for adults and children. The museum receives 

many visits from schools. Children 

can play here and work with the temporary 

exhibitions and they really enjoy themselves. 

Not only do we have one of the least 

expensive entry tickets in the city, but also 

on Sundays it only costs one sol to come 

in and on the first Friday of every month, 

the entry is free between 5 and 10pm. 

DISCOVER PERU WITH ORIENT-EXPRESS 

Reservations: 

+51 (1) 610 8300 

perures.fits@orient-express.com 

A JOURNEY 

LIKE NO OTHER 

Orient-Express is a collection of iconic hotels 

and sophisticated travel adventures. 

Set off on a journey around Peru’s greatest 

sights from Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco, just 

one of our exceptional destinations worldwide. 

Miraflores Park Hotel l Hotel Monasterio l Palacio Nazarenas l Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge l Hotel Rio Sagrado l Hiram Bingham 

orient-express.com 

/75

Historia de Puno

UJ #4 - Puno

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