Friday, October 30, 2015

Joining the New Age: Travel Bloggers

Valencia Travel Cusco has been lucky enough to have a few travel bloggers come and join us on our trips recently. After their experiences, they went online and wrote a little something about us and what they did whilst in Peru.

[Note: All photos in this post were taken and posted by the bloggers themselves and are featured on their websites which can all be followed by clicking the links at the end of each section.]

O Christine


(Above: O Christine enjoying the views of Machu Picchu.)  


O Christine joined us on our 4 day Lares trek in Spring on a private trek. In her blog, she goes into great depth about everything she experienced on her trek, from their close bond with their guide, to the accommodation and everything in between. The photos taken before and during her trek give a great insight into the beauty of the landscapes and the value of the immersion that can be experienced on this trek. 

Read the full article here.



Run With Jim


(Above: Run With Jim and his daughter at Machu Picchu.)


Jim joined us in Peru with his lovely daughter. They ventured to many different historical sites. Obviously, they also stopped at the holy grail that is Machu Picchu. Their experiences are documented through a series of photographs and captions, showing many of the fascinating sites visited.

Read the full article here.



Bohemian Traveler


(Above: One of the many amazing photographs taken along the way by Bohemian Traveler.)

Bohemian Traveler trekked to Machu Picchu via Salkantay with us. The tough journey takes you through snow-capped mountains, cloud forests and so much more. His journey is documented in stunning photographs showing many of the incredible landscapes witnessed along the way.

Read the full article here.


Runaway Juno


(Above: Runaway Juno in front of the stunning views surrounding Machu Picchu.)

Our final blogger was also on the Salkantay trek leading to Machu Picchu. She struggled with altitude sickness slightly during her time in Peru, but after a little advise from a guide, she found a way to manage it. She posted two wonderful blogs about her trip: one focuses on coca leaves and how they helped her along, and the other is a beautiful account of Machu Picchu in photographs.

Read the full article here.


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Best Tour Operators in Peru


Valencia Travel Cusco welcomed Tony Dunnell, a writer for about.com, onto one of our alternatives to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu this October. After the experience, he wrote a lovely little review of us and added us to the short list of The Best Tour Operators in Peru. 


This is what he had to say about the experience:


"Valencia Travel Cusco

I did an alternative trek to Machu Picchu with Valencia in October 2015 and the service was excellent at every level. The company focuses on its quality of service, customized attention and special deals, with treks and tours suited to both young adventure travelers and potentially less mobile baby boomers. The trek chefs are miracle workers, the Quechua-speaking porters are well cared for and the guides are dedicated and knowledgeable. What impressed me most, however, was the genuine desire of every staff member at Valencia – from porters to guides to senior management – to see every trekker realize his or her dream of reaching Machu Picchu. Recommended.

Website: www.valenciatravelcusco.com"



Take a look at the complete article here:
http://goperu.about.com/od/sightsandattractions/tp/The-Best-Inca-Trail-Tour-Operators-In-Peru.htm 


This isn't the only online article that has featured the Valencia Travel Cusco experience. One of wonderful clients wrote a blog post including some photographs of his time in Peru with us. 

Read about his adventures here: 
http://runwithjim.com/2015/10/machupicchu-september-2015/

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Best of Stamford Award 2015: Travel Agencies



Valencia Travel Cusco has been selected for the Best of Stamford 2015 Award in the travel agencies category! We feel very grateful to be acknowledged for this award as we always try our best to accommodate any special request or need that our clients have, as well as make their vacations as stress-free as possible.






Here you can find the official press release:



Inca Trail - Machu Picchu- Valencia Travel Cusco Receives 2015 Best of Stamford Award

Stamford Award Program Honors the Achievement
STAMFORD September 30, 2015 -- Inca Trail - Machu Picchu- Valencia Travel Cusco has been selected for the 2015 Best of Stamford Award in the Travel Agencies category by the Stamford Award Program.

Each year, the Stamford Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Stamford area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2015 Stamford Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Stamford Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Stamford Award Program

The Stamford Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Stamford area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The Stamford Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.




SOURCE: Stamford Award Program

Monday, October 12, 2015

Which Trek Should You Choose?



            Hiking through the mountains of the Sacred Valley is a must-do whilst visiting Peru. But there are so many to choose from! Do you go with the classic tourist attracting Inca Trail or look for something along a road less traveled?
We offer a number of different treks so it can be a challenge to decide which one is for you. Here is a little information about each trek to help you decide. All of our treks come with professional and knowledgeable bi-lingual tour guides and a chef, who will prepare food fit for a king – any dietary requirements can be catered for at no extra cost, just alert our office team so that they can prepare. Unlike many other tour operators, Valencia Travel Cusco ensure that all of our porters have all the equipment that they need to be comfortable, such as hiking boots, rain jackets etc. and the same meals as any of the clients, which many agencies do not supply. Please check on our website for weight limits and details about hiring extra porters for your trek. We also have extended versions of most of our treks under the ‘Specials’ section of our website.
Be aware: hiking at altitude is no easy feat. It is recommended that you arrive a few days before commencing your trip so as to adjust to the altitude. Also, bringing some form of medication to counteract possible symptoms of altitude sickness is suggested. Though not everyone is effected by altitude sickness, it is always best to be prepared for it.

INCA TRAIL (classic) – Destination Machu Picchu

If you want to stick to Incan tradition, the classic Inca Trail is for you. This trek receives many tourists every day, but that won’t take away from your experience – not with our restaurant quality chef and top notch tour guides. Now, this trek may not be for the faint hearted, with a particularly tough climb on Day 2. However, you will be rewarded with spectacular views (Day 3) and a nice rest in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes (Day 4), not to mention the ultimate prize that is the lost citadel of Machu Picchu (Day 4). All this followed by a comfortable train journey back to Ollantaytambo where you will be picked up and transported back to Cusco on a private bus.
           
The Inca Trail allows you to do the same trek that the Inca people walked years ago, giving you an authentic experience of what it would have been like to hike the trail (just with a few added luxuries). However, if you’re looking for something a little more off-the-tourist-track, this trek is not for you.



            Find the complete itinerary on our website:
http://www.valenciatravelcusco.com/inca-trail-to-machu-picchu-5-days-4-nights.php#itinerary


SALKANTAY – Destination Machu Picchu
           
If you prefer to steer away from the more tourist-y areas whilst experiencing a variety of different perspectives, the Salkantay trek is the one for you. So it may not be the original Incan hike, but you will get to experience valleys, jungle, cloud forests and grasslands. Again, this is not a particularly easy trek, but is slightly easier than the Inca trail. You will enjoy lunch with panoramic views of snow-capped mountains (Day 1), waterfalls (Day 3) and Incan forts (Day 4), as well as the option of experiencing the relaxing waters of the hot springs after a day of hiking (Day 3 and Day 4). All before reaching our destination of Machu Picchu.
           
This is a beautiful and exciting alternative to the Inca Trail and allows you to see a variety of different climates within Peru. Though please note, there is a possibility of snow on this trek so if you’re not a fan of snow, maybe this trek is not for you. If you do select this trek, be sure to bring some warm clothes.


            Find the full itinerary here:
http://www.valenciatravelcusco.com/salkantay-trek-to-machu-picchu-5-days-group.php#itinerary


LARES – Destination Machu Picchu
           
Like the Salkantay trek, this is a great alternative if you want to get off-the-beaten-track. The Lares trek takes you through the rural communities in the mountains, allowing you to get a true insight as to what it is like to live a traditional life in the Sacred Valley in modern times. The trek is of a similar difficulty to Salkantay and will take you past lagoons (Day 1), small stone villages with thatches roofs (Day 1 & 2), and the option of relaxing in the hot springs just outside of the small town of Lares. On the third day, you will hike to Ollantaytambo to board a train to Aguas Calientes, spending the night there in a hotel, where you can reward yourself with a hot shower, before heading to Machu Picchu via bus the following morning.
           
The Lares trek is the perfect trek for you if you are looking to experience traditional Peruvian culture at its base, the Sacred Valley. You can learn a little about the well-respected weaving techniques of the locals. It’s worth noting, that many of the people that originate from these towns, make extra money as porters, so your porters could be a valuable source of information providing an interesting perspective on this trip.  However, if you would prefer an adventure experienced by a larger proportion of people, the Inca trail would be a better recommendation for you.




View the whole itinerary here:
http://www.valenciatravelcusco.com/lares-trek-to-machu-picchu-4-days-group.php#itinerary


HUCHUY QOSQO – Destination Machu Picchu
           

If you’re looking for a shorter trek away from the crowds of tourists or to experience interacting with the local people maintaining their traditions in the Valley, this is the trek for you. The first day of the hike will take you past lakes, mountains, grasslands and rural communities, with the goal of reaching a traditional Andean community in the town of Qenko. As there are not many tourists who visit the town, the locals are always extremely welcoming to those who choose to visit their town and are as intrigued about you as you are of them. On the second day, you will be taken to see a local family where you will have plenty time to bond with the locals. After this, you will continue on your trek down a trail that follows the original Inca trail through a secluded valley filled with flowers, birds and native plants. It is later on this day that you will be transported to Ollantaytambo to board a train to Aguas Calientes, getting a bus the following morning to Machu Picchu.
           
Huchuy Qosqo is perfect for those that want to experience traditional Andean culture but with a little less hiking. Granted, the hike is not super easy, but is by no means the most difficult we offer, and there is a lot less of it. Though, for those more experienced hikers looking for more of a challenge, I would take a look at some of our other treks (perhaps Ausangate).


You can view the complete itinerary here:
http://www.valenciatravelcusco.com/huchuy-qosqo-trek-3-days-2-nights.php


AUSANGATE – Destination Phinaya
           
This trek is perfect for those experienced hikers or those looking for a challenge. The 7 day Ausangate trek takes you through snow-capped mountains, past lagoons, hot springs, and beautiful Andean villages. You will spend time with local children in the schools (Day 2) before heading out on the trek of a lifetime. Your campsites will expose you to stunning mountainous panoramic views, to beautiful lagoons and lakes, and to tonnes of bio-diversity. The final day will be spent with a final hike in the morning, spending the day in a small Andean community, where the only vehicles are horses and bicycles.
            The Ausangate trek is great for anyone who wants to get away from the touristic side of Peru and experience authentic Andean culture. Although, due to its length and intensity, it is recommended that you have some basic fitness or experience hiking. The standard Ausangate trail does not go to Machu Picchu, however, there is an option to add Machu Picchu under the ‘Specials’ section of our website.

You can view the full itinerary here:
http://www.valenciatravelcusco.com/ausangate-trek-7-days-6-nights.php


CHOQUEQUIRAO – Destination Choquequirao ruins
               
The Choquequirao trek is a great alternative for those that want to avoid the busyness of Machu Picchu. The abandoned city has many similarities to Machu Picchu, but aside from that, very little is known about it. During your 4 day trek, you will see a colourful variety of plant-life and birds and will be able to enjoy all in the warm sunshine. On a clear night, the campsite on Day 2 of the trek, close to the lost city, can sport an impressive and photograph worthy sunset, with the possibility of spotting some condors soaring overhead. The next morning, you will be taken on a guided tour of the lost city of Choquequirao. With only 25% of the site having been explored, there are many secrets still hidden in this mysterious place. On the final day, you will ascend the other side of the valley for one final view of Choquequirao, before heading back to Cusco by bus.
                This trek is the perfect choice for those who enjoy birds and all things nature, as well as those looking for some Andean mystery. However, if you have your heart set on a trip to Machu Picchu, this is not the trek for you.

               
To view the whole itinerary, see here: