Exhausted after Machu Picchu? Clambering about the sun-soaked citadel can be hard work. Luckily, a burst of new luxury lodges in the nearby Sacred Valley are now offering a convenient chance to relax and rejuvenate. One such is , an estancia by Peruvian eco-chain Inkaterra. A two-storey main building contains 11 cosy bedrooms, one balconied suite and various lounges where plump sofas demand snoozy contemplation. Behind are 24 detached casitas – ideal for families – surrounded by a four-hectare farm on which herbs, quinoa, bell peppers and giant purple corn are organically grown. In addition to touring or tending the plantations, guests have several other, similarly rustic, guided activities to enjoy, including llama-cart rides, stargazing, birdwatching, and lantern-lit ambles at twilight, featuring spooky stories of skin-scalping demons. Day hikes up into the enclosing mountains are another must, as are trips to Písac's vast Sunday market. But the best activity of all is eating. The menu at Rafael Casin's restaurant features local meats, farm produce and smoked cheeses, with an updated version of traditional Quechua dishes served in bold, delicious fashion. The baked arapaima with aubergine purée, coated in an Andean mint sauce, is the most stomach-pleasing of all. Your head will also be grateful – located between Machu Picchu and Cusco, and at a lower altitude than the latter, the Sacred Valley makes a smart stop during any acclimatisation process. Prices start from US$475 (Dh1,744) per night, including excursions and taxes.
Cusco itself is comparatively chaotic: a beautiful city in which couples kiss on the steps of Plaza de Armas's beautiful cathedral, cross-legged trinket vendors appeal imploringly to passing tourists, lively bars spill onto narrow lanes, and costumed pan pipe bands play loudly and proudly. Praise be, then, for the hotel, a restored 16th-century Spanish-style manor house sat between the San Blas arts district and the city's main square. Step through the hotel's hulking cedarwood door and a soothing, soporific atmosphere immediately takes hold. The layout is simple and attractive, with 11 grand suites, lounges full of handsome furniture and a small, guest-only restaurant ringing the colonnaded courtyard.
Simón Bolívar, South America’s famous liberator, once laid his independence-minded head here and probably would have appreciated La Casona’s rigorous massages, available in a segregated chamber. More modern amenities, from heated floors to iPod docks, dot those high-ceilinged bedrooms, yet bright rugs, colourful textiles, stone fireplaces – which staff will light for you – and antique gilt mirrors ensure the colonial vibe is never forsaken. Try for an upstairs suite to benefit from balconies and a dining area. Back downstairs, concierges can arrange everything from city-walking tours and Inca Trail treks to coca teas and oxygen tanks for those enduring altitude sickness. The food offerings include Peru’s favourite, guinea pig, and vegetables grown at Hacienda Urubamba. Prices start from $425 (Dh1,560) per night, including taxes.
Peru has significantly upped its rainforest game by developing three distinct Amazonian regions. Amid one of them, Tambopata, awaits Inkaterra's waterside lodge, easily accessed by a 45-minute boat ride along the wide Madre de Dios River – an Amazon tributary – from Puerto Maldonado's airfield. The lodge is all wood and thatch – beyond an impressive two-floor main pavilion, elevated boardwalks lead on to 35 cabanas, three of which are suites. Each low-impact hut redefines jungle luxe with log chairs, fine linens and a screened veranda with two hammocks, plus ultra-efficient mosquito netting. Electricity and hot water are available during the day, while large kerosene lanterns are provided in the evenings.
Struggle out of bed at sunrise to relish the dawn chorus, full of exotic, tropical sounds. Then borrow some wellies and choose your excursions: on the protected Inkaterra-owned land, guests can canoe across swamps past rust-coloured howler monkeys and primeval birds, embark on family “treasure hunts”, hike the jungle at night or sail along the river after dark in search of skulking cayman, all led by a local guide. The reserve also contains a canopy walkway, with seven wobbly suspension bridges linking 600-metre-high towers. Back at base, enjoy riverfront Amazonian-style massages using the medicinal copaiba plant, and finish the day scoffing indigenous fish and ice creams flavoured by the local camu camu fruit. Full-board prices start from $1,080 (Dh3,967), for a minimum stay of two nights, including taxes.
Read this and more stories in Ultratravel magazine, out with The National on Thursday, May 19.
travel@thenational.ae
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company%20Profile
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SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court
Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)
Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)
Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)
Court 1
Garbine Muguruza (14) v
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sukuk
An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.
Kill%20
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m, Winner: Zalman, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hisham Al Khalediah II, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Qader, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly
8pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nayslayer, Bernardo Pinheiro, Jaber Ramadhan
SPECS
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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BLACKBERRY
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DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing) 107
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83
6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India) 39
9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22