Joaquín Randall, owner of El Albergue in Ollantaytambo, shares, in the recent video, the latest developments evolving around experiential educational stays, sustainability, organics and cultural sensitivity at his lodge in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Mountain Spirit collaborated a bit with Sr. Randall some years ago, so we can recommend a stay at El Albergue. Keep up the good Joaquin.
El Albergue, in Peru delivers a good stay, experientially based ed, and sustainability.
Machu Picchu ©Mtnspirit.org
Peru Gov’t looks to increase visitor limit to Machu Picchu
From: Andean Air Mail & PERUVIAN TIMES
Peru’s Ministry of Tourism and Foreign Trade said Tuesday that a recent study supports more than doubling the number of visitors to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel perched on a mountain top in Cusco region.
Currently, the daily limit on tourists that can enter the Machu Picchu site is set at 2,200. According to state news agency Andina, the ministry’s study suggests the citadel can withstand 5,479 visitors a day. This would allow Machu Picchu, a World Heritage Site, to receive approximately 2 million tourists a year.
The study is in direct contrast to the opinion of UNESCO, read the rest of this story..
Japanese Travelers Top the List in Expedia’s Annual Global Best Tourist Survey
Good Tourists
Americans Considered Noisy and Not the Best Dressers, but Earn Points for Trying Local Cuisine and Making an Effort to Speak the Language
Expedia, the world’s leading online travel company, today released the findings of a global survey seeking to crown the world’s best tourists and measure travelers based on their best and worst travel traits and habits. More than 4,000 hoteliers from
across the globe provided opinions on the best overall travelers, as well as
10 specific categories grading popularity, behavior, manners, willingness to
learn the language and try local cuisine, generosity, tidiness, volume, fashion sense and propensity to complain. The Japanese won top prize and are considered by hoteliers across the globe as overall the best tourists. German and British tourists tied for second place, followed by the Canadians and Swiss. American tourists came in at number 11 overall.
American Tourists Score High and Low: (more…)
We stumbled upon Maribel Torres Leon’s Museum of Biodiversity in Ollantaytambo, Peru, when we walking on a side street one afternoon. The motto on her business card states, “Trade rightly, Sustainable Tourism, Cultural Identity”. Check out the video, and if you like it, please support Maribel’s work by either visiting the museum (see address and telephone number below), spreading the word about her good work, and/or making a donation. Well done Maribel!
Museum of Biodiversity
Maribel Torres Leon, Director & Founder
Calle La Convencion
Ollantaytambo, Peru
Tel: 51-84-984-962607 or 984-934263
Email: info@biomuseo.org
Responsible Tourism Begins With a Good Attitude
A short interview with Amanda Richards on her encounter with a group of tourists in Aquas Caliente, Peru, near Machu Picchu.
By Randall Richards
I finally had to do it – I had to open up a “Room for Improvement Department”. I’ve been holding off for as long as possible. I almost started the category in New Zealand but didn’t really feel the need. Now I must say, I do. And I think you’ll see a few more entries under this category in the next day or so.
"Wealth Group" Visits Machu Picchu
When at Machu Picchu the other day, Amanda and I sat at the “Sacred Rock” area to Machu Picchu’s north end, and along with some French, observed a curious looking group. They were obviously Americans, but seemed to be huddled around someone or something. There also appeared a professional film crew hovering around the group, complete with sound man with headphones, camera man and assistant. There were a few people hugging for long periods of time. While I hug as well, something seemed a bit odd about all this. When I quietly approached the group, I saw an elderly Quechua man and woman in traditional dress waiting, waiting for (it seemed more like “attending”) the group, apparently as local knowledge of some sort. I still really couldn’t see the focus of the group’s attention, so I retreated and upon doing so, asked the film crew what this was all about.
Wealth Group Guru
They replied that “This was a wealth creation group” and the founder of the organization was leading the group of “V.I.P’s” here at Machu Picchu.” He added that, “the leader takes people to various sites worldwide such as the Egyptian Pyramids.”
“So, a pyramid business?” I asked. “Well yeah” he responded.
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