WESTIN HOTELS MAKES LANDMARK DEBUT IN SOUTH AMERICA

ANDINA. Accelerating its global portfolio growth, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of its first Westin hotel in South America – The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center in Peru.

Ideally located in the heart of San Isidro, the financial and shopping hub of Lima, Peru, The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center features 301 rooms and the largest meeting and convention facilities in Peru.

“We are delighted to make our landmark entry in South America, where we expect to aggressively grow the Westin brand over the next decade,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center is a superb representation of the Westin brand. Our distinctive positioning resonates well with international travelers and we are excited to bring the Westin experience to another new market.”

The debut of Westin in Peru comes on the heels of the brand’s recent entry in Costa Rica, with the opening of its first all-inclusive resort – The Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal. Westin is also poised to make its debut in Panama with the upcoming openings of The Playa Bonita followed by The Westin Panama, and increase its presence in Mexico with the upcoming opening of The Westin Guadalajara this September.

“Starwood’s growth leader in Latin America is Westin Hotels, which is set to double its portfolio in the region by 2012,” said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America. “Fuelled by the success of Westin, we are experiencing strong demand from owners and developers for all of our world-class brands across Latin America, strengthening Starwood’s position as the largest four and five star hotel operator in the region.”

The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center is opening under a franchise agreement between Grupo Libertador and Starwood. The two companies previously partnered to open two Luxury Collection properties: Hotel Paracas Resort in 2009 and Tambo del Inka Resort & Spa in 2010, located in Valle Sagrado, near Machu Picchu.

An ideal venue for weddings, social galas and business functions, The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center boasts more than 28,000 square feet of space, including 10 meeting rooms and a grand ballroom. Additional facilities include a three meal restaurant and a fine dining restaurant headed by chef Rafael Piqueras. The hotel also features an In Site Bar to enjoy international cocktails, lobby lounge, and an additional lounge on the 29th floor. Designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica and renowned New York designer Tony Chi, The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention is a notable addition to the Lima skyline.

In their rooms, hotel guests will awaken their senses with the Westin Heavenly Bath® experience and restore in the Heavenly Bed®, a 10-layer ensemble of luxurious comfort featuring a pillow-top mattress set, a cozy down blanket, three crisp sheets, a comforter, duvet and five plush pillows. Rooms are also equipped with high-speed Internet access and an ergonomic work space to enhance guest productivity and creativity in a tranquil setting.

As part of the Westin brand’s commitment to preserving wellness on the road, The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center features a 24-hour WestinWORKOUT® gym, an indoor pool and the SuperfoodsRX menu designed by experts to keep guests on top of their game with incredible food combinations rich in nutrients, antioxidants and flavor. Located on the second floor of the hotel, the Heavenly Spa by Westin features 14 treatment rooms and a choice of signature Heavenly treatments created by Comfort Zone, the luxurious Italian spa brand.

ADVENTURE SPORTS COMPETITION TO HIT PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE

ANDINA. Paracas National Reserve located in Peru's southern coastal desert, in Ica department, will host the sixth edition of sports competition Desafio Peru 8mil 2011, which will gather 19 national and international sports teams and will be held on May 27-29, according to the organizer, Asociacion Peru 8mil.
The event will start on Friday 27 at 08:00 hours (13:00 GMT) in the Huacachina oasis and will finish on Sunday 29 in the Double Tree by Hilton hotel located in Paracas Bay, the president of the organization Enrique Malaga said.
Participants will be divided into groups of four people, taking into account that at least one from each group must be of the opposite sex. Each team will have to travel together around the coastal and desert landscapes.
The first place in this competition will win US$6,000, the second place US$3,000 and the last one US$750.
Cynthia Céspedes, chief of Paracas National Reserve said this event is a great opportunity to promote Peru as an interesting destination for ecotourism and adventure tourism.

PAMPACORRAL NUEVA ÁREA NATURAL PROTEGIDA PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN DE LOS ECOSISTEMAS DE LA PUYA RAIMONDI

Tendrá como una de sus prioridades controlar la tala y la quema de bosques de Puya raimondii y de Queuña.
Pampacorral es la nueva área natural protegida de administración privada, para la conservación de la Puya Raimondi, y está ubicada dentro de los límites del predio titulado de la comunidad campesina del mismo nombre, del distrito de Lares, provincia de Calca, departamento de Cusco y cuenta con una superficie de 767,56 hectáreas.

Con este reconocimiento, suman treinta las áreas de conservación privada-ACP del país.

Este nuevo reconocimiento tiene como objetivo principal proteger los ecosistemas de Puya raimondii existentes en dicha comunidad campesina responsable de la administración de la ACP por un periodo de diez años.

Por otro lado, también se protegerá la parte alta del sistema hidrográfico de Pampacorral, con el fin de mantener los servicios ambientales para la población influenciada y se fomentará el desarrollo del turismo sostenible que contribuirá al desarrollo socioeconómico de la población; se conservarán los ecosistemas del área para garantizar su abastecimiento de agua para actividades agropecuarias y consumo directo y se priorizará la utilización racional de los recursos naturales renovables.

En ese sentido, Pampacorral tendrá como una de sus prioridades controlar la tala y la quema de bosques de Puya raimondii y de Queuña desarrollando programas de forestación y reforestación con plantas nativas de la zona.

Los valores del ACP

El valor de conservar las áreas de los ecosistemas altoandinos, radica en que constituyen uno de los pocos bosques andinos que a la fecha se conservan y contienen hábitats de múltiples especies originarias y endémicas.
Pampacorral alberga 56 especies de flora, que a su vez forman parte del hábitat de 52 especies de aves, 13 de mamíferos, 7 de insectos y 6 entre peces, anfibios y reptiles.

Toda esta alta biodiversidad y endemismo propiciarán la promoción de la investigación científica para generar divulgación e intercambio de información a nivel regional, nacional e internacional.

Finalmente, resulta destacable que la comunidad de Pampacorral brinde a esta nueva ACP un valor sociocultural por mantener una cultura viva, originaria y milenaria que se expresa a través de sus prácticas rituales vinculadas a su relación con el resto de la naturaleza de la cual son parte.


San Isidro, 03 de mayo de 2011
Unidad de Comunicaciones
Ministerio del Ambiente
www.minam.gob.pe

SERNANP RECONOCE NUEVA ÁREA NATURAL PROTEGIDA EN PAMPACORRAL

El pasado 3 de mayo, Pampacorral, ubicada en el distrito de Lares, en la provincia de Calca (Cusco), se convirtió en una nueva área natural de conservación privada, (ACP), la cual será administrada por la comunidad de Pampacorral durante unos 10 años. Según el Sernanp, el fin de esta medida es proteger los ecosistemas de Puya Raimondi presentes en dichos predios. De la misma forma, se fomentará el desarrollo del turismo sostenible para el desarrollo socioeconómico de la población; se garantizará su abastecimiento de agua para actividades agropecuarias y consumo directo, y se priorizará la utilización racional de los recursos naturales renovables, entre otros beneficios. El reconocimiento eleva a treinta las ACP del país.

The world’s most iconic man-made structures

The world is full of incredible buildings, but what about those that have become truly iconic, the instantly recognisable ones that have come to symbolise a destination or even a period in time?

Let’s take a global tour of those enduring structural wonders – all of them worthy contenders for your travel bucket list:

Taj Mahal, India

Image by Rameshng

This beauty was 23 years in the making (1630-53) and is remarkable for its perfect symmetry. The Taj was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, Arjumand Banu Begum (also known as Mumtaz Mahal). Made from white marble, this majestic mausoleum features intricate details that were inlaid with precious lapis lazuli — pilfered in the 19th century. Its exterior reflects the changing colours of the day, and its beauty on a full-moon night is legendary.

Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

Image by doneastwest

For the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu, back in 2560 BC, the notion of digging your own grave transposed elaborately into constructing the Great Pyramid. Around two million stone blocks, each weighing 2 tonnes, were brought together to serve as his tomb. The Great Pyramid is the planet’s original tourist attraction — counting Antony (Cleopatra’s beau) and Napoleon among its many early visitors — and keeps company with three other pyramids and that other illustrious attraction, the Sphinx.

Great Wall, China

Image by exfordy

Hordes hit the Wall, as they have for centuries. Built from the end of the 15th century to the start of the 16th (using an existing wall dating back 2000 years), it stretches an incredible 6350km (3946m). Though not really visible from space, its jagged, snaking presence across the mountains between China and Mongolia always impresses, and is a tribute to the manic energy we apply to systems of war and defence. The touristed parts of Badaling are not recommended; try instead a walk from Simatai to Jinshanling.

Eiffel Tower, France

Image by trixnbooze

How many electricians does it take to change a light bulb on the Eiffel Tower? A whole team is required to maintain the 10,000-odd light bulbs that illuminate the 324m (1060ft) tower. Built in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition and to celebrate the French Revolution, Paris’ tower was designed by Stephen Sauvestre and was named after Gustave Eiffel — who specialised in iron construction including the Statue of Liberty and portable bridges sold around the world in kits.

Chrysler Building, USA

Image by Marc_Smith

Architect William van Alen planned the dramatic unveiling of New York City’s Chrysler Building‘s ornate tower by assembling it inside the building. Made of stainless steel and modelled on the hubcaps used on Chrysler cars of the late 1920s. Completed in 1930, the Art Deco building’s 77 floors and ornamental top made it the world’s highest structure — not just scraping the sky but piercing it at 319m (1046ft).

Big Ben, England

Image by exfordy

‘Big Ben’ is the common name for the Palace of Westminster‘s clock and bell tower in London, and speculation reigns as to just which Benjamin was big enough to give his name to it. Perhaps it was Ben Hall, the Chief Commissioner of Works when it was built in 1888. Or maybe Ben Caunt, a heavyweight prizefighter — in reference to the heavyweight bell within: 13.76 tonnes. The tower has a slight lean — approx 22cm (8.7in) northwest — due to ground conditions.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Image by Oisin Mulvihill

The ‘Lost City of the Incas’, Machu Picchu (literally ‘old peak’) sits at a lofty elevation of 2350m (7710ft) and is invisible from below. The secret city contains the ruins of palaces, baths and temples, and is believed to have served as a country retreat for Inca royalty. Rediscovered in 1911, construction of this ancient city is thought to have started in around 1440. Partly constructed without mortar, the precise joins won’t allow even a credit card between them.

Mount Rushmore, USA

Image by dean.franklin

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, this massive monument marks the first 150 years of American history. Carved into a mountain face are the 18m (60ft) faces of four former presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. The brainchild of Doane Robinson, the original concept was to immortalise figures of American folklore. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum (a student of a Rodin) thought devoting his life’s work to folklore too trivial – hence the resulting busts, built between 1927 and 1941.

Stonehenge, England

Image by Margaret Anne Clarke

No one knows exactly why these 50-tonne stones were dragged from South Wales 5000 years ago. What we do know is that it would have taken about 600 people to move one more than half an inch, and that the complex was constructed between 2500 BC and 2000 BC. Consisting of a ring of stones topped by lintels, an inner horseshoe, an outer circle and a ditch, Stonehenge likely had dual astrological and religious purposes.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Image by tylerdurden1

This temple complex, built early in the 12th century by a succession of Khmer kings, formed part of a larger administrative and religious centre. Built to honour the Hindu god Vishnu and abandoned in the 15th century, many of the stone structures have since been grasped by giant banyan tree roots or covered by the surrounding forest. Apparently the layout of the temples architecturally mirrors the constellation Draco in 10,500 BC to harmonise the earth and the stars.

Machu Picchu centennial celebrations to be broadcast around the world

Lima, Apr. 27 (ANDINA). Celebrations for the Year of Machu Picchu’s Centennial to the World will be broadcast around the world, said Ricardo Vega, president of the High Level Commission responsible for the organization of the event.
"The event will be broadcast worldwide. The signal will be available to all channels of Peru and the world,” Vega stated.

In addition, the main ceremony and other activities, which will be part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu, may be viewed online via satellite.

"We want an Australian, a Dutchman, an African and a Norwegian to be able to download the program and watch it. Our main interest is that Machu Picchu becomes more known, more visited, as it is one of the wonders of the world that has received less visitors in its history,” he told Canal N.

Vega said that for the main ceremony, scheduled for July 7, all the recommendations made by the Ministry of Culture are being followed in order to preserve the Inca citadel.

Mistura short documentary wins new award in the U.S.

New York, Apr. 25 (ANDINA). Once again, “Mistura. The power of food” was awarded as Best Short Documentary at the New York Los Angeles Film Festival, in the United States.
Director Patricia Perez told RPP that the announcement was published on Sunday, although she already knew that her work was the official winner.

Last month, the film was awarded as Best short foreign documentary at the 16th International Family Film Festival (IFFF) in Los Angeles.

Perez, who lives in the U.S. and is now working on a new project, said that the Culture Ministry sent her a congratulations letter signed by the Deputy Minister Bernardo Roca Rey.

Meanwhile, renowned Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio highlighted this new international recognition of the director and her documentary. "Mistura, the power of food wins again. It’s an honor”, posted Acurio on his Twitter account.

Lima ranks second Latin American city of the future

Lima, Apr. 25 (ANDINA). Peru's capital city, Lima, ranks second in the first ever 'Latin American City of the Future' ranking compiled by fDi Magazine, belonging to the Financial Times group.
The new ranking focuses on a mixture of data and expert opinion to rank cities which have the best prospects for inward investment, economic development and business expansion.

Cities based in the US and Canada dominated the overall American Cities of the Future rankings. The ranking combines a North American ranking with a new Latin American ranking by compiling research on over 400 cities from fDi Benchmark and fDi Markets database tools.

While New York City dominated the major city category, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, came top among the large cities.

Santiago was crowned fDi Magazine's first 'Latin American City of the Future' for having attracted 84 FDI projects since 2003, with almost a fifth of these projects involving a capital investment of over 100 million US dollars.

Lima, Monterrey, Bogotá and San Jose de Costa Rica completed the top five Latin American Cities of the Future. Mexican cities made up four of the top ten cities in the Latin America category whereas the Colombian cities of Bogotá and Barranquilla also featured, ranking fourth and eighth respectively.

Although North American cities dominated many major city categories, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires held their own, ranking second and fifth respectively in the economic potential category, mercopress.com reported.

Sao Paulo, Lima, and Buenos Aires ranked fourth, fifth and seventh in the business friendliness category.

Richmond, Virginia was the Best Small City with Santa Clarita, California, and Columbia, South Carolina ranking second and third respectively. Pilar, Argentina, Potosi, Bolivia, and Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, ranked as the top three small cities in the cost effectiveness category.

Canadian cities dominated the quality of life category accounting for nine of the top ten micro cities in this category with North Vancouver coming out on top. The Costa Rican cities of Alajuela, Heredia and Santa Ana ranked as the top three most cost effective micro cities in 2011.

Northern Peru organizes first ‘trout festival’ in Holy Week

Cajamarca, Apr. 13 (ANDINA). On the occasion of the upcoming Holy Week, Cajamarca, located in the northern highlands of Peru, will feature the first trout festival organized by the Regional Directorate of Production in coordination with local municipality and the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur). The event, to be held on April 21-23 in the northern dfistrict of Namora, aims to promote and strengthen fish farming and tourism.

This region is famous for its trout breeders and restaurants that offer a wide variety of dishes made of this fish specie, said the Regional Director of Production, Walter Esquivel. He added that Dircetur is promoting this festival as a tourist attraction set to lure both domestic and foreign visitors, who will be able to notice the trout breeding process.

Producers will be qualified about producing and manufacturing use, and restaurant owners about vegetable stew preparation. This program will be in charge of the Peruvian Tourism Institute (Cenfotur), who will deliver several brochures about the nutritional value of this fish. Annually, Cajamarca produces 300 tons of trout in 65 fish farms distributed in different provinces of this department.

The Dakar 2012 route announced: Will finish in Lima, Peru

The Rally Dakar off-road 2012, which includes Peru as host of the four final stages and closing ceremony on January 15, was officially announced Tuesday at press conference. For its 4th South American edition, the Dakar's route has welcomed Peru as part of this world-renowned race, which will showcase the image of the country in front of the world.

“With Peru will discover new atractions, that’s why we decided to choose Lima as a host,” Director of the Dakar rally Etienne Lavigne said. See photos: Riding with the 2011 Dakar. Riders, drivers and co-pilots will be tackling a route that measures 1,300 kilometers.

They will come through Tacna, pass through Arequipa, Moquegua, Ica and Lima, where the award ceremony will take place. Enhancing the relations with the continent, this year the rally will discover Peru, giving the adventure a pan-American feel. The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race. Most of the competitive special sections are off-road, crossing dunes, mud, camel grass and rocks, among others.

Chan Chan citadel, Huaca del Sol y la Luna received visitors on election day

(ANDINA). The main tourist attractions of Trujillo, in the northern La Libertad region, such as the archeological complex of Chan Chan and the Huaca del Sol y La Luna opened their doors on Sunday, despite Peru’s presidential and parliamentary elections held today.

Local authorities indicated that both the Huaca del Sol y La Luna and the on-site museum received visitors from 09.00 to 16.00 hours.

According to the tourism information office Iperu in Trujillo, the number of visitors was small and tourists were mainly foreigners. For his part, La Libertad Tourist Police Chief Edwin Gutierrez said that 15 police officers safeguarded the main tourist sites.

Over 95,000 people visited Machu Picchu exhibition in first week

(ANDINA). Over 95,000 Peruvians and foreign tourists visited the exhibition of archaeological treasures from Machu Picchu at the Government Palace in Lima. The exhibition features some of the artifacts used by the Incas in their daily life, ceremonies and productive activities during ancient times, said the presidential press office.

It is open from 09:00 to 20:00 at Tupac Amaru Hall and is guided by specialized staff members from the Ministry of Culture, the Presidency and the Tourism Police. The artifacts, which include ceramics, skeletal remains, stones and metal objects which were used by the Incas, are part of the first batch returned by Yale University some days ago. The "Machu Picchu, after 100 years: The reunion” exhibition will be open to the public until Sunday, April 17.

Machu Picchu featured in Nat Geo's April issue

National Geographic magazine presented Machu Picchu on the cover of its April issue to celebration the 100 year anniversary of Hiram Bingham's rediscovery.

On the magazine's web version, features include a map of the Inca empire, an article about recent archeological research, photos from 1913, and Hiram Bingham's original article published in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic.

Kultur releases documentary on Machu Picchu

(ANDINA). Kultur is proud to announce the DVD release from the Sites of the World’s Culture Series: Machu Picchu and the Legacy of the Incas.

This one-hour documentary explores the mysteries of the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu. It will be available on DVD on April 26 at the retail price of $19.99.

Machu Picchu is one of the earth’s magical places. The ruined city seems to be the work of giants, full of mysteries, unwilling to reveal its secrets.

Nevertheless, more than any other place, it has become the symbol of the vanished culture of its architects, the Incas. They were at the height of their power when they were smitten by a hitherto unknown disease: the insatiable greed for gold which the Europeans introduced to America.

This has been responsible, right up to the present day, for the destruction of countless treasures created by the skillful Incan craftsmen, whose empire extended over three hundred thousand square miles. Despite this devastation, numerous buildings, statues and other finds still testify to the creative energy of the Incas and their ancestors.

Vargas Llosa visited Lord of Wari treasures in

Cusco, Apr. 04 (ANDINA). Nobel literature prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa arrived Monday to the Regional History Museum Casa Garcilaso in the southeastern Cusco region to appreciate the exhibition of the Lord of Wari treasures, recently discovered in the archaeological complex of Espiritu Pampa in the district of Vilcabamba.

Peruvian writer described the display as interesting and, according to him, the most amazing thing was to know about the expansion of Wari culture (from Ayacucho to the jungle of Cusco). After highlighting that this was a “great discovery”, Vargas Llosa congratulated Cusco’s Culture Regional Directorate and the archaeologists responsible for such find.

The author of The Dream of the Celt was accompanied by his wife Patricia and Vice Minister for Cultural Patrimony Bernardo Roca-Rey, among other people. The local press reported that before his visit to the Casa Garcilaso, Vargas Llosa went to the archaeological site of Choquequirao.

Machu Picchu artifacts exhibition opens today at Government Palace

Lima, Apr. 05 (ANDINA). Peruvians and foreign tourists will have the opportunity to admire dozens of Machu Picchu artifacts returned by Yale University during a free exhibition starting today at the Government Palace in Lima.

The presidential press office announced on its Twitter account that anyone interested may enter the exhibition free of charge from 09:00 and 20:00 hours. These artifacts belong to the first batch of 360 artifacts that were taken by US explorer Hiram Bingham in 1912 to Yale University in order to study them.

The 360 pieces, packed in some 30 wooden crates, arrived on March 30 at Jorge Chavez International Airport. Afterwards, the artifacts were escorted by some 600 police officers to the Government Palace under strict security measures. Peruvian President Alan Garcia opened the exhibition yesterday at 18:00 local time.

Every single Machu Picchu piece has been carefully identified and recorded by archaeologists and historians in an inventory.

Peru's Jorge Chavez named best airport in South America

Lima, Mar. 31 (ANDINA). The Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, has been voted best airport in South America for the third year running by Skytrax Research at the 2011 World Airport Awards in Copenhagen.

Ecuador's Jose Joaquin De Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil and Brazil's Guarulhos Airport in Sao Paulo won second and third place, respectively. The main gateway to Peru also bagged the Airport Staff Service Excellence in South America award from Skytrax Research, which holds the ceremony each year.

The London-based organization determined the winners based on the responses of more than 11 million surveys completed by people of more than 100 nationalities assessing more than 240 airports worldwide over an eight-month period.

The awards rank airports based on 39 criteria, including: getting to and from the airport, waiting times at security, language skills for airport staff, prices charged in retail outlets, baggage delivery efficiency with lost luggage and terminal cleanliness.

http://www.peru-travel.info/eng/

Gastronomy House boosts tourism in downtown Lima

Lima, Apr. 01 (ANDINA). The newly-opened House of Peruvian Gastronomy will give a big boost to tourism and attract more and more food lovers to the Historic Center of Lima, according to Peru’s National Tourism Chamber (Canatur).

The head of Canatur, Carlos Canales, noted that the museum will encourage locals and foreigners to sample some of the typical dishes served in the restaurants located in downtown Lima.

Furthermore, Canales said that the opening of the House of Gastronomy occurred during the same week in which Peru was honored by the Organization of American States (OAS) as Cultural Heritage of the Americas.

Canales went on to add that for the first time our country has a theme museum dedicated to one of the cultural expressions that identify us to the world.

"Now the tourists will have another reason to go to downtown Lima and visit the places that share some of its history. The authorities will surely create circuits that will end in the House of Gastronomy to open the visitor’s appetite and take advantage of the culinary offer of the businesses in that important sector of the city," said Canales.

http://www.peru-travel.info/eng/

Tourists encouraged to hike Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Cusco, Apr. 03 (ANDINA). Visiting Machu Picchu is now on everyone's to do list during their vacations in Peru this year thanks to the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu in July. One of the preferred methods of getting to the city is of course the Inca Trail, a widely traversed route to the ancient lost city of Machu Picchu. It is a highly popular trail for visiting tourists; this is in part due to the appeal from taking a route that was the traditional one used by the Inca. The Inca trail can begin after you visit the beautiful city of Cusco; it is a great alternative to the more common train rain from Cusco to the ancient Inca city. While both methods are scenic only one allows you to sleep under the Andean night sky as well as hike through the Peruvian highlands for 3-4 days. The views are outstanding; passing by glaciers, unique flora and fauna. The local landscape is unlike anywhere else in the world and the weather is an ever changing one. This can add to the challenge of going through the trail before finally ending up in time for your Machu Picchu tours which will be guided by a professional, bilingual guide of course. The Inca trail is considered an easy to moderate trail which can be taken by pretty much anyone willing to camp out for a few days and sleep in the Andean wilderness over night. It is definitely you should try to include into your Peru vacations and Peru travel packages. The tour in Machu Picchu will definitely put the icing on the cake during your vacation. Now there are special deals going on in reference to Machu Picchu tours which are being offered by a few agencies wanting to promote the city for the 100th birthday of the discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham; there are great rates on all Peru services out there at the moment. Tour operator peruvacationtours invited adventurers to come and celebrate the centennial of Machu Picchu by taking part in the celebrations which are scheduled to take place from special tours to a final special celebration which will be filled with special guests.

http://www.inkanatura.com

Lima, Peru: The 'City of Kings' reigns again

(ANDINA). Lima or ‘The City of Kings’, once a place to leave as quickly as possible, reigns again showing off its many colonial and pre-conquistador glories, according to an article in UK online newspaper The Telegraph.
“Lima must have one of the most fabulous sunsets in the world. It helps, of course, that the city faces due west across the Pacific, so the setting sun can flood into the beaches and pick out the last surfers elegantly essaying a few lines,” the report says.

Up above on the cliffs, paragliders spiral past the smoked-black windows of the nearby hotels, many of which have infinity pools on their rooftops.

It all seems very Californian. The crowds promenading along the seafront eating ice cream and taking in the spectacle have a prosperous feel.

The article also highlights Lima's boom in recent years. "Even the taxi drivers no longer have anything to complain about," it states.

Peru, like neighboring nations Chile and Brazil, has largely missed out on the worldwide recession, helped by strong mineral exports and a surprisingly conservative banking system.

The report also recounts how the Shining Path years – when the country was terrorised by Maoist revolutionaries – seem to be a distant memory.

Richard Gere unable to climb Huayna Picchu due to bad weather

Cusco, Mar. 16 (ANDINA). For the second time in a row, Hollywood star Richard Gere visited the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the most spectacular icons of the ancient world, but was unable to climb the Huayna Picchu or “Young Mountain” due to bad weather conditions, local sources reported.
He was scheduled to climb Huayna Picchu mountain (2,667 meters), which looms over Machu Picchu, after touring the citadel located within the historical sanctuary, declared World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Huayna Picchu is the eternal guardian of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. The pathway to Huayna Picchu starts in the main square of Machu Picchu between the caretaker’s hut and the Sacred Rock, also known as the Funerary Rock and continues along a path built by the Incas.

The 61-year-old actor arrived in the town of Aguas Calientes aboard the luxurious Hiram Bingham train at 13:00 hours on Monday and entered the Inca citadel two hours later.

Three personages depicted on recently found polychromatic murals in Peru

Lima, Mar. 14 (ANDINA). New polychromatic murals depicting three personages adorned with feathered headdresses -among them a particularly majestic individual flanked by two staffs or banners- were found at the Ucupe Palace located in Lambayeque region.
The discovery was made after a group of archaeologists resumed preservation and maintenance works at the archaeological complex located 39 kilometers (24 miles) from the city of Chiclayo.

Finds were presented to the press by the director of Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum Walter Alva after their recent discovery.

The finds are the latest in the series of discoveries over the past 28 years, adorned with feathers and a kind of false wings that remind us the image one of the Lambayeque golden jewels: The Tumi.

“It’s unique for this type of mural in ancient Peru,” Alva said, noting another mural in which personages are shown amid a festive scene.

Taca Airlines to start flights to Chiclayo, Piura in May

Lima, Mar. (ANDINA). Taca Airlines announced the expansion of local routes in Peru including new direct and daily flights from Lima to Chichayo and Piura, starting May 9.
Taca will introduce a direct flight between Lima and Chiclayo, as the capital of northern Lambayeque region has seen a significant growth in tourism and trade.

This route will start operating from May 9 with seven flights per week.

Moreover, the company will link cities of Lima and Piura with two direct and daily flights.

Taca Airlines plans to hold a 15 percent share of the country’s commercial aviation market by the end of 2011. For this purpose, it has invested some US$138 million in fleet, structure, offices, jobs and trainings, among others.

Taca also announced that the flight frequency between Trujillo and Lima will increase from seven to fourteen weekly services.

Orchid tourism in Peru has great potential, expert says

A decade from now, and with enough work and research, orchid tourism in Peru could have a privileged status in the world and generate significant income for the country, said orchid speciality Jesús Purisaca. Purisaca was the lead organizer of the first scientific Orchid Conservation Conference, which took place at Machu Picchu at the end of February.

“[Orchid tourism] is a very important niche, and it needs to be promoted and spread throughout all spheres,” he said. Purisaca, a representative of the NGO Inka Terra Association, said that a list of species needs to be compiled with the respective locations where each one can be found, in order to promote individual types as well as have specialized personnel who can explain the diversity and richness of the flowers.

He said that to guarantee the success of this kind of eco-tourism in Peru, this kind of research must be complemented with facilities for visitors, ensuring they have all the necessary comforts to make their stay in Peru an unforgettable experience.

“We have several sites where we could develop orchid tourism, and even more places yet to be discovered,” he said.

According to Purisaca, there are 40,000 people involved in the study of orchids throughout Latin America, only 500 of which are in Peru.

Peruvian ancient temple reveals secrets of human sacrifice

Lambayeque, Mar. 09 (ANDINA). Archaeologists in northern Peru have discovered hidden frescoes in a major center of human sacrifice dating back to the ancient Lambayeque culture.
“We are talking about an area that is over 600 meters squared where rituals of human sacrifice or offering have been carried out that were very important in Lambayeque society,” Bruning Museum director Carlos Wester was quoted as saying by NTDTV.

Wester added that “it is probable they were carrying out human sacrifices here because we are very close to a site where we found more than 30 sacrificed women, a very large ceremony for these past societies and this seems to be the central atrium where these rituals were carried out."

The Lambayeque or Sican culture developed on the northern coast of Peru between about AD 700 and 1300, thriving to 900-1000, between the Moche and Chimu cultures.

Lord of Wari treasures dazzled over 5,000 domestic, foreign tourists in Cusco

Cusco, Mar. 04 (ANDINA). Treasures of the Lord of Wari, displayed at the temporary exhibition room of the Regional History Museum Casa Garcilaso in Cusco, dazzled 5,158 Peruvian and foreign visitors, according to information from reliable sources.
The Lord of Wari was recently discovered in the archaeological complex of Espiritu Pampa in Vilcabamba, Cusco.

The Wari noble, also known as the Lord of Vilcambamba, was discovered inside a tomb wearing a breastplate, bracelets, scepters, feathers, ceramics, gold, silver and textiles from the Wari culture, said Luis Fernando Bobadilla, tour guide at the aforementioned museum.

About 80 percent of visitors are locals, while the rest come from Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Chile and the United States. They are astonished as the new find make them revise part of traditional Peruvian history. They also express their congratulations on the archaeological work carried out in the area by signing a visitor's book.

According to the discoverer and archaeologist Fonseca Santa Cruz, the Lord of Wari exhibition will run until March 9. People of Cusco may access the museum for free by showing their ID card; whereas tourists will have to buy their tickets. It opens from 08:00 to 17:00 hours.

Some 100,000 tourists go all over the Andes to enjoy carnivals

Lima, Mar. 04 (ANDINA). Nearly 100,000 tourists are travelling all over the country attracted by its carnival atmosphere, which contributes to the economic development of local communities, mainly in Ayacucho, Junín, Cajamarca, Puno and Apurimac receiving almost 20,000 tourists each.
Hotels and restaurants remain full during these weeks, in spite of the consistent tourism investment growth each year.

Investment in the hotel industry is still modest. However, inhabitants make efforts to improve the quality of accommodation services, food and other available services for tourists.

Cajamarca´s carnival is the most famous celebration in our country. It features cultural and traditional expressions, dazzles visitors with krewes, parades, mask dances, neighborhood contests and colorful parades.

The city offers 117 accommodation facilities; with a total of 2,114 rooms and 4,465 beds, but only 14 are three-to-five-star graded.

http://www.inkanatura.com/

Machu Picchu

Experts believe that Machu Picchu was one in a series of royal Inca estates built in the Urubamba Valley. To researchers, the site’s multiple observation points suggest that the Inca worshipped the sun, and its location, surrounded by rivers and mountains, indicates a reverence for nature.

Visit Peru's festivals: November and December 2011

NOVEMBER 2011


Tourist Week in Palpa

Location: Ica
Date: November 1 - 7



The town of Palpa annually celebrates Tourist Week with food contests, handicraft fairs, guided tours through local tourist sites and its popular Ms. Tourist Week Queen beauty pageant.

Tourist Week in Puno

Location: Puno
Date: November 2 - 8



The city of Puno celebrates Tourist Week with several vibrant folkloric dance exhibitions, food fairs, parades and a huge tourism and handicraft fair.

Anniversary of the City of Puno

Location: Puno
Date: November 4



The city of Puno celebrates its anniversary with several cultural activities including folkloric dance parades; a reenactment of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo emergence staged in Lake Titicaca as well as concerts by popular national music bands and food fairs.

Emergence of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo

Location: Puno
Date: November 5



The legend of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, who emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca to found the Inca Empire, is staged annually in the waters of Lake Titicaca as one of Puno's main anniversary celebrations. More than 200 artists take part in this production where the mythical couple arrives in Puno's port in giant reed boats, followed by more than a hundred rafters.




The mythical Inca king and queen arise from Lake Titicaca in a yearly celebration in Puno. (Photo by Nathan Paluck)

Anniversary Tourist Week in Moquegua

Location: Moquegua
Date: November 20 - 26



The city of Moquegua organizes a series of cultural events for its Anniversary Tourist Week celebration, including its famous Amacerado de Damasco brandy contest, regional dance contests and its annual craft, tourist and industrial fair.

Jubilee and Tourism Week in Pasco

Location: Pasco
Date: November 21 - 30



The city of Pasco hosts many activities during this week, there is its famous annual crafts, agriculture and tourism fair; many folkloric shows; dog expos, a coffee and maca sampling event; an archery contest, races and food contests.


Tourist Craft Fair in Tumbes

Location: Tumbes
Date: November 22 - 26



Every year, Tumbes hosts a large craft fair to help promote tourism and exportation throughout the region.

Anniversary of Tumbes
Location: Tumbes Date: November 25


On this day, the entire region of Tumbes takes the day off and participates in sport contests, concerts, food fairs and dances.






DECEMBER 2011


Tocache Banana Festival

Location: San Martin
Date: December 1 - 6



The Tocache banana is one of the largest fruit crops produced in this northern town. Every, in its honor, it hosts a festival with food expos of banana based food products, various cultural activities and a Ms. Festival beauty pageant.

Lady of the Immaculate Conception Feast

Location: Loreto
Date: December 1 - 8



The town of Tocache pays homage to their patron, the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, with a day of food fairs, boating contests, motorcycle races, singing contests, outdoor concerts, processions and a large mass wedding ceremony.

The Scissor Dance Festival

Location: Huancavelica
Date: December 22 - 26



The scissors dance originated and continues to be immensely popular in the deep Peruvian highland region of Huancavelica. The dance consists of two or more dancers taking turns doing intricate steps and gymnastics-like jumps to the sounds of a violin and harp orchestra while cutting the air and following the beat with a scissor in one hand. This festival consists of a series of contests to determine the best scissor dancers of the region. These include physical skill, magic and blood challenges.

Related:
Peru’s scissor dance inscribed intangible heritage by Unesco
Scissor Dance to open Chinese New Year in Hong Kong


The Lady of the Immaculate Conception Fair

Location: Tumbes
Date: December 8



Every year the city of Tumbes hosts a fair in honor of the Immaculate Virgin. There are concerts, food and craft expos, carnival rides and a regional beauty pageant.

Peru recovers 98 artifacts from U.S., Argentina

Lima, Mar। 03 (ANDINA)। Peru said on Wednesday it has recovered 98 archeological pieces dating back to the pre-Inca and colonial eras from the United States and

Among them, an exquisitely carved and painted stone in 45 pieces, which was part of a 18th century church's portico in the southern Andean region, came under the spotlight।

Also returned to Peru were 26 boulders, 12 skulls and a polychrome ceramic figure.

The United States repatriated 84 pieces and Argentina returned 14 pre-Colombian objects, Peruvian Deputy Foreign Minister Nestor Pompolizio said.

Thanks to the efforts of Peruvian diplomats abroad, more than 5,000 pieces of artifacts have been returned to Peru since 2007, Vice Culture Minister Bernardo Roca Rey said.

In January, the South American country, which is dotted with hundreds of archeological sites, had 27 objects repatriated from Chile, according to a Xinhua report.

"The illegal trafficking of cultural goods is a profitable trade which continues and makes so complex networks just like drug trafficking and money laundering," Pompolizio said. "So it is necessary to set up a smooth coordination mechanism between national and international entities."

Peru has signed more than 30 bilateral agreements to protect its cultural heritage. According to one pact signed late last year, Yale University in the United States will return to Peru 363 pieces excavated from the Machu Picchu archeological site in the coming days.

More enigmatic geoglyphs found in Peru

Lima, Feb. 28 (ANDINA). Japanese researchers have discovered 138 more hills and lines in Peru near the world-famous Nazca lines and geoglyphs. The purpose of the formations, thought to have been created more than 2,000 years ago, is unknown.

Equally enigmatic are the Nazca lines - straight as an arrow and up to 20 kilometres long - and geoglyphs of humans and animals scratched on the arid plain. The designs are so gigantic that they are recognizable only from the air.

The Japanese also found two new geoglyphs of a human head and an animal. Both are relatively small, they said, which is probably why there had previously been no aerial sighting of them, dpa reported.

The Nazca lines and geoglyphs date from 800 BC to 600 AD, when the Paracas and subsequently Nazca cultures flourished. Situated on an immense plain about 460 kilometres south of Lima, the Peruvian capital, they were discovered when the first airplanes flew over the area in the 1920s.

Peru's El Comercio newspaper quoted the head of the Japanese team, Masato Sakai of Yamagata University, and his Peruvian colleague Jorge Olano as saying that the hills, all focal points of several converging lines, may have been places of worship, direction pointers to temples or markers of subterranean streams.

The researchers found some 8,000 earthenware fragments at the Peruvian site as well. They said that discovery of the hills, aided by satellites, was of enormous significance because only 62 similar hill formations had previously been known.

Machu Picchu Inca Trail reopens after a month of maintenance work

Cusco, Mar. 02 (ANDINA). The Inca Trail leading to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cusco was reopened yesterday after a month of preservation work, cleaning of drains and maintenance tasks carried out by authorities in charge of its management.

Rene Carbajal, person in charge of the administration of the Machu Picchu’s Archeological Park, told Andina news agency that hikers can get off the train at KM 82, 88, 104, as entrance points have reopened.

According to Carbajal, the number of trek permits issued is limited to 500 per day including tour guides and porters.

Every February since 2002 the route of the classic 4-day Inca Trail is closed to allow conservation projects to be undertaken as well as giving the vegetation a chance to recover.

Initiative is also aimed at improving security conditions for both tourists and locals.

“Our staff has cleaned the routes where torrential rains disrupted access to the famous archaeological site। Everything is perfect. Tourists are visiting Machu Pichu normally, but we are prepared for any contingency,” Carbajal added.

Wari artifacts to go on display at Casa Garcilazo

Cusco, Feb. 24 (ANDINA). The Wari artifacts discovered near the Andean district of Vilcabamba in Cusco will be exhibited for fifteen days at the city's Museo Casa Garcilaso.
Casa Gacilaso is one of the most visited museums in Cusco and is located in the same house where Inca Garcilaso de la Vega used to live, two blocks away from the main square.

Furthermore, Garcia announced that he will request the help from national and international scientific community to continue with the archaeological researches, as the discovery of the Lord of Wari would be as important as that of the Lord of Sipan.

In turn, Deputy Culture Minister Bernardo Roca Rey noted that they will take extreme security measures in the discovery site to prevent the stealing of the artifacts found in the tomb.

Some of the discovered artifacts include a silver breastplate, a silver mask, two golden bracelets, two wooden sceptres covered with silver, an ornament made with 234 silver sheets and three necklaces made with beautiful stones among others.

Cusco to celebrate Machu Picchu discovery anniversary year-round

Cusco, Feb. 15 (ANDINA). Peruvian authorities in the southeastern Cusco region are preparing a varied calendar of activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu throughout the year.
Regional trade and tourism director Carlos Zúñiga said tourism-related organizations will soon meet to finalise and announce the schedule for the year-long celebrations.

The official told Andina that the Centennial events will include fairs, a film festival, conferences, the launch of a commemorative postage stamp and an international photography competition.

These events will be held in addition to other major activities scheduled for July 2011 in Lima.

The pre-Columbian Inca site of Machu Picchu, the legendary Lost City of the Incas, is one of the most famous historical sites in the world.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by thousands each day, Machu Picchu was first revealed to the world when American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered the site in 1911.

More About Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu Archaeological Sites

Cusco to celebrate Machu Picchu discovery anniversary year-round

Cusco, Feb. 15 (ANDINA). Peruvian authorities in the southeastern Cusco region are preparing a varied calendar of activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu throughout the year.
Regional trade and tourism director Carlos Zúñiga said tourism-related organizations will soon meet to finalise and announce the schedule for the year-long celebrations.

The official told Andina that the Centennial events will include fairs, a film festival, conferences, the launch of a commemorative postage stamp and an international photography competition.

These events will be held in addition to other major activities scheduled for July 2011 in Lima.

The pre-Columbian Inca site of Machu Picchu, the legendary Lost City of the Incas, is one of the most famous historical sites in the world.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by thousands each day, Machu Picchu was first revealed to the world when American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered the site in 1911.

More About Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu Archaeological Sites

Chiclayo archaeological complex to house site museum

Chiclayo, Feb. 16 (ANDINA). Local authorities are planning to build a site museum in the Ventarron archeological complex located in the district of Pomalca, Chiclayo, as a way to attract tourists to this religious sanctuary that is considered to be the cradle of northern Peru civilization.
Naylamp-Lambayeque project director Celso Sialer said specialists are preparing a technical file for the construction of this site museum.

“The construction process is expected to begin this year in collaboration with international organizations interested in investing in the complex, which will help show people in this country and around the world how magnificent our ancestors were,” Sialer highlighted.

Ventarron hosts remains of fabulous architecture that may have marked the beginning of this civilization in northern Lambayeque.

According to Sialer, the archaeological site contains the oldest example of a painted mural in the Americas dating from 4,000 years ago.

Chiclayo Peru

Peru adds new food documentary to Unesco bid

Lima, Feb. 19 (ANDINA). Peru's Culture Ministry has announced that a new documentary entitled, De Ollas y Sueños, or Cooking Up Dreams, will support Peruvian cuisine's bid to be declared World Intangible Cultural Heritage by Unesco.
The announcement was made after renowned Peruvian director Ernesto Cabellos and Guarango, a Lima-based production company, donated the film to the ministry.

"With this gesture, we want to emphasize the contribution that Peruvian documentary cinema can make to our country’s development objectives," Cabellos said.

In his documentary, Cabellos presents his country's spectacular cuisine and asks himself: Can an entire nation be represented by its cuisine? This documentary journeys to the kitchens of Peru’s coast, highlands and jungle, as well as Peruvian expat communities in Paris, London, Amsterdam and New York for answers.

From the most humble family kitchens to the poshest restaurants, from stories of pioneering Peruvian chefs abroad to those who preserve ancient recipes at home, we find that Peru’s cuisine is deliciously integrating for its people, who have historically been divided by ethnic and economic differences.

This documentary isn't just about food. This documentary is about integration, challenges, culture, poverty and wealth. We’ll discover the origin of Peru's ubiquitous national dish – cebiche – the anticuchos of beef hearts or the annual meal mourners share at the graves of their dead relatives.

Famed chefs such as Spain's Ferran Adrià, as well as Peru's Gastón Acurio share their views and experiences with Peru’s cuisine alongside the thousands of unsung chefs, who also dream of Peru’s cuisine as a motor of development.

Machu Picchu voted South America's leading green destination

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru has been voted as South America's Leading Green Destination 2010 at the recent 17th Annual World Travel Awards Ceremony in Jamaica.
Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the “Travel Industry’s equivalent to the Oscars”, the World Travel Awards is the most comprehensive and most prestigious awards program of today’s global travel industry and involves a voting campaign of about 185,000 travel professionals worldwide.

Machu Picchu was chosen over other eight nominees that included Argentina's Patagonia; Guyana's Georgetown; Venezuela's Caracas; and Brazil's Abrolhos, Amazonas Tur, Fernando de Noronha, Manaus, and Pantanal.

"This award shows that Peru's tourism sector has a great impact on the economic, social and environmental development of the country," said Promperu's Tourism director Rocio Merino.

The ancient citadel, one of the new seven wonders of the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site, is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of scenic architecture in the world.

The city of Machu Picchu itself was built at the top of a granite mountain. The Incas, using ingenious engineering techniques, were able to transport heavy stone blocks up the mountain side, and once there, they used their excellent masonry skills to produce amazingly polished stones that fit together perfectly.

New species discovered every three days in the Amazon

A bald parrot, a pink river dolphin, a new species of anaconda and a tiny blind catfish that lives in waters deep underground are just some of more than 1,200 new species discovered in the Amazon over the last decade.
On average, scientists have found a new plant or animal species every three days for the last 10 years – and that’s not including insects, where the discoveries are almost too many to count.

The Amazon Alive! report confirms the Amazon as one of the most diverse places on Earth, and is a timely reminder of the urgent need to protect it. World governments are discussing new ways to protect species and habitats in the Amazon and elsewhere at the UN biodiversity summit in Nagoya, Japan, this week.

The new species described in the report are made up of 637 plants, 257 fish, 216 amphibians, 55 reptiles, 16 birds and 39 mammals. Click here to watch a slideshow of some of the new species.

They include a 4m-long anaconda, an extraordinary fire-and-water frog, a parrot with a bald head and an astonishing spectrum of feather colours, a tiger-striped tarantula, a new species of pink river dolphin, and a blind, bright red catfish that lives mainly in underground waters.

“This report clearly shows the incredible diversity of life in the Amazon, and what we could lose if we don’t act now,” says Francisco Ruiz, who leads our Living Amazon initiative.

During the last 50 years, nearly a fifth of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed. And it’s still being cleared rapidly to meet growing global demand for meat and other products such as biofuels.

“Urgent action is required to help shift to a sustainable model of development in the Amazon,” says Sarah Hutchison, who leads our work on forests in the region. “Even from here in the UK there are things we can do to help promote a sustainable forest economy in the Amazon.”

One way you can help is by supporting Sky Rainforest Rescue. The project aims to save a billion trees in the Amazon by helping local people earn a better living looking after the forest than they would from chopping it down.

Recent findings at Caral became accessible to the public

Barranca

Ancient mysteries, customs and the architectural complexity held within the 5000-year-old Sacred City of Caral -situated on a dry desert terrace overlooking the green valley of the Supe river- were featured to locals and foreign tourists upon completion of 16 years of research conducted by PEACS. Along the 1.6 kilometer route, visitors explored more than 30 architectural buildings between la Plazuela de la Confluencia or Tinkuy Runa Kancha, situated in the middle of the complex.
According to Pedro Silva, archaeologist at Caral-Supe Special Archaeological Project (PEACS), the Tinkuy Runa's existence demonstrates that Caral was an urban centre with great architectural complexity.
In addition, tourists appreciated the most recent discovery made in the citadel: ornamental designs in the shape of “V” featured in the pyramid La Galeria, located in the section H between La Huanca and minor piramidal buildings.
Visitors also explored the amphitheatre and the major pyramidal building, used to hold government meetings and public activities in high and low zones of Caral.

On the eve of October 30, visitors were able to appreciate the stunning night lighting in buildings and the Rite to the Pacha Mama or Mother Earth, offered in appreciation of 16 years of successful research conducted by PEACS.

According to PEACS director Dr. Ruth Shady, Caral is perceived as a civilization, because its people participated in different activities within a government organization that lasted more than 1000 years.

The Sacred Citadel of Caral is located in the Supe Valley on the central northern coast of Peru and is the oldest city of the Americas.

Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum attracts more European visitors

The Royal Tomb of Sipan Museum, located in the northern Peruvian region of Lambayeque, saw an increase of foreign visitors, especially from Europe (Spain and Germany), according to the museum director and discoverer of the Lord of Sipan, Walter Alva.

In statements to Andina news agency, the Peruvian archaeologist underlined that the museum “is reporting an increase of foreign tourism, especially from Europe”.

The influx of Spanish visitors has a lot to do with the promotion of a documentary about the Lord of Sipan in Spain, which has been seen by millions.

“The impact of this promotion translates into more tourists visiting the country,” he emphasized.

According to Alva, Royal Tomb of Sipan Museum expects to attract more than 140,000 local and foreign tourists this year.

On the other hand, archaeological investigations are still being conducted in the archaeological complex of Huaca Rajada-Sipan.

“We are excavating tomb Nº 16, which belongs to a Mochica`s elite priest. Archaeologists continue their research in Vetarron, dated to around 4,000 years-old, and findings revealed many animal bones on the Peruvian coast,” he stated.

President Garcia opens Huaca El Sol and La Luna On-site Museum

Peru’s President Alan Garcia launched Huaca El Sol and La Luna On-site Museum in Trujillo saying that Peru's heritage and history should be showcased to the world. The museum has diverse rooms, a research center and an amphitheater with an approximate area of 62,000 square meters.

Early on Thursday, Garcia participated in the inauguration of construction works for the National Museum of the Gran Chimu - Chan Chan, which will need a 10 million sol investment.

Garcia was accompanied by Second Vice-President and Congresswoman Lourdes Mendoza, Peruvian Prime Minister Javier Velásquez and Peruvian Congress President Luis Alva Castro, among other authorities.

More information about Sun and Moon Temples
Program Tour: The Moche Route (3 days/2 nights)
 

Over 500 artists to perform ancient Inti Raymi festival in Cusco

More than 500 artists will perform Thursday the ancient Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun in the Andean city of Cusco in southeastern Peru. Before the colonial Spaniards banned the ceremonial events occurring each Winter Solstice in Cusco, the native residents gathered to honor the Sun God, sacrifice an animal to ensure good crops and to pay homage to the Inca, as the first born Son of the Sun.

The Inti Raymi, one of the largest and most colorful festivals in Latin America, takes place at the winter solstice, when the sun is farthest from the earth. The centerpiece of the festival is the all-day celebrations on June 24, the actual day of Inti Raymi.

On this day, the ceremonial events begin with an invocation by the Sapa Inca in the Qorikancha, also spelled Koricancha square in front of the Santo Domingo church, built over the ancient Temple of the Sun.
 

Here, the Sapa Inca calls on the blessings from the sun. Following the oration, Sapa Inca is carried on a golden throne, a replica of the original which weighed about 60 kilos, in a procession to the ancient fortress of Sacsayhuamán, in the hills above Cuzco.

With the Sapa Inca come the high priests, garbed in ceremonial robes, then officials of the court, nobles and others, all elaborately costumed according to their rank, with silver and gold ornaments.
 

They walk along flower-bedecked streets, to music and prayers and dancing. Women sweep the streets to clear them of evil spirits. At Sacsayhuamán , where huge crowds await the arrival of the procession, Sapa Inca climbs to the sacred altar where all can see him.
 

Once all the celebrants are in place in the grand square of the fortress, there are speeches by Sapa Inca, the priests and representatives of the Suyos: the Snake for the world below, the Puma for life on earth, and the Condor for the upper world of the gods, as chronicled by about.com.
 

A white llama is sacrificed (now in a very realistic stage act) and the high priest holds aloft the bloody heart in honor of Pachamama. This is done to ensure the fertility of the earth which in combination with light and warmth from the sun provides a bountiful crop. The priests read the blood stains to see the future for the Inca.
 

As the sun begins to set, stacks of straw are set on fire and the celebrants dance around them to honor Tawantinsuty or the Empire of the Four Wind Directions. In ancient times, no fire was allowed that day until the evening fires.
 

The ceremony of Inti Raymi ends with a procession back to Cuzco. Sapa Inca and Mama Occla are carried on their thrones, the high priests and representatives of the Supas pronounce blessings on the people. Once again, a new year has begun.

More about Machu Picchu Archaeological Sites 
Tour: The Inca Experience