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500 years have passed since the last Incas abandoned the paradise of Machu Picchu and we still haven’t learned to coexist with the planet. What would they say if they could see what their sacred sanctuary been converted into? Traveling it’s a great educational life experience but many times we end up damaging the natural resources of the places we visit by polluting and damaging the “Pachamama” for our own personal interests. The damage we are causing the environment affects us all (discriminating between neither race, religion, or culture) so we all need to learn to respect our mother earth. Thousands of visitors arrive in Machu Picchu every day, not always aware of the environmental consequences of their visit. This travelers, arrive either from hiking the famous inca trail (on 1-2-3-7-14 days tours) or trough Aguas Calientes (Also known as Machu Picchu pueblo), a town on the Urubamba river and the closest to the Machu Picchu. But not all of it is bad news. With the mission of preserving the wildlife and ecosystem of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary the Rupawasi Eco lodge opened in 2002. Since then, they have taken this philosophy very seriously by encouraging the use of alternative energies, using biodegradable products and recycling, causing minimal impact on the environment. They are actually serving as the only serious example of sustainable ecotourism for the rest of the town. Rupawasi´s unique location provides for spectacular views of the mountains of Machu Picchu. Our room allowed us to take full advantage of these surroundings This design marvel fits together magically with the green surrounding of Aguas Calientes to create a peaceful environment, an invitation to relax. The hotel itself is designed to have a comfortable and cozy ambient, with good music, selected literature, and plenty of information and advice. All this is set in their carefully cultivated orchid and native green gardens. When staying at Rupawasi Ecolodge, you will be able to enjoy, among other personalized services,gourmet cuisine in their on site restaurant where they also organize cooking classes! They offer structured 2, 3 ,4 day courses and tailor made courses to fit your travel arrangements. We tried a 2 day course and were able to take a cooking book home too! This was an authentic cultural experience. They offer the opportunity of actually participating in a real kitchen environment, with real cooks and providing food to real customers. Initially classes are based on a theoretical explanation of the menu, you will learn not only recipes, but the whole procedure, from choosing the right ingredients in the market, to the different ways of portioning, packaging and storing local produce. At Rupawasi they also strive to preserve and rescue native flora and fauna. They are the only lodge in the area working in harmony with their natural surroundings. They have carefully cultivated their own gardens to this end which contains species of native trees, plants (over 50 varieties of orchids) and visiting fauna. Manu travelers only use Aguas Calientes as a stop point between Cusco and Machu Picchu, but this magical town, with it’s thermal baths, hikes and beautiful scenery definitely has much more to offer and the Rupawasi seems to be the perfect place to enjoy that! |
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Comments (1)
2008-02-16 16:53:05
from chinch1153
Rupawasi sounds like a great place to visit!
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