I'm traveling to Peru for the next 3 weeks and was wondering if anyone has visited any really interesting orchid nurseries there or has tips on guides for seeing orchids in the wild?
From what I can tell, Moyobamba in the Amazon is the area to go to but I've only found non-functioning nursery websites in relation. And can't quite tell if there's really an infrastructure of parks or botanical guides in the area.
Maccu-piccu has some Inkaterra seems like a hotel. I know of some phrags and masdevellias.
I always imagined myself doing the long hike up to Machu-Picchu and discovering Masdevallias along the trail. Just a fantasy, no idea if that is how it actually is.
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"We must not look at goblin men,
We must not buy their fruits:
Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots?"
Phrag Bessea was found by Elizabeth Locke Besse in Peru, in 1981, apparently by "looking down." I am not so sure whether it was in a romantic spot in the ruins, or by a garbage dump, but I prefer to think the story went something like your scenario. I am a little old and fat to make that trip now, but Costa Rica, Squee Sloth Capitol of the World! 2017!!! Huzzah!