From 14-22AUG, Transat and its partner Jumbo Tours offered 20 Canadian travel advisors the opportunity to participate in a familiarization tour of the operator’s latest Peru offering.
The agents flew on Air Transat’s direct flight from Toronto to Lima and followed an itinerary based on Transat's Magical Peru guided tour.
“This trip was the perfect opportunity to highlight the exceptional quality of our Peru tour and reinforce our travel advisors' confidence in our product,” said Transat's sales manager Lindsay Merrill. “Experiences like this help us equip our partner agencies with the tools they need to inspire their clients to step out of their comfort zones.”
In Lima, agents were introduced to Peruvian gastronomy with a visit to the San Isidro market and a culinary workshop at Guarguero restaurant, where they learned how to prepare ceviche and the pisco sour cocktail.
This was followed by a walking tour of the Presidential Palace, Lima Cathedral and the Rafael Larco Museum.
They then took a flight to Cusco – “one of the most scenic flights as you soar over the Andes,” says Merrill - where they visited an alpaca farm to learn how artisans create Peru's iconic textiles.
The agents visited the Sacred Valley's most iconic sites, such as the Maras salt flats, the ruins of Pisac and the agricultural terraces of Moray, as well as one of the best-preserved Inca cities, Ollantaytambo.
Caezar 'Chachie' Flores, an independent travel consultant with Durham Travel, added, “Machu Picchu is more than just a World Heritage site; it's a journey into the heart of an ancient civilization. You can feel the echoes of the past in every stone. It's a must-see for anyone who wants to connect with history and marvel at this awe-inspiring wonder.”
The trip concluded with a guided tour of Cusco and some free time to enjoy the grandeur of the colonial city.
“While the sites of Peru such as Machu Picchu were what we were all looking forward to, it was the sincere passion and knowledge of the Jumbo Tours guides that really impressed me. I'm confident that our clients will be in excellent hands and treated like family. From start to finish, Transat's Magical Peru tour exceeded all expectations,” said Josée Morin, Owner and Travel Manager at TravelOnly Sudbury.
