Peru's Independence Day holidays to boost domestic tourism

Peru's Independence Day holidays to boost domestic tourism 

Lima, Jul. 10 (ANDINA). About 2.15 million tourists are expected to travel around Peru during the national holidays from July 27-30, according to the National Chamber of Commerce, Production, Tourism and Services (Perucamaras).

Photo: ANDINA/Percy Hurtado Santillán.

Following a 4-day break on account of St. Peter and St. Paul's Day in late June, Peruvians can look forward to another long holiday weekend this month.
Tuesday, July 30, has been declared a non-working day for the public sector because of the July 28-29 national holidays marking Peru's independence from Spain.
Perucamaras said that domestic tourism would grow 4.4 percent over the long holiday weekend compared with last year, with 1.2 million people expected to leave the capital Lima these days.
During this time, the regions that would report more visitors are Arequipa, La Libertad, Junin, Ancash, Ica, Piura and Cusco. Meanwhile, Lima and the neighboring port city of Callao would receive 1.03 million tourists coming from all parts of Peru.
The Peruvian government has long been implementing holiday economics to boost local tourism in all regions of the country.

Peruvian Pisco National Day celebrations reach Australia

Peruvian Pisco National Day celebrations reach Australia 

Lima, Jul. 09 (ANDINA). Peru’s annual Pisco National Day falls on 24 July this year and celebrates the popular Peruvian beverage, Pisco.

Photo: ANDINA/Archive.

To mark the occasion and this year’s celebrations Surry Hills’ Morena Restaurant & Pisco Bar in Sydney is offering a special Pisco Dinner.
The event will include two Pisco cocktails perfectly matched with a three course special menu by Chef Alejandro Saravia, on the 25 July, 2013, priced at $60 per head.
Morena Restaurant & Pisco Bar prides itself on being the first Pisco bar in Australia, infusing and macerating their own Pisco to create a variety of flavours, not least the amazing Pisco Sour infused with Coca leaves and the digestive Pisco Emoliente, delighting new and not so new to Pisco.
There are many theories about the origin of the name Pisco, but Peruvians believe it to be from the town of Pisco, located on the coast of Peru, the region where the Spaniards planted the first vineyards.
Peru holds two annual national holidays dedicated to the one cocktail. The much loved national drink brings locals and travelers together for Pisco Sour Day, held on every first Saturday of February, as well as on National Pisco Day, taking place on 27 July 2013.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Peru for Pisco Sour Day, the best way to honour the famous cocktail is by visiting the capital city of Lima, where the fountain in Plaza Mayor swaps water for Pisco, and some 2000Lt of Pisco spouts fresh into celebrating mouths all day long.
With Australia’s first Pisco Bar located at Morena, Sydneysiders can now appreciate the famous cocktail in all its authentic glory much closer to home.
So what exactly is Pisco?
Pisco is a brandy made from 100% white Muscat grapes, known locally as Quebranta varietal produced in Peru and Chile and developed by the Spanish setters in the 16th century.
Pisco Sour is a cocktail that, like Mojito and Caipirinha, has increased in popularity in the United States, Europe and now Australia and is made of Pisco, egg whites, lime and Peruvian bitters

Machu Picchu named world's best landmark destination

Machu Picchu named world's best landmark destination 

Lima, Jun. 25 (ANDINA). Peru's Machu Picchu, in south-eastern Cusco region, was named the top spot landmark destination in the world by the travel website Tripadvisor.

The famed Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. Photo:ANDINA/Piero Vargas

TripAdvisor announced Tuesday the winners of its Travelers’ Choice Awards 2013 based on reviews and opinions from site users.

Thus, the stunning 15th century Inca citadel took the preferences of thousands of travelers worldwide and beat approximately 1,200 monuments, parks, museums and water parks, among others.

The incredible landmarks span the globe and include everything from 1,000-year-old temples to modern day cathedrals.

Rounding out the top five spots in the world, were Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Taj Mahal in India, Petra World Heritage Site in Jordan, and the Bayon Temple in Cambodia.

Peru marks National Cebiche Day with festivals 

Lima, Jun. 28 (ANDINA). A number of events are being held around the country to mark the National Cebiche Day, celebrated every year on June 28 since 2008.

Photo: ANDINA/Norman Córdova

The Peruvian Association of Marine and Seafood Restaurants (Armap) has organized the "Cebiche Peru" food festival, bringing together 48 restaurants.

"Cebiche Peru" will run through July 1 with the participation of Peruvian chefs coming from Chile, Spain and the United States. It takes place at Plaza Norte Shopping Center in Lima's Independencia district.

According to El Comercio, the port city of Callao is today hosting the "Cebiche Chalaco 2013," with 40 restaurants competing  to make the best version of this dish.

Elsewhere, the northern regions of Piura and La Libertad have also organized food festivals and contests, while the southern region of Tacna will host an exposition-fair of Peruvian Cebiche.

TRANSPORTATION IN PERU

INTRODUCTION: BUSES Long distance buses : Inter-city travel in Peru is almost exclusively done in long distance buses. Buses in most of the cities depart from bus terminals called terminal terrestre. The main bus companies that serve Lima with the major cities include Cruz del Sur and Ormeno. See bellow links for more bus companies http://www.expresocial.com/ http://www.civa.com.pe/turismociva/ http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/inicio.php http://www.floreshnos.net/ http://www.floreshnos.net/ http://www.oltursa.com.pe/ http://www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe/ http://www.sabuses.com/ http://www.tepsa.com.pe/ If you have long legs then stay away from the bus company Oltursa. Their seats do not have much leg room., even on bus cama buses, and the stewardesses are ditsy. The semi-cama seats recline 160 degrees but it is still difficult to sleep on them. Camas recline 170 degrees. Also, you can get vegetarian meals if you request them when purchasing your bus ticket. The company Flores sometimes has government policemen checking identification documents when you board the bus. Cusco buses: if you want to travel to PUNO- CUSCO you can try is options http://www.firstclass.com.pe / http://www.inkaexpress.com TRAINS In Peru, the company in charge of the railway system is the ‘Empresa Nacional de Ferrocarriles’ (ENAFER) or the National Railway Company. There are two routes in the country; the most touristy and widely used is the Southern one, linking Arequipa with Juliaca, Puno and Cusco, or Juliaca and Puno. The last route departs from Cusco to Machu Picchu and Quillabamba, though the stretch to this last destination is interrupted. The other railroad links Lima with Huancayo and Huancavelica, however, the first stretch is not in service. When traveling by train, you may choose from several categories depending on your necessities and budget. The best ones are Pullman or buffet; then, first class, business/tourism and the always-overcrowded second class. For the route from Cusco – Machu Picchu there is an auto coach, a kind of faster but costlier electric train. AIRLINES (best way to travel) : Airlines in Peru include LAN Peru, Star Peru, Peruvian Airlines, LC Busre, TACA Peru and Cielos Andinos. Charter and Cargo airlines include Aero Transporte S.A., Aero Condor, Cielos del Oriente and Cielos Airlines. Former Peruvian airlines include Aero Continente, AeroPerú and Faucett. Etihad Airways flights have never been cheaper, and by using OneTravels exclusive flights travel coupon, travelers save even more money. Book flights on Etihad Airways today. USEFUL LINKS Frequent flyer community: http://www.flyertalk.com Links to serch fligths in Peru : www.oneworld.com / www.traficoperu.com/espanol /