Spotlight on: The Birding Rally Challenge

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Inkaterra Associación (ITA), is proud to announce that they will be working alongside the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) & PROMPERU as co-organisers, to launch Peru’s first ever Birding Rally Challenge. With 1,836 species of birds (20 % of the world total), of which 120 are endemic, Peru possesses an astonishing ornithological diversity. Long-considered a birding paradise, Peru is now recognised worldwide with over 20,000 bird-watchers expected to visit Peru next year, generating an estimated $50 million USD in revenue.  We’re all very excited here at Inkaterra for this forthcoming Birding Rally Challenge.

Competitors and guests will have the privilege of staying at the Inkaterra properties across the competition. Commencing on November 29th at Tambopata, the competition will cover over 700km of Peru as they travel up the high Andes over the South Interoceanic Highway and finish at the biodiverse cloud forests of Machu Picchu.

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Competitors will have the chance to see over 739 bird species in just one small geographical spot. This is the first competition that brings together the world top birders, with 4 ornithologists per team: eBirders –Cornell, and LSU-Louisiana Team, from USA; the Falcon Forest Team from UK; The Zululanders from Southafrica; the Tramuntana Birding Team from Spain; and the Ararajuba Team from Brazil.

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Here is a detailed overview of the plan for the 6 day competition:

November 27th: Arrive in Lima

November 28th: Press Conference / Teams Introduction

November 29th: Transfer to Puerto Maldonado City – Madre de Dios

November 30th: DAY 1 – Tambopata / Valencia Lake

December 1st: DAY 2 – Tambopata / Sandoval Lake

December 2nd: DAY 3 – Tambopata / Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Trail Systeym

December 3rd: DAY 4 – South Interoceanic Highway, Machu Picchu Town

December 4th: DAY 5 –  Machu Picchu Citadel

December 5th: DAY 6 – Machu Picchu Surroundings / Award & Closing Ceremony

December 6th: Transfer to Lima / Press Conference

December 7th: Teams return to their countries

The competition consists in the registration of as many species of birds by sight or sound during the route (the responsible use of bird calls playback is allowed). The team that registers the largest number of species will be named the winner.

Flickr Image courtesy of Emmanuel DYAN http://bit.ly/1kLEhuk

Flickr Image courtesy of Emmanuel DYAN http://bit.ly/1kLEhuk

Stay tuned for more news of the fast approaching Birding Rally, and follow us on Twitter for live updates from the event.

30.10.12

In the spotlight: Gastón Acurio’s Restaurant Empire

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We have much to thank Gastón Acurio for. This iconic chef has been the catalyst for the great movement in popularity for Peruvian food across the world. His first restaurant Astrid y Gastón’ was an instant success in the city of Lima, and over the past decade his food and restaurant empire has gone from strength to strength. With over 30 restaurants and a weekly TV show, Gastón is Peru’s most famous chef, and arguably the best known Peruvian in the world. He is now set to open his 2nd restaurant in Spain in the heart of Barcelona. The Tanta Bistro will bring all the richness of Peruvian cuisine to the people of Barcelona. All cravings of Peru will be met, and there will no doubt be new avid fans of Peruvian food.

Gastón recently collaborated with Jordi Roca, famous Spanish Pastry Chef for the BBC’s Collaboration Culture Project. The BBC joined 14 creative people from around the world together, and then paired them up to work on an art project together. Jordi Roca flew to the city of Lima, where himself and Gaston devised sweets made from different varieties of Peruvian potatoes grown high in the Andes, such as potato and chilli jellies and roses made from potato petals and caramel. Gastón and Jordi took to the streets of Lima to give people the chance to taste their collaboration. The Mayor of Lima and the president’s wife were among the few who were lucky enough to taste their take on Peruvian potatoes.

The growth in popularity of Peruvian cuisine would not have been possible without him. His mission isn’t just about opening restaurants, but about selling the country of Peru to the world. He has been known to describe his country as a happy marriage between history and opportunity, melding a profusion of international influences: Amerindian, European, African, Chinese and Japanese, with Peru’s extraordinarily diverse climate and geography as it’s backdrop.

Food is a big part of the Peruvian way of life and subsequently a focus across all of the Inkaterra properties. We blend traditional Andean food with contemporary cuisine, creating an innovative fusion-style fare, and always impeccably served. For those that love indulging in organic and fresh produce, Peru is the go-to-destination, with Inkaterra the ideal place to rest your head.

As Peruvian food continues to grow in popularity, so too will Gastón. Long may the love of Peruvian food foster across the world.

Featured Image: Gastón Acurio – Gabriela Hengeveld via: http://bit.ly/1jX2ZGu

16.10.12

Spotted at Inkaterra: The Birding Corridors of Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Peru has long been a birding paradise, and more recently, this is being recognised across the world. More than 20,000 bird watchers are estimated to visit Peru in 2013, generating over US$50 million in revenue, according to the Ministry of Trade and Tourism. Peruvian Trade and Tourism Minister Jose Luis Silva has launched ‘The Birding Rally Challenge’: A new competition which offers people the chance to watch and listen to a variety of birds in their natural habitat. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is the ideal location for a birding holiday. With the Bird Watching excursion through the Poques mountains, visitors are sure to spot some incredible wildlife in the skies above.

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The birding excursion sets off early in the morning in order to take advantage of the optimum time for cloud-forest bird watching at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Guests begin at a local river observatory, with the possibility of sighting the sought-after torrent duck and the white-capped dipper. They then proceed to a productive tanager feeding area, where silver-beaked, blue-necked, fawn-breasted and saffron-crowned tanagers can be found.

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Visitors are told to be on the lookout for the cock-of-the-rock, the golden-headed quetzal and many of the 18 different hummingbirds identified on the grounds, including the booted racket-tail and the green-and-white hummingbirds, which are native to the area. Walking along the hotel’s trails, and discovering the fascinating yet fragile ecosystem of the Machu Picchu cloud forest and its many indigenous plants and animals will leave you feeling overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of all that there is to see in this part of the world. We’ve known for a long time that Peru is the go to destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Why not come to Peru, stay at Inkaterra and discover this first hand.

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Watch this space for more information on the Birding Rally coming soon!

8.10.12