Cruise Connection
Cruising the Amazon with Aqua Expeditions … and exploring Machu Picchu with Inca Rail
Cruising the Amazon with Aqua Expeditions … and exploring Machu Picchu with Inca Rail
Cruising the Amazon
Under normal circumstances, one would be hard pressed to find any commonality between intrepid exploration of the Amazon, luxury cruising, and culinary creativity. Then again, cruising with Aqua Expeditions is anything but common. Scheduling a 4-night sailing out of Iquitos, Peru, on the Aria Amazon proved to be a bona fide bonanza: treated as royally as kings of the Amazon jungle and, by an enormous stroke of luck, sailing on what happened to be one of the company’s signature hosted theme cruises.
Hosted by world-renowned chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, this food fest was more than enough to awaken anyone’s sedentary taste buds. Schiaffino is the highly regarded proprietor of Lima’s acclaimed Amaz and Malabar restaurants, both listed in the prestigious Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017.
Personal interaction with the chef encompassed cooking demonstrations, pisco and chocolate tastings, discussions on sustainability initiatives as well as question-and-answer sessions. Throughout the cruise, Schiaffino concocted dishes spiced by indigenous Amazonian ingredients and seasoned with refined references to the revered cuisine of cosmopolitan Lima. His inspiring talent and tireless approach to Peruvian cuisine has earned him the position of executive chef of the vessel, with his creative presentations offered on every
Aria Amazon cruise.
Infused with the ancestral traditions, color, and aromas of the region, the menu selections read like a hallucinatory gastronomic glossary: solterito salad with Inca corn and Andean cilantro, causa with freshwater shrimp escabeche, yucca gnocchi, grilled paiche with chorizo sauce and snake-fruit purée. Complemented by a selection of regional wines, the ingenious blend of food and drink initiates a union between world cultures. While referring to the dishes as delicious might be implied, labeling them as exotic is a profound understatement.
However, this is only a delightful bonus for an Aqua Expeditions cruise. The beating heart of the experience comes from innovative itineraries and exceptional cruise amenities. The prodigious comfort of oversized suites is unexpected for an expeditionary river vessel, and the company’s hallmark floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of the passing jungle. The boutique-styled dining room more resembles an upscale bistro than a ship’s restaurant, and the elegantly accessorized lounge serves as a splendid rendezvous for congenial conversations. Out on deck, a spacious canopied area features a Jacuzzi, and chaise-lounge seating facilitates unrivaled Amazonian stargazing for night owls. Aesthetically, the 32-passenger Aria Am
azon reveals an image of a chic floating retreat serving as a base for daily incursions into the remote Amazonian jungle. Led by experienced naturalists aboard the company’s exclusively
designed skiffs, excursions are complimentary and run the gamut of flora-and-fauna viewing, cultural exposés, and active sport experiences.
The tributary and backwater explorations delve into the remote homes of rare and endemic wildlife with no more than eight persons per guide.
To bolster the appeal of the company’s themed-cruise programs, they’ve partnered with A-list celebrities to host cruises covering a variety of special interests. In addition to Schiaffino’s scheduled sailings, world-renowned naturalist and conservationist Jean-Michel Cousteau will host several cruises in 2018 on both the Amazon and Mekong Rivers. As the executive chef of Aria Amazon’s sister ship Aqua Mekong, Thailand-based chef extraordinaire David Thompson brings Southeast Asian culinary flair to several hosted departures. And throughout the year, Francesco Galli Zugaro, the CEO and founder of Aqua Expeditions, personally hosts a number of cruises, sharing his insight and vision while exploring the diverse cultures of the Amazon, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Topics such as photography, personal wellness, and others are scheduled regularly throughout the year.
Making Tracks to Machu Picchu
Any trip to Peru absolutely must include a visit to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Shrouded in the clouds and enveloped by dense mountaintop forests, the magnetism of this attraction makes it a perennial bucket-list destination. In spite of the need for planning — and a certain amount of flexibility — a traveler’s persistence is well rewarded.
The enduring gateway city of Cusco stands as tall in reputation as in altitude; at 11,152 feet, it’s one of the highest cities in the world. Having withstood the plundering of conquistadors, earthquakes, and growing tourism, it maintains a cultural blend of Inca and colonial architecture, where streets bustle with indigenous people in colorful traditional dress and essential market activity.
Train travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu is not only the most convenient way to travel to the ancient citadel … it’s the only way, save for intensive hiking on the infamous Inca Trail. A trail with an 11,483-foot ascent presents an exhilarating option if you are predisposed to organic adventure; however, the number of hikers allowed is strictly limited, making advance reservations essential.
Defying the expectations one might have for local train systems, innovative Inca Rail has recently introduced a distinctive luxury class of train service to the lofty attraction, with poshly designed carriages that appeal to refined travelers at reasonable rates. Currently three different service classes depart from the Ollantaytambo train station. While both Presidential Class and First Class offer live music along with a delectable tasting menu and exquisite wines of the region, the Presidential Class also provides for an exclusive private carriage for you and your travel companions, complete with an observatory lounge, plush armchairs, and a welcome bottle of Champagne. Executive Class offers comfy leather seating and tables plus a selection of freshly prepared drinks and light snacks, sampling luxury amenities for less. Several departures and returns are scheduled each day but to be assured of available space, reservations should be made in advance at IncaRail.com.
Upon reaching the train station at Machu Picchu Pueblo, guests transfer to a shuttle bus which drives to the jaw- dropping complex of ancient ruins. It’s visually breathtaking. The history of Inca heritage is presented by the licensed guides that are required for each visitor. This assembly of buildings, terraces, and temples, though only discovered as recently as 1940, was actually constructed centuries ago by the Incas as a tribute to the Sun God.
Clinging to cliffs, the remaining structures and terraces stand as a testament to Inca engineering. Photography buffs will find a paradise loaded with visual targets suitable for trophy framing. Machu Picchu grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.