Rachel Brown, associate producer at National Geographic, has written about Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, an intimate Andean village with 83 whitewashed casitas tucked away in the cloud forest. “Set in a global gem of biodiversity, it is one of the finest–and oldest–ecotourism destinations in Peru,” says Rachel about the property’s exquisite natural beauty, where 214 bird species and 372 native orchid species have been inventoried in hotel grounds, amid its waterfalls and stone pathways.

The feature deepens into Inkaterra’s conservation efforts in the Amazon rainforest and the Cabo Blanco tropical ocean, in Northern Peru, through the restoration of two ecological corridors in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. “For José Koechlin, sustainable development is as much social as environmental. «You need to develop wealth so that local people have a better quality of life (…) We need a good future for nature and for humans»”, the author quotes.

NEWS FROM OUR HOTELS

RAINBOW MOUNTAIN: NEW EXCURSION AT INKATERRA HACIENDA URUBAMBA

Recently ranked by National Geographic as one of the top 100 places you should visit before you die, the Rainbow Mountain–with a multicolored soil due to its mineral composition–is the main attraction in the Ausangate Trek, along the Vilcanota mountain range with several peaks over 20,000ft high.

Upon request, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba now offers to guests a full-day hike with splendid views of permanent snow-capped peaks. Leaving the hotel before dawn, a private car ride leads to Pampachiri, starting point for the ascent towards the Rainbow Mountain. Assisted by an Inkaterra Explorer Guide, the morning walk allows guests to explore native fauna such as Andean camelids. An intimate picnic at the foot of the sacred mountains crowns this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

NEWS FROM OUR DESTINATIONS

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AT
INKATERRA GUIDES FIELD STATION

NGO Inkaterra Asociación (ITA), in alliance with the Association for the Conservation of the Amazon Basin (ACCA), is organizing environmental education workshops to reach 1,000 local schoolchildren in Madre de Dios. Overseen by Dr. Varun Swamy, research fellow at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, the talks and activities at Inkaterra Guides Field Station allow kids to raise awareness on the importance of ecosystems, as well as the devastating effects that mining and logging have on biodiversity and ecological services. Getting to know ITA’s main projects, such as the Palmetum, the Bio-Orchard and the images captured by the Camera-Trap System around the inland clay lick, students are empowered to lead sustainable practices in the Amazon rainforest.

STELLIS MACHUPICCHUENSIS:
NEW ORCHID SPECIES FOUND AT
INKATERRA MACHU PICCHU PUEBLO HOTEL

The recent issue of Willdenowia features a description of Stelis machupicchuensis, new species to science native to the Andean cloud forest of Peru. It is found in the orchid trails of Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, declared by the American Orchid Society as the world’s largest native orchid collection in its habitat. As described by Benjamín Collantes (Inkaterra Asociación), Javier Farfán (ACCA) and Carlos Martel (Ulm University), it can be identified by its exceptionally small, lilac flowers that bloom between January and May. Though a highly diverse Neotropical genus of Orchidaceae, this new Stelis species is categorized as Endangered by the IUCN Red List, based on the number of mature individuals. Two other species were also found at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary: Telipogon deuterocuscoensis and Telipogon huancavelicanus.

TRIBUTE TO THE EARTH CEREMONY AT
INKATERRA HACIENDA URUBAMBA

An ancestral tradition from the Andes, the tribute to the Earth was notable among Pre-Hispanic Cultures to worship the Apus, or mountain gods, and the four elements. Conducted by a local shaman, the ritual consists in offering grains, fruits and coca leaves, expressing gratitude to the three levels of the Universe according to the indigenous belief–the Hanan Pacha (the heavens), the Kay Pacha (the material world), and the Ukhu Pacha (the underworld). Upon request, the Tribute to the Earth can be performed in the gardens of Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba. A fascinating celebration recommended for vow renewals, displaying the authenticity of the Andean world.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO CONSERVE ENDANGERED AVIFAUNA IN NORTHERN PERU

In a strategic partnership with SAVIA Petroleum Company, Inkaterra Asociación performed a study on bird diversity in Northern Peru to assess threats faced by endangered avifauna in the tropical dry forest. 86 bird species were inventoried, 18 of which are endemic to the Tumbes Region. Five endangered species have been identified–the Peruvian plantcutter (Phytotoma raimondii), the Tumbes swallow (Tachycineta stolzmanii), the Rufous flycatcher (Myiarchus semirufus), the Tumbes tyrant (Tumbezia salvini) and the Red-masked parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenis). The initiative addresses habitat restoration through the reforestation of native flora such as the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), as well as the education of local communities and the development of birdwatching and other sustainable business opportunities in the area.

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