Traveling To Peru

A trip to Peru - Experience something beyond imagination and the unusual during vacations

2012-02-01T14:53:00.002-05:00

Every vacation season brings an excitement to the life of people and specially those professionals who desperately needs a break from their corporate life. The idea of not working and having fun during vacation brings out the child out in everybody's personality. However, even a vacation tour can go boring if you are not doing something unusual or extraordinary during that time. The motive behind taking holidays for people remains to relax and rejuvenate their tired senses with maximum fun-filled activities. Thus, choosing Peru for your next holiday tour can be a great idea to enjoy a memorable vacation trip.

Peru is an amazing destination that offers everything to make your trip the most memorable one of your life. A travel to Peru can be one of your lifetime experiences having aroused your passion and zeal for life during holiday trip. Peru offers all those activities that a persona can carry out to make his tour filled with excitement, entertainment, thrill and adventure leading to ultimate fun, relaxation and rejuvenation of their tired mind, body and soul. The very first thing peculiar about this destination is the mesmerizing nature with perfect blend of flora and fauna making people's love for greenery and wildlife come alive. For photography enthusiasts and people who are close to nature, this place is no less than a blessing.

Besides, there are many thrilling and adventurous activities that a person can carry out to take their experience on a level beyond imagination. Activities like trekking, mountaineering, horse riding and cycling are highly enjoyed by tourists during Peru trips to enjoy the best of the moments. Also, there is enriched archaeological aspect of Peru that excites maximum tourists towards the great civilization, ancient sites with exciting legacy and interesting stories. It makes their trip an exhilarating event. However, to enjoy the best in this tourism rich destination, it is also important to ensure that your other basic necessities are taken care well to enjoy a hassle free trip.

It includes the best accommodation, dining and travelling facility to ensure a luxurious and flawless tour. However, it becomes difficult for tourists to arrange all these things easily, being a stranger to the place. Thus, there are many online travel agencies who are offering their customized services to arrange the best Peru trips for you. Such service providers add to the joy of vacation by providing you tailor-made solutions for an unperturbed trip. Be it luxurious stay, comfortable travel, dining or arranging the best tour packages for tourist's leisure and adventure activities, they make sure that their client enjoy the best services and affordable travel Peru. So choose the service provider judiciously to arrange the best yet economical trip to Peru.

Cuzco to Machu Picchu Travel Tips - A Guide to Planning a Trip to Peru

2012-01-25T22:12:00.001-05:00

Cuzco is located in the Andes Mountains at an elevation of about 11,150 ft (3,400 m), amongst towering holy mountains, ancient temples, high mountain altars, colonial architecture, and a complex history. This is one of the oldest, cities in the Western Hemisphere. It was the capital of the Inca Empire, until the early 16th century, when Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured the city in 1533. Cuzco really has it all for sightseeing. It is also the gateway for a trip to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas". The altitude may take a little getting used too, so do not rush seeing it all.
Facts about Peru:

There are 4000 native varieties of potatoes
Guinea pigs are a culinary delicacy
The city of Cuzco was originally built in the shape of a puma. The body of the puma contained the most important palaces, temples and governmental buildings. The square between the legs of the puma is the Plaza de Armas.
Tour conditions: Cuzco – 11,400 elevation, high 60's day, low 50's night. Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu – 8,400 elevation, high 60's to 70 day, high 40's to 50's night
"Since it is impossible to know what's really happening, we Peruvians lie, invent, dream and take refuge in illusion. Because of these strange circumstances, Peruvian life, a life in which so few actually do read, has become literary." - Mario Vargas Llosa, Peruvian Novelist.

1. Responsible Tourism:

Take advice from your guides on how to respect the social, cultural and religious beliefs of local communities. We believe in putting money directly into the communities we visit by using locally owned accommodations, and giving fair payment for services.
2. Passports:

A valid passport is required for entry into Peru, and a 90 day visa is given to US citizens automatically upon entry. For US Citizens, you can go to the Travel.State.Gov web site. Make sure to renew your passport months in advance. And always carry a second form of photo ID, such as a driver's license, and have a photocopy of the personal data page of your passport. Your photocopy of your passport is the easiest way to prove your identity, in case you were to lose your passport.
3. Flights:

You will need to book an international flight to Lima, we recommend an overnight flight so you will avoid an unnecessary overnight stay in a hotel in LIMA. We typically fly from Lima to Cuzco on LAN airlines.
4. Airport Taxes:

All Peruvian airports charge "Exit Taxes", to be paid in cash before entering the departure section of the airport. Please budget $34 each way internationally, and $6 for each internal flight.
5. Travel Insurance:

We recommend purchasing travel insurance, which will refund lost costs if you need to cancel your trip due to extenuating circumstances. Check your travel insurance carrier, for many you must purchase your insurance within Three Weeks after you pay your deposit for your trip, in order to get the best coverage. Also check with your existing health plan to make sure they cover your medical costs in a foreign country, and check with your credit card company, which may include baggage insurance or other features.
6. Food and Water:

Drink only bottled water, and only use bottled water for brushing your teeth. Bottled water is readily available. It does not take much contamination to make you sick, and some diseases can be severe enough to ruin your trip. Do not use ice cubes unless you know them to be safe.
7. Food Safety:

Local tap water in Peru is not considered potable. Only bottled water should be used for drinking. For the same reason, eat only cooked foods, since lettuce and other foods can be washed in non-bottled water. Eat only fruits with peels for the same reason. In Cuzco and by Machu Pichu, you can find many fabulous restaurants that have excellent hygiene and food preparations, cater to travelers and clean their vegetable with filtered or bottled water. But always ask first, and only eat at reputable vendors. You can also read our guide to The Best Restaurants in Cuzco. Never eat food from sidewalk vendors. Many hotels have breakfasts that is healthy for travelers, include granola, cereals, yogurt, bananas, oranges, scrambled eggs or omelets, and breads. If you are a vegetarian, you will have plenty of food selections to choose from.
9. Health:

For information on the vaccines, medications, and other measures necessary to prevent illness and injury during international travel, 1) See a Travel Health Specialist and Clinic, and 2) you can visit the CDC web site for US government information about traveling internationally at, www.cdc.gov/travel/tropsam.htm, and read the section specific to Peru http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/peru.aspx#vaccines.

Some people have received the following shots from their doctors: Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus. These vaccinations can take months to complete! Yellow Fever and Malaria are for Amazon areas mainly. It is best to consult with your own physician, who knows your medical history and can better advise you. Bring proof of your immunizations on the trip.

If you take any prescription medicines, containers should be clearly labeled with prescription labels to avoid problems at Customs. A standard first aid kit is advisable, as well as bringing your own favorite personal "remedies" for the common possibilities. These might include a remedy for headaches, bacterial infections, stomach, colds, and dehydration. Remember, you are responsible for your own health. The local pharmacies have common pharmaceutical products also, but they are very expensive.
10. Altitude Sickness Prevention:

Diamox® is a medication your physician can prescribe to prevent altitude sickness. It can make some people drowsy and/or dehydrated. I like to take half a dose the first 2 nights in Cuzco to help me adjust to the altitude and to get a good night of sleep. Most people manage without the medication. If you are experiencing sleeplessness, you might be dehydrated and you want to drink more water immediately! Hydration is the key to avoiding altitude sickness. We recommend you drink two full liters of water per day. Drinking wine or beer will dehydrate you quickly, so avoid alcohol.
11. Money:

Consider exchanging $300 dollars at the airport. At that time, also get 20-30 coins (soles). Also bring one and five dollar bills to tip the hotel staff and taxis. There are several types of ATM Machines in Peru. You will want to call your bank ahead of the trip to make sure that you will have access to ATM's in a foreign country and which ATM's will work for your cards. Make sure that your PIN number will work in a foreign ATM. Traveler's checks are accepted in very few places. When you bring dollars into the country of Peru, they must be new dollars with no tears or rips. Damaged dollars are not accepted in Peru.
12. Internet Access:

Internet cabinas are everywhere Cuzco, and inexpensive.
13. Gifts:

Bring gifts for the Peruvian children you might meet along the way. Peruvian children love pads of paper, pens, pencils, Magic Markers, or crayons.

Many travelers bring gifts to the shamans also. Your presence with them in Peru is the best gift you could give them, as their greatest wish is to share their medicine teachings with others.

14. Luggage and Packing:

Please use your daypack as your airplane carry-on. Everything else should fit inside your main, checked suitcase. Leave some space in your main bag (or bring an extra duffle bag) for souvenir purchases.

Your trip will be more enjoyable if you're not bogged down by unnecessary packing and luggage. There are laundry facilities available at hotels. They are quite good at getting your clothes back to you quickly, and are inexpensive. Pack what you feel you absolutely NEED… but LESS IS MORE!
17. What to bring:

Sunglasses, Sunhat, Sunscreen–the sun is very strong at high altitudes.
Lightweight hiking boots
Tevas or strapped hiking sandals (optional).
Thongs are great for the shower and to walk to and from breakfast.
Electrolyte packets & granola bars, nuts, trail mix, etc.
Water Bottles
Layered clothing for day hiking. Zip-off pants are great.
Blue jeans or comfortable hiking pants. You only need three pants total.
Fleece Jacket
Three pairs of Good hiking socks
Two-three Long-sleeved lightweight shirts (the ones that wick away moisture are worth the extra expense).
Daypack and Money belt for cash and passport.
Warm jacket for nighttime.
Camera, film, digital cards and extra batteries.
Items of a personal nature & toiletries. Bring Kleenex, wet wipes and zip-lock bags for day hikes. Ladies, be prepared with feminine hygiene products.
Bug Spray/Mosquito Repellent
For some hotels you may need a 110 volt electric socket converter for South America
If you must have a blow-dryer, then bring it. However, the hotels usually have one in each room.

If you need gear and do not have a local store, try REI.com

18. On Arrival:

Eat light food, the first days. One have to be careful, to avoid breathing problems or discomfort because of the altitude.

Want To Travel To Peru? Consider Visiting Lima, Machu Picchu And Cuzco

2012-01-17T15:20:00.002-05:00

If you're planning on visiting Peru, you're probably thinking of all the amazing historical sites you can see. From the capital city of Lima, to the ancient Incan capital of Cuzco, to Machu Picchu, you will have lots of fun things to do. Before you travel to Peru, consider these must not miss sites and things to do.

Traveling to Peru

LAN Airlines offers a wide variety of flights to Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport. The airport offers many direct flights from U.S. and Canadian cities. If you're trying to travel from an international US destination always think LAN Airlines.

Things to Do In Lima

One of the best things to do in Lima is eat. The locals love their food and it shows in the many restaurants you'll find throughout the city. In between meals, though, consider visiting the Aliaga House. This is the oldest house throughout the entire Americas. Eighteen generations of the Aliaga family have lived in the house, though the current generation lives in a modern annex. If you're interested in taking a tour of the home, be prepared because they aren't exactly cheap. Visitors need to book tours at least 24 hours in advance, so realize this isn't something you can just drop into.

If historic churches are more your style, consider visiting the Church of San Francisco. The church was built in the 1600s and is known for its catacombs. The catacombs reportedly house 75,000 bodies and many of them have exposed remains so a tour is not for those who are easily queasy.

Visiting Cuzco and Machu Picchu

Cuzco is a fast-growing city in Peru. It's also a big tourist destination, thanks to the efforts of a former mayor. Many people visiting Cuzco take a day trip to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is only about 50 miles northwest of Cuzco and was recently named as one of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World.' Visitors to Machu Picchu can visit the historic buildings to see what they originally looked like back in the 1400s. Although restoration isn't complete, visitors can get an idea of what life was like when the city was abandoned in the 1500s.

Other things to do in Cuzco include hiking through the ruins at Sacsayhuaman, visiting the town's cathedral and exploring the Inca Museum.

These are only a few of the things you can explore if you have the opportunity to travel to Peru. If you're interested in making your dream a reality, get out that passport and start looking into flights.

Peru Packages: The Frozen Lady of Arequipa

2012-01-11T09:08:00.002-05:00

With its white washed buildings made from sillar, a local volcanic stone, Arequipa, second largest town of Peru, is one of the most beautiful cities in the country and home to many fascinating remnants of Inca history. Most Peru packages will take you to this wonderful place, where it is truly a pleasure to stroll down the shaded streets and admire the delicate architecture. History enthusiasts will delight in the countless attractions of this city, among which the Juanita Mummy, also known as the Ice Maiden, which you cannot miss on your Arequipa explorations.

Juanita is the frozen body of an Inca girl, believed to have lived the 15th century between 1450 and 1480. She was discovered on Mount Ampato in the nearby Colca Valley by anthropologist Johan Reinhard in 1995. Also known as the Frozen Lady or the Lady of Ampato, Juanita is remarkably well preserved which made her an important discovery, even ranked among the top 10 world discoveries of 1995.

The Ice Maiden was discovered following a series of volcanic eruptions in the regions which melted the ice on top of the mountain and allowed her grave to be uncovered. She was luckily found before her body started to degenerate, allowing for great conservation.

The excellent preservation of the body allowed for several biological tests that gave new and fascinating insights into the Inca way of life. Juanita is believed to have been between 14 and 15 years old when she was sacrificed to the gods, as next to her body were found several ceremonial offerings also very well preserved. You can admire her alpaca shoes together with fine ceramic items as well as gold and silver idols dressed in feathers. The meaning of these offerings has yet to be established.

The Museum holding Juanita is located on Arequipa's main square, Plaza de Armas. Learn more about the great Inca Empire by paying a visit to this fascinating Museum, and if you are not too frightened, step into the temperature controlled room to take a look at Juanita's body.

Tips for transportation in Peru

2012-01-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

As you prepare your exciting Peru vacation, you will notice that there are a lot of details to take into account to make sure that everything goes smoothly as you travel across the country. To avoid being taken by surprise, make sure you do your research and plan your trip accordingly. To help you do so, here is a guide to transports in Peru, with insider tips that will help you decide on the best ways to travel around.

All international flight to Peru will land in Lima, at the Jorge Chavez International Airport. The airport is modern and small enough to go around easily. Once you disembark the plane, you will pass through immigration then be directed to the luggage pick-up space. Make sure you fill out all your forms correctly, and especially the customs one which you will be asked for at the exit. If you are only staying in Lima for a few hours but still want to get out of the airport to explore the city, there are lockers where you can leave your luggage near the domestic departure exit.
Be aware that all airports in Peru have departure taxes. You have to pay the tax at a separate counter-service before boarding your flight. The international tax is $31 (s/.86.55). Domestic taxes are between $11 and 19$ depending on your destination. There are safe 24h ATMs and Currency Exchange offices in the airport.

Domestic flights are usually relatively inexpensive in Peru, and generally the best option to travel across the country in terms of time-consumption. Cheap and secure airlines in Peru include LAN, Peruvian Airlines and Star Peru, which all have websites where you can book your tickets online.

If you are on a budget, or for shorter distances, buses are an excellent way to travel through Peru. There are several good companies which offer transportation to all the main destinations. Taking the bus in Peru can be a really nice experience as they are well-equipped and come with all kinds of services such as bathrooms, meals, drinks, and movies. Depending on the distance and length of your journey, you have several options between regular, semi-cama and cama buses, with variations in the comfort level. For an overnight trip, semi-cama and cama are recommended as you can incline your seat the most and seats are a bit larger. Oltursa and Cruz del Sur are among the best known and most secure bus companies riding in Peru.

Make Your Vacations Memorable by Travelling to Peru

2011-12-28T14:51:00.002-05:00

Attached to the Andes Mountains, along with providing a scenic view of deserts, with widely spread out Amazon rainforest, Peru is the perfect tourism spot for all the nature lovers. The wide range of exciting adventures offered in Peru makes it quite difficult for a person to decide which areas to go and which to omit in the short travel time. Ancient ruins merged with the natural beauty are what the region has to offer. Tourists can go out and visit temples, lakes, beaches as well a museums.

What Peru has to Offer

Travel to Machu Picchu is an important part of travel to Peru. With ancient temples, the place has a history that attracts people towards its historical places. Once you get done with the Machu Picchu city, you can explore the deep Cola Canyon. Its depth will surely amaze the viewers.

The breathtaking natural beauty provided by the Amazon forest is not something worth missing. The wide range of flora and fauna in the forests can be a great attraction for all those studying nature, especially the botanists and geologists.
One place that is usually overlooked by a number of tourists is Huancayo town. It is a highland town, which is worth visiting. Located on the East of Peru, this place is just at a ten minutes distance from the Peruvian capital of Lima, if you go by bus. One could also go for a train ride, instead of a bus ride. The ride is just as adventurous as breathtaking is the beauty. Many people prefer to go by bus, as they have limited time, but if one has enough time, going by train can be the most memorable ride ever.

The Specialty of Hyancayo

The train journey to reach the place is just as exciting as the place is. Since Hyancayo is a high land area, the journey from Peruvian capital, Lima to this place is considered as a high train journey. It is one of the most amazing parts of the Peru travelling.

The region is also known for its tasty food. The traditional dishes offered in the best restaurants of the town are finger licking. Rural life in Peru can be witnessed by visiting the outskirts of the town of Huancayo. An ancient temple is also present in the region.

Natural Beauty of the Region

There is no limit t what nature has to offer in Peru. The scenic beauty of snow capped mountains and large sand dunes in the deserts, along with a variety of birds and plant species in the rainforest are all that make the travel to Peru special. The place should not be overlooked, and the more one visits, the more he loves it. Travel to Peru is something that needs time to be enjoyed in the perfect manner.

Ancient Ruins of Northern Peru

2011-12-21T12:22:00.001-05:00

Peru's cultural history is often summarized as Inca civilization, yet there are many older civilizations. You can see the remnants of these ancient cultures during a vacation to northern Peru. This fascinating region was home to advanced cultures before the Incas moved in, and unquestionably well before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. By the time of Christ, the Chavín and Cupisnique had already passed the torch to the Recuay, Moche, and Cajamarca, who were already distant memories when the Sicán, Chimú, and Chachapoyas were conquered by the Incas in the 1450s. All of these groups left their mark on Peruvian history, and their ruins can be seen throughout northern Peru.

Chavín de Huántar: One of Peru's oldest ruins, Chavín de Huántar was the center for Chavín religion. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located 160 miles north of Lima, near Huaraz. Today, Chavín relics can be seen in the Museo de la Naciónin in Lima or the Museo Nacional de Chavín in Chavin. Anthropomorphic carvings are also on display in the Ancash Archeological Museum in Huaraz. After getting your fill of history, explore the Cordillera Blanca.

Huaca de la Luna and Chan Chan: In modern day Trujillo, the Moche culture (50 AD – 800 AD) built the Huacas de la Luna y del Sol (Temples of the Moon and Sun) as a religious and administrative center. The ceremonial plaza on top of the adobe pyramid was reconstructed every few generations, leading archeologists to find layers painted with warriors, spiders, snakes, and the Moche's god. Just a few miles up the coast, the Chimú culture left their mark by building Chan Chan. The world's largest adobe city was once home to 30,000 people, but because of storms many of the ancient walls are now crumbling. There are, however, many buildings that are well preserved such as the palace of Nik An.
Cumbe Mayo: High in the Andes, the Cajamarca culture (200 AD – 800 AD) built stone roads throughout the mountains, as well as an extensive system of aqueducts known as Cumbe Mayo. Meaning Thin Rivers in Quechua, these aqueducts were used to store water in the rainy season and distribute it in the dry season. Surrounding Cumba Mayo is the stone forest named "Los Frailones" after the eroded stones that resemble hooded monks (frailes).

Laguna de los Condores: Past Cajamarca, is the homeland of the Chachapoyas people (800 AD – 1450 AD). High up in the cloud forests of the region, a group of farmers discovered a row of stone mausoleums on a cliff above Laguna de los Condores in 1996. Over 200 mummies were found entombed inside, and they can now be seen in Museo Leymebamba. Another option is to hike three days to the mausoleums and nearby ancient settlement of Llaqtacocha.

Kuelap: Chachapoya is an excellent base to explore the ruins in the area, including famous Kuelap. This ancient fortress was built on a crag so that the 20-meter limestone walls appear to be part of the cliff face. Many of the houses were demolished by the Spanish in the 16th century, but over 400 of the characteristic circular foundation platforms remain. Take a tour of the spectacular ruins dotted with colorful orchids and bromeliads.

Sipán, Túcume, and Batan Grande: The Moche, Sicán, and Chimú cultures left massive adobe pyramids and tombs in Chiclayo. Many of the sites have been looted over the years, but excavations continue to yield new splendors and new information.

10 Movies to Watch Before Departing for a Peru Vacation

2011-12-14T10:29:00.002-05:00

Peru's famed author, Mario Vargas Llosa, made headlines when he recently won the Noble Prize for Literature. His novels and other Peruvian books are excellent reads anytime, but especially before you travel to Peru. For those of you who would rather watch a movie than read a book, there are many options, both of adaptations of Llosa's works, as well as others. While not all are entirely historically accurate, they do provide great entertainment and will get you excited for your thrilling vacation to South America.

1) Pantaleón y las vistadoras (Capitan Pantoja and the Special Services): This adaptation of Mario Vargas Llosa's book is the highest grossing film ever at Peru's box offices. This entertaining film is about Captain Pantaleón's secret mission to stop assaults in Peru's jungles.

2) Paloma de Papel (Paper Dove): This film analyzes the horrors of the Shining Path guerilla terrorism. A young boy, Juan, is kidnapped and forced to join the fanatical Maoist group. The setting of the Andean highlands will prepare you for a vacation in the beautiful region, despite the dismal topic. While the story has some overly dramatic moments, it is worth a watch.
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3) La boca del lobo (In the Mouth of the Wolf): Another film about the struggle against the Shining Path. This film follows the army troops in a small Andean town during the start of the Shining Path. It is a thrilling must-see for those interested in Peru's troubled domestic history.

4) No se lo digas a nadie (Don't Tell Anyone): This 1998 film is the story of Joquin, a young man in Lima. He struggles to confront his homosexuality in a homophobic society.

5) Contracorriente (Undertow): Released in 2010, this film won a number of awards. It is a homosexual love story set on Peru's beautiful northern coast. A love triangle always makes for a good movie.

6) Madeinusa: Named for the main character, a Peruvian village teenager named Madeinusa. The film covers the powerful mystical rituals of Peru's Andes, as well as chronic alcohol, domestic, and sexual abuse in rural towns.

7) Dioses (Gods): A dramatic film that portrays the empty lives of the Lima upper class. The heavy theme of incest could be considered unusual and at times upsetting, but the good acting, quality dialogue, and excellent cinematography make for a decent film.

8) Días de Santiago (Days of Santiago): An ex-soldier named Santiago returns to Lima after combat and finds himself lost. The young man faces unbelievable struggles back home, and it seems to him as if war was preferable alternative. The film follows him has he works as a taxi driver, enrolls in a lousy institute, and protects his abused sister-in-law. Sadly, it seems nothing can go right for him.

9) Mariposa negra (Black Butterfly): This gripping movie follows Gabriela, a school teacher seeking revenge for the murder of her fiancé. Made in the 1990s, this movie is about corruption and revenge, and at times is dark but sexy.

10) La Teta Asustada (The Milk of Sorrow): Peru's first Oscar nominated films deserves all the attention it received. It follows the character Fausto, a girl struggling to properly bury her mother. Set in the outskirts of Lima, the dramatic war movie has eerie Quechua melodies and a great plot.

Visit Peru And Experience Its Rich Biodiversity

2011-12-06T17:21:00.002-05:00

If you take into account travel to Peru as a potential tourist destination, automatically remembers Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World that any traveler should experience once in your life. Has been blessed with 53 natural protected areas, and is home to 1,800 species of birds and a variety of terrestrial animals. Throughout the year tourists visit the place and explore the different wildlife habitats in Peru.

Bird watchers and nature lovers visit Peru from different corners of the world and enjoy excursions to national parks and National Park Cutervo, Tingo Maria National Park, Manu National Park and wildlife parks more. A walk through these dense woodlands offers a closer view of night birds, mammals and endangered reptiles. In addition, a visit to coastal areas provides the dollar million hits deer turtle, iguana, skunk and giants.

The Amazon rainforest in Peru gives shelter to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, jaguars, snakes, crocodiles, wild pigs, macaws, parrots and hundreds of other bird species. Tourists can see some of them in his way, but in order to discover the central areas of the forest, seek the help of professional guides provided by tour operators in Ecuador. They offer a wide range of travel options to suit the interests and budget of visitors to South America.
There are many tour operators in Peru that offers affordable neighboring areas such as Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and sights in the region of South America. They offer visitors the opportunity to experience the desert in Mindo cloud forest and scuba diving tours in the Galapagos Islands. Besides the quality tour packages, tour operators also provide tourists with accommodation in the Amazon jungle lodges.

Beside from wildlife viewing, visitors can also plan diving into Peru adventure tours. The western part of the country is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The underwater world is blessed with vibrant marine creatures such as sea bass, sole, anchovies, tuna, crustaceans and molluscs. The exploration of marine reserves, divers can also occur in the school of sharks, whales and sperm whales.

Peru adventure tours also consist of Baby Boomers with a paranormal chance to take pleasure in Peru with a certain style. The land of the ancient Incas has beckoned to travelers everywhere imagination for centuries. Fortunately, experience is no longer limited to the fittest and the young.

To obtain entire information on adventure tours wildlife in South America, you can contact tour operators via the Internet and get best Latin America tour packages. Peru Adventure Tours offer a variety of opportunities to witness incredible ancient Incas and go through several micro-climates that are present along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Therefore, do not look elsewhere and get set to experience the desert in Peru!

Casa Andina Private Collection: Your Choice for a Luxury Peru Vacation

2011-12-01T11:55:00.001-05:00

Traveling across Peru, learning about its people's fascinating history and exploring its beautiful cities and countryside, you might want to treat yourself to a little luxury that will enhance your trip. Casa Andina is a first class hotel branch offering high quality accommodations throughout the country. In the past few years, Casa Andina has developed a new branch of luxury hotels specifically that would meet the needs and standards of even the most discriminative travelers: Casa Andina Private Collection.

If you are looking to add a luxurious touch to your Peru vacation, Casa Andina will provide you with excellent services wherever you are. With six hotels located in Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Arequipa, Puno and on Lake Titicaca, Casa Andina Private Collection offers some of the best luxury accommodations in Peru.

All Casa Andina Private Collection hotels feature a unique architecture and a wonderful setting combined with all latest modern amenities that will make your stay both comfortable and unforgettable. Stay in an iconic modern building in Lima or an 18th century colonial manor in Cusco; enjoy the breathtaking views of picturesque Sacred Valley from your room in the midst of this fertile Inca land; soak up the history in an emblematic 18th century mansion and former Mint house in Arequipa; and overlook the world's highest navigable lake perched on the banks of Lake Titicaca or from the secluded private island of Suasi.

Casa Andina Private Collection awaits you with personalized service, luxurious accommodations and gourmet restaurants featuring the best of the Peru's delicious gastronomy. Located in Peru's main cities and close to all its wonderful attractions, each Casa Andina Private Collection hotel will contribute to make your trip a one-of-a-kind experience, free from hassle. For those who enjoy being pampered on their vacation!

Lima Vacation: Top Things To Do In Peru'S City Of Kings

2011-11-16T07:27:00.002-05:00

When tourists plan a vacation to Peru they tend to skip over Lima. Instead of planning a Lima vacation they'll look at Cuzco with Machu Picchu nearby, or the Amazon jungles of Iquitos to satisfy touristic curiosity. Lima isn't even given a second thought. For tourists Lima is simply used as a stop-off point at the international airport before heading off to the more publicized attractions that Peru has to offer.

There is a fog that hangs over Lima for most of the year which seems to cover the tourist's eyes from seeing what hides beyond. When a person gets past the smog and the bustle of nearly 10 million inhabitants on its crowded streets, one finds a gem of cultural history going back to times when the Inca Empire ruled the country and afterwards the Spanish conquistadors.

Lima was known to the Spaniards as the "City of Kings" and was the capital city of Spanish South America. The Incas made Lima a major part of their Empire, who had trading routes going from Cuzco to Lima. There are still colonial buildings and remnants of ancient civilizations in Lima. The city also offers a wide variety of Peruvian food, dance, theater, art and culture.

When planning a vacation to Peru consider taking a Lima vacation to experience another flavor of this mystical land.

There are two main areas in Lima that are of interest to the tourist:

Historic Center of Lima and Downtown Lima

The historic center of Lima is a UNESCO World Heritage site which includes a number of things of interest to the tourist. The Plaza de Armas, or Plaza Major (Main Square), is the central focus of Lima. This was a part of the Spanish Inquisition after Inca rule and is now a place to take a stroll and see the magnificent colonial architecture that the Historic Center has to offer. On the four sides of the Plaza de Armas stand the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace and City Hall. For a small fee you can be taken around the Square in a horse-pulled buggy.

Many of the old buildings have beautiful balconies that were once famously used by the Tapadas, the covered women of Lima, who elegantly wore clothing that covered everything but their eyes.

The Iglesia de San Francisco is a remarkable church that is most famous for the catacombs beneath it that hold the skeletal remains of 25,000 people who were laid to rest during the 16th and 19th centuries. No Lima vacation would be complete without a visit. The Museo de Arte has exhibits of ancient and modern Peruvian art.

Take a stroll just off the Plaza de Armas to discover a wide variety of restaurants offering some of the finest Peruvian cuisine, which is considered to be one of the best in the world holding several Guinness World Records. Handicraft stores sell a wide assortment of souvenirs at very reasonable prices and of high quality.

The Plaza de Acho bullfighting ring was once the largest in the world and is still the oldest in South America. Nearby is it's Taurino museum with displays from Peru's bullfighting history. The area called Cerro San Cristobal has a large cross on it's hill with a good viewpoint of Lima city.

The Park of the Reserve hosts the Magic Circuit of Water which is comprised of the largest fountain complex in the world and is a fun place to visit if you have enough time during your Lima vacation. There are several fountains at the park, including a walk-through water tunnel and the Children's Fountain. The largest fountain sprays water 80 meters high. In the evening there is a laser and picture show accompanied by synchronized music.

Miraflores

Miraflores is an upscale part of Lima that is popular hangout for tourists on their Lima vacation. It's central point is Parque Kennedy (Kennedy Park) where outside shows are performed, artists display their work and chess players gather. Just off the park is Calle de las Pizzas (Pizza Street) with several restaurants that serve not only pizza, but Peruvian dishes as well. There are also several discos and karaoke bars in the area that are open all night long. The popular Luis Miro Quesada Garland Hall exhibits superb artwork from Peruvian and foreign artists.

Shopping is abundant in Miraflores although higher-priced than downtown. The shopping center Larcomar has restaurants, stores, a movie theater, a bowling alley, arcades and two discotecas. Larcomar is located on a hill which provides great views of the ocean and it's beaches below. Miraflores beaches offer excellent opportunities to swim, surf and paraglide.

On Calle Piura 135, just a few minutes from Parque Kennedy, is located the South American Explorers clubhouse. This is a great source of information for anyone who travels in Peru and South America. They also host weekly events.

The only remaining ruins in Miraflores is the Huaca Pucllana which dates back to 200 - 700 AD and was an important site to the ancient Lima Culture. It is 22 meters high, made of sun-dried adobe brick, and is divided into a ceremonial and administrative section. Sometimes events and music shows are held there. On site is also a museum and a restaurant with a great view of the ruins which are floodlit at night.

Tours

There are several tour agencies located in the blocks around the Plaza de Armas. Miraflores has tour agencies centered around Parque Kennedy. All of these agencies offer city tours of both areas. Tours show highlights of the two districts, and some extended city tours include a few extra things to see. Right off the Plaza de Armas there are benches available where people wait for a tour bus that stops by regularly. This tour includes a brief overview of Lima city, then moves on to the bullfighting ring and San Cristobal. If you don't have much time on your Lima vacation, then this is the tour to take.

A good alternative to traditional tours is the Mirabus. It's office is located at Larco 345, Mezzanine 9, Miraflores and offers several different panoramic bus tours of Lima and Miraflores. The company also gives tours of Lima's port Callao and of the archaeological site Pachacamac.

As you can see, Lima has a diversity of options available for the inquisitive tourist. So before being too quick to jump on a plane elsewhere, give a second thought to your potential Lima vacation.

Buses Peru

2011-10-12T11:44:00.003-05:00

Airplane: The most secure option for getting all-around Peru is to fly on LAN Airlines. Unfortunately, LAN does not fly all over the place, but it does travel to most main tourist locations. Whilst it is a more highly-priced way to travel, LAN is rather reputable and risk-free in contrast to other modes of journey in the area. To guide minimize costs, you can get discounted flight passes if you entered the nation on LAN or a single of its affiliates. The flight passes considerably be purchased from a LAN agent in your dwelling region.

Train: Even though significantly less popular, there are some routes obtainable by train in Peru. The most common route is the train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes (halt for Machu Picchu). Domestic flights have increased 21 percent in 2011, compared to the very same interval in 2010. These figures are primarily based on the very first trimester of each year. The complete domestic flight targeted visitors in Peru was far more than 1.4 million passengers.

Internals flights in Peru are very popular primarily mainly because the amount of domestic flights can be comparable to extended-distance bus trips. Also, Peru's geography may make extensive distance journeys across the country difficult. The Andes divide the country down the center, and the Amazon jungle, which encompasses a lot more than fifty % of the nation, lacks strong transport infrastructure. This usually means that a bus journey that is brief in distance can take an highly lengthy time. Not to mention the trip would take you on windy, bumpy roads that often do not have the most effective security data. For that reason, quite a few vacationers and locals alike want to fly.

The improve of domestic flights to Cusco enhanced 17 percent in the course of this same time period, with a whole of 110,464 passengers. This is the location with the much more arriving domestic flights. Coming in 2nd spot was Arequipa, with 72,884 passengers, an enhance of 27 %. In 3rd position for total flights was Iquitos with 51,959 passengers, a 5 % enhance. Iquitos is a one of a kind place for the reason that the only actual way to get there is by flying or taking a boat up tributaries of the Amazon River.

The airline that carried the most passengers in Peru was LAN Peru. LAN flew 62 percent of the passengers for the duration of this interval, a total of 869,196 passengers. LAN is frequently deemed the finest and safest airline to fly with in Peru. It is, nonetheless, the most pricey and charges an extra tax if the passenger is not a legal resident of Peru. Coming in second put was Peruvian Airlines with 16 % of the domestic flight marketplace in the course of this time period, carrying a total of 230,391 passengers. Then Star Peru with 15 %, Taca Peru with 4 %, and ATSA with below 1 percent.

For people of your traveling to Peru and want to expertise the Peruvian countryside, bus travel in Peru is also quite preferred. Bus journeys are less difficult if you're going along the coast, for the reason that the road is rather straight and flat, but journey in the mountains can be breathtakingly beautiful.

The Incredible and inexpensive journey to Peru

2011-10-05T06:22:00.003-05:00

Many important aspects are, considered necessary to keep in mind for preparing for your excursion. The part of planning and preparing for the journey is the most exciting because all of our friends and family gets together and plan for the feast. So it increases the level of thrill to travel. But it is necessary to make all the arrangements for the trip before and with complete satisfaction and knowledge. Tickets, clothes, reservations among others are very significant to confirm before leaving.

These days' online bookings for flight tickets and reservation for hotels are, easily managed. They take less time and offer you with proper information, details and perfect packages according to your needs and requirements. If you are planning to travel to a place with rich culture, natural resources and many great places to visit then Peru is a very good option. If you travel to peru then you, can have many great memories, as the location is very beautiful and affordable as well. It also has the diversity and wealth that is not common in the world. The main attractions of this place are archaeological patrimony of pre Colombian cultures and the center of Inca's empire, their gastronomy, colonial architecture (has imposing colonial constructions). Moreover, you can always go for fun, exciting and affordable vacation package Peru.

The place is very affordable and their holiday packages will be according to your pocket. You can also get multiple offers and discounts on the packages. With the proper package, you can experience Peru in a different and a unique way. Another striking feature in Peru that you cannot afford to miss if you are going to Peru and that is Cusco Tours. It is also famous as the magical and classic Cusco. It has a beautiful landscape that conjugates with the blue sky, white clouds and amazing mountains. While traveling along the roads you can feel the heritage inherited that give an indication of its art. Even now, if you walk in the streets then it is visible that rocks are smartly united and the old houses built by Spanish over essential Inca foundations. It is impossible to observe the importance that this city had in the Inca period. While traveling in the place of mysteries and magical stories you will forget all about the outer world and will get lost in the stories and magic of the beautiful Peru.

Vegetarian and Vegan Diet Concerns While Traveling in Peru

2011-09-28T16:57:00.002-05:00

For people with selective diets, such as vegetarian, vegan or raw vegan, there may be concerns about the feasibility of maintaining the diet while traveling. My experiences as a mostly raw vegan were that this really isn't a problem. Finding fresh fruits and veggies is easier than in most places in the United States. Every city that I visited, no matter the size, had a central market that was open daily. Some cities also had a weekly street market where vendors filled the streets with their products.

These markets are where the locals shop for most of their needs. The fixed markets, that is, those that are open daily consist of "puestos" or stands, that are individually owned. They are usually located inside a covered tent-like structure. Many puestos make fruit smoothies in a blender or prepare non-vegetarian or cooked food on a grill. Here you can buy locally grown fruit and take it back to your room to eat when you are hungry.

Most of these markets are centrally located. The employees at your hostel or hotel can usually give you directions. The market en Lima is off the tourist path a ways but well worth the trek. It's in a huge cement structure that looks like a parking garage with ramps that go up to different levels. Here you can get anything and it's the only place in Peru that I could find bubble wrap.

When selecting produce, it is recommended to stick to fruits and vegetables that have a peel. This way the food is protected from bacteria and germs. So things like strawberries, tomatos, celery or lettuces is best to avoid. Examples of foods that I ate: avocados, bananas, cucumbers, cherimoyas, mamays, mangos and papayas. I learned to travel with my own ceramic peeler.

If you eat in the restaurants, you'll want to learn the names of food items on a menu so you don't accidentally order something you don't want to eat. I found this to be challenging as many of the words on the menus were regional. You may have to interrogate the server. Although most restaurants are willing to accommodate special requests, you really have to be clear and specific what your needs are. The waitstaff may not understand the nature of your request. If they bring out something that contains cheese and you are a vegan, you can either eat around it or ask them to replace it. Keep in mind that the service is usually snail-paced in Peruvian restaurants so you may have to wait a long time. It is best to go into restaurants realizing that you may have to compromise. If there is any doubt, order a simple salad.

Most tour guidebooks have recommendations for vegetarian restaurants, including the world-wide Hare Krisha chain Govinda. (There's one in Lima, Miraflores, and Cusco.) I even found some vegetarian restaurants in some of the smaller towns like Máncora and Piura. Most grocery stores have a "healthfood" section which is little more than a few shelves of vegetarian treats like soy-based cookies and snacks.

I also enjoyed eating some of the street food. This of course is much cheaper than the restaurants but can be a bit dangerous if you are eating meat. The conditions aren't that sanitary, and I'm a certified food handler so I know what I'm talking about. They may not be washing the knives after cutting raw meat, etc. It's much safer to eat vegetarian food if you are going to eat the street food. There is a quinoa soup that street vendors sell in Lima which is delicious. And in the Andes it is common to find stands that sell a dish (I forget the name) that contains corn, onions and tomato. It's really simple, but delicious.

One of my favorite things to do in Peru is to have a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice in the morning. Many of the cities I visited have orange juice stands. The vendor puts an orange in a vice and spins it manually against a blade to peel it. Then he or she puts the peeled orange in a press and squeezes out the juice. The juice goes into a bucket and when there is enough juice, they pour it into a glass. The self-contained cart even carries a place to wash the glasses after the customer finishes the drink. In most places a glass of juice only costs 1 sole (about 33 cents) but in Lima, especially in the morning they charge 2 soles.

Another treat if you can find it is freshly pressed sugar cane juice. I found a stand that sells this in Chiclayo and a roving stand (on wheels) in Huaraz. The one in Chiclayo used an electric motor, but the roving stand was pressed by hand. It is delicious.

In summary, eating a vegetarian or vegan diet in Peru is really easy. It definitely helps if you know enough Spanish to talk to the waitstaff or street vendors about the ingredients. The produce in the markets is usually fresh and abundant. And it's cheap! Just remember to keep smiling when the locals call you a rabbit (for eating rabbit food!)

Peru Travels - Backdrop and Well-known Details

2011-09-21T06:23:00.002-05:00

The following general information offers you an analysis of the land before having the Peru tourdates.HistoryThe thing about Peru is that it links with the oldest civilizations of this world. The truth is, the main points of attention for Peru organized tours are the archaeological spots of pre-Colombian cultures. well guided organized excursions in Peru will as a rule embrace a call to the hub of the traditional Inca's Empire spot that give proof to among the oldest cultures of human.

Weather ConditionsPeru has 3 many types of climatic areas. The coast of Peru is dry and chilly due to the freezing currents flowing at the South Pacific ocean bordering the country. The area receives less than 50mm of rainfall throughout the year making it a dry region with little vegetation cover. The coastline has cliffs and it is stony, possibly not so beneficial for coastline Peru organized excursions.

Peru other weather region is the Andes mountain district. The mountains raise to above 6,700 m above ocean level making the area one of the uppermost in the globe. Around the hills, rainfall is consistent and their weather is sweet for agricultural and stock raring. The third climatic area in Peru would be the Amazon river jungle. The area comes just after the tremendous mountain place and it has a thick jungle of steamy rain jungles. Not many people reside along the river basin. The general climatic condition in Peru is often heat because it is close to the equator. However, if you happen to take guided tours in Peru, you'll be directed of the specific weather to expect at specific districts and at specific instances of the yr.

RegionsThere're many regions one could find out while taking advised travels in Peru. The state occupies 1,285,216 sq. km and has a population of 29.5 persons. Main cities inside the countryside can include the capital, Lima, which is as well the most important city along the Pacific coast. Many other cities embrace Cusco, Huaraz, Iquitos, Pisco plus Puno. The EconomyDespite the fact that the state is rich in natural resources and high income from advised trips in Peru, the country is a rising region with 36% of its inhabitants living below the IMF poverty limit. The nation is also known for the wide disparity between the poor and the wealthy and 12.6% of the population is claimed to be extraordinarily poor with a very small proportion of rich Hispanic elite managing many of the riches and resources. When you plan on taking Peru organized tours for holiday vacation, you will need to adhere to varied journey suggestions associated with traveling to developing nations.

This consists of extreme caution when reserving a lodge, taking meals from having places, drinking tap water and extreme caution when touring through several regions.The PlacePeru has various pretty spots for Peru travels. These consist of Machu Picchu, an archaeological spot, the Colca Canyo, which undoubtedly is an attractive panorama environment with animals and lovely plant life. It's also possible to take a trek or hike on these places via well guided excursions of Peru. Other Peru organized tours attractions consist of the Manu nationwide park, the Nazca line, Cuzo the sacred valley, Lake Titicaca plus the Amazon river.

10 Movies to Watch Before Departing for a Peru Vacation

2011-09-14T09:57:00.001-05:00

Peru's famed author, Mario Vargas Llosa, made headlines when he recently won the Noble Prize for Literature. His novels and other Peruvian books are excellent reads anytime, but especially before you travel to Peru. For those of you who would rather watch a movie than read a book, there are many options, both of adaptations of Llosa's works, as well as others. While not all are entirely historically accurate, they do provide great entertainment and will get you excited for your thrilling vacation to South America.

1) Pantaleón y las vistadoras (Capitan Pantoja and the Special Services): This adaptation of Mario Vargas Llosa's book is the highest grossing film ever at Peru's box offices. This entertaining film is about Captain Pantaleón's secret mission to stop assaults in Peru's jungles.

2) Paloma de Papel (Paper Dove): This film analyzes the horrors of the Shining Path guerilla terrorism. A young boy, Juan, is kidnapped and forced to join the fanatical Maoist group. The setting of the Andean highlands will prepare you for a vacation in the beautiful region, despite the dismal topic. While the story has some overly dramatic moments, it is worth a watch.

3) La boca del lobo (In the Mouth of the Wolf): Another film about the struggle against the Shining Path. This film follows the army troops in a small Andean town during the start of the Shining Path. It is a thrilling must-see for those interested in Peru's troubled domestic history.

4) No se lo digas a nadie (Don't Tell Anyone): This 1998 film is the story of Joquin, a young man in Lima. He struggles to confront his homosexuality in a homophobic society.

5) Contracorriente (Undertow): Released in 2010, this film won a number of awards. It is a homosexual love story set on Peru's beautiful northern coast. A love triangle always makes for a good movie.

6) Madeinusa: Named for the main character, a Peruvian village teenager named Madeinusa. The film covers the powerful mystical rituals of Peru's Andes, as well as chronic alcohol, domestic, and sexual abuse in rural towns.

7) Dioses (Gods): A dramatic film that portrays the empty lives of the Lima upper class. The heavy theme of incest could be considered unusual and at times upsetting, but the good acting, quality dialogue, and excellent cinematography make for a decent film.

8) Días de Santiago (Days of Santiago): An ex-soldier named Santiago returns to Lima after combat and finds himself lost. The young man faces unbelievable struggles back home, and it seems to him as if war was preferable alternative. The film follows him has he works as a taxi driver, enrolls in a lousy institute, and protects his abused sister-in-law. Sadly, it seems nothing can go right for him.

9) Mariposa negra (Black Butterfly): This gripping movie follows Gabriela, a school teacher seeking revenge for the murder of her fiancé. Made in the 1990s, this movie is about corruption and revenge, and at times is dark but sexy.

10) La Teta Asustada (The Milk of Sorrow): Peru's first Oscar nominated films deserves all the attention it received. It follows the character Fausto, a girl struggling to properly bury her mother. Set in the outskirts of Lima, the dramatic war movie has eerie Quechua melodies and a great plot.

A travel in Peru will provide the best touring experience to your travelling addiction

2011-09-07T06:32:00.002-05:00

Peru has been one of the most visited tourist destination in the whole world. Peru has been providing immense pleasure to all its visitors as it has numerous sites to visits from which some of the sites are a part of the world heritage. Machu Picchu and the Cusco Peru are the best places to travel in Peru. The Inca treks are renounced all over the world. Apart from the Cusco Peru, the ruins of Ollantaytambo and Moray Inca are some other ancient spots to be visited.

The Peru travel and agencies provide different kinds of travel packages that cover all the tourist sites of the country. There are many tourist destinations that bring the people closer to the Peruvian civilizations. Some of the best Peruvian destinations that must be visited include Arequipa and some volcanic buildings, the nazca desert and the paracas. Nearly all the tourist packages in Peru cover the Lima. Lima is the capital of Peru and is regarded as one of the best area s of the nation. The art and architecture of the city has made it famous all over the world.

The Amazon in Peru and some wonderful hotels adds to the most desired tourist spot of the country. Another spot that must be looked around is the pisac. Pisac is located at a distance of 45 minutes away from the Cusco. This amazing spot that is located in a sacred valley provides with the best sights of the terrace farming and some stonework on the temples of the ancient period. Picas is also famous for its market held on Sunday where such items and products are available that lures all the tourists from all around the world.

But it is always advisable to travel along with a reputed travel agent who will provide you with glimpse of some never seen sights in the whole country. The travel agencies also provide city tours to some places like Plaza de Armas, the Spanish cathedral, and some brilliant views of Inca ruins of Koricancha, Quenko, Puca Pucara, and Sacsayhuaman.

There are some other districts in Cusco that famous even in the neighborhood nations and one such district of Cusco is the San Blas. San Blas provides an attractive view of the architecture of the place. Apart from the architecture San Blas also has some lucrative shops and some wonderful restaurants placed on the side of the streets. This district of Cusco was severely damaged from the earthquake of 1950 but efforts were made to restore the glory of the district and in 1993 this place developed even at a much fast pace and today is known to be the trendiest districts of the Cusco. This district is also full with some lovely hotels.

South America Travel – Vacation Trip to Peru

2011-09-02T16:31:00.003-05:00

A trip to Peru is fascinating and magical. Travel Peru’s varied scenery, from desert coastline to lush mountains and fertile valleys, sampling its tasty seafood and absorbing its ancient culture among the most interesting experiences in South America. Sightseeing in Peru is an other-worldly experience. It offers a plethora of scenic landscapes as well as a cultural mix that is evident in both the architecture and customs. The first taste makes the traveler curious to know more.

Visit Machu Picchu, the most recognized settlement of the Incas, located in the southern Peruvian Andes in a unique and mystical setting. Touring this holy place is to witness an archaeological site with architectonic and engineering innovations which have survived the ages. There are no words to describe the magnificence of such a scene which has become one of the most highly sought destinations for tour operators in Peru.

Cordillera Blanca is the perfect place for trekking, climbing, cycling, rafting or to simply enjoy the highest mountain in Peru. Huascaran National Park includes the whole Cordillera Blanca above 4.000 m and due of its character of Unesco World Biosphere Reserve, visiting this part of central Peru is a dream comes true for nature and archeology lovers.

The famous Nazca lines, located in the southwest of the country, are a set of gigantic ancient zoomorphic and geometric figures, some simple and others more complex. All images are mapped onto the surface and can be seen in their entirety only from the air. There are more questions than answers about how between 200 BC and 700 inhabitants of this desert were able to draw such immense images on the ground. Close by is located Cerro Blanco, which, with a height of 2078 m is the highest dune in the world, an ideal destination for sand boarding and paragliding in Peru.

Peru is a country with a strong indigenous tradition that can be seen in the colorful markets where each item can be viewed as a small masterpiece. Pisac, a small town located in the Sacred Valley, is one of the best ways to see how the Quechua tradition is experienced today. Pisac´s Sunday Market is well-known and is ideal for having direct contact with locals who are selling their products. At the same time, Pisac is an ideal starting point for tour to Peru, visiting archaeological sites, breathtaking scenery and the local flora and fauna.

Morton graduate pursuing mission work in Peru

2011-08-24T16:11:00.000-05:00

Brad Roth said that when his 6-year-old son, Mateo, thinks of Peru, he thinks of “good food and family and his little cousins he wants to play with.”

But little Mateo will soon see a different side of Peru.

Brad — a 1995 Morton High School graduate — will soon travel with his son; his wife, Lici; and his other son Elijah, 3, to Cuzco, Peru, to spend a year on a mission assignment for Eastern Mennonite Missions.

“Lici is from Lima, Peru, so we had toyed with the idea of doing some work in Peru,” he said. “We started looking around and connected with Eastern Mennonite Missions.”

The Roths — who called Warden, Wash., home for the past five years — are currently staying with Brad’s parents in Pekin. Their year-long journey will begin Sept. 10 when they will head to Harrisburg, Penn., to attend training for a week and then travel on to Cuzco.

Brad visited friends who were participating with a mission program in Peru in 2009.

“I saw what was going on and thought, ‘Maybe there would be a role we could play and support this work and be involved with this.’ As my term was coming to an end with the church, we felt that calling to explore some other options.”

While in Warden, Brad served as pastor at Warden Mennonite Church. Lici worked as a health promoter with the Hispanic population at the Moses Lake Community Health Center.

In Cuzco, the couple will find themselves in similar roles.

“They have a clinic they work with and a health promoter program that they wanted to expand, so Lici can just plug right into that,” Brad said. “I’m going to be doing pastoral and theological and biblical training with the pastors and the church leaders. I’ll also be working with the school — the mission has a school there — and I’ll be almost doing like chaplaincy work with the kids in the school.”

The couple will also be working with the indigenous Quechua-speaking population. Most of their work will be done in Spanish, but Brad will also study Quechua.

Brad’s college career at Rock Island’s Augustana College led him to meet his wife.

“I did my junior year there in Arequipa, Peru, and I met her when she and some friends came down for a conference on economics,” Brad said.

Do Drinking Abroad Programs Have A Studying Problem?

2011-08-22T15:13:00.001-05:00

Many of today’s college students grew up listening to their parents reminisce about studying abroad. So, it's no wonder that programs abroad have seen a surge in popularity, even as they've undergone drastic changes.

Hundreds of thousands of students will leave the U.S. this school year to — at least in theory — hit the books in foreign countries. Butler University’s Institute for Study Abroad alone now sends about 3,500 abroad each year. In 1989, the program sent 57.

Here is a second statistic: A recent study at the University of Washington found that students studying abroad are likely to significantly increase, if not double, their alcohol intake while away.

Unlike their parents, who today’s students can likely thank for taking them on trips abroad — study abroad applicants are likely to have traveled. Rather than stepping out blinking into the foreign light, these 19- and 20-year-olds are going out on the town. Ironically, a generation whose passion for travel was fueled by early study abroad programs has, in taking their kids abroad, birthed a generation that sees similar programs as an excuse to party.

2011-08-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

WikiLeaks: Fissures Over South American Left Integration

2011-08-15T20:14:00.000-05:00

Over the past few years, the international left has derived much satisfaction from the course of South American political and economic integration. The novelty of such integration is that it has proceeded along progressive lines and has been pushed by regional leaders associated with the so-called "Pink Tide." With so many leftist leaders in power, it is plausible to surmise that a left bloc of countries might challenge Washington's long-term hemispheric agenda. Yet, behind all of the lofty rhetoric and idealism, serious fissures remain within South America's leftist movement, both within individual countries and within the larger regional milieu.

That, at least, is the impression I got from reading U.S. State Department cables recently declassified by whistle-blowing outfit WikiLeaks. Take, for example, the Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva administration in Brazil, which at times encouraged a "hostile" climate against the Free Trade Area of the Americas or FTAA, a corporately-sponsored plan backed by Washington, while on other occasions encouraging "public doubt and confusion through its own often-conflicting statements" about the accord. Behind the scenes, the Brazilian government was much more divided on the matter than commonly portrayed, torn between its South American loyalties on the one hand and the desire to gain access to the lucrative U.S. market for agricultural and industrial goods on the other.

In 2003, the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia noted that "Brazil's political goals, which include a leadership role in South America along with a strong focus on development and the social agenda, sometimes clash in its pursuit of certain national economic interests." Cautiously, Brazil conducted sensitive negotiations with Washington over the FTAA. Lula's position was somewhat delicate: while the president needed a substantial export boost to fund his social agenda, producers were fearful about facing increased competition.

Across the border in Argentina, Lula could count on political ally Néstor Kirchner, and as a result the prospects for further integration through South American trade bloc Mercosur looked bright. On the other hand, however, Mercosur remained "more important as a political project than an economic one," and virtually all Brazilians recognized that, in the long term, Mercosur would not offer a viable long-term solution to Brazil's export needs.

The World's Longest Raft Race on the Amazon in Iquitos, Peru - October Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/08/10/prweb87

2011-08-11T06:34:00.000-05:00

Join LivinginPeru.com for the 13th consecutive running of the World's longest raft race that takes place on the Amazon River near Iquitos, Peru. The race, the longest of its kind in the world, covers 180 kilometers over three days on balsa-log rafts. Amateur adventure seekers, professionals, media and supporters from all over the world come to compete for bragging rights, and the honor of living up to the race's motto: "The Faint of Heart Need Not Apply!"

Last year, fifty teams from Peru as well as England, America, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Iran and Israel turned out to participate in this unique sporting event. "Last year's Amazon Raft Race was a major success and this year's Raft Race will be bigger and better as we are aiming for 75 teams", added Carsten Korch President and CEO of LivinginPeru.com.

Whether you are a serious competitive rafter, or merely an intrepid amateur of any age, three days and nights along this spectacular, unspoiled stretch of the upper Amazon is an unforgettable and often, life-changing experience within the confines of unparalleled natural beauty. It is a great combination of Nature, Adventure, and Fun. See what others had to say about last year's event.

This year's event takes place from October 4th-9th. Teams must be in Iquitos by the evening of October 4th and the race starts on the morning of October 6. For additional information or to sign up visit our partner organization, Peru Experience.

About the Raft Race
In June 1998 Mike Collis moved to Iquitos from England, for what he thought would be a quiet life. In 1999 Mike was asked if he had any ideas to promote tourism in the Amazon region. Mike told him that for more than 25 years he had organized raft races in England.

The first Amazon Raft Race took place in 1999 with 43 crews competing in a one day race with a winning time of 2.50 hours. The second race, one year later, was on the same course with over 60 teams from 14 different countries competing, and in 2003 the course was extended to 42 kilometers over 2 days.

American David Kelly and his illustrious "Easy Living" was the first foreign team to win the race in 2008, and their record time of only 12 hours and 19 minutes still stands.

About the organizers
LivinginPeru.com is the most authoritative and reliable English-language resource for those interested in living, working, traveling, and investing in Peru.

Peru Experience is an innovative travel agency continuously striving to be at the vanguard of Peruvian tourism, combining local knowledge with an interest for creating unique lifetime experiences for everybody coming to Peru.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/08/10/prweb8703154.DTL#ixzz1Uif4i7Nu

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu among top 10 hiking destinations

2011-08-08T14:37:00.001-05:00

Lima, Aug. 07 (ANDINA). The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru, has been named in a list of top ten hiking trails worldwide by a travel website.

Online travel adviser Cheapflights on Sunday released its top 10 list, including hiking destinations in the United States, Spain, Wales, Tanzania, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, China and Peru.

"As one of South America's most celebrated ancient sites, Machu Picchu attracts travelers from all over the world trying to catch a glimpse of Inca life thousands of years ago.

"Most visitors opt for train service to Machu Picchu, but the adventure traveler will appreciate a guided four-day hike along the Inca Trail. Much of it passes through cloud forests that are so surreal, it's easy to forget where you are, not to mention traveling past ruins like the vast agricultural terraces and climbing the infamous Dead Woman's Pass.

"For those who aren't quite up for the full 50-mile trek, two-day options are available, and like many guided tours, porters can be paid to carry any belongings," the travel website noted.

Besides Machu Picchu, the list features the Appalachian Trail, Camino Frances, Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zion Narrows, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Paine Circuit Trek, West Coast Trail and Tiger Leaping Gorg

Retorno del Shuttle Atlantis marca el fin de 30 años de Transbordadores Espaciales de la NASA

2011-08-03T16:17:00.002-05:00

El aterrizaje del transbordador espacial (en Inglés Space Shuttle) ATLANTIS de la NASA, llamado oficialmente Space Transportation System (STS), en castellano "Sistema de Transporte Espacial", completa la último misión de este transbordador y de la familia de transbordadores STS, y marca el fin de la era del Programa del Space Shuttle, con mas de 30 años de servicios para la NASA realizado desde 1981. Los transbordadores durante ese tiempo pudieron aterrizar en 3 distintos lugares: Kennedy Space Center en Florida, Edwards Air Force Base en California y White Sands Space Harbor en New Mexico.

[Atlantis luego de abandonar la Estación Espacial Internacional en su orbita de retorno.]

Desde el despegue de la primera misión del transbordador espacial realizado por el COLUMBIA (misión STS-1) el 12 de Abril de 1981, los transbordadores se han utilizado para el transporte de grandes cargas hacia varias órbitas, para el abastecimiento y construcción de la Estación Espacial Internacional (ISS) con sus módulos orbítales y para realizar misiones del mantenimiento como por ejemplo en el Telescopio espacial Hubble. El primer orbitador completamente funcional, el Columbia, fue construido en Palmdale, California, y enviado al Centro Espacial Kennedy el 25 de Marzo de 1979. En Julio de 1982 se unio a la flota el CHALLENGER, destruido en un accidente el 28 de Enero de 1986. En Noviembre de 1983 llegó el DISCOVERY, y en abril de 1985 el ATLANTIS. El último transbordador construido fue el ENDEAVOUR, en reemplazo del Challenger, sumandose a la flota en Mayo de 1991.

Las 5 naves han logrado participar en 135 misiones, viajando traveled 872'906,380 kilometros orbitando la tierra 21,152 veces, llevando al espacio 355 humanos y mas de 1,590 toneladas de carga y experimentos.

Faltando un poco mas de 5 horas, para concluir su última misión al espacio, exactamente a las 06:32 GMT, el Shuttle ATLANTIS sobrevoló territorio peruano regresando a la tierra de su misión ULF-7 a la Estacion Espacial Internacional o también denominada misión STS-135 como se le denomina al último vuelo de este transbordador.

Atravesando la Linea Ecuatorial en su "Last Orbit o Última Orbita" numerada como la "Orbita 200", los astronautas norteamericanos commandante de vuelo Christopher Ferguson, piloto Douglas Hurley, e ingenieros de vuelo Sandra Magnus y Rex Walheim prepararon los sistemas mecánicos y eléctronicos del Shuttle para su aterrizaje programado para
las 11:56 GMT (5:56 hora local) en Cabo Cañaveral, Florida.

La deorbita del Shuttle se realizó a las 10:49 GMT a una altura de 386 km (240 millas) y se llevo a cabo durante 3 minutos y 16 segundos reduciendo la velocidad del mismo a 27,359 km/h (17,000 mph) para facilitar su reentrada a la atmósfera terrestre.

Con el aterrizaje del Atlantis en el Runway 15 del Kennedy Space Center y el regreso de los 4 astronautas americanos los vuelos tripulados del Space Transportation System de los Estados Unidos pasa a la historia y se pone punto final al programa de los Space Shuttle.

MSU students arrive in Peru for medical mission

2011-08-01T20:03:00.001-05:00

EAST LANSING, Mich. — More than 3,500 miles from home, a group of osteopathic medical students, faculty members and volunteers from Michigan State University have arrived in Peru for a 10-day adventure that will give them hands-on experience in international health.

The 28 students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine arrived today in Trujillo, Peru, where they will spend the first few days of their trip visiting a medical school and hospital. Then it is on to Huamachuco, a village nestled in the Andes Mountains, where the group will operate a clinic and also make visits throughout the village to provide medical care and treatment.

Members of MSU's Big Ten Network are traveling to Peru along with the group, documenting the trip and providing updates. Students also will provide photos and blogs; all content will be updated in real-time at http://special.news.msu.edu/peru/index.html.

The group is traveling with more than $100,000 worth of medical supplies that will help them provide much-needed medical care to villagers. The July 31 to Aug. 11 trip is being led by Gary Willyerd, associate dean for the college's Detroit campus.

Medical student Hailey Wouters, one of the student advisers for the trip, is making her first international medical trip.

"I'm excited because I know the Peru trip will provide us with a great opportunity to use our medical skills to serve people in need," Wouters said before departing for Peru. "My hope is that this trip inspires us all to help those who are less fortunate as we progress in our professional careers."

Medical student Veronica Esmero added: "This trip is a unique opportunity to experience a new culture and provide medical care to those without access."

MSU has a continuing presence in Huamachuco, from the medical trips to other research endeavors, including efforts by College of Engineering students to build a solar water heater for the hospital in Huamachuco to studying water quality issues.

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Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleg

MSU students arrive in Peru for medical mission

2011-08-01T20:03:00.000-05:00

Running the Inca Trail with two Olympians

2011-07-20T13:50:00.001-05:00

For the record, my fitness level is pretty decent. Last February I competed in America's largest cross-country ski race, the 50 kilometer American Birkebeiner, and finished in a respectable, if not blazing, time of 3:44. However, compared to Olympic athletes, I'm essentially just another couch potato.

"Err," I answered, "I've been doing an hour run about three or four times a week."

"Great!" replied Roberto. "How would you like to hike the Inca trail?"

The question gave me pause. I've lived in Lima, Peru for close to ten years and I've done just about every tourist activity in the country, except the famous Inca trail. However, the prospect of hiking all day long and camping at altitude is not the type of undertaking you should agree to without consideration. From all accounts, the Inca trail is pretty difficult, so I wanted to make sure it'd be worth the trouble.

17 destinations and counting

2011-07-18T21:28:00.001-05:00

By the time Patty Peavler has finished listing the countries she’s traveled to, it’s hard to keep them straight.

Alaska? No, Austria. Wait, both? Liechtenstein is big enough to be a country? And Iceland is the one not actually covered in ice, right?

If you can keep up, 17 or so destinations later, Peavler ends with “and I’ve been to Europe 21 different times.”

Travel nut, you think. This woman must excitedly carve out months at a time to leave behind her quiet Montrose Park home and jet off to fabulous places.

That’s where you’d be wrong. As much as she loves leading trips with Premier Members, the Farmers Bank travel club, the bank’s vice president of marketing is just as happy piddling around the capital city with her grandchildren, arranging flowers from her garden or serving First Christian Church. The travel just happens to be a very enjoyable job perk.

Born and raised in Frankfort, Peavler wasn’t always a traveler. In fact, she stayed local every chance she got. After graduating from Franklin County High School, she attended Kentucky State University where she received an undergraduate degree in history and a master’s in public affairs.

With two degrees in hand, Peavler started Capital Florists with Jack Perkins and arranged flowers for “three or four years” before deciding she wanted a job at Farmers Bank.

“Working for yourself is hard. I just sort of thought it was the right time to try something new.”

Peavler was hired in 1983 and has worked at Farmers since as part of the loan department, assistant vice president of marketing and finally VP of marketing.

As a young bank employee, Peavler’s first interaction with the travel club came through Mildred Browning, former vice president of marketing at the bank and club pioneer. Browning was the first to lead travel groups after Farmers learned of a bank in Texas, which had started a similar program.

“The bank here was able to mold their own group called Capital First Ladies, with Mildred as the director, and she planned just wonderful, marvelous trips for us,” recalled Peavler. Women (and now men, too) who were bank members could sign up to go with a group to any number of exotic locales, several times a year.

“It was a way for ladies who were members of the bank, but were maybe without a husband, to travel. Back then, two women wouldn’t even have thought of traveling to another country by themselves – probably not even to Cincinnati by themselves. So, it worked very well.”

According to Peavler, group travel has always been one of the most effective ways to see the world. Transportation, lodging and schedules are all planned and a local group sends you on your way with friends.

Also, being aware of financial considerations ahead of time – like meal costs and admissions fees – and having safety in numbers make group travel appealing to many.

Peavler took over as club director when she assumed the position as vice president of marketing nearly 16 years ago, and with close to 15 years of experience as a group traveler and 15 as a travel leader, her stories are endless and intertwined.

In one long breath, Peavler sang the praises of three different countries.

“I love Ireland,” she started. “I think its natural beauty is wonderful and the people are delightful, and by the way I have a trip going there in November that I still need four people for. But I think it’s a really good place to start your international travel because language isn’t a problem and they have a good opinion of the United States.”

“But, I will have to say that I was very intrigued by Iceland,” she continued. “It’s only five hours from Boston by plane. It’s interesting because when you go there, there aren’t very many trees because the Vikings had to use the trees for their ships, so they cut them all down. And even though the Icelandic language is just unpronounceable to me, you can speak English and they’ll speak it right back. They also have Kentucky Rebel barbecue sauce. And of course the geysers.”

And just for good measure, Peavler ended the breath with a shout-out to Peru. “Also really beautiful is Peru. Machu Picchu is very atmospheric, very beautiful. It was quite evident that people lived there and took care of it for a long time.”

And Peavler has just as much to say about Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Russia, Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Austria, Liechtenstein, Malta and Egypt.

Alaska prompts her to throw her head back in bliss as she recalls its beauty.

“I saw 12 bald eagles in one tree,” she exclaims. “One tree!”

And Russia, she says, may have been the most surprising place to visit.

“The have a museum there called The Hermitage that rivals the Louvre in the quality of art they have and it’s natural beauty.”

And the best place in the world to visit?

“Oh, I’ve been trying to think of that,” Peavler said. “But honestly, there are so many best places in the world.”

“I think of it like this: When I’m going someplace, I always pray, ‘Lord, show me what you want me to learn.’ Because if you go without an eye toward learning what that country is like and what the people are like, I think you’ve missed a lot of it. So it makes every place enjoyable.”

In the future, Peavler would like to visit Asia – particularly Easter Island and the Galapagos Islands – and South Africa.

“There really isn’t any place that’s not beautiful,” she said. “But it’s nice to see the rest of the world knowing I get to come back to Frankfort.

Trip Planner – Simplified Trip Planning To Machu Picchu Peru Launched

2011-07-13T13:04:00.002-05:00

When it comes to planning the trip of a lifetime to a remote destination, a specialist can help cut through the stress and confusion. Traveling to Machu Picchu Peru to hike the famous 4-day Inca Trail is no exception. If Machu Picchu is on your ‘bucket list’, Outdoor Travel Adventures can simplify the planning process, and even make it enjoyable.

The first step is planning early. Since the Peruvian government enforced a daily permit limit of only 500 (including tourists and porters), permits sell out months in advance. Therefore, Outdoor Travel Adventures recommends planning your trip approximately 6 months ahead of your desired travel dates…the earlier the better. As of early June 2011, permits are nearly sold out through Sept 2011.

Once the process begins, Outdoor Travel Adventures will assist with everything from flight planning to packing tips. Their featured Inca Trails itinerary, the Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, is a favorite amongst discerning clients. Mark W. of California said this about his recent trip: “…the trip was amazing. We had a great guide, Teddy, and perfect weather. Machu Picchu was definitely worth the trip and hike.”

The Machu Picchu Pilgrimage is a 10-day itinerary featuring Lima, Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu. The 2011 trip price starts at $2295 per person (double occupancy) plus domestic Peru airfare of approx $350 per person. The trip includes accommodations, some meals, 8 days of guide service, and porters on the Trail. Trips are available any day on-request for a minimum of 2 people; max group size 12. The best weather is found April through September; although travel is available year round with the exception of February.

For more information on this or other adventure itineraries or additional Machu Picchu Tours call (619) 523-2137/ toll-free (800) 554-9059.

Outdoor Travel Adventures is a leading provider of adventure, nature, and luxury travel. We seek to match our customer’s travel goals with an experience that is right for them

Tourists worldwide to travel free to Machu Picchu

2011-07-12T10:24:00.001-05:00

Lima, Jul. 07 (ANDINA). Tourists all around the world will be able to return all-expenses paid to the Incan citadel by participating in the photography contest named "I was in Machu Picchu" until July 31.

Commemorating the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu, national and international tourists have to send pictures of their visit to the mentioned citadel to the web page of the contest organized by Quimera HD with the support of Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur).

These pictures will compete in seven categories: People, Funny, Traveling, Mystic, Landscapes and Nature, Architecture, and Ancients. The photos must be digitalized before being sent to the contest, which selection period began in May this year.

The prize granted to the seven winners will be a new visit to Machu Picchu with all-expenses paid for two persons, from anywhere in the world, during six days and five nights and one travel grant worth US$500.

Participants and voters will also be included to win different prizes such as digital cameras and alpaca goods.

Machu Picchu by car: The backpacker's alternative

2011-07-06T22:03:00.000-05:00

Heading to Machu Picchu? You can skip the train and the Inca Trail.

The Peruvian government is in the process of constructing a highway that will allow tourists to arrive to Aguas Calientes by car, and while the work is not finished, it has already provided an alternative route for backpackers to reach the famed ruins.

Having already tried the classic train trip once, I decided to use a recent visit to Machu Picchu to try out this cheaper, more adventurous alternative. In some ways, we got more of an adventure than we expected.

The two-day tour began at 7 a.m. in Cusco. My partner and I were whisked away by car, through Ollantaytambo and the small town of Santa Rosa, where we got lunch, and finally arrived at Santa Teresa.

The finished road ends in Santa Teresa, and turns into a mud track, littered with potholes and hugging precarious cliffs. After a total journey time of seven or eight hours, during which we had a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley, we reached a hydroelectric plant along the Urubamba River.

Amherst firm helps Incan artifacts return home

2011-07-04T19:28:00.001-05:00

AMHERST - Eleven years ago, architect Ann W. Marshall replicated Incan stonework for the walls of a traveling exhibit featuring artifacts from the famed mountain city of Machu Picchu.

This month, she and Elizabeth Morgan, a colleague at Kuhn Riddle Architects in Amherst, are helping to install that exhibit permanently in a building with the real thing. Its new home will be in a former Incan palace in what was once the ancient culture's capital, modern-day Cusco, Peru.

"Imagine a wall built without mortar that is centuries old, but today you can't slip a piece of paper into the space between the stone blocks," Marshall said.

Marshall designed the original exhibit, "Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystery," working with her husband, Michael A. Hanke, and his Amherst-based museum exhibit company Design Division. "Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystery" featured artifacts collected in Peru by American explorer Hiram Bingham III in 1912 and donated to Yale University's Peabody Museum.

At the time, the traveling exhibit was state-of-the-art, with an animated light-and-sound map of Machu Picchu and a great amount of effort put into introducing visitors to the Incans as people.

"We wanted to give people a feel for the architecture, the colors and so forth," she said. "We took people inside the house of an Inca. There was a figure there talking in traditional clothing who spoke to visitors."

The artifacts - there are 329 museum-quality items in the collection -were also displayed in a more meaningful way.

"Instead of putting them in big cases along the wall we divided them up into categories," Marshall said. "Metalworking, everyday life. Religious life."

Some objects are gold, she said. But most are pottery or made of human or animal bone.

The exhibit went around the country, appearing at Chicago's The Field Museum among other places, before returning to New Haven, Conn.

But the Peruvian people wanted the artifacts to return to Peru and have waged a long and at times acrimonious battle to get them back. Peru sued Yale in U.S. Federal Court in 2008, according to The Associated Press

"What's going to happen is that Yale is establishing a center in Cusco," Marshall said.

It will be a joint project with the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco and will be called the U.N.S.A.A.C.-Yale International Center for the Study of Machu Picchu and Inca Culture. The building itself is at least 500 years old.

The return of these artifacts has been a cause for national celebration in Peru. According to news reports, more than 224,000 people turned out to watch the country's president greet the first shipment when it arrived in May.

Morgan said the challenge of moving the exhibit goes well beyond updating the technology and getting everything translated into Spanish. The original displays were meant to fit into a standard museum interior, basically a black box. The palace in Cusco has a series of rooms and the 15th century building itself features not just Incan stonework, but additions made by the Spanish conquistadors.

"We can take the fake walls out and work with the original stonework," Morgan said. "The space also has a naturally lighted courtyard that we can incorporate."

Design Division is small, too small to handle the job on its own, Marshall said. That's why she brought the project to Kuhn Riddle. They are also working with contractors and architects in Peru.

Music Integral To ‘Grannies On Safari’

2011-06-30T15:22:00.001-05:00

The travel bug bit Regina Fraser at an early age. “My father [trumpeter Rex Stewart] was with Duke Ellington for about 15 years, and traveled all over the world with his orchestra,” she says. “He’d come back with a traveling trunk full of colorful stickers from all over the world. He’d point out the ones from France, Australia, Russia, and so on, and he was a great storyteller. I was fascinated, and thought, ‘I’d love to go to all of those places.’”

That’s exactly what she does with “Grannies On Safari” co-host Pat Johnson, with whom she checks out food and culture from India to Zanzibar to South Africa on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. on WTTW-Channel 11.

The Chicago-based duo include a lot of local music on the show; the Peru episode included an indigenous Incan folk troupe playing music related to the elements as well as Andean music and an Afro-Peruvian group.

“Music is really critical to us,” says Johnson, who’s been an avid traveler since she was a teen. Chicago jazz trumpeter and composer Orbert Davis, whom the pair has known for years, composed the show’s theme song. They also asked Carlsbad, California-based Afro-Venezuelan composer Allan Phillips to create music for the show, and he jumped at the chance. In 2008, “Grannies” won a regional Emmy Award for his music.

Fraser sits on the board of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and is a marketing, media, and communications strategist, while Johnson is an arts administrator. (Both are, indeed, grandmothers). They’d traveled in the same circles since the 1970s, but didn’t meet formally until they worked together on an international arts-exchange program in the mid-’90s. Fraser hit on the show idea in 2003, and asked Johnson if she wanted to be part of it – even though she had her hands full as founding director of the Museum Of The African Diaspora in San Francisco.

“I twisted her arm and made her quit and come back to Chicago to join me,” says Fraser. They sold their fur coats and Fraser drained her 401K to fund the first shows with help from Fraser’s husband and other family members. They’ve limped along financially, picking up sponsors here and there, until the current season, which is sponsored by the AARP. The pair also became involved with local initiatives serving seniors. “There’s still a lot to learn in this world – and travel is a good way to meet new people and expand your horizons,” says Johnson.

“When you travel, you have the ability to come back and tell family members about your experiences and inspire them to travel,” says Fraser. “If they don’t understand that the world doesn’t revolve around their immediate area, they’re going to lose out on making cultural connections and finding out where their place is in the greater world.”

The pair also lead tour groups, and made international news when they were in Cairo for a four-day cruise on the Nile during the January uprising and couldn’t get out. “It was kind of dicey,” says Johnson, recalling that the demonstrations became a full-fledged revolution in front of their eyes and they couldn’t get ahold of the U.S. State Department to get them out. The two had enough travel smarts to keep their group calm – including an 82-year-old grandmother from Columbus.

They’re currently kicking around ideas for season number four – ideal destinations include Brazil, Croatia, and Cuba – or perhaps even a trip on the trans-Siberian railroad.

“It depends on if we can get the necessary support for that,” says Johnson.

“Like funding!” says Fraser, without skipping a beat.

ODDS N SODS: Pilsen’s youth-run Latino community station Radio Arte (WRTE 90.5 FM) is slated to be sold by the National Museum Of Mexican Art, along with the two-story building that houses the station and its youth art-training program. The newly formed Latino Media Cooperative says it plans to bid on the 14-year-old station’s license, antenna, transmitter, name, and frequency. Chicago Public Media, DePaul University, and California’s Radio Bilinguë have also been mentioned as potential buyers. The 73-watt station covers a 14-mile radius and has been a broadcast home to hundreds of kids since the museum purchased a Class D radio station from the Boys And Girls Club Of Chicago a decade-and-a-half ago . . . Kudos to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California) for launching an inquiry into former FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker’s transition from Comcast regulator to Comcast senior vice president of public affairs just months after voting to approve Comcast’s merger with NBC-Universal. Perhaps she was trying to one-up former FCC Chair Michael Powell’s gig heading up the National Cable And Telecommunications Association. Now, Freepress.net is urging FCC commissioners to take a pledge not to work for AT&T or T-Mobile – whose merger is under consideration – when they leave office. “Unless they take this public stand and stop the revolving door, public trust in government will be impossible to restore.” Um, what trust?

Peru's new highway to the future

2011-06-27T15:23:00.001-05:00

Today, his house and workshop are on a paved road. “This was an animal trail in those days," he says.

For years, Assis was the end of the road. Traveling on through the Peruvian Amazon and over the Andes was an adventure on mud tracks. Asked how business is at his roadside mechanic's workshop, the Brazilian gives a thumbs-down. And the lack of a road didn't just hurt his business, but also cut billions of dollars in potential trade between Brazil and Peru.

That’s about to change. After decades of delay, Peru is on the verge of completing the $2.75 billion Interoceanic Highway connecting Mr. Pereira's house – and the rest of Brazil – to the west coast. Pereira, and millions more Brazilians and Peruvians, will see their lives change radically once they live along the continent’s first true transcontinental highway.

Think you know Latin America? Take our geography quiz.

Traffic is already growing. Cesar Bonamigo, a diplomat at the Brazilian embassy in Lima, says 3,500 people crossed the border in 2006. As crews laid asphalt in 2009, he says, that rose 10-fold to 35,000.

The last major link in the Interoceanic Highway, a bridge over the Madre de Dios river 143 miles away, is set to open this month. The last rivet in the bridge will be like the golden spike which, in 1869, completed North America’s first transcontinental railroad. There is a road connecting Argentina to Chile, and a roundabout route through Bolivia. But this is the first two-lane, year-round highway across the continent's waist, from the Amazon directly to the Pacific.

From Sao Paulo, near the Atlantic, the highway traverses 2,439 miles of Brazil, crossing coastal hills, soy-farming plains, and the cattle pastures where Amazon rain forest once stood. At last, just beyond Pereira's home, it crosses the Acre River into Peru. The Christian Science Monitor traversed Peru's new road to glimpse its villages and landscapes before they change beyond recognition.
The bridge

From the border, it's a two-hour drive south across rolling farmland to the tiny village of Triunfo. Scattered spindly trees by the highway are reminders of the rainforest, long since logged over. Miles to the right, where the forests remain more intact, indigenous groups live in voluntary isolation, avoiding industrial society.

Top 5 summer travel destinations of 2011 (PHOTOS)

2011-06-22T21:41:00.001-05:00

As Summer Solstice marked the first day of summer across the world on June 21, 2011, travel experts at Travel Ticker, a leading U.S.-based travel portal, released “Where To Go Now & How Guide” this summer season.

Based on the seasonal trends, summer travel deals, weather conditions, tourist traffic, entertainment options and the cultural experience, here are the best five summer travel destinations of 2011:

1. Chicago, Illinois, United States

Why Now: From the summer festivals, Wrigley Field bleacher seats, Millennium Park concerts, walking along Lake Michigan, to outdoor shopping and dining – it's no secret that Chicago is enjoyed to its fullest in the peak summer months. And with Chicago surrounded by numerous unique neighborhoods, there is a great chance to explore other places for each visitor.

Value: Hotel rates are higher in the summer, but only by about $20-$30 compared to the off season. This makes the Windy City one of the most affordable "splurges" considering the big experiences that you can have. It also tends to be one of the lower-priced big cities in the country to fly into as well. Hotel rates range from $99-$139.

The Amalfi Hotel Chicago starts at $139 on select dates, June 29-September 9. Stay near the Magnificent Mile, plus get a complimentary room upgrade, breakfast, cocktails, & WiFi

Ben Fogle on the year he found adventure and himself

2011-06-20T21:32:00.001-05:00

In 1992 I found myself. It was the year that set me on my meandering course of life. It was also the year I saw both the very best and worst of humanity.

Fresh out of school, I was just 19 years old and had the world at my fingertips. I bought a one-way ticket to Rio de Janeiro and set off for a year in Latin America.

It was a period of youthful naivety. I didn’t know the language and didn’t have a plan, but Latin America – Brazil in particular – seemed suitably mysterious and promised to be full of opportunity and adventure.

I spent a couple of days parading up and down the two-and-a-half mile Copacabana beach, but my pasty white torso was no match for the lithe and fit Brazilians. So I took a bus to Belém, a city on the banks of the Amazon estuary in northern Brazil. As a child I had spent hours poring over atlases and maps and always dreamt of visiting this mighty river. I spent several days wandering up and down the bustling port until I found a ship laden with biscuits heading upstream to Benjamin Constant in Colombia, more than 3,000 miles away.

As it transpired the journey was long, hot, and very, very boring. Six weeks later we chugged into Iquitos. I wasn’t in the least bit sad to wave goodbye to that insect-riddled boat.

Traveling to Peru? Luggage

2011-06-15T21:27:00.002-05:00

Ash from Chile's Puyehue volcano disrupts air travel

2011-06-14T20:29:00.002-05:00

Peruvian President-elect Ollanta Humala, confronted Tuesday with canceled flights due to the ash cloud from Chile's Puyehue volcano, resorted to traveling by boat instead of airplane to keep an appointment with Argentine PresidentCristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

A day earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, also eager to meet with Fernandez, caught a bus for the 400-mile ride from Cordoba, Argentina, to Buenos Aires. His flight from Bogota, the Colombian capital, had been forced to land before reaching the Argentine capital because of Puyehue.

The officials, like thousands of other would-be air travelers, found themselves searching for alternative ways to reach their destination days after the volcano erupted June 4 in southern Chile. Humala, who is having a series of meetings with South American leaders, was traveling from Uruguay to Argentina.

The ash cloud over the Southern Hemisphere has spread as far as South Africa andAustralia.

The eruption has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents in Chile's Ranco province but caused little disruption of Chilean flights. On most days, northeasterly winds have sent the ash plume into neighboring Argentina.

"It's a release of the volcano's internal pressure and of course it has brought grave consequences for air traffic and farming," said Roberto Page, director of Argentina's Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources. "It's not possible to know with exactitude what will happen in the next few days, nor predict how long the phenomenon of the rain of ash will last."

Buenos Aires' international airport in Ezeiza has been closed for all or part of five days since the eruption. Several major airlines canceled flights Tuesday into and out of Argentina, Uruguay, Australia and Brazil. In a statement, Brazil-based Gol Airlines said it was taking measures out of concern for "the safety of our clients and employees."

Even as the ash cloud continued to cause misery for air travelers, officials offered little hope for short-term improvement. One government geologist said Chilean officials have informed him that the volcano "continues in emission and could continue for the next two days."

In addition to disrupting air travel, the volcanic ash is casting a cloud over Argentine agriculture, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency for farmers. Tourism in Bariloche and Villa La Angostura, two popular winter sports destinations, has been thrown into disarray by the fall of up to 18 inches in ash.

Although Argentina's aeronautical authorities on Tuesday gave airlines the green light to reschedule flights, Ezeiza airport remained closed through the early afternoon. The volcano is about 1,000 miles southwest of Argentina's capital.

In Bariloche, the mountain resort city just 100 miles from the Chilean volcano, dense ash lying in thick layers made soggy by rain caused power and telephone outages and forced authorities to suspend classes. TV reports showed a city whose streets were deserted. The roofs of dozens of houses, mainly in low-income districts, collapsed under the weight of the ash.

Farm officials were concerned about the prolonged eruption's continued effect on the 2 million head of sheep that graze in southern Argentina. Farmers in Chubut and Rio Negro areas said they have suffered five years of drought and the ash could destroy the little pastureland still serviceable. Rio Negro officials said 60,000 head of cattle also are "at risk."

Haroldo Lebed, director of the national Agriculture Emergency and Disaster office, said he has declared a state of emergency for some Patagonian farm regions.

"This phenomenon on top of the years of drought the region has suffered is overwhelming in terms of the economic impact it is causing," Lebed said. "It's impossible to quantify the scale of the disaster."

Special correspondents D'Alessandro reported from Buenos Aires and Kraul from Bogota.

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

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Luxury travel to Machu Picchu, Peru

2011-06-08T15:18:00.001-05:00

Last year my aunt from South Africa turned 80 years old and when I asked her what she wished for her birthday, she said she'd like to see my children. I told her "your wish is granted": Come to Peru.

Six month ago, she sent me an email saying that she had made reservations with KLM and was preparing herself and my uncle, 90 years old, for a trip of their lifetime.

All I had to do was to make sure they'd never forget their trip to Peru, and so I did.

Luxury vacation to Machu Picchu
Stay at Inkaterra's hotels in Cusco and Machu Picchu Pueblo

Try out Inca Rail for the Cusco to Machu Picchu trip.

Thinking about visiting Machu Picchu? Contact the LivinginPeru.com travel department, PeruExperience.com, where local knowledge meets world class service.
Besides visiting various nice and interesting places in Lima, I booked a luxury trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu, staying at Inka Terra La Casona and Inka Terra Machu Picchu and traveling with Inca Rail that only opened 18 month ago.

We left Lima at 10 a.m. and chose Peruvian Airlines, which not only is the newest national airline of Peru, but it also offers the same prices to both foreigners and residents of Peru. Check-in took less than 5 minutes and we walked straight to the gate and left 30 minutes later. Service inboard was excellent and the seats were comfortable.

2011-06-06T15:57:00.000-05:00

2011-06-02T11:09:00.001-05:00

AllTravelPeru is a comprehensive Peru travel guide promoted by Peru Gateway Travel, the leading travel company for traveling in South America, search for destinations by location, or use our travel tools to plan your vacation in Peru. Looking for things to do in Peru? Check out our travel guide, tourism information and attractions, find destination information on the latest events, attractions in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and beyond.
You may also easily be in touch with us calling our toll free phone or just opening a chat with our travel specialist, just click on the icon on the right border.
Happy surfing

Traveling in the Amazon Region of Colombia

2011-05-30T16:03:00.001-05:00

Leticia, Colombia, May 27, 2011—There’s something about the jungle that both thrills and scares me. The first time I saw a rain forest in Honduras, I was awestruck by the sounds and smells. The ability to spot animals that I’ve only previously seen on TV or in zoos is an experience so amazing that I feel like a child every time I venture into the jungle.

But, being enveloped by its wildness also means getting closer to animals that, frankly, freak me out—like snakes.

Luckily, I haven’t yet had a bad experience with jungle-dwelling serpents.

Everyday transportation along the Amazon River (Photo: Jill K. Robinson)

Colombia’s Amacayacu National Natural Park is in the extreme southern corner of the country. Capital city Leticia gave me a beach town vibe, until I showed up on the malecon and got a look at the Amazon River. The chocolate-colored water stretched out in front of me—all the way to Peru.

“See? The bank over there is in Peru. And if you go just a short distance in the other direction, you’re in Brazil,” said my guide, Elvis Cueva, from Colombian Amazon Expedition.

A local legend says that the Amazon River was created from the broad branch of a ceiba tree when it fell to the ground. The ceiba, a colossal tree with huge buttress roots and a spreading canopy, is one of the largest trees in the rain forest. As we traveled by boat along the river, I could tell which trees were ceibas. The wide, umbrella-like canopies stretched above all the other trees.

Just focusing on a small piece of this region is difficult to do in only a couple of days, especially since seeing wildlife doesn’t happen on a schedule. If you plan a trip here, make sure you spend the time to truly relax and disappear into the forest.

My first morning, after waking to a chorus of birds far different than those I hear at home, I paddled in a dugout canoe with Elvis among the flooded rain forest that surrounded my lodge, the Yewae Visitor Center. It was the rainy season, so the trails around the center were under nearly 10 feet of water. Our leaf-shaped paddle blades quietly dipped in the water as we moved silently through the trees.

The excursion allowed us to get close to the trees and animals—especially the broad buttress roots of the gigantic ceibas and a slender green vine snake that hung motionless from a small branch. Flocks of parrots chattered overhead as we moved past flotillas of water hyacinths and bushes that would have been over our heads in the dry season.

Later on, in a different kind of boat (one we didn’t have to paddle), we explored more of the Amazon River and its tributaries. While it’s possible to go deeper into the jungle and get away from the convenient towns of Leticia and Puerto Nariño, it’s also easy to feel lost with less effort by venturing up the Rio Amacayacu (which translates to “River of Hammocks”) and visiting the Ticuna community of San Martín.

Victor Angel Pereira, head of the village of 496 residents, sat with me in the malocca (a community house) and taught me the word for good morning in the Ticuna language: numai. Afterward, I viewed some of the community’s crafts—from arm bands made of chambira (fibers from a palm tree) to beautiful carved wood statues of dolphins.

As we left the community to get a glimpse of some of the living versions of those statues, village children played in the water—jumping off the dock to make kid-size splashes that irritated nearby mothers who were washing clothes.

A short distance from San Martín is Lago Tarapoto—home to Amazon river dolphins. I’d hoped that one of the highlights of my trip would be seeing a pink river dolphin, but instead, I was greeted by a small group of gray river dolphins. It was impossible to be disappointed, however, when the dolphins leaped and twisted in the air all around the boat. It was hard to know which way to turn to spy them, when—splash—there they’d be behind me.

The search for pink wasn’t lost. On the way back to the lodge that night, we stopped the boat in the middle of the river—within view of a stunning pink and red sunset. The only sounds were a breeze on the water and the calls from thousands of birds finding treetop homes for the night.

Want to take an Amazon expedition in Colombia? Contact Colombian Amazon Expedition in Leticia and let Elvis (elcuma@yahoo.com) be your guide.

300 tourists stranded at Bolivian border because of mining protests

2011-05-26T15:39:00.001-05:00

About 300 tourists, mostly Europeans and Japanese, are stranded at the border between Peru and Bolivia because of the strike against the mining concessions in the department of Puno, warned the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), reports Perú.21.

The head of the agency, Carlos Canales, said that foreign visitors had evaded the road blocks by traveling via Lake Titicaca, but yesterday the port was taken by the demonstrators.

Previously, Canatur announced in a statement that the sector has lost S/. 100 million since the protests that began 16 days ago in the southern highland region. He stressed that the strike damages the image of the country and caused the cancellation of hundreds of tour packages.

Meanwhile, all activities in the city of Puno remain paralyzed and 20,000 Aymara are participating in the anti-mining protests. The leaders of the province Chucuito-Juli, Walter Aduviri, and Yunguyo, Helmer Bazán, went to the Francisco Bolognesi headquarters in Juliaca to meet with the High Commission and other leaders of the strike. The meeting was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Wednesday

LAN will add more flights to Cusco once airport adds nighttime lighting

2011-05-25T11:14:00.001-05:00

LAN Peru will deploy new flights to Cusco once Velasco Astete International Airport adds lights to make night flights possible. The airline will extend its operation beyond 4:30 p.m., said general manager Jorge Vilches.

"Extending the time we could certainly create more flights and better connectivity with Cusco, consider that Cusco is the belly button of the ancient world, but now, after 4:30 p.m. it is inaccessible by plane," Vilches said.

LAN has a total of 17 daily flights to Cusco and accounts for 60 percent of the market share of passengers traveling to the city, reports Andina.

"We now have little room for expansion of our operations, but extending operation hours would be the best way we can, between all operators, bring more tourism to Cusco," Vilches said.

The remodeling work being done by the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (Corpac) includes the installation of lighting systems to receive night flights.

"We understand that there is a plan in this regard, but it will depend on what the authorities decide in Cusco and, if they want to extend the operating hours. I have understood that is why Corpac considered these renovations," he added.

He said that LAN is willing to support the arrival of more tourists to Cusco and as proof of this the airline is offering a promotional fare of $79, which will run until May 26, a value that is below the normal rate of $119.

"We continuously launch promotions and since last year we have had offers from $49 for the campaign Cusco Pone, and since then we have launched aggressive promotions to bring more Peruvians to Cusco," he said.

He also said that between 900,000 and a million passengers will be transported by LAN Peru this year and expects significant growth in the participation of Peruvian tourists.

"We are transporting about 1,200 Peruvian tourists per day to Cusco. That's the number we have estimated in LAN flights," said Vilches.

"Before Cusco was a unique destination for foreign tourists and it was an expensive destination, but we are increasingly looking to offer (flights) to bring Cusco and Machu Picchu closer to Peruvian tourists through low fares," he said.

Finally he added that LAN Peru hopes to implement more flights between Lima and the Caribbean in the second half of the year.

Top five things to look for in a travel doctor, and why you should have one

2011-05-19T19:14:00.001-05:00

Despite writing about food and adventure travel for a living, I used to be somewhat blasé about the concept of travel medicine. Multiple incidents of Giardia/dysentery/traveler's diarrhea/full-body outbreaks of mosquito and sand fly bites just taught me to carry a serious stash of antibiotics in my first-aid kit. At least I've always been conscientious about travel immunizations and educating myself about the primary diseases indigenous to my destination.

When you're young and healthy, it seems silly to have a travel medicine specialist. Although this article is primarily directed at adventure travelers, odds are, the worst thing you'll come home with is a backpack full of crappy souvenirs. But no one's invincible, and should you require a specialist for something not responding to conventional treatment or with progressive symptoms, time is of the essence. Many "exotic" diseases progress rapidly, and can cause irreversible damage or death if not properly diagnosed and treated. Even with incurable diseases, the earlier you catch them, the easier it will be to manage symptoms and prevent them for worsening.

No, I'm not a doctor, although I come from a medical family. But I got seriously schooled after visiting Ecuador two years ago. After a fantastic month of adventure activities in remote parts of the Andes and Amazon Basin, I fell seriously ill the last day my trip. Two years of at-times crippling symptoms, 10 CT scans, five medical facilities, dozens of specialists, four surgical procedures, two surgeries, one cancer diagnosis, and near-medical bankruptcy later, I've become an expert at being my own advocate.

2011-05-16T12:51:00.001-05:00

PROMPERU Perù sigue posicionándose como destino turístico a nivel mundial

2011-05-12T11:46:00.000-05:00

El 3 de mayo TripAdvisor, sitio web de viajes con operaciones en 29 países, más de 50 millones de visitantes al mes y 20 millones de miembros, dio a conocer la relación de los ganadores de su concurso “Travelers Choice Destination Awards”, en el que la ciudadela Inca de Machupicchu destaca en el tercer puesto entre los 25 mejores destinos en el mundo para visitar. La elección de los ganadores se hizo a través de un análisis exhaustivo de aquellos destinos preferidos por los viajeros y la popularidad de los mismos a través de iniciativas de publicidad, de modo que la votación fuese lo más objetiva posible.

Por otro lado, National Geographic Traveler ha incluido a Machu Picchu y la Amazonía Peruana en su prestigiosa lista: National Geographic Traveler's "50 Places of a Lifetime" la cual estará disponible mediante una aplicación desarrollada para los productos de Apple (Iphone, Ipods, Ipads y demás) en Itunes Store. Los destinos integrantes de esta lista han sido escogidos por un selecto grupo de escritores, fotógrafos, exploradores y editores. Además, la revista otorgó a Promperú una insignia de reconocimiento que podrá ser usada en los materiales promocionales.

PromPerú ha lanzado una campaña publicitaria tanto en el mercado anglosajón como en el europeo que comenzó el 15 de marzo y culminará a fines de julio, la cual consiste en lanzar publicidad a través de distintos medios como revistas, las principales webs especializadas, canales de televisión en cable, publicidad en exteriores y a través de la compra de publicidad en la plataforma de Google.

Entre las iniciativas más llamativas resaltan la contratación de una pantalla LED a full color en Times Square que estuvo emitiendo el spot Perú Vive la Leyenda en el corazón de Manhattan en marzo y abril, y los dos buses en Paris que llevan la Marca País por los distritos más importantes de dicha ciudad. De igual manera, PromPerú ha logrado el patrocinio del prestigioso canal National Geographic que estará emitiendo el spot Vive La Leyenda e incluirá el logo de Machu Picchu por los 100 años durante su programación.

Por su parte, el 5 de mayo, el Ministro de Comercio Exterior y Turismo, Eduardo Ferreyros Küppers, presentó la campaña publicitaria de la Marca Perú acompañado por distintas celebridades y embajadores de la marca. El lanzamiento del primer documental de la marca tuvo una gran acogida batiendo records de visualizaciones en youtube, y la campaña de publicidad resultó en un aumento significativo del tráfico hacia la web de peru.travel, el cual ha alcanzado una cifra record desde su lanzamiento con 601,609 visitas solo en el mes de abril.

Seven Geographically Inaccurate Travel and Adventure Movies (VIDEO)

2011-05-09T16:12:00.004-05:00

We've taken a look at historical spots from the movies, but what about when filmmakers get it completely wrong? In travel, adventure or escapade films, directors are often compelled to capture the most scenic or photogenic spots in a particular city – even if it comes at the cost of logic or even accuracy.

Whether they totally misrepresent, invent, or goof up the locations where scenes, some favorite movies can make people familiar with a particular destination laugh at the misinformation that's portrayed on screen.

Here are some examples of gaping errors from films, in terms of geography or location-specific details.

Of course, there are countless other errors out there. Share your favorite geography goofs in the comments below.

1. 'Bird on a Wire'
This 1990 chase film stars Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson on the run in the Detroit-Wisconsin area, and features more than a few geographical and destination-specific mistakes. According to IMDB, "Rick and Marianne take a ferry boat clearly labeled 'DETROIT-RACINE FERRY.' Detroit is on the east side of Michigan. Racine, Wisconsin is across Lake Michigan on the west side of Michigan. Such a ferry would have to take a 2-3 day voyage around the entirety of Michigan.

Seven Geographically Inaccurate Travel and Adventure Movies (VIDEO)

2011-05-09T16:12:00.003-05:00

Seven Geographically Inaccurate Travel and Adventure Movies (VIDEO)

2011-05-09T16:12:00.002-05:00

Seven Geographically Inaccurate Travel and Adventure Movies (VIDEO)

2011-05-09T16:12:00.001-05:00

Seven Geographically Inaccurate Travel and Adventure Movies (VIDEO)

2011-05-09T16:12:00.000-05:00

Single Mom Traveling With Four Children Has Impacted Thousands of Lives Around the World Only Six Months Into Year-Long Volunteerism Journey

2011-05-05T11:19:00.000-05:00

Boston resident and single mom, Teresa Keller, along with her three school-age children and best friend’s daughter – ages 12, 13, 17 and 18 – are halfway through their year-long journey traveling to 24 countries around the world helping communities in need with financial and hands-on support. Prior to leaving the U.S., the family sold their home, car and most of their possessions to cover their own costs. Through social media and word-of-mouth, the family is engaging others to follow along, and are hoping to show families and children how donating even $5 can dramatically impact lives.

Teresa created the non-profit organization, Round the World with Us, to raise awareness of global issues, promote social justice and fund non-for-profit projects to increase the quality of life for those in need.

“Our goal is to experience different ways of living, and to provide tools that empower communities to help themselves,” said Teresa. “We want to learn as much as we can from the amazing people and cultures that we’ve had the opportunity to visit, and want to share in their challenges, joys and hope for the future. It is extremely rewarding to see the impact that even a few dollars can make in the lives of others.”

In addition to regular blog posts, videos and social media interaction, Teresa and her family also send a personalized postcard to every donor thanking them for their generosity. The postcards each have a recent photo of the children and families that were helped by the donation.

“We started sending postcards as a special thank you, as well as to make a personal connection and provide an opportunity for parents to share the picture with their children to show the importance of helping others, and the impact that we can all have,” said Teresa.

The Keller family began their journey on August 1, 2009, and are covering all of their own travel expenses and personal needs so that 100 percent of all donations go directly to support community projects. So far they have raised $114,000 and through partnerships with reputable NGO’s such as Children International and Room to Read, Round the World with Us has helped lead numerous projects including:

Providing a kitchen and source of income for a safe home for abused children in Peru.
Building a water well for a Nyumbani village that cares for HIV positive children and elders who lost their relatives to AIDS. The well allows the village to grow their own food.
Providing building materials for a village day care and community kitchen in Ica.

The next project being funded by Round the World with Us is a resource center called the Pillars for Maasai Development in Rombo, Kenya. This project will empower women in the community and help generate income and preserve the Maasai culture in the 21st century (additional details on this project are available on the website.)

An angel donor has committed to contribute 5 cents per web visitor/day to the Round the World with Us mission, so people can help by simply visiting http://www.roundtheworldwithus.org.

For more information on how to can get involved, past and upcoming projects, the Adopt a Project initiative, or to follow the Keller family on their Round the World with Us mission, visit: http://www.roundtheworldwithus.org.

For media inquiries, one-on-one interviews with Teresa and her children and/or to conduct on-site or virtual broadcast segments, contact Wendy at wendy(at)247strategies(dot)com or 206-718-4382.

Baby Carriages on Cobblestones? Trekaroo Makes Family Travel Easy

2011-05-03T11:45:00.001-05:00

If you think traveling to Peru with a 4-month-old or to the Bahamas with a gaggle of kids is impossible, you haven't heard of Trekaroo.

A website focused on families sharing their best travel tips with other families, Trekaroo has created a lively nationwide community, helping parents realize that when that first baby comes around, their adventure-filled exploring days aren't over.

“It all started because Brennan and I we were avid travelers before we had kids,” said LiLing Pang, who co-founded the website with her husband, Brennan, and friend, Esther Lee, in Palo Alto. “When we found out we were having our first one, we made a pact and said that we're not going to stop traveling.”

Two months later, the Pang family made their first baby-packed trip out of town—to Houston. When their baby turned 4 months old, they went to Peru and climbed Machu Picchu with him.

That was when “it really hit me how much different life was going to be traveling with kids,” said Pang. “We found ourselves doing a lot more planning. There was a lot more anxiety.”

That's when the three co-founders put their heads together and came up with a solution: Trekaroo. The site launched in August 2009, and today, thousands of users across the United States are sharing family travel tips and answering other users' questions, such as, “How many suitcases does your family take into a hotel on a road trip?” (13 people replied with useful tips within two days).

When you combine kids and travel, you start thinking about strange things, like: Am I going to be able to roll a baby carriage on cobblestones? Or, what can I do in New York City with a 3-year-old?

There are parents out there who have done these things before, and on Trekaroo, you'll find them.

“I use Trekaroo to educate/inspire others. I love writing reviews and including tips that I wish I had known,” wrote Trekaroo user nataliesmom86.

“So many people think travel with babies and toddlers is a disaster waiting to happen, and I enjoy proving them wrong with this website!” (Nataliesmom86 was one of four enthusiastic users who replied to Pang's query, “How are you using Trekaroo?” within hours of her post. To see the continued discussion, click here.)

Aside from the endlessly helpful Trekaroo parent community, the site boasts a few special features, such as the cost and age meters, which allow users doing a destination search to narrow activity results by defining how much they want to spend, or how old their kids are.

Planning a road trip and seeking a fun stopping point? The interactive map allows users to drag the map in the direction they will drive, and destinations along the way—like local zoos or national monuments—will pop up on the map.

Trekaroo is working on iPhone and Android applications for Trekaroo and, in particular, the interactive map. “If you're right in the middle of downtown San Franciso, and you're, like, oh my gosh, I need to find a playground, you can pull out a phone and see playgrounds nearby,” said Pang.

A grassroots effort that was “bootstrapped together," Trekaroo does not receive venture capital funding, but no one is too worried. Advertisers seek out the site for marketing, and new users across the United States are signing up every day (it's free—you just need an email to log in). We're not going international yet, said Pang. The three founders and a few added team members have their hands tied with one country's destinations, alone.

To help expand their reach, designated “destination gurus” help organize reviews of travel destinations in other states. Each month, a few lucky “superoos” get paid vacations to check out travel spots and review them for the site.

“Start-up life is really unique,” said Lee, who first met the Pangs in school at the University of Pennsylvania. "Never in my life have I had a list of things to do that grows faster than I can complete them. I am a travel fanatic, and after having my son, I was totally lost as to where to go. Trekaroo was born out of a selfish need to educate myself with the help of lots of other parents on what fun things are out there for families.”

Lee, who hatched the idea with Pang after they realized that a third of travel is family travel, sees the biggest challenge that lies ahead is getting access to more new parents.

“Every day new parents are being born, and how they find information on family fun is constantly changing as technology evolves,” said Lee, who uses Twitter, Facebook and blogging to market Trekaroo. “We need to make sure that Trekaroo's valuable content is available through the most channels most relevant to parents.”

Cuba Says Washington Impeded U.S. Scientist’s Trip to Havana

2011-04-28T17:35:00.000-05:00

HAVANA – The United States is maintaining its “hostile policy” against Cuba by preventing a U.S. scientist from traveling to Havana to participate in a pharmaceuticals workshop, Communist Party daily Granma said Wednesday.

Washington, according to the newspaper, “denied permission to travel to Cuba to Harold Baseman, an instructor with the Parenteral Drugs Association and member of the presidency of the scientific committee of that U.S. entity, which shows the continuity of the hostile policy against our country.”

The paper said that Baseman was supposed to participate this week in Havana in the 6th International Workshop on Aseptic Processing in the Biopharmaceutical Industry, which scientists from China, Italy, Germany, Peru, Mexico, Argentina and other nations, are attending.

The administration of President Barack Obama in January announced new flexibility in the regulations governing travel from the United States to Cuba for some groups, including students, academics, journalists and the members of religious organizations.

Last week, the Treasury Department published the new regulations, which say that those groups can travel freely and without requesting U.S. government authorization to the communist-ruled island if they are going there to visit a “close relative” who is Cuban or works for the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.

The new rules also say that professionals who are attending events such conferences or symposia can travel to Cuba without asking prior permission from Washington, along with students and professors who are going there to participate in educational activities.

In April 2009, Obama had pushed for the relaxation of rules on travel to Cuba so that Cuban Americans could travel to the island whenever they wished. EF

EL PERU

2011-04-26T10:23:00.000-05:00

Perú: Más de 10 mil touroperadores venden este destino en todo el mundo

2011-04-20T11:59:00.001-05:00

Perú. El país andino se ha posicionado en los más destacados catálogos turísticos del mundo y actualmente es comercializado por más de 10 mil touroperadores en todo el planeta, destacó el presidente de la Cámara Nacional de Turismo (Canatur), Carlos Canales. Según previsiones de esa entidad, en Perú Travel Mart 2011, entre el 15 y el 18 de mayo, se prevé concretar negocios por una cifra entre 30 y 54 millones de dólares.

Durante una presentación del evento, la directora de Promoción de Turismo de la Comisión de Promoción del Perú para la Exportación y el Turismo (Promperú), Rocío Merino, afirmó que el país “tiene una amplia y diversificada oferta turística que no sólo es patrimonio cultural histórico sino que también incluye naturaleza, aventura, turismo vivencial y gastronómico. Así es como queremos posicionar al país en los ojos del consumidor en el mundo”.

“En la mayoría de los mercados estratégicos ya estamos en una fase de crecimiento y de maduración. Por lo tanto, las cadenas de comercialización venden el destino Perú, mientras que los consumidores ya se deciden a visitar el país”, comentó, y precisó que el presupuesto de Promperú para el turismo se divide en acciones para el consumidor final (70%) y para touroperadores (30%).

Señaló que el año pasado Promperú trabajó con 39 aliados estratégicos en nueve países del mundo, y que en 2011 apunta a tener 50 aliados en 11 países, como forma efectiva de concretar las ventas.

Según Merino, el esfuerzo en la promoción ha dado resultados, pues en 2010 creció en 35% la cifra de visitantes a la Fortaleza de Kuélap (Amazonas), en 20% a las Tumbas Reales del Señor de Sipán (Lambayeque), en 42% a Pachacámac (Lima), y en 16% al Valle del Colca (Arequipa).

Entretanto, el titular de Canatur destacó que “en el mundo, el destino Perú debe estar en más de 10.000 catálogos, especialmente en Estados Unidos, Europa y Latinoamérica”.

Peru Travel Mart 2011 contará la asistencia de unos 180 delegados, entre compradores y vendedores, y 110 empresas en 15 países.

Entre los países que confirmaron su presencia figuran Australia, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Francia, Alemania, Honduras, Italia, México, Estados Unidos, Venezuela y Polonia.

2011-04-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

Studying abroad comes with memories, customs, precautions

2011-04-14T14:24:00.001-05:00

One reality, however stereotypically American it may be, is that many students who are considering the option of studying abroad are also considering the limitations and laws on alcohol consumption in the country of their interest.

However important this idea may be to students, there are also many other useful tips and precautions that students must learn about before immersing themselves into a new culture.

Tina Williams, study abroad programs coordinator, once attended a conference where a speaker made an analogy about the wonders of alcohol consumption for students abroad.

"He started out by explaining that chewing gum is illegal in Singapore. It is not sold anywhere, and it is only used for therapeutic purposes. Much like there are restrictions in the United States on alcohol, there are the same restrictions in Singapore for chewing gum," said Williams. "When a student comes to the U.S. where chewing gum is everywhere, it just seems so awesome that he or she must get involved in the hype of gum. This is a great comparison to alcohol, but the idea students need to remember is, everything in moderation. The urge to get sloppy makes that ugly American profile abroad."

One student, Hilary Larson, a Spanish major who studied abroad in Spain last summer said that the consumption of alcohol seemed to be much more common in Spain than it is in the United States.

"It seemed very common at dinner and was a must at social events," said Larson. "The laws also seemed to be much more lenient. Open containers weren't an issue, and no one in my group was ever carded while purchasing alcohol or attempting to get into a bar or a club."

Williams said that while this is the case in many countries outside the United States, she cannot reiterate enough the importance of moderation.

"The question students must ask themselves is, ‘Would I do it back home?'" said Williams. "We don't want to scare students with boundaries and limitations, but you must use your common sense. It will not only be beneficial, but also educational to your experiences."

There are also many other, equally important, concerns overlooked by the more than 400 students coming and leaving Washburn who chose to study abroad.

Williams said that many students both coming to and leaving the U.S. to study abroad don't consider what transportation methods they will be using upon arrival at their new country.

"In many countries, public transportation is the main way students will get around. Students must research times of day that are good for travel, areas of town to avoid, and not make assumptions based on their experiences back home," said Williams. "The same happens for students coming to the U.S. We have had students take a taxi from the airport in Kansas City to Topeka because that's just what they're used to back home."

Packing is also an issue that many students find themselves stressing about, primarily with over-packing. Too much stuff makes for difficult traveling. Williams suggests that the essentials should suffice, and expensive items, especially those with a power cord should be left at home.

"Being overseas where outlets and voltage are different, you are almost guaranteed to burn something out like your Chi [hair straightener]," said Williams.

Carrying on with the "only essentials" theme, many U.S. universities and host universities encourage their exchange students to leave the valuables at home. Countless places that students travel are tourist capitols of the world, which unfortunately means that the pick-pocketing and thievery is present in the community.

"It is very important to be aware of your immediate surroundings at all times," said Williams. "It's okay to be overwhelmed with everything around you, but don't let your guard down; people are looking for you."

Illnesses and culture shock are also two very important issues that students should research and be aware of before leaving home. The Center for Disease Control has a website which lists breakouts, diseases and recommended vaccinations for every country in the world, many countries broken down by region. The Shawnee County Health Department also has a travel clinic where this information can be obtained, and where vaccinations can be received.

Although there is no medicinal cure for culture shock, the more research a student does on their destination, the more prepared her or she will be for the changes when he or she gets there.

"I know it's a nasty topic, but traveler's diarrhea happens frequently," said Williams. "Always pack Imodium A-D and Pepto Bismol caplets."

For students leaving Washburn, the International House also takes extra measures to ensure students' questions are answered before they embark on what could be the most educational experiences of their lives.

On April 8, the Study Abroad Orientation will take place, with information session covering a wide variety of topics from safety to pre-departure check lists.

"We take every measure we can to prepare students to take the journey of their lifetimes," said Williams. "Our hopes are that they have life-changing experiences and that maybe they'll sign up to go on another trip or a longer trip

Family travel five: Sample all the flavors of your travel destination Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/11/2792191/family-travel-five-samp

2011-04-11T08:04:00.001-05:00

Add a culinary twist to your cultural exploration and provide the whole family with a fulfilling experience. Here are five mouthwatering ideas to consider:

1. AsparagusFest in Stockton, Calif. Learning about a food's origin and the many ways it can be prepared can turn a curious green vegetable into something of grand interest.

Visit this Northern California town to discover all things asparagus. The 26th annual festival offers music, amusement rides for kids, Tyson the skateboarding bulldog, other amazing dog tricks, and, of course, recipes, competitions, tastings and talk about the vegetable of honor. This year's festival is April 15-17.

Contact: 209-644-3740; www.AsparagusFest.com.

2. New Orleans. The kids will learn about the impact of natural disaster on a food source and a community's unflinching spirit when the family ventures to this coastal city that continues to survive against the odds. Head to Cafe du Monde for its trademark and tasty beignets. Savor po' boys or gumbo for lunch. Stroll through the French Quarter or visit the Children's Museum to restore your appetite for dinner. Then sample from the wealth of Cajun or Creole-style seafood. The adventuresome might opt for fried alligator on a stick.

Contact: 800-672-6124; www.neworleanscvb.com.

3. Visit Peru. Teach the kids about superfoods while sharing the amazing history of the Andes people. This country is home to grainlike and nutrient-rich quinoa and purple spuds, both considered sacred and said to have been cultivated for Incan royalty. Mix these Peruvian diet staples into your menu when planning a trek on the Inca trail en route to the legendary Machu Picchu.

Contact: www.incatrailperu.com/; www.responsibletravel.com/holiday/2022/hiking-the-inca-trail; http://www.intrepidtravel.com.

4. Try artichokes in Albuquerque, N.M. Learn how to eat artichokes every which way at the Artichoke Cafe, a charming dining spot set in the city's historic east downtown neighborhood. Gather additional local intel at the National Hispanic Cultural Center as well as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Taste the local cuisine, combining native chiles, corn, beans and squash, at one of many restaurants you'll find in Old Town, Albuquerque's 300-year-old city center.

Contact: www.ArtichokeCafe.com; 1-800-284-2282; www.Itsatrip.org.

5. Eat local. Experience global. Large U.S. cities are often home to cultural enclaves where small, family-owned restaurants dish up authentic favorites, combined with a bit of history from the homeland. When traveling to cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco or Miami, seek out dining options in Little Italy, Chinatown or Little Havana. There you can introduce the family to cultural and culinary traditions along with a good meal.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/11/2792191/family-travel-five-sample-all.html#ixzz1JDfeLOkz

2011-04-07T14:34:00.000-05:00

Resurgent leftist in Peru election

2011-04-04T06:24:00.002-05:00

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A leftist former army officer who nearly won Peru's presidency five years ago with fiery anti-capitalist rhetoric and open affinity for Hugo Chavez has surged into contention once again, leading opinion polls ahead of April 10 presidential elections.

To get there, Ollanta Humala ditched his leftist discourse and radical red T-shirt and distanced himself from Venezuela's president, pitching himself as a mellowed moderate.

But is the makeover merely cosmetic? Although Humala frequently dons a suit and tie and does his best to appear a modest, respectable family man, the business community is spooked.

It fears that if Humala were to win, he would scuttle an economy that grew nearly 9 percent last year and is the envy of many neighboring countries.

Lima's main stock market index dove more than 5 percent earlier this week after polls showed Humala in the lead for the first time, reaching a technical tie for the lead with Keiko Fujimori, daughter of disgraced former President Alberto Fujimori.

A new Datum poll released Friday, gave Humala a de facto lead with 21.4 percent. Closely clustered behind him were Fujimori (16.4 percent), former President Alejandro Toledo (17.4 percent) and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski 17.5 percent), an economy minister and Cabinet chief during Toledo's 2001-2006 presidency. The poll's error margin was 2.2 percent.

Another new poll by the Catholic University gave Humala a clearer lead over Toledo, who had been the front-runner since January. Humala was up by 24.3 percent to 18.8 percent, with a margin of error of 2.3 percent.

Toledo had been leading the race since January.

No candidate is expected to obtain the simple majority needed to avoid an early June runoff —

Humala summoned reporters to a hotel in Lima's wealthy San Isidro district after Monday's market drop to assure them his economic policies would "respect our international agreements."

"Nothing will be done outside democratic, legal means," he added.

Earlier in the campaign, the former army lieutenant colonel had called for renegotiating Peru's free trade agreements.

Humala also is promising to respect Peru's constitutional prohibition against immediate re-election, a clear acknowledgment of fears he might mimic Chavez and the Venezuelan president's close allies, Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Rafael Correa of Ecuador. All three won re-election after voters passed referendums allowing the countries' charters to be rewritten.

All three also have been accused of using strong-arm tactics to silence opposition-run news media. Humala says he respects freedom of the press.

But Peru's dominant, business-friendly daily, El Comercio, has shown little respect for him.

Last week, it likened Humala's plans for the economy to those that wrought economic ruin in eastern Europe under Soviet rule.

While short on specifics, Humala has advocated expanding the state's role in the economy and extracting higher royalties from mining companies, which account for 60 percent of Peru's exports.

Toledo also proposes higher taxes on windfall profits by mining companies. But he and the other three leading candidates also believe the private sector should continue to play a dominant role.

In his 192-page campaign platform, Humala strikes a markedly different tone from the others, contending that Peru has become "the instrument of a few small (business) groups who consider their transnationalization the only road to development."

Humala told business leaders in a January speech that he'd seek to rewrite the constitution to create "an economic regime that has social justice as its objective." That, he said, includes "restoring national sovereignty over ... natural resources."

He insists, for one, that the natural gas needs of Peru's people take priority over exports, echoing rhetoric that helped Morales get elected in gas-rich Bolivia

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Resurgent-leftist-in-Peru-election-1317803.php#ixzz1IYKkS4kP

2011-03-31T18:33:00.000-05:00

Students Packing Extra Luggage for Peru Trip

2011-03-28T10:47:00.001-05:00

Students from Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School heading to Peru during April vacation are planning to bring more than just their own suitcases.

The students going on the Regional's third trip to Peru with Spanish teacher and mentor, Kevan Sano, will also bring along clothing, school supplies and other necessities.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, students traveled to Spain to immerse themselves in the language, yet Sano always had a passion for Peru, where she had traveled on her own. The school's recent Spanish trips have now been to Peru.

Before they leave, the students on the trip will be collecting supplies to take with them and money to pay to get the supplies there.

Students going on the trip are looking for suitcases to bring along the donations of clothing, shoes and school supplies.

Since there are 34 students on the trip, they are looking for 34 suitcases to fill to capacity, at 50 pounds each. They are also collecting eyeglasses, sunglasses and cash donations to help fund the airline fees for the second suitcases. Each additional bag is $30.

They are selling paper suitcases which decorate the wall outside the Foreign Language Office. People can buy a paper suitcase in any denomination. Any excess money collected from suitcase sales will go toward "Llamas for Peru" a Heifer International Project, according to Sano.

In 2009, they raised enough money to fund 42 suitcases and make a $2,000 donation to Heifer.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do it at the high school's Foreign Language office or at the Community Drop-Off day for suitcases and donations on Saturday, March 26 from 8 a.m.-noon in the high school parking lot.

In Peru, students will spend 10-11 days visiting many historical sites, a school, participate in a typical "shaman" tribute to mother earth, explore Machu Piccu and take in the "breathtaking geography of Peru," said Sano.

Individual students pay for their own trip. There is no fund raising to pay for travel expenses and all fundraising is for donations.

Artificial waves gain traction for surfers

2011-03-23T22:54:00.001-05:00

The wave pool arms race has just escalated. One hundred kilometers south of Peru's capitol city of Lima, in a massive outdoor mall facility, the California-based American Wave Machines recently unveiled a wave park of epic proportions.

Being touted as the "biggest standing wave in the world", the Ola Movistar surf arena, with its multiple wave options and ability to pump out 4-to-5-foot barreling rights and lefts, had its official opening earlier this winter -- a fact that was largely overlooked by the surf universe. Two other fake wave Shangri-Las, Kelly Slater's as-yet-unseen Wave Company (KSWC) and Spain's Wavegarden, also captivated the masses this winter with their high-profile promises of ocean-free stoke factories.

However, with ringing endorsements starting to come in from folks like former World Champion Sofia Mulanovich and the Peruvian National Surf Team (who use the park as a training facility), the only artificial surf spot in South America is starting to steal the spotlight."The park has been packed and people are really taking to it," explained Bruce McFarland, founder of American Wave Machines. "From total beginners to some of Peru's best surfers, we can generate a wave for everybody that truly replicates the shape of what we ride in the ocean."

Interestingly enough, Slater's purported designs and the Wavegarden's long synthetic peelers are "traveling waves." That is to say, the wave actually peels off down the line, you paddle in to it, and, like you would in real surf, you physically travel forward as you ride the wave. But the new Peruvian playground works more like the old flow-rider parks that came into popularity in the late 1990s -- the wave stands still and constantly pitches out over itself using the same water while also providing a small shoulder section in front of you for endless cutbacks and roundhouses. In short, the wave never ends.

According to McFarland, however, unlike the flow-riders of old, which required special, decidedly un-surflike boards to ride, his companies patented "Surfstream" technology, which allows for an experience more in sync with actual, real world wave-sliding. A deeper pool bottom with contours and a pneumatic air pump that blasts out circular bursts into the water creates a wedging wave shape virtually identical to what you would find in nature, allowing riders to shred the man-made gnar on actual thrusters. "The key in all of this, no matter what technology you are using, is the profile of the wave you create and ours truly is the shape of a wave in the ocean," says McFarland.

Despite the recent uptick in wave park buzz, the concept of man-made waves in a place that has no ocean is nothing new. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Rick Kane's Arizona surf antics in the movie "North Shore," and the 1985 ASP contest in Allentown, Penn. come immediately to mind.

Even more intriguing, as McFarland admitted, is that "In a lot of ways, that original technology was the most accurate [to simulating real world surfing]." So why then, if everyone loves surfing so much and the best breaks the world over are jammed up with the wave hunting masses on any given day, hasn't the wave park revolution caught on? (Even Japan's Seagaia Ocean Dome, widely considered the best wave park of all time and located right in the middle of a major league surf culture, ultimately shut its doors.)

The reason, it seems, is the money. Surf parks aren't cheap and finding the right business model to sustain them has proven to be a heck of a lot harder than you would think. How do you rent them out, what do you charge, what type of amenities to surround them with and what type of wave (i.e. small, slow crumblers for beginners, fast, pitching pits for experts, standing waves or traveling waves) is most marketable?

For McFarland and his American Wave Machines, who already have six different parks open around the world since incorporating in 2000 and "several more" in the works, the answer seems to be a little bit of everything. Not only does their Surfstream technology offer four different types of waves in pools of all different sizes, but AWM also has a patent on a traveling-wave technology -- akin to the Wavegarden -- but has yet to find a deep-pocketed enough investor to help them build it.

"The reality is, machine surfing is here to stay," summed up McFarland. "The technology is out there to make a truly incredible artificial surfing experience but you have to find the right buyer that is willing to go to the next level." Right now, for good or bad, at a huge outdoor shopping mall in Peru complete with 10 discotheques and two million annual visitors, what exactly that next level might look like is becoming a bit more clear.

Miley Cyrus Announces First Dates of 2011 World Tour

2011-03-21T17:02:00.001-05:00

Shortly after her father Billy Ray Cyrus called off his divorce from her mother Tish, former "Hannah Montana" actress Miley Cyrus announced she's going on a world tour. The "So Undercover" star has revealed the first tour dates of the traveling show.

Miley is set to kick off the gig with a stadium concert on April 29 at Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in Quito, Ecuador. The "Can't Be Tamed" singer then will fly to Lima, Peru on May 1 to hold another stadium show at Explanada del Monumental.

Tickets for the former gig will go on sale starting Saturday, March 26, and tickets for the latter can be bought on Wednesday, March 23. "Where should I go next? More tour dates will be announced soon!" Miley promised on Facebook.

Miley Cyrus released her third studio album "Can't Be Tamed" in 2010. The next single from the CD reportedly will be a cover of Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn". It was supposed to be released last year, but delayed because Bret Michaels was caught up in affair rumors with Miley's mother after Billy filed his divorce papers.

Bret said, "The record label was supposed have to this huge humongous release of Every Rose. It was going to be Miley's next-step song, but, because of that (affair rumours), they stepped back. It really bummed me out. I worked hard on that."

Old sketches illuminate story of old Interurban

2011-03-06T18:53:00.001-05:00

History enthusiast and artist Brian Nolan was having trouble finding many people with extremely clear memories of the Interurban rail system.
Instead, he found the memories — actually nearly 45 sketches — but not the person who recorded them about 100 years ago.
“A young boy in 1910 started riding the Interurban and as he was traveling he made sketches,” says Nolan, who was shown the collection of sketches by one of the historians at the La Salle County Historical Society in Utica, where Nolan sells his own sketches, prints and cards of historical sites of La Salle County and the Illinois & Michigan Canal.
Nolan has spent the past four months traveling from Spring Valley to the Joliet area, trying to stand in the same locations where the sketches were made and taking photographs of the present-day locations to match up to the scenes created a century ago.
Now the Morris man has created a DVD based on the old pen-and-ink, pencil and colored pencil drawings as well as his photos and an occasional sketch of his own made from the same views as the early doodler. He will present his findings and DVD at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 at Grundy County Historical Society Museum in Morris, and hopes to provide more programs (and sell DVDs) elsewhere.
He finds the early artist’s sketches historically significant because they provide views of the Interurban line that were not commonly photographed. For example, he said there are no sketches of commonly photographed scenes such as factory workers getting on and off the Interurban trolleys at Westclox in Peru.
One old sketch depicts an Interurban trolley obviously near the intersection of St. Bede Lane and the highway that links Spring Valley and Peru. Another depicted a trolley traveling over an arched, long-since-demolished bridge over the Fox River not far from Ottawa High School.
There are east and west views of Interurban trains crossing the canal on a bridge that spanned Split Rock between Utica and La Salle. He notes hikers on the canal towpath still can see a berm south of the canal that used to carry the Interurban trolleys to Utica. He found sketches and old photos of a Utica depot, and also was fascinated by sketches evidently made by the artist while on an Interurban trolley where the tracks headed south from Utica to a “Starved Rock station,” where passengers would disembark and take a boat to Starved Rock. One sketch clearly shows the Starved Rock butte, but, like all of the sketches, the focal point was the Interurban system, Nolan said.
Another sketch mapped out the Interurban system, which had several privately-owned, for-profit sections linking communities and which were interconnected from Rock Island to Chicago and to many other cities throughout Illinois.

2011-03-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

PROMPERÚ En ANATO 2011 con los colores de la nueva marca país

2011-02-23T21:52:00.001-05:00

Estrenando un nuevo diseño de stand, el que tiene ya los colores de la nueva “Marca País” que, supuestamente, sería dada a conocer en la ITB de Berlín en marzo, PromPerú está presente en la XXX Vitrina Turística de ANATO que inició sus actividades esta mañana.

La inauguración contó con la presencia del Presidente de Colombia, así como de los primeros mandatarios de El Salvador y Curazao -país invitado del evento-, así como de congresistas, diplomáticos y representantes del sector turismo. El stand del Perú, que tiene el apoyo de Astrid y Gastón en el área gastronómica, tiene como expositores a Coltur, Condor Travel, Dulca Tours, Fiesta Tours Internacional, Hada Travel, Lima Tours, Tika Tours y Viracocha Turismo Internacional. Hoy, a las 2 pm., la feria fue abierta a los profesionales, reuniendo la oferta de 30 países y de todas las regiones de Colombia. El evento cuenta con la participación de al menos 700 empresas expositoras y alrededor de 15,000 compradores y visitantes profesionales, así como operadores turísticos provenientes de Venezuela, Uruguay y Colombia, entre otros países latinoamericanos.

Peru travel: Download 2011 festival calendar for Lima Region

2011-02-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

peru
Vendimia, Peru's grape-squashing harvest festival, kicks off in early March (Photo: Andina)

If you are traveling to Lima, Peru and are looking for ideas to help you plan the best cultural experience possible, the Regional Government of Lima's 2011 Festival Calendar can provide some good ideas. It’s a comprehensive schedule of 225 of Lima’s main cultural events, fairs, festivals, religious festivities, holidays and more.

Click here to download Lima’s 2011 Festival Calendar (in Spanish).

The list includes cultural festivities like March’s popular Grape Harvest Festival, Vendimia, which is traditionally celebrated with float parades, dance shows, pisco tasting booths and events highlighting the tradition crushing grapes by foot.

There are also food festivals and fairs like Puerto de Huacho's Ceviche Festival, a week-long celebration in honor of the Peru’s celebrated dish, also held during the last week of February.

Also noted are important religious celebrations like the annual Señor de los Milagros procession, in October, where thousands of faithful celebrate the Lord of Miracles in an emotive procession through the streets of Lima.

Find out exactly what date National Pisco Day will fall on (July 27), when and where a big Tourist Week will take place (August 30, Cañete) and learn of many other fun and traditional events taking place throughout Lima this year.

Tourist Attractions In Amritsar

2010-02-02T11:36:00.005-05:00

Amritsar is home to the Golden Temple the sacred temple of Sikhs. It is one of the most ancient and charming cities of India. It is the seat of Sikh history and tradition. Being the preferred gateway for travelers coming to India on the overland route from central Asia it has became the hub of a variety of commercial activities. There are many historical and religious sites in Amritsar. The fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas started construction of Golden Temple and was it finally completed by his successor Guru Arjan Dev.

Another popular place of interest in Amritsar is Jallian Wala Bagh. This place is known for the most atrocious massacre under British rule. It is just 2 minutes walking distance from Golden Temple. In 1919 General Dyer was the Lieutenant Governor of the province He banned all public meetings due to the economical set back by World War I. But inspite of that on 13 April 1919, pilgrims poured into Amritsar to celebrate the Baisakhi festival. This ground is bounded by high walls on all sides has only a narrow alley as an entrance. General Dyer himself led the troops to the ground and ordered his men to shoot at the people who were gathered there. It caused death of 379 people. India was infuriated by Dyer´s massacre. Today this ground has been converted into a park and it has a beautiful garden. At the entrance there is a memorial plaque which narrates the history. There is a well on the north side in which many people who tried to run away from the bullets got drowned, and remnants of walls have been conserved to reveal the bullet holes

Ram Bagh

This picturesque garden is named as a tribute to Guru Ram Das. It is located in the new part of town and has a museum in the summer palace constructed by the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh popularly referred to as the Lion of Punjab. The museum hoses weapons dating back to Mughal times and some portraits of the ruling houses of the Punjab and a copy of the diamond ´Kohinoor´. To commemorate the bravery of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ram Bagh has a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh saddled on a horse.

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Peru Vacation Packages

2010-01-28T14:59:00.001-05:00

There are many different types of Peru vacation packages that cater to a wide variety of interests. Indeed, this is a necessity as Peru is a very diverse country and host to many ancient cultures and archaeological ruins. Peru is the only country that has the coast, desert, highlands, mountain ranges and jungles. It also has both the cordillera blanca and the cordillera negra (White and Black mountain ranges). The country has a rich ancient history with cultures like the Inca Empire, Moche, Nazca, Chachapoyas, Chavin, Paracas, Tiahuanaco, Wari, the Norte Chico Civilization and Chimu. There is even a theory that descendants of the Vikings live in Peru! There are also islands, catacombs, canyons, Spanish colonial structures, museums, lakes, Pisco Sour, the ayahuasca spirit vine, curanderos (healers) and traditional dances. Peruvian cuisine is becoming world-famous. Peru has some of the most diverse and delicious food the world has to offer. Peru has 35 varieties of maize (corn), 2,000 varieties of potatoes, over 2,000 varieties of sweet potatoes, 2,000 species of fish (more than any other country in the world), and probably the best lemon anywhere. Main Attractions Peru tourism can roughly be divided into two main circuits: the Northern Circuit and the Southern Circuit. The Southern Circuit is by far the most popular with tourists as it includes Peru's #1 site-seeing attraction - Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is in the Cuzco area. Other highlights in the Southern region are the Nazca Lines, Nazca; Colca Canyon, Arequipa; Lake Titicaca, Puno; the Sacred Valley, Cuzco; the Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuaman and Koricancha, Cuzco City; the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu; Choquequirao, a couple of days from Cuzco city; and Manu National Park near Cuzco. The Cuzco region is the archaeological capital of South America. The Northern Circuit is not as popular as it's Southern counterpart, yet offers spectacular scenery and marvelous ancient structures. Main attractions here are Caral, Barranca; Chavin de Huantar, Huaraz; Chan Chan and El Brujo Archaeological Complex, Trujillo; The Lord of Sipan, Chiclayo; the Pyramids of Tucume, Lambayeque; the Amazon Jungles, Iquitos; Kuelap, the Gocta Waterfall, the Gran Vilaya and Karajia, Chachapoyas. The Chachapoyas region in may actually have more archaeological ruins than the Cuzco region as it is still relatively unexplored. There are so many things to see in Peru that you may need to sign up for several Peru vacation packages! The Most Popular Peru Vacation Packages The main attractions are just the tip of the iceberg of what Peru has to offer. However, unless you have years of time available you'll need to choose a Peru vacation package that includes the primary things you want to see within your scheduled vacation time. The most popular Peru vacation packages head from Lima to the Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca, then Cuzco. The Cuzco region is a must see. All main tour packages include at least a day trip to Machu Picchu. A Sacred Valley and City tour of Cuzco covers several sites. This takes about 7 days. If you have more time then you might consider a visit to Colca Canyon and Manu National Park. The second most popular package is a trip to the Amazon Jungles in Iquitos. These tours usually include meals and lodging, trips along Amazon rivers, jungle hikes, wildlife watching and visits to native towns. Minimum tour length is usually 3 days. There are tours that last for weeks, but the magic number here is 4 to 5 days. If ancient ruins are more your style and you have already seen the main attractions of the Southern Circuit, then a tour package based in Trujillo is an excellent alternative. From Trujillo tour packages go to Chan Chan, El Brujo, The Lord of Sipan, the Pyramids of Tucume and sometimes to Caral. Tour length is about 7 days. Unfortunately most Peru vacation packages don't include a trip to Kuelap because it is still fairly isolated. But if you have a few extra days Kuelap should be a must-see in the Northern Circuit. What Do You Want to See? Before you decide on a tour company you will want to make a must-see list based upon how long your vacation will last and the main region to visit. Pick a few of the sites that you will not do without. If there will be extra vacation time after visiting the places on your must-see list then you can add secondary things to see. Once you have your refined list in hand you can begin looking for the tour agency that offers you the perfect Peru vacation packages. There are so many types of tour packages available that you will probably find an excellent match without any difficulty. If in the unlikely case you don't find the ideal package ask the tour agency if they do custom tours. There are several agencies that are flexible to what you want, especially if you will be traveling in a group. Choosing the Right Tour Agency Contact a few travel agencies and speak with a travel agent. Let the travel agent know how much time you have, what you want to see and how much money you are willing to spend. Also be sure to mention if you will be traveling with others and ask about discount group rates. The travel agent will then be able to offer you Peru vacation packages that fit your needs. When you have the ideal package be sure to get the itinerary. You will also want other details on what is included: meals, lodging, transportation, free time and extra activities. Ask how much it will cost to make a reservation and what the agency's policy is if you have to cancel. Be sure to check into the travel agency's credibility. You want nothing less than excellent service. With the proper tour package fit to your desires you will have a wonderful time in Peru. Your vacation will be an experience that you will remember for a lifetime and you'll soon find yourself pondering a return trip. Brighton accommodation.

South America Travel – Vacation Trip to Peru

2010-01-26T14:49:00.001-05:00

Driving Long Distances

2009-12-29T23:34:00.000-05:00

Driving long distances is something that most people with a driver's license will have to face at some point in their driving career. For some people, they actually make their living from driving across the country in order to make ends meet. My uncle, for example, is a truck driver and has chosen to make a career out of driving long distances.

For most people, driving a long distance usually comes up during the holiday season. For instance, during the thanksgiving season that is currently going on, millions of Americans crowd the roadways in order to drive out to see loved ones, friends and family. If you are planning on making your first long distance road trip, there are a few things that you should consider before you jump into the car. For starters, make sure that all of your vehicle maintenance is up to date. The main things that you need to be concerned with in this area are things such as oil changes, tune ups and tire pressure, rotation and balance.

Most importantly, make sure that you pack your vehicle with an emergency kit. In your emergency "kit," you should include things such as a first aid kit, a flashlight with extra back up batteries, jumper cables, flares, a blanket, a paper road map of the United States, a swiss army knife, bottled water, some other non-perishable food items and at least one full set of clothes to include an extra pair of socks and a winter jacket. Now, while some of these items may just seem like you are being paranoid, you never know what kind of a situation you are going to come across.

A few years ago, North Carolina got hit with an awful ice storm that wound up freezing the roads over in a fine sheet of ice. The sheet of ice was more dangerous than any snow that could have hit the area, and before people knew it, they were sliding all over the roadways, off the roadways and into each other. I, myself, was caught in the middle of the ice storm mayhem. On my way back from classes, it should have only taken me approximately thirty minutes to get back to my apartment. However, due to all of the bad weather, it wound up taking me almost nine hours to get back! In nine hours, I could have easily driven home to New York!

While driving for that long (and obviously not being prepared to spend nine hours in traffic), I began to get hungry. That's when I remembered that I had some non-perishable snacks in the back of my car in my emergency kit along with some water. So, when we were stopped in the middle of traffic for a while, I crawled into the back seat of my car and retrieved a small bag of granola and a bottle of water. I was also thankful that I had chosen to fill up my car prior to leaving for class earlier in the day. There were actually people around me who had run out of gas and were abandoned on the side of the road, waiting for help to arrive (which was going to be a while). This is why it pay to always be prepared, because you never know what situation you're going to be faced with!

Chinese New Year – The biggest and most important of all events in China

2009-12-22T03:30:00.000-05:00

The most important event in all of China, the marking of the New Year on the lunar calendar is an event that brings about massive celebrations throughout the nation. The upcoming Chinese New Year is set to fall on the 26th of January 2010 and visitors to the country will be privy to a host of Chinese culture and celebrations put on display. When it comes to Chinese tradition the city of Xiamen and the surrounding hillside are famous for representing Chinese heritage and the New Year is no exception to this rule. To celebrate the Chinese New Year a special festival known as the Lantern Festival is put on each year during the respective date. Interestingly Chinese New Year unlike its traditional counterpart is celebrated over a period of over 2 weeks (15 days) in which the festival is held. The streets of Xiamen come to life with the instantly recognisable traditional Chinese red lanterns which are draped around the streets on the last day of the festival. Other items that can be seen include Chinese knots and Chinese calligraphy displaying popular Chinese idioms. Parades featuring dragon and lion like creatures make their way through the roads with dancers and other performers providing stimulating visuals that are quite unmistakeably Chinese to all observers. These parades are accompanied with the beating of a Chinese drum which is meant to drive away evil spirits. Fortune Gods also make an appearance in static images that are located in various locations in cities across the nation. During the festival locals will exchange gifts and undertake the time honoured activity of cleaning their homes which is also meant to wash away the bad luck of the previous year allowing good luck to take its place for the coming one. The windows and doors of houses are also decorated with red coloured couplets (traditional wall hangings) and paper cuttings, echoing themes of wealth, happiness and longevity. China being a nation renowned for its fireworks tradition does not shy away during the biggest celebratory event of the year and the skies of Xiamen and the rest of China come to life with creations of all colours and shapes. Finding a suitable Xiamen hotel to reside in is an absolute must, especially during the celebrations of the Chinese New Year. Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen allows travellers the benefit of making an online reservation in advance, removing the hassle of searching for a hotel upon arriving in the city.

Hawaii attractions

2009-12-17T00:28:00.000-05:00

The whole of Hawaii is served by two main newspapers. They are Honolulu based; Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star Bulletin. They are both high in circulation throughout the U.S.A. There are other local newspapers also available in the different islands. South Point is the farthest point south in the entire United States...not Key West Florida, as some guidebooks claim. The road to Ka Lae from the Hawai'i Belt Road is infamous, but has been greatly improved in recent years, although it's still only 1-lane wide in many places. Even today some rental agencies admonish you not to take their cars down this road. Relax. The road is fine, although blind turns and hills command your attention and should curb your desire to speed. Also, all the roads, beaches, boat launching facilities and parking are free and public, despite what some signs and unsavory characters might try to tell you.

Fresh from the lush and flowery ambiance of Honolulu, my wife and I found ourselves staring at parched red earth and desiccated shrubbery. It seemed like the middle of nowhere. Even the tiny airport reminded me of all those end-of-the-earth little island airstrips I had flown into in the South Pacific: roll-away stairs to get off the plane, a tiny, cinder-block terminal, and a couple of burly guys tossing baggage on a bench. At the moment, though, things didn't look promising. Our rental car had failed to show up at the airport. A call to the agency only resulted in an answering machine. There is also an online newspaper available, called the Hawaii Reporter. It is used a lot by the locals and even the people who need to know anything about Hawaii. Hawaii is also home to a number of newspapers that differ in ethnicity like Chinese, Filipino, Korean or Japanese newspapers.

Please do not feed the fish, it disrupts their natural feeding habits and you may be injured. Reef fish are territorial and do occasionally "nip" but you should not chase, harass or touch them (this includes octopi). The oils on your fingers will injure their skin and they may carry diseases which they can pass to you on your hands. For photographing reef fish, whether snorkeling or scuba diving, simply find a feeding spot (usually a boulder or dead coral head teeming with algae, and wait calmly and silently nearby. One perfect way to take a trip through the ocean surrounding the islands in Hawaii is fishing charters. In Hawaii, fishing charters are prepared in an exceptional way by the use of rods, center trigger, holders and outriggers. There are also fishing tournaments that take place in the islands. It is held regularly inside the boats and one must know first the entry fees. Boats to be used in the events are prepared well a day before the competition day. So we were left sitting on the curb, wondering what to do. Finally, I got in touch with Ray Miller, the real estate agent from whom (over the internet) we'd rented an ocean front condo for the week.

Kerala Beach Tour - Live the Adventure

2009-12-15T12:04:00.000-05:00

Serene Backwaters, sun-drenched beaches, rippling waves, green hills, there is no other state in the India that can present so much enthusiasm for life as it is visible in Kerala. This small State in the southern tip of the Indian peninsula is an easy winner owning to its great mind-blowing landscape and infinity of intriguing customs, high-intensity cultural life and educated public so often dressed in white. The pure fun of lazing on the golden palm fringed beaches and riding the motorboats are unparallel experiences. Combine all these factors and you would know why Keralites consider their state as God's Own Country.

Some of the popular beaches in Kerala where you can go for trips are:

Alappuzha Beach: A vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers crossing it makes it the 'Venice of the East'. This wonderful relaxing beach is also frequented for fishing. The beach is also a home to several avifauna (bird) species.

Kovalam Beach: Surrounded by lush greens, the Kovalam beach is always dotted with a number of boats and Kettuvalloms (houseboats). Kovalam beach is an ideal destination for surfing and it enjoys a pleasant tropical climate throughout the year.

Dharmadam Island Beach: Positioned 17 km from Kannur, this small 5 acre gorgeous island is dotted with coconut palms and green bushes. The island is about 100 metres from the mainland of Dharmadam and a special permission is required to enter this privately owned island.

Marari Beach: Situated at a close nearness to the Cochin city, Marari is the most wonderful stretch of soft sandy and palm fringed beach. It offers an idyllic location for relaxing holidays far away from the hustle bustle of the urban life.

Fort Kochi Beach: The beach is famous for a number of water sports activities and a Naval Academy.The historic city near the beach showcases a different kind of lifestyle inspired by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. This cultural influence is clearly revealed in the Indo-European architecture in Fort Kochi.

Varkala Beach: Varkala beach is a highly well-regarded place because of a prehistoric shrine of Lord Vishnu dating back around 2000 years. Consisting several mineral water springs, popular for their medicinal values, the beach is also called 'Papanashini'. People believe that a dip in the holy waters of Varkala beach purifies the body and the soul.

Beypore Beach: Located in north Kerala, the Beypore beach was initially developed by the Arabs. Remnants of the ship building industry and the old wood industry can still be seen here. Tourists can take sunbathe or just lounge around the golden sands, Swimming and Ayurveda therapies is an ideal spot. The beach is surrounded by black rocks.

Visit India, Kerala Travel, Kerala Tourism

St. Lucia All Inclusive - A Unique Getaway

2009-12-08T14:55:00.000-05:00

Located in the Eastern Caribbean between Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia is a scenic and friendly place known for its unspoiled natural beauty and its unique French-infused culture. It is a strikingly beautiful island with secluded coves, gorgeous beaches and lush rain-forests. The range of activities, services and amenities offered by the all-inclusive resorts and villas on the island are virtually limitless and caters to all vacationers. From honey-mooners, to families, to group travelers; everyone is guaranteed to find a St. Lucia all-inclusive package to fit their vacation needs and budget.

When it comes to unique St. Lucia all inclusive vacation packages, the Jade Mountain resort comes to mind. Don’t let the boring all-in-one stereotype of all inclusive resorts mislead you - Jade Mountain is one of a kind in its own right. Located in Soufriere, St. Lucia, the resort is literally carved out of a rugged slope overlooking the Twin Pitons. Here, see for yourself...

Jade Mountain is an eco-luxury resort that places great emphasis on sustainable tourism and has managed to incorporate the concept of environmentally friendly travel into every aspect of their service – from the resort décor to the all-inclusive activities. The resort sits on over 400 acres full of biking and hiking trails, not to mention the scuba-diving available at the marine park. Guests here are at one with nature because there are only 3 walls to every room at the resort! Each suite comes with an infinity pool and has views to the magnificent Twin Pitons mountains and the Caribbean sea. I assure you, there is no view at any other St. Lucia all inclusive resort that is more stunning. I'll be remiss not to mention the mineral waterfall located less than two kilometres from the resort, as well as a drive-through volcano, positioned three kilometres away.

There are no telephones, radio or television. Each suite has a unique bell pull chord to summon a dedicated room service and house keeping team 24 hours a day. Internet access is available at reception for those truly determined die-hards who simply cannot let go, forget the outside world and float away as this St. Lucia all inclusive resort would like them to do. You get the best of all worlds at Jade Mountain Resort, with all the facilities of a luxury resort whilst maintaining the exclusivity of the perfect St. Lucia all inclusive hideaway.

This St. Lucia all inclusive package includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and snacks as well as unlimited beverages (house wine, beer and other alcoholic drinks using premium brands included), free reign over your stocked in-suite mini-fridge, use of the tennis court and equipment, use of non-motorized equipment for sports such as snorkeling, ocean kayaking, sunfish sailing, windsurfing and mountain biking. As part of the package guests also get access to the facilities of Anse Chastanet Resort. That includes two exclusive beaches and sunset sailing on the resort yacht. The package covers all taxes and gratuities.

A glimpse of Sydney's wildlife

2009-11-26T01:06:00.000-05:00

Interested about Wildlife in Australia? If you are landing in Sydney, a couple of places are distinguished for this purpose. Discover furry koalas, skipping kangaroos and shy platypus in zoos and wildlife parks just minutes from the heart of Sydney city.

Don't expect to see kangaroos or reptiles when you have landed in Sydney, if you do, you must have landed somewhere else. If you have confirmed your destination (which is Sydney) then I guess you must have your eyes checked.

Many tourists still see Australia as having a land with kangaroos on the street. Most of them are found somewhere on the bush or some place where they can feel that they have the sense of habitat. The easiest way to experience fauna in Sydney is to transport to the zoos, the largest collection of the city's wildlife is at Taronga Zoo, its size and its years of serving makes it a spectacular place to discover wildlife and preservation. Taronga zoo is located north of Sydney Harbour. To get there, take a ferry from Circular Quay and the Central Business District, the trip is approximately 12 minutes. Make it scenic, transport through one of the cable cars of Sky Safari that operates from the Top Entrance to the Ferry Wharf from 9.30am to 5.00pm daily. Not finding it cool? Take the bus.

Some people wishes to discover Australian wildlife in their original habitat and state, one way of doing this is hiring a 4WD or a campervan hire Australia, depending on your intended wildlife location. Why not, if you have more than a day and would love to do other stuff like hiking, camping, etc, this is a call for adventure. Handle some safety while doing this and always as a local about animal behaviors.

Another wildlife haven in Sydney is the Sydney Wildlife World located within walking distance of the city centre. It is an ideal place to see wildlife given the limited time. Sydney Wildlife World is adjacent to Sydney Aquarium, between Cockle Bay and King St Wharf. Also consider Featherdale Wildlife Park, located in the western Sydney suburb of Doonside, about 40 minutes by road from the Sydney centre.

A Synopsis of Disney Theme Parks

2009-11-12T14:42:00.000-05:00

With Disney continually increasing its repertoire of parks and attractions, it is difficult to keep up with them! This overview gives a quick look at some of the popular Disney parks.

Epcot Center: The Epcot Center is divided into two main sections, the Future World and the World Showcase. The Future World features futuristic attractions that focus on innovation and the future, and there are many options for entertainment and shows with this theme.

The World Showcase has pavilions displaying eleven different countries. Each pavilion showcases the culture and cuisine from each country. There are opportunities for shopping and other attractions at the pavilions as well. A few of the countries included are Morocco, Norway, China, and Mexico.

The Epcot Center allows you expand your horizons! You can try being a racecar driver, go through a space training lab, and fly through the Imagination Institute.

Disney Animal Adventure Park: This Walt Disney park is unique in its mission. Not only does this park aim to inspire imagination and entertainment in its visitors, it also strives for quality animal care and research. There are many chances to learn about animals, with 1,700 animals across the park’s 500 acres!

The different areas of this park include Africa, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Asia, and Dinoland. These areas offer educational opportunities to see animals up-close, and occasionally even pet them!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: This amusement park takes you out from the theater and into the scene, allowing visitors to experience behind-the-scenes action from their favorite movies. All attractions are based on box office superstars, and there are chances in the park to meet superstars, like your favorite princesses. One of the popular attractions at this park is the American Idol Experience, which lets visitors experience the excitement of American Idol firsthand.

Disneyland Resort: The Disneyland Resorts have the iconic castle in the background. Bring your little princess in her Sleeping Beauty dress, and let her experience her fairytale firsthand! You can visit Mickey Mouse at his house, experience the classic ride “It’s a Small World,” and go on an adventure with Indiana Jones. You can get the autograph of your favorite princesses and other Disney characters throughout the park.

There is a futuristic portion to these resorts as well, offering a hands-on innovation area. With tea cups, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and other rides staring favorites like Pinocchio, this park is sure to please any Disney fan. There are vintage shopping areas, frequent parades, and firework shows as well.

Downtown Disney: Downtown Disney is a shopping and eating experience just outside of the Disneyland resorts. Parking and entrance to this attraction are free! There are live dancers and musicians performing throughout Downtown Disney. This is a fun place to stroll through and shop in the evening.

Everest Environmentalists

2009-11-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

It was almost inevitable that a high mountain like Mount Everest (8,848m) would become a high profile platform for environmental issues. On December the 7th 2009, the UN Climate Change Conference will begin in Copenhagen, but green campaigns are already under way to put pressure on world leaders to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

The most daring stunt aiming to influence the Copenhagen summit from Everest's summit had been planned by an Indian expedition. They intended to draw attention to the effects of global warming by skiing from Everest's peak down to Everest Base Camp and, in doing so, set a high-altitude skiing record. Unfortunately, an increase in avalanche risk from heavy snows meant they had to abandon the expedition.

Base Camp Swim Trek

In April 2010, a hardy individual and adventurer, called Lewis Gordon Pugh, is planning to use his courage to help the environmental cause in Nepal. Lewis is a long-distance swimmer who has previously demonstrated his remarkable constitution and determination by swimming in the sub-zero Arctic Ocean. He put up with the intense cold on that occasion to draw media attention to the receding icecaps, and intends to stage a similar publicity stunt at Everest next year to draw attention to the disappearing glaciers in the Himalaya and worldwide.

Wearing only trunks and goggles, he will swim a kilometre in the Khumbu Glacier's lake, close to Everest Base Camp. Lewis expects the experience will be "excruciating", and points out that there aren't facilities to take a hot shower on the mountain. There will be a dinghy accompanying him on his freezing swim in case he gets into difficulty, and Lewis has enlisted the help of some Sherpas to haul the escort boat along the Everest Base Camp Trek trail to the lake.

Everest Biker

As part of an ongoing odyssey, Japanese cyclist Keiichi Iwasaki has shown he is the ultimate green traveller, setting an example for everyone. Keiichi has been travelling around the world for years, but has been doing it entirely under his own steam: by bicycle. During his eight-year journey, he has travelled through thirty seven countries and had amazing experiences, all at a low cost to the planet and his pocket.

One of the stops on his grand tour was Nepal, where Keiichi diverted his round-the-world bicycle trek to Everest Base Camp so he could summit the world's tallest mountain. He successfully reached the peak of Everest in 2005, having clearly developed the necessary stamina and lung power from all those hours of cycling. Because of this, Keiichi has earned the curious accolade of being the only man known to have journeyed from sea-level to the top of Everest unassisted, in other words, using just his own power.

The Everest Trekking Environment

Despite concerns for its preservation, the Everest landscape is far from ruined. It remains an incredibly beautiful and varied environment that changes visibly at different altitudes; something that can be witnessed on the many trekking routes through the Himalayan countryside.

These treks are predominantly led by Nepalese guides who take pride in their country and its maintenance, and come from communities living along the Everest Base Camp Trek trails, communities that have learned to have a limited impact on their surroundings. It's a lesson the rest of the world needs to learn in order to preserve our planet's most breathtaking and vulnerable environments.

Peru - Independent Travel Tips on Where to Go and Visit

2009-08-20T18:44:00.006-05:00

Independent travel advice for Peru

IF you are travelling over land from Ecuador in to Peru you will probably arrive first in Piura a fairly uninteresting border town. From here it is a further 4 - 6 hours to Chiclayo which has a few half decent places to stay (try www.hoteltumbasreales.com). From here you can travel on to Huanchaco - a beach side resort where you can watch the local fishermen bring in the catch on their straw boats. There are some good restaurants along the sea front and good hostels here. Near Huanchaco is the town of Trujillo with some interesting architecture and also the Chan Chan ruins (very reminiscent of star wars).

Lima is the capital and transport hub for the country so difficult to avoid. The capital doesn't offer much to stick around for but if you've been backpacking on a shoestring for a bit and want some creature comforts - head to Mina Flores for some decent accomodation, bars & restaurants. Most of the hostels are on this modern island with in the city but you will find significantly cheaper prices in the old part of the city.

Peru is a great country from which to explore the Amazon. You can fly direct from Lima to Iquitous in the centre of the Amazon - this rainforest town is only accessible by air or water. You will be swamped with taxi drivers offering you their recommendations for accomodations and tour companies so be prepared to defend your personal space upon exiting the terminal. Shop around and negotiate when choosing the tour company to go with - local guides will offer you authentic experiences in isolated villages (often involving all night ferry journeys down the Amazon river accompanied by all kinds of animals, livestock, fish & produce) .... a fantastic experience but be prepared to rough it - no running water or electricity! Alternatively there are lots of luxury options available which may be don't provide the authentic Amazon experience, & the treat of getting to know the locals, but are perhaps more suitable for the squeamish (expect to be getting up close & personal with all things that creep and slither)! Remember to bring tons and tons of very strong deet insect repellent with you - the mosquitos are every where, love the blood of a 'gringo' & are strong enough to bite through clothing ... even jeans!

Highlights of the Amazon include fishing for Piranhas in little wooden canoes with your fishing rod / twig & string - these canoes are very flimsy so don't rock the boat! For the very brave a swim in the Amazon is an amazing experience and if you're with the locals expect some mud slinging matches - if you're very lucky you will get up close to the famous pink dolphins, but unlike their salt water cousins this rare breed are pretty shy. Obviously the Amazon offers many an encounter with wildlife of all shapes & sizes - snakes, spiders, toucans, monkeys are some of the most common spots. On our trip we actually camped a night under the stars in the heart of the Amazon jungle with nothing for protection but banana leaves under our sleeping bags - with the fireflies for nightlights it was truly spectacular but definitely not an experience for the faint hearted!

The Inca trail is undoubtedly a highlight of any visit to South America and is certainly the jewel in the crown of any backpackers visit to Peru. While it is certainly hard work it is entirely possible for any one of average fitness and doesn't demand any specific training - just take your time, pace yourself and if you're worried about altitude sickness invest in some pills before you depart Cusco. The trail is very peaceful - walkers are limited to only 200 people a day so you can walk for quite long distances with out seeing any other tourists. It is an amazing feeling to tread the path of the Incas, witness some of the most incredible views on this earth and almost feel alone while doing so. The access limitations do mean that you need to book your place on the trail well in advance however. Tours differ in price from the very basic 'carry your own backpack' (only for the very fit) to the norm of basic food & accomodation with porters to carry all camping, food and personal luggage, all the way up to the very luxurious camping and food options. We took our tour with the midrange option - Gap Adventures, enjoyed every second and would highly recommend them. Day 2 is the hardest of the 4 - the ascent of ´dead womans pass` - but the views at the top are well worth it and you will feel a great sense of achievement once you reach them. The porters are an integral part of the Inca Trail experience, there are a total of c. 300 of them per day on top of the 200 walkers .. we had 12 porters for 6 of us in our group. Each porter carries about 25 kilos on their backs and they lug this up literally vertical slopes and then back down again ... at a run and in flip flops!! It´s unbelievable to see ... apparantly one of the porters actually managed to complete the whole Inca trail (with out any weight on his back though) in 3 hours 45 minutes ... this is a trail which takes all the tourists 4 days! The porters run ahead of the walkers and then set up camp for lunch, then go ahead again to set up camp for dinner and tents for the night. When we walked it there were porters as old as 58 in our group and apparantly there were 70 year old porters still working the trail! Having a very knowledgable guide who speaks good english makes a big difference to the experience so do your research when picking a tour company. The last stretch of the trail is begun at 4am on the 4th morning to ensure you'll arrive at the sun gate in time to see the sun rise and mist roll off the valley to reveal Machu Picchu.

East of Cusco on the border with Bolivia is Lake Titicaca - the highest navigable lake in the world. Take a boat tour out on to the lake to visit the amazing floating reed islands of the Uros people. The community here have been making their homes from the reeds of the lakes and living upon them since pre incan times. Walking on the islands as they bob up and down is a very strange experience but the reeds are layered up very thick as the islanders simply add a layer every time they feel concern over sinking! It is also possible to stay in home stays on some of the bigger non reed islands of the lake - very basic accomodation with no running water or electricity but a real chance to witness the local way of life which has remained unaltered for generations.

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TRAVEL to PERU, ancient cultures, PERU COUNTRY

2008-11-03T18:41:00.002-05:00

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Pisac Village and Market (2,970m)

2008-06-13T14:36:00.000-05:00

Modern Pisac is a picturesque Andean Village, typical except for the huge, spreading pisonary tree that dominates the central square. The village is best known for its Sunday market, which draws hundreds of tourists each week. In spite of its popularity the market retains much of its local charm, at least in the part where villagers from miles around gather to barter and sell their produce. In the tourist section of the market you can buy a wide variety of handicrafts - mostly the same things you see in Cusco. Many of the guide books state that handicrafts are cheaper than Cusco but in recent years I haven't noticed much difference in price. My advice is if you like something in Cusco, buy it! And likewise in Pisac. Don't wait around hoping you'll find it a few dollars cheaper elsewhere. Pisac is a good place to buy the local ceramics including a huge and varied collection of hand-painted multi-colored beads. There are smaller markets in Pisac on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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Pisac Ruins

2008-06-12T14:36:00.000-05:00

A vital Inca road once snaked its way up the canyon that enters the Urubamba Valley at Pisac. The citadel, at the entrance to this gorge, now in ruins, controlled a route which connected the Inca Empire with Paucartambo, on the border of the eastern jungles. Set high above a valley floor patchworked by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing, the stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. Terraces, water ducts and steps have been cut out of solid rock, and in the upper sector of the ruins, the main Sun Temple is equal of anything at Machu Picchu. Above the temple lie still more ruins, mostly unexcavated, and among the higher crevices and rocky overhangs several ancient burial sites are hidden.

Pisac

2008-06-11T14:35:00.000-05:00

Most people visit Pisac to see the market on Sunday, but there are smaller markets on both Tuesday and Thursday. However Pisac is a pretty village and has plenty of small handicraft shops and is worth a visit on any day of the week. There are local buses departing from Cusco every 15 minutes for the one hour ride to Pisac village. Local buses cost about US$1 each way. A taxi can be hired for about US$10 each way. There is no public transport up to the ruins. You can either hike up, starting from the plaza (allow two hours round trip). Alternatively you can negotiate with a local taxi driver to take you there (about 20 minutes following a long winding road) and either return by taxi or walk down hill to the plaza. (A local taxi costs approximately US$5 each way)

The Sacred Valley

2008-06-10T14:34:00.000-05:00

The Sacred Valley of the Incas was undoubtedly a key area of settlement to the Incas. Its agreeable climate and fertile plains make a rare and fruitful combination for the high Andes. It was also the route to the jungle and therefore an area with access to the fruits and plants of the tropical lowlands. The Sacred Valley served as a buffer zone, protecting Cusco from incursions of the Antis, the fierce jungle tribes who from time to time raided the highlands.

Today the Sacred Valley remains a lush agricultural region supplying the city of Cusco with much of its produce such as maize, fruit and vegetables.

Most people visit the Sacred Valley as part of an organized one-day tour. The tour includes a visit to the market at Pisac, a stop for lunch in Urubamba, a visit to the beautiful Inca village and fortress of Ollantaytambo and a quick stop at the quechua village of Chinchero on the way back to Cusco. Some companies also include a visit to the ruins at Pisac but you'll have less time at the market if you do this. You'll find plenty of tour companies in and around the Plaza de Armas in Cusco offering these tours costing between US$15 and US$20 for a pooled service (up to 30 persons in a group). This price doesn't include your meals or entrance fees to the ruins. Entrance fees are included in the tourist ticket ('boleto turistica') which can be purchased in Cusco for US$10 adults and US$5 students. Departures are usually on the market days of Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. If you only have one day to visit the Sacred Valley you'll find the convenience of the tour well worth while since the entire circuit is over 170km in length. If you want to do it in a small group you can hire a taxi for the day (approx US$60) and take a guide (approx US$60). Alternatively you can also visit the Sacred Valley on your own, travelling by local bus. It can be quite tiring to try and see Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero all in one day by local transport so we suggest visiting Pisac ruins and the market on one day and then visiting Chinchero and Ollantaytambo on another day, using Cusco as your base from which to explore.

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Tambomachay (Cavern Lodge)

2008-06-09T14:33:00.000-05:00

Commonly referred to as the 'Baños del Inca' or Inca baths, Tambomachay was a site for ritual bathing. The excellent quality of the stonework suggests that its use was restricted to the higher nobility, who maybe only used the baths on ceremonial occasions. The ruins basically consist of 3 tired platforms. The top one holds four trapezoidal niches that perhaps were used as seats; on the next level an underground spring emerges directly from a hole at the base of the stonework and from here cascades down to the bottom platform, creating a cold shower just high enough for an Inca to stand under. On this platform the spring water splits into two channels, both pouring the last metre down to ground level.

Practical Information for Visitors

The Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay are situated quite close by to Cusco and can easily be visited in half a day, either independently or part of an organized tour.

The ruins are located along the road to Pisac, with Sacsayhuaman being the nearest ruin to Cusco. Entrance to the ruins is included on the tourist ticket (see Cusco City information). If you're planning on visiting the ruins on your own then there are two interesting alternatives:

1) The first is to take a bus from Cusco on its way to Pisac and get off at the furthest ruin Puca Pucara. After visiting this Inca hillfort you can cross the road to visit Tambomachay and then walk back along the road to Q'enko and Sacsayhuaman. In the valley immediately to the left of the huge Inca stones of Sacsayhuaman you'll find a small path leading down to Cusco. (total walking distance about 8km). Instead of the hassle of catching a local bus you could take a taxi to Puca Pucara for about $6-10.

2) Alternatively you could walk up to Sacsayhuaman. From the Plaza de Armas just climb the steep street of Resbalosa, past the church of San Cristobal and follow the well marked path up to the ruins at the hairpin bend in the road. If you head to the left of the huge white statue of Christ on the hill overlooking the city you won't go too far wrong. It takes about 40 minutes from the Plaza and it's a good test to see if you have acclimatized and are fit to undertake the more difficult treks such as the Inca Trail. From Sacsayhuaman you can hire a horse and a horseman to take you on a round trip of the other ruins (3-4 hours). The cost of hiring the horses depends on how many there are of you (and how rich you look), but 2 horses plus a horseman to show you the route should work out at about $6 per person.

Many tour agencies in Cusco offer an organized tour of the ruins. The afternoon tour by bus accompanied by a guide usually includes a visit to the Cathedral and the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun) and costs about US$10 per person (not including entrance fees). Most travel agents have tours leaving daily at 2pm returning to the Plaza at 6:30pm.

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Q'enko (Zigzag)

2008-06-08T14:33:00.000-05:00

This is one of the finest examples of a rock artfully carved insitu showing complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric reliefs and a puma design. The rock is an excellent example of the Inca 'Rock Worship'. In Inca cosmological beliefs the Incas held large rocky outcrops in reverence, as if they possessed some hidden spiritual force. On top of the rock are zigzag channels which served to course chicha (local maize beer) or sacrificed llama blood for purposes of divination; the speed and route of the liquid, in conjunction with the patterns made in the rock, gave the answers to the priest's invocations.
Inside the rock are large niches and a possible altar. This may have been a place where the mummies of lesser royalty were kept along with gold and precious objects.

Puca Pucara (Red Fort)

Situated on a hill with superb views over the surrounding countryside Puca Pucara was more likely a tambo, or kind of post house than an actual fortress. Travelers may have lodged here with their goods and animals before entering or leaving Cusco. An alternative theory is that it served as a guard post controlling the flow of people and produce between Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

Sacsayhuaman

2008-06-07T14:32:00.000-05:00

Visitors to this magnificent Inca fortress, which overlooks the city of Cusco, cannot fail to be impressed by the beauty and monumental scale of this important Inca construction. Sacsayhuaman can be variously translated as 'speckled falcon' or 'speckled head'. The last interpretation refers to the belief that the city of Cusco was set out in the form of a puma whose head was the hill of Sacsayhuaman. The origins are uncertain but the fortress is generally attributed to the period of Inca Pachacuti, the man who essentially founded the Inca empire.

The main ramparts consist of three massive parallel walls zigzagging together for some 400m, designed to make any attacker expose his flanks. The massive blocks, the largest being 8.5m high and weighing nearly 300 tonnes, are fitted together with absolute perfection. The foundations are made of Yucay limestone brought from over 15km away. The outer walls are made from massive diorite blocks from nearby, and the inner buildings and towers are made from dark andesite some of it brought from over 35km away. With only natural fibre ropes, stone hammers and bronze chisels it must have been an enormous task. The chronicler Cieza de Leon, writing in the 1550's, thought that some 20,000 men had been involved in its construction: 4000 men cutting blocks from the quarries; 6000 dragging them on rollers to the site; and another 10,000 working on finishing and fitting them into position. According to legend, some 3000 lives were lost when one huge stone that was being dragged uphill broke free.

Sacsayhuaman played an important part in the final defeat of the Inca Empire by the Spanish. Pizarro's party entered Cusco unopposed in 1533 and lived there securely for more than two years before finally being caught unprepared by the rebellion of Manco Inca in 1536.

Manco's troops took the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, overlooking the city, and used it as his base to attack the Spanish. After weeks under siege in the city the Spanish broke out and charged into the surrounding hills to the northwest above the city. They then doubled back to capture the rocky outcrop opposite the fortress. From this outcrop they made repeated attacks across the flat plaza against the walls of the fortress. All the Spanish reinforcements on their way from Lima to Cusco had been massacred, so if the Spanish failed to take the fort they were doomed. In the evening, against all odds, the Spanish eventually broke through the Inca defenses and scaled the walls of the fort driving the defenders into the fortified complex dominated by 3 towers (foundations only remain today). After two more days of fighting the Conquistadors finally overwhelmed the natives, putting them all to the sword. It was said that during the battle a leading Inca nobleman, armed with a Spanish sword and shield, caused havoc by repulsing every enemy who tried to scale the last tower left in Inca hands. Having sworn to fight to the death, he leapt from the top of the tower when defeat was inevitable, rather than accept humiliation and dishonour.

Santo Domingo Church & Koricancha / Qoricancha (Inca Temple of the Sun).

2008-06-07T14:31:00.000-05:00

Santo Domingo was built in the 17th century on the walls of the Koricancha Temple of the Sun. The uninspiring Baroque decoration of Santo Domingo makes a poor contrast to the superbly crafted Inca masonry - in fact much of the cloister has been gutted to reveal four of the original chambers of the great Inca Temple. The finest Inca stonework in existence today is the curved wall beneath the west end of the Church. In Inca times the walls of the Koricancha were lined with 700 solid-gold sheets weighing two kilos a piece. There were life-size gold and silver replicas of corn, golden llamas, figurines and jars. All that remains today is the stonework; the conquistadors took the rest - unfortunately all the exquisite treasures ended up being melted down; nothing survived. However the fist conquistadors to arrive did not remove the holiest religious symbol of the empire, the golden sun disc, though they reported its existence. This solid gold disc, far larger than a man, mysteriously vanished before the main party of Spaniards arrived. It has never been found to the present day. The disc was positioned to catch the morning sun and throw its rays into the gold-lined temple, filling it with radiant light and bathing the mummies of the dead Inca rulers in sunshine which were seated in niches along the walls.

The entire temple complex was also an intricate celestial observatory. Every summer solstice, the sun's rays shine directly into a niche - the tabernacle - in which only the Inca was permitted to sit. Along with the main temple dedicated to the Sun, there were others for the adoration of lesser deities - the Moon, Venus, Thunder and Lightning, and the Rainbow.

El Triunfo

2008-06-06T14:30:00.000-05:00

El Triunfo is on the right hand side of the Cathedral and was the first Christian church in Cusco. It was built on the site of Suntur Huasi (the Roundhouse), the main Inca armoury where the Spanish were trapped during Manco Inca's siege in 1536. When the Incas burned the city the thatched roof of Suntur Huasi caught fire, but then mysteriously went out. The Spanish later broke out and recaptured Sacsayhuaman, ending the siege. The church was built to commemorate this victory and the miracle.

La Compania de Jesus

Cuzco Plaza de Armas, Cuzco, PeruLa Compania de Jesus church is located on the south-east side of the Plaza de Armas and rivals the Cathedral in grandeur and prominence. The original structure was built in the 1570's by the Jesuits on the site of Inca Huayna Capac's palace, known as Amaru Cancha or Palace of the Serpents and was said to be the most beautiful of all the Inca palaces). Huayna Capac was the last Inca to rule over an undivided, unconquered empire. The first church was destroyed in the earthquake of 1650. The present day building was finally completed 18 years later in 1668. The most impressive feature of La Compania is the incredible baroque facade with two majestic bell towers. The interior is cool and a little gloomy apart from a stunning gilded altar-piece which is often lit up at night. The church also posses several important works of art from the Cusquena School.

On the right hand side of the church is the Lourdes Chapel which is now used as an exhibition centre to display local paintings and handicrafts.

Cathedral

2008-06-05T14:30:00.000-05:00

The Cathedral dominates the north-east side of the Plaza de Armas and sits squarely on the foundations of the Inca Viracocha's palace. The Cathedral was begun in 1550 and completed nearly 100 years later, constructed in the shape of a Latin cross. The three-aisled nave is supported by only fourteen massive pillars. It contains nearly 400 colonial paintings including the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata showing Christ and the Apostles about to dine on guinea-pig, washed down with a glass of chicha! In the sacristy there's a painting of the crucifixion attributed to Van Dyke. Ten smaller chapels surround the nave, with the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, and the Chapel of El Señor de los Temblores (The Lord of Earthquakes) are worthy of special attention.

The Cathedral's real magic lies in the mingling of history and legend. It is said that when the Cathedral was built an Inca prince was walled up in one of the towers and that when the tower falls the Inca will emerge to claim his birthright and free his people. After the earthquake of 1950 thousands of believers waited hopefully for the tower to collapse, but despite severe damage, they did not and were later repaired.

The Plaza de Armas (Main Square)

2008-06-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

Cuzco Plaza de Armas, Cuzco, PeruThe Plaza de Armas (main square) was the centre of Inca Cusco and, still today, remains at the heart of modern Cusco. During Inca times the Plaza was known as Huacaypata (the Place of Tears or the Weeping Square) and was a place of ceremonies and military parades. It has been said that when the Inca's conquered new lands they would bring back some of the soil to be mixed with the soil of Huacaypata, as a symbolic gesture to incorporate the newly gained territories into the Inca empire.

The Plaza was once flanked with Inca palaces. The remains of the ancient walls of Inca Pachacutec's palace can still be seen on the north-west side of the square (inside the Roma Restaurant close to the corner of the Plaza and Calle Plateros.

The northern and western sides of the Plaza are now lined by arcades with shops and travel agencies. There are many restaurants, bars and coffee shops with beautifully carved wooden balconies overlooking the Plaza - a great place to relax and enjoy the view.

The Plaza's north-eastern edge is dominated by the Cathedral which is flanked on the right-hand side by the El Triunfo church.

On the south-east side is the smaller but more ornate church of La Compania de Jesus with its impressive pair of belfries.

Cusco Tourist Ticket

2008-06-03T14:28:00.000-05:00

Admission to many of the most popular places of interest in Cusco can only be made using a 'Tourist Ticket' (Boleto Turistico). This ticket allows you entrance to many sites in and around Cusco and costs US$20 (US10 for students with an ISIC card). The ticket is valid for 10 days and can be bought at the OFEC office at Garcilaso on Plaza Regocijo (Mon-Fri 8am-6.30pm , Sat 8am-2pm) or at any of the sites included on the ticket below.

Places included on the tourist ticket are:

Santa Catalina Convent and Art Museum, Museo de Historia Regional (Casa Inca Garcilazo de la Vega), Museo Palacio Municipal de Arte Contemporaneo, the Museo Arqueologico Koricancha (but not Koricancha itself), Museo de Arte Popular, Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, Monumento Pachacutec

Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara.

Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. These sites are normally visited as part of the Sacred Valley day tour.

Urcos: Pikillacta (the only major pre-Inca ruin in the Cusco area) and Tipon (mainly Inca terracing).

Entrance tickets to the Cathedral (US$3), Koricancha / Qoricancha /Temple of the Sun (US$1.80), San Blas church, the Inka Museum (US$3), Museo de Arte Precolombino (US$4.60), Museo de Arte Religioso del Arzobispado (US$3) and La Merced (US$0.90) are sold separately.

Cuso Atracctions

2008-06-02T14:27:00.000-05:00

During daytime or night time, Cusco is a city full of charms and attractions.
The mornings are ideal to walk by the streets, to know the churches, to pass by the legendary artisan neighborhood San Blas or to visit the towns and the archaeological remains in the surroundings. At night, when the city is covered with lights, the discotheques, pubs and restaurants are the greatest attractions. Nightlife in Cusco offers a great variety of fun choices satisfying the most demanding tastes.

If you visit Cusco, it is compulsory to know the following places: the Koricancha (The Sun Temple), the Ajlla Wasi, the Churches and Convents, the Archaeological Remains, mainly Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán and Ollantaytambo.

CUSCO MAIN SQUARE

During the time of the Incas it was called Huacaypata or Square of the Warrior. It was the setting of various crucial events throughout the history of Cusco. Every year, people celebrated in this place the Inti Raymi or Sun Festivity; and this was also the place in where Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco. With the Spaniards arrival, the square was surrounded by stone arches that even today embellish it. (Centre of the city).

Cradle of legendary feats, the Main Square of Cusco was called "HuacaYpata" or "Square of the Warrior" during the time of the Incas. It reminds us of times when it was a significant ceremonial place where, every year, they carried out the spectacular celebration of Inti Raymi or "Sun Festivity". It was the place where Francisco Pizarro, together with his Spanish entourage, proclaimed the conquest of Cusco, or the setting in where the Indigenous caudillo Tupac Amaru was executed.

The square was transformed with the Spaniards arrival. The stone arches, as well as the constructions that even today surround the square, were built during that period. It is surrounded by a beautiful arcade that was constructed during the conquest. In this place are also located the churches of the Cathedral and the Society of Jesus, which make up a real tourist temptation.

Entertainment at Lima

2008-06-01T13:19:00.000-05:00

Having Fun in Lima

Lima is a city that has much to offer in the way of entertainment, as it is a confluence of the latest rends and the most traditional aspects of local culture. Walking around it, one can always find somewhere that is open late and has an attractive rustic air, or alternatively is loud and eclectic.

After an enjoyable night, a visitor's firts point of reference is the so-called Pizza Street in Miraflores, a meeting place for the young and not-so-young. Another good alternative is the neighbourhood of San Isidro, which has places that are much more modern and contemporary.

However, if a bohemian atmosphere is what you are looking for, then Barranco is the place to go. This district is famous for its interesting cultural attractions, including art galleries, cinemas and alternative theatres. It also has nightclubs to suit all tastes, including "peñas", smalls clubs dedicated to Peruvian music and rhythms.

And speaking of traditional neighbourhoods, none is more representative than Lima Cercado, which contains some of the oldest and most interesting bars in the city. For example, the Taberna Queirolo, in Calle Quilca, or the famous Bar Cordano, opposite Desamparados station.

For visitors who like live music, Lima has a large number of places where you can appreciate just about all musical styles. In any of the popular "salsodromos" -as salsa clubs are known locally - the orchestra will tempt the most reluctant onto the dance floor. Places such as Brisas del Titicaca hold folk music shows where the rhythms and colours will surprise the most phlegmatic audience. And for those seeking other options, Lima's rock, punk and jazz concerts will not disappoint them.

Not only is there a wide choice of music, the city also has many other forms of culture to enjoy. The large number of theatres and cinemas cover the complete range of genera at many different times of the day. In addition there are museums and art institutions which are always holding exhibitions and multi-discipline events of great interest. The galleries of the Cultural Centre of the Catolic University, in San Isidro, as well as those of the Municipality of Miraflores often have attractive exhibitions, as do the Museum of Art in Lima and the Museo de la Nacion in San Borja.

The city is also a small paradise for gaming enthusiasts, who will find a growing number of casinos and slot arcades in which to chance their luck.

Lima Shopping

2008-05-31T13:18:00.000-05:00

LARCOMAR

If you're looking for a place with excellent restaurants, shops, cultural activities or recreation and a great view, the Larcomar centre is the place for you. Built on a cliff overlooking the sea, it has a magnificent view over the Pacific Ocean from any of its outlets. Easy to get to, the silver ventilation shafts mark its location.

Thanks to its many types of activities for different age groups, Larcomar has become the place of choice for family visits. Thus, while you enjoy - say - and exhibition of photographs or go shopping, the children can play electronic games. Larcomar should not be missed. It is notable for the beautiful sunsets over the ocean.

In the afternoon its excellent restaurants are very popular. Some prefer to go to the cinema, others go bowling and the Internet is available at any time.

Later on there is a choice of bars and the best discos in the city. Larcomar is world-class and in a privileged location. There are services for all tastes and visitors are perfectly safe in this great place for children and adults a like, at the bottom of Avenida Larco.

Visit the City

2008-05-30T13:15:00.000-05:00

Elegance, Distinction and Discretion

Lima, capital of Peru, is practically at sea level and has a population of around eight million inhabitants.

More than four centuries have passed since its foundation by the Spanish - when it was also known as the "City of Kings" - but Lima has preserverd it original beauty and charm. For this reason it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Observing the characteristics of its traditional balconies while strolling round the Historic Centre is to go back in time to viceregal Lima, capital of the largest and wealthiest viceroyalty on the continent.

The Main Square

With this in mindd let us start our tour in the beautiful Main Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace, the cathedral, the Municipality and the Club de la Union. In the centre is a fountain dating from the middle of the 17th Century.

The Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace, residence of the President of Peru is often referred to the Casa de Pizarro as it is where Pizarro lived after founding the city in 1535. on the same site Taulichusco governed the River Rimac valley, his power based on his control of the water which irrigated land throughout the valley. Visits are free of charge but have to be arranged two days in advance.

The Cathedral

Lima's principal church is as old as the city itself although it was rebuilt after being seriously damaged by earthquakes in the 17th and 18th Centuries. The facade contains statues of the apostles and the central niche holds a representation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Inside, are altars in the baroque, rococo and neoclassical styles, paintings and sculptures from the 17th Century and 18th Century, as well as a carved choir stalls which are a superb example of colonial Spanish-American art. During the week there are guided tours of the cathedral and its museum, which contains notable art works from the colonial period. The remains or Francisco Pizarro, a number of cardinals and a saint are also jealously guarded within.

Desamparados Station

Leaving the cathedral and walking down the right side of the Presidential Palace takes you to the corner where the city's oldest bar (1905) "El Cordano" is located opposite Desamparados railway station where a monthly train leaves for the central highlands. Round the corner and a few blocks further on is the convent or San Francisco, better known for its catacombs tha for its collection of colonial-era art. This side of the city has other attractions such as Parque de la Muralla, Peru's Congress and Chinatown.

Convent of Santo Domingo

The Convent is dedicated to the image of Our Lady of the Rosary and contains the remains of Peru's most popular saints: St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres, whose altars are visited by large numbers of the faithful.

Other important attractions: Plaza san Martin, Parque Universitario and the San Marcos Cultural Centre, the Torre Table Palace, The Riva Aguero Institute, The Casa del Oidor and the Aliaga Mansion, the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition and the convents of La Merced and Santa Rosa.

Museums

Like in the great cities of the World, Lima is home of the most important museums that display the best collections of Ancient Peru art. Two of them are situaded in the district of Pueblo Libre: Museo Nacional de Arqueologia y Antroplogia, with a wonderful display of Pre-Inca and Inca Textiles, ceramics and mummies; and Museo Larco, which holds the most important collection of Gold and Jewelry from Ancient Peru. The two museums are not distant from each other and they can be easily visited by following a pedestrian blue line that connects them. In the district of San Borja ther is the Museo de la Nacion, with a variety of halls displaying representations of Pre-Inca and Inca Cultures, including a life-size replica of the world famous Tomb of the Lord of Sipan. The MALI, in Lima downtown has an extraordinary peruvian art collection.

Burial Mounds

Impressive pre-Inca monuments can be found in the middle of the city, such as Huaca Huallamarca, a pyramidal structure typical of sacred pre-Hispanic buildings on the Peruvian coast; or Huaca Pucllana, built in the 4th Century B.C., as a ceremonial centre of the ancient Lima Culture. These are located in San Isidro and Miraflores.

Miraflores and Barranco

Miraflores and Barranco, with their modern pubs and discos also provide part of Lima's night life. Apart from its fine parks and squares, Miraflores hosts open-air shows and entertainment centers with a view ot the sea. And as far as Barranco is concerned, its bohemian atmosphere makes it one of the essential destinations for visitors to metropolitan Lima. Its "Bridge of Sighs" is the place for nostalgia and romance.