The organic tea cultivated at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel won two silver medals at this year’s TEAS OF THE WORLD Awards, in the ‘Steamed Green Tea’ and ‘Black Tea with Buds’ categories. To date, Inkaterra’s teas have received three major awards granted by AVPA France, having won the gold medal (Gourmet Or in the ‘Thé noir en perles’ category) in 2023.

“We are honored by this extraordinary new recognition by AVPA’s Thés du Monde,” says Inkaterra founder and chairman José Koechlin. “Providing Peruvians with a new reason to feel proud of Machu Picchu’s cultural and natural patrimony, the silver medals granted to our black and green teas are a celebration of the holistic approach we have championed since pioneering ecotourism in 1975. Exclusively on sale at Inkaterra hotels, our organic teas symbolize the rescue an ancient tradition of cultivation, contribute to the conservation of the Andean cloud forest in Machu Picchu, and are one of the many enjoyable experiences we offer our travelers.”

In 1976, four years after co-producing Werner Herzog’s cult classic Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972) –the opening sequence was filmed at the Machu Picchu Mountain–, José Koechlin acquired a ten-hectare area in the heart of the Andean cloud forest in order to establish the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Over a period of several years, the land, originally used for livestock, restored Machu Picchu’s cycle of life with the planting of native flora. Nowadays, the property boasts 310 registered bird species, according to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird app, as well as 372 native orchid species – the world’s largest collection in its natural habitat according to the American Orchid Society. These indicators confirm Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel as a one of the first success stories of regenerative tourism, and one of the world’s most diverse urban hotspots.

When the property was bought by José Koechlin, it had a Camellia sinensis tea plantation. These crops, which are meant to be over one hundred years old, are conserved by Inkaterra under the shade to encourage natural fertilization in the cloud forest, and the organic Machu Picchu tea is harvested using historic hereditary techniques – a process recognized for two consecutive years by Teas of the World.

The Teas of the World Awards celebrate the excellence of teas with real gastronomic value. It is organized by AVPA, which promotes the concept of terroir, adding value to the product's origin, climate, and soil. Additionally, AVPA also champions social equity and environmental protection, aligning with Inkaterra's vision of sustainable development. Every year, over 700 brands from all over the world compete in the AVPA contests.

Inkaterra is proud to announce the November 23, 2024 opening of the record-breaking international exhibition Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru at the Australian Museum in Sydney. You can book your visit now at this link.

After being showcased in Boca Raton (Florida), Paris and Milan, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru comes to Sydney’s prestigious Australian Museum – the oldest museum in Australia and the world’s fifth oldest natural history museum.

This extraordinary multi-sensory experience features over 130 stunning artifacts from Lima’s Larco Museum, including exquisite jewelry, funerary objects from royal tombs, and is one of the most impressive gold collections ever to tour the globe. These priceless treasures illuminate the artistic brilliance and cultural sophistication of ancient Peru, offering fascinating insights into the daily lives, spiritual beliefs and extraordinary achievements of these millenary civilizations.

Using a combination of state-of-the-art projections, video and priceless artefacts, this immersive experience brings the grandeur of Peru’s fascinating history to life. Furthermore, the exhibition also features Machu Picchu and the Spirit of the Condor, the first-ever VR showcase of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Peru, winner of the ‘Best Use of VR’ category at the 12th annual Lumière Awards.

“Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is the most innovative way to welcome travelers from all around the world to explore our many wonders,” says Inkaterra CEO and exhibition partner José Koechlin.

The largest exhibition to showcase Peru’s cultural legacy and extraordinary biodiversity, this extraordinary show is produced by Neon Global – the makers of Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs and Pompeii: The Exhibition – in partnership with Adventure World, LATAM Airlines, and Promperu.

On October 24, over 100 students graduated from Lima’s Le Cordon Bleu Institute. Inkaterra founder and chairman José Koechlin was invited to give the Commencement speech at the emotional ceremony where he encouraged the young professionals to keep striving in pursuit of their dreams, and acknowledging gastronomy as one of the most vibrant manifestations of Peru’s extraordinary diversity.

Additionally, on October 26 the Municipality of Barranco, traditional district of Lima, awarded José Koechlin with the ‘Manuel Montero Bernales Medal’, its highest recognition of lifetime achievement.

A passionate promoter of sustainable development in Peru, José Koechlin von Stein established Inkaterra in 1975, pioneering ecotourism in Peru. Named the third best hotel brand in the world by Travel+Leisure magazine, Inkaterra is recognized by the United Nations as the world's first Climate Positive hotel brand. Re-elected president of the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), José Koechlin has received a series of distinctions throughout his career, such as being named by the International Hospitality Institute as one of the “100 most powerful people in global hospitality in 2022.” Likewise, he is emeritus board member of Conservation International, Washington, D.C., and for 20 years was chairman of Sociedad Hoteles del Perú. Winner of the 2015 PURE Award for his Contribution to Experiential Tourism, José Koechlin was named by the AACSB in its list of 'influential leaders.'

A special edition of National Geographic magazine encourages readers to “experience the Amazon –from the Andes to the Atlantic– as it’s never been seen before in this stunning immersive journey.”

National Geographic magazine’s October issue traces the origins of the Amazon basin, the threats this mysterious and fragile ecosystem faces, and the various species that rely on its survival – from the elusive Andean bear to the iconic pink river dolphin.

As the “Heart of the Planet,” the Amazon River Basin encompasses the single largest tropical rainforest in the world. It is home to over 40 million people and over 3 million species of plants and animals, It comprises a system of rivers channeling the largest volume of rainfall on Earth, flooding an area larger than 70% of the world’s land mass. The water of the Amazon is the lifeblood of our planet although that is rarely the focus when discussing the Amazon. The land, ocean, atmosphere, people and animals are all connected by its hydrological cycle and its natural ebb and flow affects nearly every nearby living organism. However, repeated and increased degradation such as deforestation, poaching, commercial agriculture, and climate change are threatening the Amazon’s ability to provide adequate critical ecosystem services for the planet.

The recent edition is the outcome of a two-year exploration sponsored by the Rolex Foundation’s Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition. Launched in 2022 at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, this groundbreaking initiative comprises a series of scientific research studies spanning the entire Amazon River Basin from the Andes to the Atlantic. It is led by local National Geographic Explorers from multiple scientific disciplines, to illuminate the diversity and interdependence of the people, wildlife, and ecosystems that make up this magnificent region.