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 /

inca trail viodeversity

The Inca Trail Ollantaytambo to Wayllabamba
This is the easiest part of the trail. It starts at approximately 2800 m (9,000 ft) along the Urubamba River. The scenery is that of small farms and agriculture land. Cultivation is most prominent near the junction with Cusichaca River. Tall Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalipto) trees dominate the valley floor. These originally Australian trees are now the most important source of timber and firewood in the area. If the trees are in bloom with flowers like fluffy white brushes, they are intensively visited by hummingbirds.Scottish Broom: Spartium junceum (Retama) is another introduced and now rampant species. Nevertheless, the bright yellow flowers (Picture) brighten up the landscape.Tecoma sambucifolia (Huaranhuay) is another bright yellow flowering shrub that is quite common. Near houses the white flowering Sambucus peruviana (Sauco) is planted. Opuntia sp., Schinchus molle (Molle), and Prunus capuli (Capuli) are also common near homesteads.Once you move into the Cusichaca valley you can clearly see the vegetation zones along the slopes (picture). In the valley bottom, there is a scrubby forest with Agave americana (Maguey), , Furcraea andina (Maguey). Cestrum sp., Fuchsia boliviana, Passiflora tripartita, Erythrina edulis (Pisonay) and others. Distinctive is the very spiny "Tara" tree or Caesalpina spinosa.The zone above this low valley forest is low, open scrubland which, when seen from a distance appears as a hazy green layer. This zone is dominated by the low shrub Dodonaea viscosa (Chamana) of the Sapindaceae family. Above this Chamana zone starts grassland or real Puna. Chamana is very flamable but resitant to fire itself. The annual fires started by the farmers to maintain the Puna for pasture kill nearly everything else in the Chamana belt and thus maintain the virtually pure stands of this species.On steep cliffs a number of Bromeliads can be found Puya densiflora is a terrestrial species with narrow, spiny leaves. Tillandsia paleacea is small species with purple flowers growing on rocks. The large Bromeliad covering steep rock slopes is possibly Tillandsia fendleri (picture). The orchid Epidendrum secundum is also found here but not as common as later on near Machu Picchu.A common shrub or small tree near farmhouses higher up the valley is Nicotiana tomentosa (Camasto) which is a type of Tobacco. The plant is not very attractive but usually bears large bunches of pinkish flowers which are simply irresistible to humming birds. It is worth while to wait here and catch a glimpse of the Giant hummingbird. This species is indeed a giant among the hummingbirds and apart from its size it is characterized by its(compared to other hummers at least) slow wing beat.Other hummingbirds I saw here include the Sparkling violet ear (Colibri coruscans) and the Long tailed-sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii).A true gem along this trail is the spiny shrub Barnadesia macbridae/horrida (Llaulli). This plant is an Asteraceae (Compositae) but has very unusual flowers for an Asteraceae. The flowers are shaped as a small trumpet and combined with the bright pink color, it is obvious that the species has evolved to attract Hummingbirds as pollinatorsAnd indeed, Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to the Llaulli flower. Therefore, if you like bird watching, it is good to keep an eye open for this plant.This section of the trail ends in Wayllabamba at approximately 3000 meters (9,400 ft). After here the going will get a lot tougher
Wayllabamba to Phuyopatamarca
This part of the trek is the most strenuous. Soon after you leave Wayllabamba, you can see the next goal; Warmiwañusca at 4265 m (13,650 ft) looming way in the distance. The first section of the trail goes through a similar valley-bottom forest as we saw along the Cusichaca valley. Only it is somewhat higher here, possibly because of diminishing human disturbance. Officially this forest is classified as "Submontane, Subtropical, Very Humid Forest". Species that I noted here include Alnus acuminata/jorulensis, Fuchsia boliviana, Barnadesiamacbridae/horrida (Llaulli), Oreopanax ischnolobus (Maqui Maqui), Passiflora tripartita, Piper elongatum (Moco Moco) Rubus bogotensis, Lycopersicon parviflorum (Climbing with yellow flowers), Duranta armata, Stenomesson pearce (Amarylidaceae), Clusia sp. This forest is quite dense with an understory of ferns. Sometimes the trail comes out of the forest and reaches into the Puna. Such spots are good places to see butterflies. When you dive back into the forest, it has become a "Polylepis forest" This unique forest is dominated by Polylepis spp (Queuña). This forest with its gnarled trees covered with moss and a dense understory of herbs, is quite enchanting. Around every corner you expect a troll or at least a hobbit. No such thing occurs here though, but the forest is teeming with birds.Polylepis belong to the Rosaceae family and is easily recognized by it's pinately compound leaves with expanded petiole base (see drawing right). The thin, flaky, reddish bark and thick trunks with twisting branches are another good characteristic. The genus is strictly Andean and forming almost pure stands at altitudes that should support Puna.Unfortunately, Polylepis forest is one of the most threatened forest types in the world. Originally it covered large areas in the high Andes, but generations of farmers burning the Puna to provide grazing for Llamas and Alpacas have reduced the forest cover immensely. Mature Polylepis can survive fire, but seedlings and young trees can not. As a result, the Polylepis forest shrinks a little after every Puna fire. For more information see the links that I put in the left margin.Ultimately, you leave the forest behind and come into the real Puna. This is an open landscape dominated by grasses (Ichu). This last stretch to the first pass is steep and strenuous. You may see grazing Llamas and Alpacas here. If you are lucky you may see raptors soaring above you. The Condor is very rare and threatened by extinction, so don't have your hopes too high for this one, but the most common larger bird is the Mountain Caracara. This attractive bird often allows close up looks.On top of the Warmiwañusca at 4265 m (13,650 ft) you may want to indulge in a snow fight, if you have any energy left that is. Having come so high, it is kind of depressing to look down on the steep downward trail but there are interesting things to see here. Just below the pass, there is a curious collection of huge boulders, this is where Viscachas live. These rabit-like relatives of the Chinchilla (which is now extinct in the wild) often just sit there on a boulder, looking rather sleepy. They are usually so inactive that you may suspect that they are really just stuffed animals.At the bottom of this slope lies Pacaymayu (3500 m - 11,200 ft). This is the largest camp site along the trail and quite a depressing place because of its frequent overcrowding. The camp lies at the tip of a Polylepis forest that follows the valley towards the Urubamba River, way below. This forest shows clear signs of recent fire damage.From Pacamayu it is up again into the Puna towards the second pass which lies just above Runcurakay. Along the trail grow many Odentoglossum mystacinum orchids.Near the second pass (3963 m - 12,680 ft) there are some small alpine "black water" lakes. Typically there is hardly any vegetation in these lakes, but some of these lakes are now filling up with vegetation. Possibly a result of nutrient input due to vast amounts of hikers and their porters defecating nearby?These lakes are supposedly also good sites to see deer, but I didn't even find any tracks of deer, so they are probably very scarce.
Below the second pass, you plunge back into the Polylepis or Queuña forest. The forest is actually quite similar to a cloud forest. As in a real cloud forest the trees are often laden with Epiphytes such as Bromeliads and Orchids. Very soon you will reach to an more open spot which actually has a Sphagnum or Peat Bog. The vegetation here is low, more like an "elfin forest" Many orchids and other interesting low plants can be found here. Very characteristic is a small treefern (or at least a fern with a trunk) that I initially mistook to be a Cycad.From here on, the last stretch to Phuyopatamarca (3711 m - 11,875 ft) is not that strenuous.
Phuyopatamarca to Machu Picchu
The views from Phuyopatamarca (3711 m - 11,875 ft) are breath taking and you might wish to spend a longer time here. But Machu Picchu is beckoning! The trip is mostly down from now on. Very soon we enter forest again. Initially there is still Polylepis but soon the forest changes and we renew our acquaintance with species as Oreopanax ischnolobus, Alnus acuminata/jorulensis, Clusia sp., Fuchia sp., Piper elongatum etc. Unfortunately, the forest is strongly degraded by past fires.Finally the forest gets a more tropical character. Species found here include Melastomataceae, Anthuriums, Begonia's, Lichens, Mosses etc.An interesting plant is Begonia parviflora. The Begonias that we are familiar with are low herbs that perform very well as a potted plant on our windowsill. But this species is actually a small tree!In spite of the fire damage that is obvious to the trained eye, this forest is again quite enchanting. Also along this road are some of the more amazing Inca sites that the normal visitor to Machu Picchu never gets to see.Finally at the Sun Gate - Inti Puncu (2760 m - 8,800 ft), just after you have lamented "I thought we were supposed to go down", there lies Machu Picchu below you in the haze!This is the reward of a long hike and for many hikers a very emotional moment. From here on it is a long and (unshaded) rush to the site and many might forget to look at the plants along the trail. Particularly common are various orchids such as the Sobralia's and the Winya Wayna or Epidendrum secundum which comes in orange and pink varieties.Once you are in Machu Picchu (2430 m - 7,870 ft) and feeling reckless, you might want to climb the famous Huana Picchu (or Wayna Picchu, the spelling varies)(2640 m - 8,450 ft). After all, it is there! and you are now fully trained!The climb of Huana Picchu however, is something else. It is not that far, but steeper than any other part of the trail. Also, it is rather dangerous. The climb is steep and crowded with people trying to pass each other on narrow stairways. The soil through which the trail is carved is clinging rather precariously on the steep rock and sooner or later parts of it may simply slide down. Hope you are not there when this happens!Should you decide to go, and the weather is nice, you will be rewarded with stunning views and interesting plant life. This is where I finally found the Masdevallia veitschiana orchid Near the entrance gate of the park Erythrina edulis (Pisonay) is common and very colorful. From the entrance gate to Machu Picchu it is still a ways down to Aguas Calientes (2000 m - 6,400 ft). Going down you will notice that the vegetation gradually gets more tropical. This is especially the case at the bottom of the valley where typically tropical plants such as Heliconia become abundant. One noticeable difference with a tropical forest though... you will see no wild palms here (apart from some planted in Hotel gardens)!This concludes my ecological interpretation of the Inca Trail. Much more remains to be said and shown, but there is no space left and you have to discover it on your own. Enjoy!

Running inca trail Marathon Chaski Challenge Tour (*7 days, 6 nights)

Running inca trail Marathon Chaski Challenge Tour (*7 days, 6 nights)
Includes Inca Trail Marathon
If you are fit, have run marathons and like challenge, then this tour is for you: join us for this incredible trip.
A part of this system were the Chaski, something like a post crew formed by athletic young relay runners prepared to cover quickly the distance between two Chaskiwasi (chaski's house) that had an average of 2.5 Kms. (1.55 miles). Their aim was to carry messages that could be oral or goods with ideo-graphic meanings such as the Qhipu (Inkan accounting system consisting in multicolored knotted strings), textiles with Tokapus (different symbols framed by squares), some other elements engraved or painted, etc. Moreover, the Chaskis had to carry some other important objects for the Inka and certain noblemen: it is traditionally known that the Inka in Qosqo used to eat fresh fish brought from the coast through this system. This service was uninterrupted all day long, besides being sufficiently quick. These young runners transmitting or passing messages could go over from 15 to 20 kms/hour (from 9.5 to 12.5 miles/h), thence from 360 to 480 Kms. per day (from 224 to 298 miles per day).
For this trip, we have highly-trained Guides and an excellent organisation that will enable you to do the trail in just a few hours!!!
http://www.incalandadventures.com/happytourists.html
ITINERARY:
Day 1 : Arrive in Lima. We pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel.
Onernight at casa andina
Day 2 : Lima - Cusco - Flight to Cusco (one hour). We pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel. Free afternoon to relax and explore the city by yourself. At 7pm. You will have a short meeting with the Guides about what to expect on the Inca Trail. B*L*D
Over night at casa andina
Day 3 : Cusco - Sacred Valley - Today we go on the Sacred Valley Tour and enjoy the beauty of this area and its Inca buildings. We will stay the night in Ollantaytambo. B*L*D*
Over night at casa andina
Day 4 : Ollantaytambo - Inca Trail - It´s warm-up day! We will wake-up at 7am and after breakfast we will head to the starting point of our trek - kilometre 77 of the railway between Cusco and Machu Picchu. After a gentle start, we will start running (for approximately 1 hour) to '‘Llactapata’ Inca complex where we will camp. We will have dinner, a short meeting about the next day and an early night. B*L*D*
Overnight at casa andina
Day 5 : Inca Trail - Machu Picchu - After waking up at 4am, we will have breakfast and pack. At 6 am we will start the race of about 24 miles over 3 passes - we will arrive at Machu Picchu in approximately 6 to 9 hours!!!!
There will be aid-stations at crucial parts of the trail, people with juice, fruit, snacks, chocolates, first-aid staff, people with walkie talkies (for emergency) and also people timing you at various points, including at the finishing line: Machu Picchu!!!!
There will be dinner and a big celebration in Aguas Calientes. B*L*D* over night at inti inn
Day 6 : Machu Picchu - Cusco - We will take an early bus up to Machu Picchu and a walking tour of the city (approximately 2 hours) will be given by your guide. After this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can also climb Huayna Picchu (2720m/8923ft)!!! (It takes 45 minutes to reach the top.)B*L*
You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes (it can be reached by bus or on foot) for lunch and to be given your train tickets back to Cusco. The train usually leaves at 3.55pm and we will arrive back in Cusco at about 8.45pm. B* overnight at casa andina
Day 7 : Cusco –lima .- transfer to the airport and of our services
Please Note
B*= Breakfast L*= Lunch D* = Dinner.
Dificulty level depends very much on your fitness and aclimatization.
Includes:
. all the fees included
•All hotel accommodation (1 night in tents on the Inca trail)
. 5 nights hotel at casa andina
. All the meals on the trip
•Pick-ups from airports/bus stations to hotels and vice versa
•Breakfast is included in all accommodation (lunch and dinner are included
•1 flight: Lima - Cusco
•Sacred Valley Tour
•Inca Trail Trip
What you need to take
Travel Insurance is essential
Everything is done so that the trek is not a 'roughing it' experience. You will only carry a small day-pack (which should include items such as a waterproof jacket, sun protection cream, insect repellent, water and camera). Porters will carry the rest of your personal belongings.
In this service you can also request your own preffered food!!!!
Private service also means private/special treatment for your porters, they get paid more!
Private Service means that no other people you don't know / want will be part of your trip.
If you are planning to hike the inca trail with your family and children, friends, bride, you are on honeymoon, etc we have right trips for you !
What you need to take:
•Original passport (and *International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
•Travel Insurance is essential
•Sleeping bag (not included but can be hired from us)
•Walking boots
•Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
•Warm jacket, hat and gloves
•T-shirts
•Comfortable trousers
•Sun hat
•Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
•Re-usable plastic or metal water container or camel bags.
•Water (only for first 4 hours of trek, then we will provide you with drinking -previously boiled- water).
•Insect repellent
•Toiletries
•Personal medication
•Camera and films
•Torch with spare batteries (headlamps are useful)
*To qualify as a student, it is necessary to have a valid ISIC card.
Optional items to take:
•Shorts
•Plasters and bandages
•Sandals
•Extra money
•Bathing suit (for hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
Please see our Terms and Conditions and F.A.Q
Do I need Travel Insurance? travel insurance comparison site where travelers search and compare over 250 travel insurance plans to find the best policy to suit their needs.
Prices
Running Inca trail Marathon Chaski Challenge Tour 7d/ 6 n)
INCA TRAIL RUNNING MARATHON
more info flavio@incalandadventures.com
* Prices For a Person in US Dollars
• http://www.incalandadventures.com/terms-conditions.html