Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Peru’s rainforest
21 July 2023 (877 visits)Most people travel to Peru to see Cusco and Machu Picchu, the two great legacies of Inca culture that have made Peru a famous international tourist destination. Long recognized as the most popular travel destination in South America, in the World's Best Awards 2023, organized by Travel + Leisure, the imperial capital of Cusco was recognized this month as the best city to travel to in Central and South America.
Those who visit Peru tend to fly to Lima, and from there they fly to Cusco. There, they visit the imperial capital of the Incas and enjoy its unique blend of history and living culture. They visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas and picture-perfect Rainbow Mountain, and of course they travel to Machu Picchu. Some tourists take the train to Machu Picchu, while the more adventurous choose to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Peru is justly famous for its Inca history, and it also attracts tourists who want to trek in the majestic scenery of the Andes, or to enjoy the country’s world-renowned cuisine. Far fewer travelers plan a Peru vacation with the rainforest in mind. Because Peru is not famous abroad for its jungle, but for the Andes, the Incas and Machu Picchu, not all travelers know that 60% of Peru’s territory lies within the Amazon basin. In fact, after Brazil, Peru is the custodian of the second-largest area of rainforest in South America.
And even fewer travelers know how easy it is to visit the jungle in Peru. It is possible to visit the rainforest in many places in Central and South America, but even when just focusing on Peru, the Amazon is so vast that it can be difficult to imagine visiting it as part of a 10-day or 2-week Peru vacation.
And that is what makes our own Tambopata Ecolodge so special. Our uniqueness lies not only in our unsurpassed biological diversity, but also in our accessibility. From Lima or Cusco, it is possible to fly to the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado on a scheduled flight, and there are even regular bus services from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, where we meet all our guests at the airport or bus terminal before taking them by boat to our jungle eco-lodge.
Our proximity to Cusco means that travelers can visit Peru’s most popular and famous attractions, and then spend 3 or 4 days of their Peru holiday in the rainforest, enjoying one of the ecotourism itineraries we offer. So, when you travel to Peru, for a complete Peru vacation experience be sure to add a jungle trip to your plans, and come and visit us in our jungle home!
