Revisiting Peru, a country very reliant on tourism for survival, was an absolute pleasure. My purpose was to explore a range of properties, operated by Rainforest Expeditions, including Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas and Tambopata Research Centre. These lodges are located in the Madre de Dios district; over half of Peru is in the Amazon Basin.

What made this trip so rewarding was the perfect harmony with the local communities. Although the experience is in rustic jungle setting, the sightings were absolutely unbelievable – tapirs, giant river otters, tayras, peccary, tamuandas, monkeys and many many birds.

Casa Andina, the largest hotel chain in Peru, is a real success. They now own 17 hotels, which they have acquired in just five years. All the properties offer superb cuisine with a vast selection of culinary delights and the local people really get involved to make your stay a genuinely great experience. Every location was different but the service was parallel throughout. Our group always looked forward to the smiling faces providing help wherever needed, welcome drinks, comfortable bedrooms, and pleasing public rooms.

My favourite area was by far Urubamba, Sacred Valley which deserves at least a two to three night stay. This will give you time to take it all in, whether you want soft adventure, such as mountain biking, paragliding, horse riding, white water rafting and trekking, or simply to take it all in at a leisurely pace and take a stroll around the many colourful, vibrant markets.

I would recommend that you plan your journey carefully as the high altitude really needs to be taken into consideration. You can then enjoy the many facets that this country has to offer… and combine the various methods of transport available to you: plane, speedboat, car, train and perhaps some walking, of course to take in the Inca Trail! I have now realised though that there is certainly much more to Peru than Machu Picchu.

About Chantal Chenede

Other articles by Chantal Chenede

When I joined Bales, approximately 11 years ago, it gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and my love of discovering new destinations. Over the years, I have been lucky enough to travel to some of the world’s most beautiful and remarkable countries. On several occasions, Bales have also given me the responsibility and privilege of being tour manager on a number of our escorted trips. I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of being tour manager especially planning the journeys, inspecting the hotels, meeting the locals, tasting the food and wine and experiencing the culture and atmosphere of every destination. Eleven years on and I am still passionate about travelling. Currently, I specialise in Central and South America and enjoy passing on my vast product knowledge to our clients.