UJ #6 - Cusco

5- STAR TOURISM
FACES FROM A CUSCO VISIT
SPECIAL EDITION:
THE HISTORIC MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY
ADVENTURE IN THE URUBAMBA VALLEY
Interview with Walter Regidor,
General Manager of Marriott in Peru

INDEX
14
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ULTIMATE JOURNEYS
EDUARDO PEDRAZA
CONTENT EDITOR
MARÍA EUGENIA DE ALIAGA / KM CERO
GERARDO SUGAY / LIMA TOURS
EDITOR
RODRIGO CABRERA / KM CERO
COORDINATOR
DIEGO GUERRERO / LIMA TOURS
KM CERO
ART DIRECTOR
KM CERO
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
CHRISTIAN DECLERCQ / KM CERO
GRAPHIC DESIGN
MIGUEL SANTAYA
INFOGRAPHS
SANDRA FLORIÁN
WRITERS
IÑIGO MANEIRO
PAOLA MIGLIO
DIEGO OLIVER
TRANSLATION AND CORRECTION OF TEXTS
ANNE MONCREIFF DE ARRARTE
26
5-STAR CUSCO
COPY EDITORS
GUSTAVO ADOLFO ALVIZURI
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ALEX BRYCE
RODRIGO CABRERA
VICTOR MANUEL CHÁVEZ
JANINE COSTA
CHRISTIAN DECLERCQ
DIEGO DEL RÍO
LUIS GAMERO
RENZO GIRALDO
IÑIGO MANEIRO
HEINZ PLENGE
RENZO TASSO
GIHAN TUBBEH
ALFONSO ZAVA LA
KM CERO ARCHIVES
LIMA TOURS ARCHIVES
PROMPERU ARCHIVES
THE GREAT INCA TRAIL:
QHAPAQ ÑAN
Info graph
40

48
6/ Editorial
8/ Updates
66
10 THINGS IN CUSCO NOT
TO BE MISSED
Special
INDEX
12/ 10 Things in Cusco not to be
missed
14/ Photo Report
Cusco: A land for All
Faces from a Cusco visit
26/ 5-Star Cusco
Eat, Sleep, Shop.
Today we return to Cusco for a
brief, but intense, visit to see how
luxury tourism has evolved.
38/ The Great Inca Trail:
Qhapaq Ñan
Info graph
40/ Walter Regidor
General Manager of Marriott in
Peru
“For us, as a company, to open in
Cusco has been a goal. After all,
Cusco is iconic in Latin America
and around the world.”
48/ Escape
A train journey in southern Peru
connects the coast with the jungle
Its last stretch is its most famous:
The route from Cusco to Machu
Picchu.
54/ New Ways to Look at the
Navel of the World
Learn about new ideas from the
people responsible for the protection
of Machu Picchu.
64/ I am Peru:
The Historical Machu Picchu
Sanctuary
Info graph
82
66/ Empire of adventure
Its geography, natural wonders
and varied routes, make the Urubamba
Valley a wonderful place for
adventure travel.
76/ Sol & Luna Lodge Spa
Sacred Valley of the Incas
80/ Urubamba: The endless valley
Info graph
54
82/ The Andean Baroque Route
The use of art in Cusco’s evangelization.
88/ Agenda
90/ Expatriate
/5

EDITORIAL
Dear Reader,
This ancient Inca bridge is off the beaten track in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.
There’s no doubt that Cusco is a hot destination these days. And there are a lot of reasons for that. Crowned by the
impressive Machu Picchu site, the beautiful physical surroundings of the Urubamba Valley and the area’s abun-
its own secrets and its rich history.
That’s why we decided to dedicate this edition to Cusco, and look at her people; the ingredient that turns the so-called
Navel of the World into a warm, inviting place with an excellent offering of restaurants and hotels including the JW Marriott.
In this issue we include an interesting interview with Walter Regidor, Marriott’s General Manager.
The Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary has a dramatic location, impressively preserved Inca site and a natural beauty
that leaves even the most cynical visitor amazed. Recognized by Unesco as a Cultural and Natural Patrimony of Humanity,
Machu Picchu offers visitors a demonstration of the expert engineering the Incas used to build the site, and its
effortless meshing with its physical surroundings. The energy said to emanate from the Andes creates a sense of peace
and magic that is unique to that setting.
That said, Cusco’s inexplicable magic goes farther than only Machu Picchu. The city of Cusco has maintained its traditional
charm, resulting in a city that perfectly combines the Inca world, the Colonial world and the modern world. This
mix has turned Cusco into one of the most cosmopolitan and seductive cities in South America. Outside Cusco, the
and Pisac. One also can enjoy the Inca Trail, or Qhapaq Ñan; an exciting challenge that offers spectacular scenery and
allows visitors to literally walk in the footsteps of the Incas.
Enjoy reading and learning!!
Your friends at Lima Tours

UPDATES
UPDATES
Museo Inkariy
INKARIY MUSEUM
The Inkariy Museum brings a new way of presenting the
pre Hispanic cultures of Peru. Using large-scale dioramas,
iconic scenes of cultural evolution are presented
based on the Andean concept of a fundamental connection
between magic and religion. Cultures that are
included in the exhibits are Caral, Chavín, Paracas,
Moche, Nazca, Huari, Chimú and Inca. They are presented
in chronological order.
Gihan Tubbeh
PROINVERSIÓN OPENS BID FOR CHOQUEQUIRAO
CABLECAR PROJECT
This project calls for the construction of a cable car as the
means of access to the Choquequirao (Cusco) Archaeological
Park. It also includes train stations for both arrivals
and departures. This is a 22-year concession and the es-
ends April 4. The second bid is due May 6, and the third

UPDATES
EVENING ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURS IN CAJAMARCA
Atahualpa’s Room of Rescue, located a few metres
from Cajamarca’s main square, has been added to
the evening tours and hours have been extended until
8pm to accommodate late visits. The Archaeological
Museum and the Belen Church are also part of the tour.
Renzo Tasso
TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS IN
CAJAMARCA
Every year between February 18 and March 5
some 15,000 tourists, both national and international,
arrive in Cajamarca to take part in the
traditional Carnival celebrations. “The number
tourism and business sectors. In 2013 only
8,000 tourists came here,” says Luis Reyna Peralta,
the Regional Manager of Proturismo. “And
today 85 per cent of the hotels are full.”
PADDLE BOARDING AT 3,800 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL
Rupa Wasi Travel invites you to try Paddle Boarding
in the Sacred Valley. Chinchero, where the Piuray Lagoon
is located at 3,800 metres above sea level, is a
perfect spot to try this sport and combine adventure,
spectacular scenery and local culture.
Rupa Wasi Travel

THE INTERNATIONAL LATIN AMERICAN MEETINGS
AND INCENTIVES CONFERENCE AND THE CARIBE –
FIEXPO EXPOSITION IN LIMA JUNE 2014
The International Latin American Meetings and Incentives
Conference, scheduled at the Sheraton Hotel and
Casino from June 2nd to 4th, is expected to generate
US$ 2.5 million, with over 1,000 executives in attendance
and 30 per cent more exhibition space than last
year, according to event president Sergio Baritussio. All
the countries in Latin American will be represented as
will the Caribbean. Additionally, 180 hosted buyers from
around the world are expected.
Gihan Tubbeh
ARGENTINE NEWSPAPER CLARIN NAMES LIMA ONE
OF ITS TOP DESTINATIONS
Clarin journalist Diana Pazos visited Lima and published
a chronicle of her trip. In the article, Lima, A
to the Palomino Islands off Callao and to the Ballestas
Islands in Paracas. Pazos also focuses on Lima’s Colonial
past and its booming restaurant industry.

CUSCO: LAND FOR ALL
CUSCO SOCIETY, LIKE ALL
OTHERS, FOLLOWS A SET
OF UNSPOKEN RULES
BASED ON COMPLEX
SOCIAL PROCESSES
THAT BEGAN CENTURIES
AGO. THE CORE RULES
CAME FROM BOTH THE
PRE COLOMBIAN AND
SPANISH CULTURES, AND
TODAY THEY ARE JOINED
IN A RICH TAPESTRY
OF ANCIENT BELIEFS,
RITUALS AND TODAY’S
ANDEAN LIFE. AT THE
SAME TIME, CUSCO IS AT
THE HEART OF PERUVIAN
TOURISM, SOMETHING
THAT TURNS THE CITY
INTO THE SPACE WHERE
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD
COME TOGETHER WITHIN
THE MYSTICISM OF THE
SACRED VALLEY AND THE
ANCIENT HISTORY OF
PERU.
By
Diego Oliver
Photos
Christian Declercq
Teodosio Argandoña,
a local hatmaker,
is over 80 years old
and, according to
his sales records,
has either made or
repaired 500,426 hats
during the 40-plus
years he has worked
in Maras.
Cusco:
Land for All
Faces from a Cusco visit

15

CUSCO: LAND FOR ALL
THE ROUTE IS ABOUT EIGHT KILOMETRES WALKING AT OVER 4,000 METRES UNTIL YOU REACH COLQUEPUNKU PEAK. HERE,
UNDER A CROSS THRUST INTO THE FROZEN GROUND, LEGEND SAYS THAT A YOUNG, SHEPHERD NAMED MARIANO MAYTA IS
BURIED. ACCORDING THE MYTH, MARIANO HAD BEFRIENDED ANOTHER YOUNG BOY NAMED MANUEL, WHO HE THOUGHT WAS
A LIVING APPARITION OF JESUS.
Beginning every June – on Tuesdays following the commemoration
of the Holy Trinity – in Sinacara, a district of Occongate,
about 70 people come together to participate in
the Pilgrimage to Taytacha Qoyllority (Father of the Snow Star).
The route is about eight kilometres walking at over 4,000 metres
above sea level until you reach Colquepunku peak. Here, under
a cross thrust into the frozen ground, legend says that a young,
shepherd named Mariano Mayta is buried. According the myth,
Mariano had befriended another young boy named Manuel, who
he thought was a living apparition of Jesus. Researches say that
the pilgrimage began years earlier when people worshipped the
mountains, the true gods of the “the great gods of the Cusco
highlands”. The cross was added many years later when the
Spanish arrived proselyting Catholicism.
Like the Taytacha Qoyllority Pilgrimage, many cultural events
take place in Cusco that are both a product of Andean beliefs
and of Catholicism. According to the cultural organization ALL-
calendar according to rains and the planting season, allowing
them to grow food during he warm season and sell or exchange
products during the winter icy season. These communities maintain
many traditions from their Inca past. They include speaking
the Quechua language almost exclusively, dressing in traditional,
handmade clothing with designs that identify each village from
others and using coca leaves to read the future.
Ironically, Cusco itself is probably one of the most cosmopolitan
an estimated 2 million international visitors every year. The basic
population in the city of Cusco is 400,000 people. The streets
their countries, a handful fall in love with Cusco and stay, adding
another element to the city.
With its mix of people, races, language and cultures, Cusco has
become a world capital, mixing international customs with Andean
beliefs in the power of the mountains and earth, and adding
Catholic traditional customs. Thanks to the power of travel, Cusco
has become an inviting melting pot of people and customs
everyone.
Above, left: Flowers for sale at the Chinchero market.
Above, right: A contrast in colours, this young
villager is heading to Ausangate.
Below, left: The San Pedro Market in Cusco.
Below, right: Using an ancient method of conserving
potato through drying, locals in Chinchero make
Following page: the community of Huilloc.

17

CUSCO: LAND FOR ALL

19

CUSCO: LAND FOR ALL

Previous page: The drama Ollantay performed in the Ollantaytambo archaeological site.
Above: The corner of Choquechaca and Cuesta de San Blas streets.
/21

CUSCO: LAND FOR ALL
CUSCO POPULATION:
1’283,540
PEOPLE IN ALL THE REGION
MAIN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES:
MINING
CONSTRUCTION
COMMERCE
AGRICULTURE
TRANSPORT
COMMUNICATION
HOTELS
RESTAURANTS
SOURCE: PERU CENTRAL
RESERVE BANK
TOURISM NUMBERS – 2013:
2’000,345
TOURISTS CAME TO CUSCO
60%
WERE INTERNATIONAL
VISITORS
80%
VISITED MACHU PICCHU
SOURCE: DIRCETUR
6
THE AVERAGE TOURIST STAY IN THE
GREATER CUSCO AREA FOR TOURISTS
1,523
THE AVERAGE EACH TOURIST
AMOUNT SPENDS
IN THE CUSCO
A pause in the plaza: Taking a
little time out to sit in the plaza
and enjoy the beautiful historic
centre is a local pastime that
draws in visitors.
Right: One-third of the visitors
to Cusco are between 25 and 34
years old.
Following page: Passing by
Sacsayhuamán en route home,
a local ends their day.

23

CHRONICLE / CRÓNICA

25

5-STAR CUSCO
THESE DAYS IN PERU
THERE IS AN INCREASING
INTEREST IN LUXURY
SERVICES FROM BOTH
LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL
TRAVELLERS AND CUSCO
IS POSSIBLY THE LOCATION
WHERE THE BIGGEST
DEMAND IS BEING FELT.
ALL KINDS OF SPOTS ARE
OFFERING A COMBINATION
OF LUXURY SERVICES
WITH ORIGINAL DETAILS,
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THE AREA’S EXCELLENT
PRODUCTS, BEAUTIFUL
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT,
INCA AND COLONIAL
ARCHITECTURE AND
CELEBRATED TRADITIONS.
WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS
TO COMBINE THEM? TAKE A
LOOK BELOW.
By
Paola Miglio
Eat, Sleep, Shop
5-Star Cusco
Hatun Rumiyoc
Street and part of
the ancient home of
Inca Roca.

Christian Declercq
/27

5-STAR CUSCO
Left: Street art.
Right: The San Cristobal Church, Cusco’s
archaeological site.
Chsristian Declercq
TRADITIONAL CUSCO CUISINE
HAS RECENTLY GONE MORE
CONTEMPORARY, OFFERING
VISITORS
SOME INTERESTING DINING
OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMBINE
CLASSIC RECIPES WITH REFINED,
MODERN PREPARATION
No matter how many times one has passed through Cusco and its
lovely countryside; or how many times has visited its Inca fortresses
or colonial cities. There is always more to see. Behind every boulder
is a hidden history or new project being born. Today, one can see a new
story – brief but intense – of the evolution of luxury travel. While traditionally,
luxury travel in many places has seemed unreachably extravagant, these
days it is far more accessible and simple than what one might imagine. The
key is simplicity and good taste rather than the distorted excesses often
associated with high-end tourism.
FINE DINING IN CUSCO
Traditional Cusco cuisine has recently gone more contemporary, offering
visitors some interesting dining opportunities that combine classic recipes
Examples include celebrated Peruvian
chef Gaston Acurio’s Chicha Restaurant, and La Bodega de La Chola of

Casa Cartagena. In addition to these two chefs, other
well-known Lima chefs like Virgilio Martínez. Martinez
has opened Senzo at Las Nazarenas Hotel serving an
innovative menu using primarily locally sourced, organic
ingredients. Martinez offers a delicately crafted
as well as a regular menu of dishes ideal for dining
in high altitude. Another good restaurant for visitors
is Calle del Medio (street in the middle). This relaxed,
informal spot also uses a wide variety of local produce
for its dishes. A complete menu of pisco-based coc-
diners to branch out from the iconic Pisco Sour into
more local preparations.
The last recommendation for those who love excellence
in food is El Hada (the fairy); a location that
used for every creation. This small cafetería-style
spot serves the best coffee, pastries, sweets and
ice creams in all of Peru. The lemon sherbet cone is
not to be missed.
NAZARENAS BOUTIQUE
The Plaza Nazarenas ringed by what once were
Cusco’s most elegant homes and today are some of
Inkaterra is located in the mansion formerly owned
by the Almagro Family. With its warm and elegant
local decor, crowned with large, marble soaking
Cusco Restaurants
Above, left: Monastery
Hotel
Above, right: The Palacio
Nazarenas Hotel
Below, left: Something
new: Calle Medio
Restaurant
Below, right: More and
more Cusco restaurants
are using local
ingredients.
/29

5-STAR CUSCO
Above, right: Learn
about chocolate and
all the things that
can be made from
the cocoa tree at the
Chocolate Museum.
Below: The Bodega
de la Chola
Restaurant in the
Casa Cartagena
Hotel.
Below, right: Fresh
pasta in the Incanto
Restaurant.
Cusco Resturants
the Casona is a lovely spot. The Casa Cartagena
(Cartagena House), once inhabited by Don Fernando
Cartagena y Santa Cruz, has been beautifully
restored, with original frescos maintained and rooms
decorated in a witty and eclectic style.
The San Antonio Cloister today is the Hotel Monasterio
(Monastery Hotel), a perfectly preserved, colonial
cloisters turned into a lovely, luxury hotel. Guests
stay in elegantly appointed rooms that once were
home to colonial priests and monks. Plaza Nazarenas,
a former convent, still has the ancient Inca walls
upon which the convent was built. An original colonial
patio and fountain add to the elegant charm.
Here the rooms are extra large and the patios full
adjacent to a large bar and restaurant area, designed
to integrate the surrounding seamlessly.
vice
include the newly opened, and surprisingly elegant
Marriott Hotel; Casa Andina, a higher-end, local
chain that regularly delivers a good travel experience;
the impressive Aranwa Hotel and the Andean Wings
boutique hotel which specializes in a more mystic experience;
offering sessions with reputable local shamans.
Almost all of the top hotels either have spas
on site, or can call in top level massage therapists.
The latest in Cusco is the El Mercado Tunqui Hotel,
which offers luxurious informality with all the comforts
of home. The restaurant prepares freshly prepared
food with a menu that changes daily.
-
-
-
-
-
Christian Declercq
Christian Declercq
Cusco Resturants

Cusco Cathedral: Walk under the light of the moon and contemplate the Cusco architecture.
Christian Declercq
/31

5-STAR CUSCO
Christian Declercq
Above: The
Coricancha Temple
and the Santo
Domingo Church.
Below: The Guest
House, a small hotel,
which also houses
the popular Fallen
Angel Restaurant.
Following page:
Above: The Aranwa
Hotel.
Below: The Hotel
Río Sagrado, by
Belmond.
Gihan Tubbeh
THE BEST BOUTIQUE HOTELS IN CUSCO ARE LOCATED
AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL PLAZA NAZARENAS. THE
MANSIONS WHERE CUSCO’S COLONIAL ELITE ONE
LIVED HAVE BEEN TUNED INTO THE CITY’S MOST
COVETED HOTEL ROOMS.
IT IS NO WONDER THAT FALLEN ANGEL IS
KNOWN FOR ITS OUTRAGEOUS NEW YEAR’S
EVE AND HALLOWEEN PARTIES. FALLEN
ANGEL IS PART OF THE GUEST HOUSE, FOUR
RAMBLING ROOMS, EACH DECORATED
DIFFERENTLY AND FEATURING A WIDE
VARIETY OF LOCAL ART TO BE ENJOYED
AND/OR PURCHASED

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.
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

5-STAR CUSCO
Christian Declercq
TO HELP VISITORS REST AND
RECHARGE, THE HOTELS IN THE
SACRED VALLEY HAVE DEVELOPED
A SERIES OF SPA OPTIONS.
VIRTUALLY ALL USE LOCALLY
PRODUCED OILS MADE WITH A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ESSENCES
INCLUDING COCA LEAVES, QUINUA
AND DIFFERENT HEALING AND
RELAXING HERBS. THE RIO
SAGRADO HOTEL SPA OFFERS A
PARTICULAR IMPRESSIVE VIEW
OVER THE VILCANOTA RIVER
ENJOYED BY ALL ITS MASSAGE
ROOMS, WHILE IT’S JACUZZI SITS
OUTSIDE ON AN OVERLOOK. THE
HOTELS TAMBO DEL INCA, CASA
ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION,
ARANWA HOTELS, RESORTS &
SPA, AND SOL & LUNA LODGE ALL
ARE IN THE VALLEY AND OFFER
EXCELLENT SPA AND BEAUTY
SERVICES

A relaxing, covered pool in the spa at the Tambo del Inka Hotel.
Christian Declercq
/35

Christian Declercq
5-STAR CUSCO

and small folk art stores; like a market inside the city.
LUXURY PROGRAMME
DAY 1 CUSCO-SACRED VALLEY
Transfer from Cusco’s airport to The Sacred Valley. Dinner at Rio Sagrado
Hotel.
DAY 2 HUILLOC-SACRED VALLEY
Visit Huilloc community. Lunch at Casa Orihuela. Return to Rio Sagrado
Hotel.
DAY 3 SACRED VALLEY
Activities in the Sacred Valley. Dinner at the wine cellar of Wayra
Restaurant. Return to Rio Sagrado Hotel.
DAY 4 SACRED VALLEY-MACHU PICCHU
Travel by The Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu. Stay at Machu
Picchu Inkaterra Hotel.
DAY 5 MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO
Return to Cusco by the Hiram Bingham train. Resting time at Palacio
Nazarenas Hotel.
DAY 6 CUSCO
Cusco City tour . Lunch at Map Café, free afternoon. Return to the hotel.
DAY 7 CUSCO-LIMA
Transfer from your hotel to Cusco’s airport.
LUXURY PACKAGE
YOU’LL EXCEED EXPECTATIONS WHEN YOU TREAT YOUR PASSENGERS
TO OUR LUXURY PACKAGE, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO ADD VALUE WITH
DETAILS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
MAIL BEFORE THE TRIP BEGINS AND THEMED AROUND THE FIVE SENSE
AND THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITING PERU.
SERVICE; EACH RELATED TO THE NEXT DESTINATION ON THE ITINERARY.
PASSENGER’S RETURN HOME
FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE INBOUND@LIMATOURS.COM.PE OR
CONTACT YOUR SPECIALIST.

INTERVIEW
Walter Regidor
General Manager, Marriott Peru
Interview with
Rodrigo Cabrera
Photos
Cadena Marriott
WITH A DEGREE IN HUMAN RESOURCES, ARGENTINE WALTER REGIDOR HAS BEEN IN PERU FOR OVER
FOUR YEARS HEADING UP THE MARRIOTT CHAIN. HIS WORK AS A WELL-KNOWN HOTELIER HAS LED
HIM TO A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN ONE OF MARRIOTT’S MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECTS: A NEW HOTEL IN
CUSCO, THE STAR DESTINATION OF SOUTH AMERICA. BELOW, REGIDOR TALKS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE
AND HIS THOUGHTS ON CUSCO AS A DESTINATION.
THE HOTEL
What has opening a hotel in Cusco meant to the
Marriott chain?
For Marriott as a hotel chain, opening in Cusco has
been a goal. After all, it is an iconic destination in Latin
American and the world. We are very pleased with
what Cusco means as a destination. For
us, it is Peru’s most touristic spot. In Lima
there is tourism but it is nothing compared
with Cusco. With this hotel we have
entered the leisure market, which makes
us change our business perspective a
little. The client who travels for pleasure
is not the same as the client who travels
for business. Each has distinct needs.
This difference has created a process of
adaption and discovery for us. We planned
for some things and have had to
adapt to others.
year?
From the point of view of the destination,
spectacular. People are very welcoming.
We have been open in Cusco since
been about learning. We have been at
43 per cent occupation, and the maximum
is 68 per cent, so we have learned
that Cusco is a destination that does not
have particularly high occupancy rates.
We also know that this year will be much
stronger for us and that we will reach
our objectives. For example, as the airli-
is going to help the destination grow
and increase hotel demand.
A beautiful, colonial door beckons at
the entry to the new Cusco Marriott.

41

INTERVIEW
Luxurious rooms
where you can enjoy an
excellent meal.
THE DESTINATION
What is your strategy to sell a hotel like Cusco
when you are going after a client base that is so
I have worked in three difference destinations: Rio de
Janiero, Saint Kitts and the Caiman Islands. The last
two are pleasure destinations where you sell the destination
and then the hotel. The focus has to be to
this here, one needs to work with PromPeru, which
is doing a very good job selling Cusco. Maybe what
is missing is a concerted effort by all of us to work
together to improve the destination and the product.
What do you think should be improved in the destination?
One thing that should be done is improving the infrastructure
by working on projects to better contain the
Urubamba River. We regularly have landslides in the
Cusco area which means that highways are closed and
passengers are stranded…We need to work together
because it is not just a government issue. One can use
the investment-for-taxes rules to underwrite costs for
example. There are many options and lots of things to
do to improve the area.
Additionally, I think that Machu Picchu needs to be evaluated
with a wider lens and that a master plan for the
site should be developed with the help of private industry
and others in order to create something sustainable
jobs and family income and do it in a planned manner.
I know there are lots of ideas, but we need to work
together to make them happen and generate others.

The major limitation is infrastructure…
Yes. The limited number of visitors allowed in Machu
Picchu and on the Inca Trail are examples. Cusco is a
destination where planning for visitors is done a year
in advance precisely because of these limitations. The
authorities plan with good intention but more needs
to be done given the limitations. We have to think of
integral plans for tourists, alternative transport to Machu
Picchu – ways to bring more tourists to the site
without damaging it and better infrastructure.
What does your new hotel bring to Cusco in
terms of infrastructure?
I don’t think any hotel in Cusco has our infrastructure;
not only in terms of what the client sees, but
also in terms of the things the client does not see:
The kitchens, cold areas, deposits, oxygen machines
technology and security. That kind of investment is
hard to match.
And in terms of hotel “know how”?
tor
in the luxury segment. Additionally we have 100
per cent satisfaction among our employees and it
our employees in Cusco, our 3,900 other properties
around the world are very important; offering them
opportunities to travel around the world to work for
Marriott.
Have you tried to work with local suppliers in
Cusco?
example. But there are other, local products that we
are using from local providers, like vegetables. One of
"FOR OUR
EMPLOYEES IN
CUSCO, OUR 3,900
OTHER PROPERTIES
AROUND THE
WORLD ARE VERY
IMPORTANT;
OFFERING THEM
OPPORTUNITIES TO
TRAVEL AROUND THE
WORLD TO WORK
FOR MARRIOTT. "
The new hotel is located
two blocks from Cusco's
Main Square.
/43

INTERVIEW
"THERE STILL IS A
LOT OF WORK TO
DO, BUT CUSCO IS
A SPECTACULAR
DESTINATION LARGELY
BECAUSE TOURISTS
WHO COME HERE WANT
TO COME BACK. THAT
CREATES ENORMOUS
POTENTIAL"
After a rest, enjoy the
hotel bar.
our biggest challenges working with local producers
is that they give us formal receipts. It is moving at a
snail’s pace but we already have two communities
with whom we are working. We are trying to do the
same thing with local weavers. We are inviting them
to the hotel to interact with clients and present their
work. It helps the locals increase their income. We do
THE MARKET
What tourist experiences do you think the city
Cusco has improved dramatically. The airlines have
helped with that. For residents of Peru, not only locals
but international residents, Cusco is a destination
where one can escape for three days. And you
can repeat visits, as there is so much to do within
and around the city. There still is a lot of work to do,
but Cusco is a spectacular destination largely because
tourists who come here want to come back. That
creates enormous potential. We need to think about
how to get these people who visit Lima to also travel
to Cusco and other Peruvian cities. We need to take
advantage of the fact that Peru is so stable to develop
other areas in the country; Cusco is just one
of them.
For example, worldwide networking with the Peru
brand helps position Cusco. Before, a Marriott client
might only have thought about Lima, or not even.
Today, our Cusco hotel is one of our most attractive
properties for Marriott Rewards clients, which means
literally millions of members. This worldwide exposure
is important. It strengthens us as a chain and strengthens
Cusco as well.
Is the Lima market evolving?
We see that demand is remaining strong; our occupancy
rates are good and improving. We have been
growing every year in Peru and this year will be no
exception. That shows that the demand in Lima is
strong. For now, the city is still missing a convention
centre so we can compete with other destinations
that can handle major events. Something like that
will move the entire economy and is something that
is sorely needed. Were Lima to have a facility like
that, we could position ourselves better against other
it would also reach into other economic areas. The
requires major and responsible investment. Lima is a
hub for Latin America. She needs to take advantage
of that fact with a vision and a medium and longterm
plan to get there.

Luxury rooms for a good rest.
What are Marriott’s upcoming plans? Do you
plan to open properties in other parts of Peru?
We are building a Courtyard in Lima. It will be a
Lima and should be ready by the third quarter of
2015. With 152 rooms, this is going to be a new
model for the Courtyard brand. It will be very modern
and designed for both tourists and business
travellers. It will be a very interesting product for
in Lima.
NEW
MIRAFLORES LIMA,
FOUR-STAR PROPERTY WITH
152
ROOMS AND
SHOULD BE READY BY
QUARTER OF 2015
/45

ENTREVISTA

47

ESCAPE
Renzo Tasso
CUSCO DEPUTY BENJAMÍN DE LA TORRE WAS THE MAN
WHO ORIGINALLY PUSHED THROUGH A LAW APPROVING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILWAY BETWEEN CUSCO AND THE SANTA
ANA HACIENDA IN QUILLABAMBA. THE IDEA WAS TO CONNECT THE
MOUNTAINS WITH THE JUNGLE; SOMETHING WHICH WAS FINALLY
COMPLETED IN 1977. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAILWAY WAS
THE FIRST STEP IN INTRODUCING THE WORLD TO ONE OF ITS
GREATEST WONDERS: THE MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY.
By
Paola Miglio
I
Travellers from all over the
world come thousands of miles
to reach this point; Aguas
Calientes, the last stop before
arriving in Machu Picchu.

ESCAPE
The Train to Machu Picchu
/49

ESCAPE
2,400
ABRA MÁLAGA
SNOWY HALANCOMA
SNOWY PUNAHUANCA
110
82
STARTING
THE INCA TRAIL
RUINAS
INTIHUATANA
SNOWY CHICON
SNOWY
SALCANTAY
HUAYLABAMBA
68
SNOWY MOYOC
MORAY
PAMPA DE
MARAS
URUBAMBA
YUCAY
LAMAY
Janine Costa
BECAUSE OF THE
DEMAND, IT IS
RECOMMENDED
THAT YOU BUY YOUR
TICKETS TO MACHU
PICCHU EARLY
11 .
TRAIN STATION
TARAWASI
RAILWAY
ANCAHUASI
HUAROCONDO
HUAYPO
LAGOON
18
CHINCHERO
CACHIMAYO
PIURAY
LAGOON
PAVED ROAD WITHOUT PAVED ROAD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
PUCACASA
HILL
QONCOCHA
LAGOON
TAMPUMACHAY
3,300
PISAC
Renzo Giraldo
Gihan Tubbeh
Inca Rail
Above: Train by
Inca Rail, one of
the companies
that provide
service to
Machu Picchu.
Right: Top
service is

dinner created using local ingredients.
Alfonso Zavala
THE RAILWAY TO
MACHU PICCHU WAS
CREATED AS PART OF
A ROUTE CONNECTING
CUSCO, IN THE
SIERRA REGION, TO
LA CONVENCIÓN IN
THE JUNGLE. THE IDEA
WAS TO FACILITATE
COMMERCE BETWEEN
THE TWO ZONES IN
PERU. TODAY THE
MACHU PICCHU
TRAIN REMAINS
THE ONLY WAY TO
REACH THE CITADEL
OTHER THAN BY
HELICOPTER, WHICH IS
NOT AVAILABLE FOR
REGULAR TOURIST
TRAVEL
Telephone: 6135288 / Cusco 084-233 030 / Website: www.incarail.com
/51

Hike, Bike & Eat
through Croatia
Hike, bike and kayak the Croatian landscape,
and taste the best local food and wine Croatia
has to offer with a tantalising gastronomy tour!
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
ACTI
TIVI
VITY
LEV
EVEL
EL
DAY 1 - ZAGREB DAY 4 - UKA
- 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
- ATV tour and wine-tasting in Istria
DAY 5 - OPATIJA
- Exploring Veliki Brijun Island by bike
- Cooking class in Opatija
DAY 6 - PAKLENICA
DAY 7 - ZADAR
- Prosciutto sampling
DAY 8 - SPLIT
- Split gastro tour
- Pelješac wine & oyster tastings
DAY 9 - DUBROVNIK
- Sea kayaking along the Adriatic coast
- Cooking class & dinner, Konavle
ACTI
TIVI
VITY
LEV
EL
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 5 - JIUZHAIGOU
- Small workshop on landscape
photography
- Visit i Leshan Mountain
- Walk Jinli Street for a night
photography seminar
- Visit Tibetan museum
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 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
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

CHINA
Fan Na // (+86) 10 8519 8851
fanna@purequest.com
CROATIA
Mirela // (+385) 1 4920 678
croatiasales@purequest.com
INDIA
Lokesh // (+91) 11 4279 5259
lokesh@purequest.com
PERU
Eduardo // (+91) 1 61 96 973
eduardo@purequest.com
/53

A NEW LOOK AT CUSCO
THE HISTORIC MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY, WHICH INCLUDES
THE RUINS, THE INCA TRAIL AND AN ENDLESS AMOUNT
OF SMALLER, BUT IMPORTANT RUINS AND OTHER SITES,
IS PERU’S PRIME TOURISM DESTINATION. IT ALSO IS AT
THE CENTRE OF A DEBATE ABOUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE ITS
POTENTIAL WHILE PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE SITE.
By
Iñigo Maneiro
Christian Declercq
A
WHERE EVERYTHING IS VERTICAL AND GREEN

A new look at Cusco,
the navel of the world
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
/55

A NEW LOOK AT CUSCO
Houses and the
principal square, which
today are closed to
visitors because of
damage to the ruins.
HOW MANY SHOULD VISIT?

2,500
PER DAY ARE ALLOWED
INTO MACHU PICCHU
Left: Entrance to the
mountain Hauyna
Picchu, one of
the most amazing
circuits of the
sanctuary.
Below: Incan Bridge,
alternative route to
get away from the
world and observe
the birds.
Ruiz Caro insists that, “what is interesting to look
at, be there many or few visitors, is that they do
not impact the site. One can ensure this by monitoring
and better diversifying the experiences of
those who visit Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail”.
/57

A NEW LOOK AT CUSCO
Left: Constructions
hanging from the top
of the Huayna Picchu
Mountain.
Right: The Machu Picchu
Historical Sanctuary is
home to over 190 orchid
species.
MORE SERVICES
WITHIN ITS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT,
MACHU PICCHU WAS
CENTRAL TO THE INCA
EXPERIENCE IN THE
SAME WAY CUSCO
WAS THE CENTRE OF
THE TAHUANTINSUYO
CIVILIZATION
Above: Renzo Tasso, Gihan Tubbeh, Luis Gamero
Below: Alfonso Zavala

Huayna Picchu at a
distance and as seen
from the top of the Machu
Picchu Mountain.
Following page: The
buildings within the
Machu Picchu Historic
Sanctuary are at harmony
with their natural
environment.
/59

61

A NEW LOOK AT CUSCO

1 PEDRO GAMBOA MOQUILLAZA
HEAD OF SERNANP
W
CLASSIC
PROGRAMME
4D/3N
DAY 1 LIMA-CUSCO
2 DAYSY ÁNGELES BARRANTES
D
DAY 2 CUSCO
DAY 3 CUSCO-AGUAS CALIENTES
3 RICARDO RUIZ CARO VILLAGARCÍA
D
DYA 4 CUSCO-LIMA
/63

65

EMPIRE OF ADVENTURE
Empire of
Adventure
Travel Experiences in the Urubamba Valley

THE SACRED VALLEY
OF THE INCAS IS ONE
OF THE WORLD’S
BEST LOCATIONS FOR
ADVENTURE TRAVEL.
ITS GEOGRAPHIC
STRUCTURE, NATURAL
BEAUTY AND THE
NUMBER OF ADVENTURE
OPERATORS ALLOW
SOME WONDERFUL
OUTDOORS
EXPERIENCES.
By
Iñigo Maneiro
Álex Bryce
Visit archaeological
sites
Sacsayhuaman,
Qenqo and
Tambomachay on
horseback.
/67

EMPIRE OF ADVENTURE
The Chicon Peak in
the Urubamba range.
Christian Declercq
T
EASY TOURS

IT IS RECOMMENDED
THAT TRAVELLERS
SPEND AT LEAST
TWO DAYS IN
THE ALTITUDE TO
ACCLIMATE BEFORE
THESE TOURS AS
MOST TAKE PLACE
AT 3000 METRES OR
ABOVE
Left: Bicycle route
near the lagoon at
Huaypo.
Sol & Luna Hotel
Below: Adventure
activities are available
for all states and
activity levels.
The
Above, left, and below, left: Iñigo Maneiro
Above: Christian Declercq, Below: Sol & Luna Hotel
/69

EMPIRE OF ADVENTURE
THIS MANMADE
SYSTEM OF SIX
GALVANIZED CABLES
STRUNG ACROSS
THE VALLEY ALLOWS
VISITORS TO GO UP
250
AND SOAR UP TO
60
ALONG THE CABLE ROUTE
Below: The Skylodge
Adventure Suites
are located at 400
metres up.
Following page:
A walk around
Salcantay.
MORE CHALLENGING TOURS
Skylodge Adventure Suites

Iñigo Maneiro
/71

EMPIRE OF ADVENTURE
Iñigo Maneiro
KAYAK LOVERS
LOOKING FOR
ADVENTURE CAN
TRY THE URUBAMBA
RIVER NEAR AGUAS
CALIENTES AND
MACHU PICCHU
Following page:
Ollantaytambo is an
arrival point for hikers
and riders.
MOST CHALLENGING ROUTES
Rodrigo Cabrera

73

Christian Declercq
EMPIRE OF ADVENTURE

LUXURY ADVENTURE
PROGRAMME
7D/6N
DAY 1 CUSCO-SACRED VALLEY
DAY 2 SACRED VALLEY
DAY 3 SACRED VALLEY-MACHU PICCHU
DAY 4 MACHU PICCHU
DAY 5 MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO
DAY 6 CUSCO
DAY 7 CUSCO-LIMA
LUXURY PACKAGE
YOU’LL EXCEED EXPECTATIONS WHEN YOU TREAT YOUR
PASSENGERS TO OUR LUXURY PACKAGE, SPECIALLY
DESIGNED TO ADD VALUE WITH DETAILS THAT MAKE
THE DIFFERENCE.
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
SENT BY EXPRESS MAIL BEFORE THE TRIP BEGINS
AND THEMED AROUND THE FIVE SENSE AND THE
EXPERIENCE OF VISITING PERU.
EVENING AT TURNDOWN SERVICE; EACH RELATED TO
THE NEXT DESTINATION ON THE ITINERARY.
WEEK AFTER EACH PASSENGER’S RETURN HOME
FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE INBOUND@LIMATOURS.
COM.PE OR CONTACT YOUR SPECIALIST.
/75

ADVERTISEMENT
IN THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS, AMONGST EXTENSIVE
FLOWER COVERED GARDENS, SOL & LUNA LODGE SPA
IS LOCATED. A STILL AND HARMONIC SPACE WHERE
TRAVELLERS CAN CONNECT AND NURTURE FROM NATURE AS
WELL AS ENJOYING IT WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
It

Sol & Luna
Lodge Spa
Sacred Valley of the Incas
/77

ADVERTISEMENT
SOL & LUNA LODGE SPA HAS BEEN KEEPING THE
PROMISE MADE WHEN THE HOTEL WAS FOUNDED:
TO WORK TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, ART AND YOUTH
SPORTS IN THE SACRED VALLEY. TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN, PART OF THE EARNINGS OF BOTH THE
LODGE SPA AND WAYRA, THE COMPANY IN CHARGE
OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES, GO TO THE SOL & LUNA
ASSOCIATION AND ITS CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL
AND CULTURAL PROJECTS. AMONG THEM IS AN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR LOCAL CHILDREN

79

81

THE ANDEAN BAROQUE ROUTE
AMONG THE VARIOUS
TOURIST ROUTES
THAT ARE AVAILABLE
IN THE CUSCO AREA,
ONE TAKES VISITORS
INTO A PARTICULARLY
SURPRISING PERIOD
OF THE SPANISH
DOMINATION:
EVANGELIZATION.
By
Diego Oliver
Do you know where your
soul will go? Murals from
the Huaro Church. The
image includes scenes
from heaven, purgatory
and judgement day and
was painted by Tadeo
Escalante in 1802.

Andahuaylillas Church.
The Andean
Baroque Route
The use of art in Cusco’s evangelization
/83

THE ANDEAN BAROQUE ROUTE
Christian Declercq
THE WORLD MONUMENT FUND (WMF) HAS
DEDICATED IMMENSE TIME AND RESOURCES
TO PRESERVE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT
THE JESUITS LEFT IN THE CHURCHES OF
ANDAHUAYLILLAS AND HUARO THEY HAVE
RESTORED BOTH CHURCHES AND ESTABLISHED
NEW PROTOCOLS FOR CARE OF THE
REMARKABLE MURALS EACH CHURCH HOUSE,
ALLOWING THEM TO BE SEEN, AS THEY WERE
HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO
The Andahuaylillas Plaza and its age-old
Pisonáis. This spot has been declared National
Patrimony by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.
Following page:
Below, left: The Canincunca Chapel and the
Andean Baroque Route.
the resurrection from the murals at Huaro.
Above: A rest on the benches in the plaza at
Andahuaylillas.
THE ANDEAN BAROQUE ROUTE IN THE URUBAMBA’S SOUTHERN VALLEY OFFERS A
CHANCE TO SEE PREHISPANIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AS WELL AS EMBLEMATIC
CHURCHES THAT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE SPANISH COLONIZATION AND TODAY,
500 YEARS LATER, REMAIN AS LIVING MUSEUMS.
This journey helps visitors understands how Catholicism both introduced locals to a new
world of beliefs and simultaneously established a system of social control.

Road to PUERTO
MALDONADO
Road to
CUSCO
Oropesa
Canincunca
Ccatcca Ocongate
URCOS
Quincemil
Marcapata
THE MURALS IN PARTICULAR
IN THE CHURCH OF
ANDAHUAYLILLAS, DONE BY
LUIS DE REAÑO IN 1626, ARE
MAGNIFICENT DEPICTIONS
OF THE ROADS TO HEAVEN
AND HELL
ANDAHUAYLILLAS
HUARO
Road to
PUNO
Baroque churches
Víctor Manuel Chávez
Andahuaylillas Church
/85

THE ANDEAN BAROQUE ROUTE
Christian Declercq
Andahuaylillas Church
Door to the
Andahuaylillas
Church.
ONE OF THE ORGANS
IN ANDAHUAYLILLAS
IS THE THE OLDEST
ORGAN IN THE
AMERICAS AND IT
IS STILL PLAYED IN
SPECIAL MASSES

AGENDA
Lima Tours
AGENDA
OLLANTAY RAYMI FESTIVAL
T
THE INTERNATIONAL CUSQUEÑA
BEER FESTIVAL
T
QOYLLORITY
Q

Heinz Plenge Pardo
INTI RAYMI
I
THE FESTIVAL OF THE VIRGIN OF CARMEN
O
CORPUS CHRISTI
C
/89

EXPATRIATE
Tamy Gordon
"THAT INTENSE BLUE SKY DREW ME IN, IT WAS PURE ENERGY, AND THOSE IMMENSE
MOUNTAINS; I FELT THE CULTURE, THE SPIRIT, THE SENSE OF REMOTENESS HERE, AND
I KNEW THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE FABULOUS THINGS WITHOUT ANYONE
SAYING, ‘NO!’ I WANTED TO BE PART OF THAT. “
Diego del Río
Diego del Río
Where were you born and where have you
lived?
impression did you have? And what
thing about Cusco was the motivator for
you to stay here?
What do you feel when people say that
Cicciolina is the most important and recognized
restaurant in Cusco?
Do you have any new projects in the
works? Have you thought of opening Cicciolina
in other parts of Peru, or the world?
What are the challenges of cooking at an
altitude of 3,400 metres?