Singular Culinary Experiences in the Sacred Valley

Singular Culinary Experiences in the Sacred Valley

BEST PLACES TO EAT IN SACRED VALLEY IN PERU

Most tourists in Peru go straight from Cuzco to Machu Picchu without stopping. They miss what’s in between: the Sacred Valley where chefs take food and adventure to new heights. In the Sacred Valley chefs pick the region’s purple corn, local herbs (at an elevation of 11,000 feet above sea level) and 4,000 varieties of potato by the Andes mountains. Here, the earthy flavors are wholly different from ceviche, the coastal food for which Peru is globally known.

As you tour the sacred valley and explore Inca sites and local markets, take note of these places to eat in the Sacred Valley and elevate your Andean experience. It will be the highlight of your trip. Yummy!!!

Restaurants in Ollantaytambo

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Chuncho

Located in the main square, it has a menu based on the flavors, ingredients and traditions of Ollantaytambo in the Urubamba valley and the Cusco region.
It mainly uses organic ingredients from its farm attached to the El Albergue hotel, while its bar makes the best cocktails in the region, using its own cañazo (a regional liquor made from sugar cane), whiskey and herbal liqueurs. The restaurant has phone charging stations built into the tables and a redesigned bar made from an old truck.

Phone: +51 979 797 638
Address: Chaupi Calle, Ollantaytambo 08676, Perú

El Albergue Restaurant & Café Mayu

Josefina Rimachi's hands are worth gold. The cook who gave temple to the menu of El Albergue Restaurant and who now runs the Chuncho stove, the successful traditional food proposal that Joaquín Randall inaugurated in 2018 in his native Ollantaytambo.
You will find a fusion menu with international dishes (homemade pastas, Ollanta’s best burger and a great brunch) with touches of the Andes (alpaca steak, tacu tacu). It’s a good place to set up a pachamanca lunch at their farm and you can also pick up coffee that they roast on-site, have a local beer while waiting for a train, or pick up a lunch box for Machu Picchu.

Phone: +51 84 204014
Address: Estación de Tren, Av. Ferrocarril 1, Ollantaytambo 08675, Perú

Pachar Taproom - Cervecería del Valle Sagrado

Just outside of Ollantaytambo, this tap room from the region’s best brewery has a menu of draft beers that are produced in the back (ask about a tour), like a red ale made with the seeds of the airampo cactus fruit and an American style pale ale, among others. They have a pub menu with dishes like yogurt fried chicken livers, a BBQ platter, and a few burgers.

Phone: 997-452-050
Address: Carretera Urubamba-Ollantaytambo

Places to eat in Urubamba

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El Huacatay

Pío Vásquez's farm-to-table restaurant in an adobe building in Urubamba, which little by little has become one of the most creative cuisines in the region. It is not only a place where each dish is an experience for the senses, but also a refuge where the atmosphere and aesthetics are part of the charm.

Phone: +51 84 201790
Address: Jiron Arica 620, Urubamba, Valle Sagrado de los Incas.

Mercado Municipal

The products are more localized at Urubamba’s primary produce market than in Cusco’s Mercado San Pedro. Much of the produce is grown or foraged for in the Sacred Valley and tends to be highly seasonal, so ­­– aside of the standard tubers, corn, and chiles – you might see things here you rarely see elsewhere, like a wild curcubit called acocha or the red berry called capulí.

Address: Jiron Comercio Jiron Sucre, Urubamba Peru
Phone: +51 984 804

Mercado Municipal

The products are more localized at Urubamba’s primary produce market than in Cusco’s Mercado San Pedro. Much of the produce is grown or foraged for in the Sacred Valley and tends to be highly seasonal, so ­­– aside of the standard tubers, corn, and chiles – you might see things here you rarely see elsewhere, like a wild curcubit called acocha or the red berry called capulí.

Address: Jiron Comercio Jiron Sucre, Urubamba Peru
Phone: +51 984 804

Where to eat in Moray

MIL restaurant (Chef Virgilio Martinez)

The experience focuses on eating at 11,700 ft. above sea level. But Mil, Virgilio Martínez's space overlooking the archaeological complex of the Moray terraces, is much more: it is an interpretation center based on complicity with two Andean communities, whose knowledge of the area and the products and their field work become inspiration and 'mise en place' to develop a tasting menu based on high altitude ecosystems.

Each plate and drink pairing aims to tell the stories of the roots, tubers, legumes, fruits and aromatic herbs and the cultures that help bring them to life. Their 8-course tasting menu includes all ingredients Virgilio has discovered at an elevation of 11,706 feet above sea level.

You can learn about Chef Virgilio Martínez and watch on Netflix's Chef Table or National Geographic’s Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, and you’ll start to get the jest of his unbridled passion for native Peruvian ingredients.

Good to know: As for September 2021, the restaurant is not open to the public on a regular basis, as they used to. They will only be attending to special requests.

Phone: 51 926 948 088
Reservations: reservas@milcentro.pe

Restaurant in Pisac

Hornos Coloniales

In one corner of the main square in Pisac and elsewhere in the city there are several colonial-style clay ovens, such as the Horno Colonial San Francisco, which dates back to 1830. Most bake empanadas and breads, although several also cook guinea pig ( guinea pig) and potatoes in the ovens.

Pumachayoc Horno Colonial

This is the only "colonial oven" or traditional oven in Pisac that mixes its own artisan flours that come from the surrounding Andean communities.

Run by Ernestina, her son Federico, and daughter-in-law Scarlet, this is a family business with a love for local culture and traditions. The focus is on organic produce made with local ingredients and the house specialty is empanada, a type of puff pastry that is filled with a selection of sweet and savory fillings cooked in a traditional clay oven.

Good to know: You can also take an empanadas class which is a fun activity for both adults and families traveling with children.
Address: Av. Federico Zamalloa S/N, Pisac
Phone: (+51) 84 203 120

Restaurants in Aguas Calientes

Chullpi

The sister restaurant of the Cusco restaurant of the same name by José Luján Vargas. The menu is quite similar, the Chullpi Machu Picchu is a modern and minimalist restaurant that is known for the delicious food it serves. Situated in an off-the-beaten-path location and bequeathing visitors with views of the train tracks, this restaurant is a one-of-a-kind place to enjoy a satisfying and enjoyable meal. Excellent service and very reasonable prices.

Address: Avenida Imperio de los Incas 140.
Phone: +51 84 211350

Café Inkaterra

The relaxed atmosphere of this upscale hotel restaurant makes it one of the best establishments in the city. Both an experience and a destination, Café Inkaterra offers an intimate setting overlooking the Vilcanota River. It is the ideal place for travelers to relax, away from the crowds, after visiting the ancient Citadel of Machu Picchu and waiting for their train after check out. The prices are almost the same as in other restaurants in the city, but the quality of the Andean novo menu is quite good. Dishes jump between perfectly prepared Peruvian classics like lomo saltado (sautéed beef and potatoes) and casual international dishes like lasagna or burgers. The tea comes from the property's plantation.

Phone: 084/211-122
 Address: Km 10, Línea Férrea Cusco-Quillabamba

Go beyond the plate to experience the day-to-day life of the local communities and explore this peaceful corner of the Andes with colonial towns and isolated weaving villages. Check our Culinary Tours in Peru.

Contact us to start planning your own dream trip today!

Amazon Rainforest

Amazon Rainforest

Visiting the Amazon basin often appears on a person’s bucket list for the simple mystery of the unknown and a chance to witness life in all its majesty.

Spanning nine South American countries and 2.5 million square miles (roughly the size of the 48 contiguous United States), the Amazon represents over half of the world’s remaining rainforest. Its moist, tropical vegetation stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Andes Mountains in the west, a reflection of the high rainfall, high humidity and high temperatures that prevail in the region year-round. Running through the north of the rainforest is the Amazon River. Flowing a length of 4,000 miles, it contains the largest number of freshwater fish species in the world.

Forest Trip

Unrivalled by any other location on the planet for its beauty and contrast to our urban lifestyles, the Amazon is an eye-opener to the world at its most pure.

It has been described as a paradise on Earth, a place depicting the sheer breath of life in all its majesty. The amazon is so much more than a river meandering through the rainforest of South America. The Amazon River starts its journey in Peru, carving its way through several countries, including Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, before exiting land into the Atlantic Ocean.

 

It’s this river, alongside its humid climate, that gives way for one of the world’s most breathtaking rainforests. But while it may take your breath away visually, in reality it is a breath giver, delivering 20 per cent of the world’ oxygen. The Amazon rainforest spans an impressive 1.4 billion acres, giving host to one in ten species on earth. As the world’s most biodiverse haven, the Amazon basin has continued to evolve an grow for 60 million years. It’s currently understood that 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,00 fish species, 430 mammal species and more than 2.5 million insect species call the Amazon basin home.

Nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest is found in Brazil.

One of the best ways to view the rainforest’s many wonders and rich greenery is to take a boat trip down the Amazon river itself. Stretching 6,992 kilometers, you’ll pass through several countries in the southern hemisphere on your journey. It’s common for squirrel monkeys and the three-toed sloth to make an appearance among trees near the water’s edge. As macaw fly overhead, if you’re lucky enough you might catch a glimpse of one of the Amazon’s most iconic and unique residents, the Amazon River dolphin. A freshwater version of its ocean cousin, the river dolphin is most recognizable for its pink appearance. Through magnificent in its rendition of paradise, the Amazon rainforest has faced devastating deforestation rates in recent times, with 18 percent of the part that lies in Brazil lost in the past 40 years.

Amazon Rainforest: Essential Information

One of the most important considerations to make when travelling to the Amazon are vaccinations. Yellow fever vaccinations are a must, and is required that you carry proof that you have been vaccinated. The rainforests are vast and dense, therefore do not attempt to explore without a tour guide.

When to visit

The rainiest months in the Amazon are February to April, and the driest and hottest months are from September to November. Therefore visiting during May and June is the best time of the year to explore all the Amazon has to offer.

Getting There

The vast rainforest spans nine different South American countries including Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia – although it’s most prominent in Brazil.

 

Planning to visit the Peruvian Amazon? Flights can be arranged into Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado from Cusco. Hoping to experience the Brazilian Amazon? Flying into Manaus in the north is your best option. If it’s the Ecuadorian Amazon you’re after, then you can take a bus from Quito into Tena City (five hours) where you can hop in a pickup truck. Or, if you’re eager to explore the Bolivian Amazon, fly from La Paz to Rurrenabaque (around 45 minutes) and then ride a motor-boat upriver to Madidi.

Where to stay

Staying in the Amazon largely depends on which country you visit. The Amazon has many comfortable lodges with spacious guest bungalows. You can also stay in cities such as Manaus in Brazil and take full day tours to explore the forest and return to the city at the end of the day. Or you can stay at a luxury resort in Puerto Maldonado (Peru) or high-end river cruises in Iquitos for an unparalleled adventure into the wild without losing comfort.

Best Amazon Rainforest Tours

  • Experience canoe trips to appreciate the sounds of the forest and the tropical wildlife and spot small alligators, tapirs and sloths.
  • Visit indigenous communities and discover their habits and customs.
  • Take a trekking in the jungle and learn about the biodiversity of rainforest, savannah and creeks;
  • Dine on line-caught river fish, fresh tropical fruits and delicious Amazonian specialties
  • Sunbathe on sandy river beaches and cool off in clear waters and natural river pools;
  • Take guided forest hikes to see an amazing array of tropical birds and wildlife;
  • Sleep in hammocks under the forest canopy and awake with the sunrise and the morning chorus;
  • Spend time fishing, harvesting Brazil nuts and making handicrafts with the locals.

Fully tailor-made tours

If you are planning a trip to the Amazon rainforest, contact our local travel designers and they will personalize your trip. They are always up to date with the latest news and guidelines. They will provide you with clear, unbiased information and advice to create a trip  of a lifetime.  Contact us and share your questions and ideas with us.  

Luxury Camp in remote Patagonia

Luxury Camp in remote Patagonia

Get away for a day or two and revel in the luxury atmosphere, reflecting or taking walks in one of the most enchanting Patagonian landscape.

Northern Patagonia is one of the world’s great wilderness areas, with vast expanses of open plains, towering peaks, huge skies and dazzling blue lakes. Bariloche scenic surroundings, including Moreno Lake, Angostura River and Campanario Hill make this destination a unique and dreamy place to include in your bucket list.

Located in the quiet and peaceful Patagonian Estancia, Río Manso Campground is the perfect getaway for honeymooners, individuals, and small groups seeking privacy and solitude.

Enjoy your special night under the stars in this beautiful Patagonian ranch in a premium tented camp.

OVERVIEW

Río Manso is a luxury nomadic camp, designed with all the comfort of a five-star hotel, to live an incredible experience in Northern Patagonia. Located on the banks of the Manso River, and surrounded by pure nature, it offers an innovative proposal to stay in an all-inclusive modality.

This camp offers ten spacious tents perfectly decorated with carpeted floors, king or twin size box springs, duvet covers, premium cotton sheets and LED lamps. The tents can comfortably hold up to 3 adults.

The lounge tent is the social and rest area of the camp, equipped with elegant Bedouin tents, equipped with a deck floor, modern living rooms, heating and piped music, library space and board games, 220V charging station, bar of drinks and cafeteria.

The camp has a fireplace and outdoor recreation area, decorated with comfortable benches and warm lighting; inviting guests to relax in the evening around the warmth of the fire, enjoying a glass of wine in the shelter of our complimentary blankets.

On the banks of the Manso River there are lounge chairs and shaded spaces to enjoy the summer sun on a remote Patagonian beach. For those who enjoy the fresh air of the shade, the forest invites you to read a book under huge coihues and maitenes.

Rio Manso Camp has eco-WC toilets, units designed to reduce the impact on the environment to zero. They are incredibly comfortable and modern bathrooms, with tiled toilets, high-tech taps, external sinks, hot water, special decorations, LED lights and amenities.

The showers are mounted in tents that offer great spaciousness, comfort and privacy, provided with a deck floor, dressing room, support table, hair dryer, hot water 24 hours a day and a unique decoration.

Gastronomy

 

The camp offers a complete gastronomic service, created on the spot by their chef, with regional flavors and dishes from Patagonia, accompanied by premium wines from Argentina and local craft beers.

 

A large work team made up of hospitality and tourism professionals make Rio Manso Camp the ideal place to live a unique and unrepeatable stay. Each person receives personalized treatment, ensuring a tailored service, with the focus on every detail.

Activities

Ideas team of local experts will connect you with the best local guides and experiences. Among other sports and activities, you can choose horseback riding, trekking, biking with the best local guides who understand the areas you tour, hiking, kayaking, rafting, or flying in a helicopter for an exceptional view of the Lake District.

With a combination of biking, kayaking, and hiking supported by a vehicle, you’ll get the most out of this adventure trip in Patagonia.

Contact Us and our team of expert planners can easily answer your questions and put you on the path to creating and planning an unforgettable trip.

Family Travel: 5 Incredible Family Adventures in South America

Family Travel

5 Incredible Family Adventures in South America

This continent is a vast array of startling contrasts and ravishing beauty—making it the perfect place for kids to learn, and adults to awe.

1.Biking Adventure awaits in Northwest Argentina

Northwest Argentina is a very diverse region that includes three provinces: Tucuman, Salta and Jujuy.

Our bike tour will start in Salta capital city and gateway to the Northwest region which features the best-preserved colonial heritage in all of Argentina; you will spend three days in Jujuy to cycle the diverse landscapes of Humahuaca Gorge region – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The entire family will marvel at the Great Salt flats, Seven Color hill, the charming town of Purmamarca, Incan archaeological sites and colonial Andean towns.

You will cycle red rock mountains and sky-high cacti that distinguish the landscape. After visiting Salta, the last days of the trip will be spent in Tucumán, where you will visit the Ruins of the Quilmes Indians, an aborigine settlement that left its footprint in the past, Tafi del Valle, the Yungas, the Andes mountain “jungle” and the capital city of Tucumán. You will be suspended in time and amazed by the surrounding mountains, while experiencing a unique cultural and historical journey, where music, rites, art and religious beliefs are kept alive among other Kolla and Incan traditions, never abandoned despite the passing of time.

Experience South America biking at its very best in Argentina!

2. Active trip to Iguazu National Park Argentina & Brazil

There are many activities to do as a family and surrounded by nature untouched by man.

Explore the salt water springs located within the forest where exotic birds and animals such as capybaras and otters live. If you want, you can explore parts of the national park by boat or Stand Up Paddle board, or simply enjoy the scenery quietly or take a hike on one of the many trails in Iguazu National Park. There are many trails and circuits to have a first approach to the Atlantic Forest and its fauna while exploring the Iguazú National Park.

 

In addition there are many experiences to learn about the native community, its traditions and the economy of the place. For example, they can visit the local Guaraní community, the yerba mate drying mill (or even take the yerba mate route) or visit a rehabilitation center for indigenous fauna affected by these problems. Visiting this refuge is a way to learn about these problems while supporting professionals who work for the preservation of endangered species and try to reintroduce them into their natural habitat.

 

Some of the excursions most requested by families are:

 

  • Trek along the Macuco Trail
  • Navigation of the Parana river with a semi-rigid speed boat under the falls
  • Helicopter ride
  • Tour to San Ignacio Jesuit ruins
  • Tour the Wanda mines
  • Tour of Parque de las Naves (Bird Park – Brazilian side of Iguazu National Park)

It is a unique experience for the family and especially for children and young people who become aware of the importance of caring for nature. It’s well worth the trip to stand in awe in front of this remarkable natural wonder.

3. Peninsula Valdes: Go to a whale watching excursion or walk with penguins in their natural habitat!

Peninsula-valdes

Puerto Madryn is a major wildlife destination in Argentina. A mid-sized town, located on the east coast, in the province of Chubut – in the heart of Patagonia – this is one of the best places to visit in the country with kids.

 

At any time of the year you can find a lot of family-friendly attractions and activities. Besides seeing animals such as seals, penguins and southern right whales, you can practice outdoor sports such as kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling or mountain biking.

 

Between September and April, a large number of Magellanic penguins come to Punta Tombo to incubate their eggs and prepare their offspring for migration – the largest such colony in South America. Couples stand in front of their nests, protecting the eggs from birds and other predators, and occasionally one adult goes to the sea for food. What makes this such a unique experience is that you can get incredibly close to the penguins.

Other wildlife encountered in the area includes sea birds (mainly seagulls, chimangos and cormorants), rheas and guanacos.

4. Dive in the Galapagos and explore its beaches

We’re often asked how to visit the Galapagos Islands with children. Over the years, we’ve helped countless families visit the Galapagos. Often, the request is from a family with two or three members between the ages of 4 and 18. But for multi-generational families (i.e. grandparents, parents, and grandchildren) the family usually includes toddlers and infants in arms.

No matter the age of your kids, visiting the Galapagos as a family is possible, worthwhile, and unforgettable.

 

For kids, the Galapagos is a dreamy destination, where animals peacefully coexist and show absolutely zero signs of fear in the presence of humans. Land and marine iguanas amble by the trails and beaches while Galapagos sea lions waddle ashore and hunker down right next to where you’re lying on the beach. The Galapagos are home to some of Ecuador’s and even the entire world’s most beautiful beaches.

5. Trekking and Hiking Trip to Machu Pichu, Peru

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The Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu can be done in different ways, with different duration and intensity according to the ages of the family members who participate in the trip. Among the outdoor and cultural experiences that we offer in the Sacred Valley and in Cusco, we can mention:

 

  • Hike with Llamas through native forests and archaeological ruins
  • Ride over gentle slopes, most of them downhill, until you reach Maras salt pools which date back to Incan times
  • Relax over a gourmet lunch with views of pre-Incan ruins;
  • Learn how to make ceviche and Pisco sour cocktails;
  • Hike with Llamas through native forests and archaeological ruins;
  • Row in the lake in kayaks while admiring great views of the snowy peaks of the Urubamba mountain range;Ride over gentle slopes, most of them downhill, until you reach Maras salt pools which date back to Incan times;
  • Climb Machu Picchu mountain and experience spectacular views of all Machu Picchu citadel;
  • Travel on the famous Belmond Hiram Bingham train and enjoy the elegant dining car, the bar car, and the observatory, where you can take in the unmatched scenery in the open air while sipping on a traditional Peruvian cocktail and listening to live local music;
  • Take part in a historical walking tour to Sacsayhuaman Archeological Site;
  • Enjoy a sensory experience at the San Pedro Market and find an abundance of alpaca sweaters, textiles, bags and jewelry to take home and treasure as a memory of your trip to Cusco.

Contact our local experts and craft your personalized itinerary. Your private expert will take your preferences and together you will design the ideal experience for your stay. Each day you will be able to choose either one Full Day or two Half Day excursions.

Contact Us for a free consultation.