Each year when we share our Peru dispatches, the sequel always focuses on the more remote parts of Peru. However, there is a certain order to this, and when done right, it tells the perfect story. After all, these dispatches are not as much trip reports as much as they are well-articulated stories. They are told from areas of a country few have explored or are bypassed when driving from one point to another. The thing about storytelling is it is an art, and it doesn’t have to go in order, and this dispatch is no different. We start with the last and end with the first.
Red mangroves release 10 times as much oxygen as trees, yet they are the most overlooked. We get so caught up in planting trees, which is a great thing, that we forget about mangroves, not planting but replanting. You see whenever the tide changes or there is an imbalance in water levels or conditions, mangrove seedlings, also known as propagules, usually get washed away as their roots are not yet mature enough to withstand the current. Propagules usually wash up along the water’s edge, in what is usually brackish water. Replanting these seedlings is a huge first step towards carbon neutrality.
Now in the very north of Peru, lies an unknown nature reserve, managed by the local communities, right near the border with Ecuador, Manglares de Tumbes Mangroves. The location of this untouched nature, and the involvement of the local community, represents a best practice example. This is only topped by the population of flamingo species bright pink in nature, that are unique only to this region. Anyone wanting to see the Peru most locals don’t know and have access to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean while looking at the Ecuadorian border crossing should take the three-hour drive from Mancora to Tumbes.
Before the visit to the mangroves was Mancora itself. While at Machu Picchu, the second day of our adventure, I told everyone that Mancora would feel like a different country and boy was that an understatement. From the coastal communities to the culinary experience, it was clear that this was no longer about the traditional history. This was living history, told through food, and passed down through the generations. The highlight of a stay here, aside from the amazing accommodations, were the fishing communities, their methods of raft building, and, of course, the humpback whales. If you time your visit, whale sharks make an appearance too.
As you watch this week’s video and see the whale elevating out of the water, or the dolphin skimming the surface, just imagine for a second, what it was like in the early days when Mancora was established in 1908. The tourists you see are more local than foreign, yet their smiles greet you, eager for you to love Mancora, and tell your friends about it.
This is Peru, the real Peru. Enjoy the video.
I’m back in Peru leading another amazing group of partners on an educational. As we do every year, we focus on showcasing Peru beyond Machu Picchu, away from the tourist track. Peru has so much to offer, yet 95% of the visitors to this amazing country don’t see very far beyond the famous sights. Well, as the saying goes, if you’re not immersing, you’re not #bigfivin (ok I made that up, humor me).
As much as we love seeing Machu Picchu, we get it out of the way on day two, simply because there is a whole other side to Peru that pre-dates the Incas. Additionally, there is a level of nature around that history that is often overlooked. In Peru’s case, the Cusco region’s economy is over 90% derived from tourism, while the remote parts of Peru hardly exceed 5%. Our goal is to help even that playing field by incorporating the Community Conscious Travel Guidelines the WTTC adopted as Big Five is a proud regional member of the World Travel Tourism Council.
Part One of our dispatch focuses on the Cusco and Sacred Valley some don’t see, including a hike to see condors at 12,000 feet; glamping in fully energy-independent eco domes; testing our adrenalin scaling a via ferrata; and an authentic food tour in markets-only frequented by the locals.
Enjoy this dispatch video and wait until you see what part two has in store… I’ll give you a hint, we are less than 700 miles away from the Galapagos archipelago.
I remember being at a luxury summit, the same one where I met Nelson Mandela’s chef. On day 3 of that summit, I was like a child in a candy store. I spent the morning learning about supersonic aviation with members who later started a company called Boom Aviation. While that was exciting, the afternoon instilled beliefs in me that remain unshakable. I met the chief marketing officer for one of my favorite auto manufacturers. Talking about their legendary record at LeMans (if you don’t know what that is, stop reading and go watch Ford vs Ferrari with Matt Damon and Christian Bale right now), the topic turned to the saying, “what would you be willing to do.”
What would you be willing to do for their supercar? What would you give to be a test driver for their brand? That is what they asked and the most common answer – “my left arm,” not quite sure I would go that far, however if you know what I know about this car, you would perhaps contemplate it. While the room was fawning over the brand, I started paying attention to the original thought. What would I give?
What do I believe in beyond a moral compass, that I would give my left arm for, my right arm for? Beyond the strong commitment to social responsibility, there is something else unshakable in me that I would be willing to fight for to my last breath. Two hours later, it dawned on me that our product advancement leads by 2 years, at a minimum, over where the market is. Leaning forward when everyone else is hanging back, pushing for new product, even in a place where the word ingenuity is unwelcomed. That is what I would be willing to give my left arm for, and my right arm.
We were all forced to reinvent ourselves several times over the last decade, especially during the pandemic. Would it be strange to say that I enjoyed it? If you don’t believe me, you should ask the amazing people I work with. This is the primary reason my colleague Gisela is in Chile right now, before the start of a conference. It’s the reason I am on my way to the north of Peru again; why my colleagues in Egypt were in the GEM today for the soft opening; why Susie was in the interior of Colombia; why Tatiana was in Jordan; and why I was in the southern part of Bwindi Forest earlier in the year.
This week, we share a video on Gisela’s visit to a relatively unknown ecological refuge in northern Patagonia. It is the gateway for Big Five, and where we begin to lean forward in Chile. Yes there is much to be done, however the excitement of leaning forward starts here.
Enjoy the video
Ordinarily, the travel season over the year-end holidays starts on a Friday or Saturday, occurring around the 3rd week of December. This year is no different and it seems the last-minute planners are on the rise. I was always taught to quantify any statement you make using numbers. So here goes… we have 77 days left before the festive travel season starts, and it’s going by quickly.
Since quantifying is like a hobby for me, let me go further. We track the behavior of our travelers’ buying habits looking for a trend in last-minute travel vs planning further out. Now you likely already see a trend with your clients, however when you track this the way we do, what jumps out is how many times the buying habits change. Approximately 9 times in 12 months. Even more so in a year when there is an event such as an election. That means the team at Big Five has gotten good at adapting to your travelers who want to leave next year vs right now. From planning an excursion to Guatemala with only a few weeks’ notice to planning a safari 14 months from now, our specialists know how to move mountains.
This year we are gearing up to move many more due to the last-minute festive requests which have started to increase; and in many cases, though not all, we are finding space. Right around this time, space booked earlier in the year becomes available again. Due to Big Five’s excellent relationships, we usually get first access. Whether that means Tanzania, Egypt, Peru, or Uruguay, we are finding those pockets of space. From private villas in Jose Ignacio, to the boutique hotels in the Sacred Valley, to lesser-known safari camps in the Serengeti, to private dahabiyas in Egypt, the impossible is possible at times.
Enjoy the video, and speaking to the procrastinator in all of us… 77 days and counting.
