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

Inti Raymi: How to attend Peru's Inca sun festival this June

DDPER09-6438
Source David Ducoin
Photos Flickr

The city of Cusco will dress up again to worship the Inca god as Peru's ancestors once did. The Inti Raymi ceremony brings together over 500 performers on June 24 at the center of the Sacsahuamán archaeological park esplanade. As usual, hundreds of foreigners and Peruvians are expected.

According to the Municipal Company of Festivities in Cusco (Emufec), organizer of this event, over 40 percent of tickets have been purchased by foreign tourists who come to live the most important holiday of the empire.

Tickets are priced at US $90 for adults and US $45 for children. This year a virtual system of reservations and information has been implemented. It contains data about the scenarios, schedules, and some tips for the event.

If you are interested in participating in the Inti Raymi access the web page emufec.gob.pe until June 15 and you can book your ticket.

The big celebration will begin in the morning in the temple of Coricancha. Then, the Inca and his entourage will go to the Plaza de Armas of Cusco and finally, after noon, the main ceremony will take place in Sacsahuamán.

You can enter freely to the first two venues, so be prepared to get there several hours in advance. To be part of the main ceremony, you must have tickets.

The tourism police, archaeological complex rangers and Emufec monitors will be in charge of security.

Tours recommended:

The Inca Experience - Peru Tours

Inca Odyssey

Photo Gallery Cusco

Photo Gallery Inty Raymi Celebration - David Ducoin

Qoyllur Riti

PER_8812
Source David Ducoin
Photos Flickr

Qoyllur Rit'i is a religious festival held annually in honor of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i (Spanish: Señor de Qoyllur Rit'i) at the Sinakara Valley in the Cusco Region of Peru. According to local traditions, the celebration originated in 1780, when a young native herder called Mariano Mayta befriended a mestizo boy, called Manuel on Mount Colquepunku. Thanks to Manuel, Mariano's herd prospered so his father sent him to buy clothes for the two boys in Cusco.

Mariano took a sample of Manuel's clothes but could not find anything similar because that kind of cloth was only worn by the archbishop. The latter sent a party to investigate but when they tried to grab Manuel, he became a bush with an image of Christ hanging from it. Thinking they had harmed his friend, Mariano died on the spot and was buried under a rock. An image of Christ painted over this boulder became known as the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i which means Lord of Star Snow.

The Qoyllur Rit'i festival attracts a large number of peasants from the surrounding regions divided in two moieties. Paucartambo groups Quechuas from the agricultural regions to the northwest of the sanctuary while Quispicanchis includes Aymaras from the pastoral regions to the southeast.

Both moieties make an annual pilgrimage to the feast bringing large troupes of dancers and musicians in four main styles: ch'unchu, qolla, ukuku and machula. Besides peasant pilgrims, attendants include middle class Peruvians and foreign tourists. The festival takes place in late May or early June, one week before the Christian feast of Corpus Christi. It consists of a number of processions and dances in and around the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i shrine.

The main event is carried out by ukukus who climb glaciers over Mount Colquepunku to bring back crosses and blocks of ice which are said to be medicinal.

Photo Gallery recommended
Qoyllur Rit´y pilgrimage

Peru's Chamber of Tourism prepares for Machu Picchu centennial

Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) announced today it will lead a commission in charge of organizing the celebrations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu on July 24 2011.

Canatur President Carlos Canales said that this commission will have the active participation of Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) and Peru’s Export and Tourism Promotion Board (Promperu).

He explained that, as part of the activities, they will begin an awareness campaign in the United States to prove how important the return of Machu Picchu’s archeological pieces is for Peru.

The pieces were temporarily taken by Yale University Professor Hiram Bingham to the US, but now this university refuses to return them.

“With this effort, we seek to build the archeological museum of Cusco. We will focus on social networks to recover these objects and make Yale graduates aware of our request and support it,” he explained.

On July 24, 1911, Professor Hiram Bingham discovered for the world the ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the most significant archaeological finds in the history of the Americas.

Suggest program, The Inca Experience

Cusco Photo Gallery

Peru’s tourist attractions to be promoted in France, US & Canada

Peru’s Trade and Tourism Ministry (Mincetur) announced Friday that Peru will promote its tourist attractions in France, USA and Canada with different “Door to Door” events.

Through a supreme decree published in El Peruano official gazette, Mincetur authorized Peru’s Export and Tourism Promotion (Promperú) to carry out the “Door to Door” event in France from May 31 to June 5 in cities such as Paris, Lille and Niza.

According to Promperu, this kind of event is an excellent way to strength Peru’s tourist image in French market, after the global financial crisis which has made European tourists hesitant to travel to any destination.

Another legal ordinance, meanwhile, authorized the trip of other Promperu’s representatives to participate in “Door to Door-North America West Coast” in cities like San Francisco, Portand, Seattle (US) and Vancuver (Canada) from June 7 to 16.

These two events are aimed at tour operators, travel agencies, airlines and specialized press as a way to directly promote updated information on Peruvian tourist attractions

Program Suggested:

Lost Cities of the Northern Peru
Treasures of the North of Peru 

Peruvian gastronomy to be featured on French Television

A 52-minute report on Peruvian gastronomy, which is attracting the world's attention, will be aired in the second half of the year on French television.

According to “I Triping” blog, French TV production company Gedeon sought the support from the Tourist Service Department at the Peruvian Consulate General in Paris.

Likewise, some reporters of this program are already in Peru visiting cities such as Lima, Cusco, Puno, Arequipa, Iquitos and Tumbes.

Its broadcast will air during the second half of 2010 on a program called Le Globe Cooker, world's cuisine explorer TV show hosted by Frederic Chesneau.

“It is rewarding to observe the increasing interest in Peru and our cuisine in France. By supporting these kinds of initiatives of some production companies, we have encouraged others to discover our gastronomy and traditions,” tourism attache of Peruvian Consulate-General in Paris Maria Elena Corvest pointed out.

The Best Peru Tour: Taste of Peru
Interested in Filming Wildlife, Archaeology or Culture in Peru ?

Dolphins in Peru: A local NGO sees tourism as the way to conservation

How many times have we watched the marvelous leaps between waves by dolphins in Peru's ocean? Something that seems so natural to us is very rare in foreign seas. The German biologist Stefan Austermühle has studied these marine mammals the past four years in Peru, which gave him the idea of an activity to promote the conservation of dolphins and improve the fishermen’s lives: dolphin watching.

Few know that Peru is a privileged country in regards to dolphin watching: while at other latitudes, the possibilities of seeing a dolphin after traveling one kilometer of coast are slim, a few miles off the beaches from Chorrillos to Paracas, you can easily find three or six dolphins. Stefan Austermühle has counted them. Not only that: As if he were managing a personal register system, he constantly photographs their fins and identifies them by their cuts or scratches.

Ever since he began counting, Austermühle has accumulated over 70 thousand pictures of fins of bottlenose dolphins, or tursiops truncates, the official name. “There are 1,512 dolphins that can be seen in this part of the coast,”  he says. “Six hundred of them live here permanently. The problem is that there is a black market for dolphin meat.”

A love for animals
Stefan Austermühle is not new to the issue. When he was 18 and a student in Germany, he joined the Greenpeace. He participated in other organizations and in 1998 ended up exchanging emails with Nina Pardo, who back then was the administrator of a group dedicated to animal protection in Peru. From topics of work, they moved on to more personal ones, and after several months, Stefan decided to come to Peru to marry her.

Together, they founded the NGO Mundo Azul, with which they work on environmental education and animal rescue, in addition to carrying out scientific studies that include the evaluation of our marine and sub-marine biodiversity and the types of habitats there are in our coasts.

In 1996, the NGO with which Nina worked had promoted the adoption of Law 26585 that banned dolphin hunting in Peru's ocean to sell the meat. However, shortly after initiating is operations, Austermühle found alarming evidence that suggested that this law was not being respected nor enforced. While poaching of dolphins near the coast had stopped, the biologist started to find slices of dolphin further from the coast (specifically, the Dusky Dolphin, or delfin oscuro in Spanish), where the crime is less evident.

Dolphin meat at four soles per kilo
While before 1996 it was possible to find muchame (dolphin meat) at high prices in the local supermarkets, after the ban the business migrated to a different sector. “Now, fishermen don’t touch the bottlenose dolphin; they hunt the darker dolphins instead,” says Austermühle. “Once offshore, they cut out the meat in the ship’s hold and throw the bodies back in the sea to get rid of the evidence.” This mild meat is sold at S/. 4 per kilo. Guanays, sea lions and sea turtles face the same fate.

The director of Mundo Azul estimates that, due to the lack of control and difficulty to catch the poachers red-handed, it could well be three thousand dark dolphins a year that end up filleted and illegally sold at a fish market. In the fishing town of Salaverry in Trujillo, the biologist identifies a family of fishermen that sold muchame. He reported them and three members of the family were captured but they claimed that it was the "first time" they had done it and were released shortly.

If there are so many dolphin bodies floating in the ocean or washed up on the shore, how many live dolphins are there left and what can be done to protect them? That is why Austermühle has counted over 1,500 dolphins between Chorrillos and Paracas. They are not merely decorative in the sea, they are crucial for their environment. Due their long lives (from 30 to 80 years depending on the specie), dolphins and whales are excellent indicators of the marine ecosystem’s health for their sensitivity to changes in their life conditions. Their deaths or sicknesses clearly say that something is wrong. Additionally, they are at the top of the food chain so they are in charge of eliminating sick or weak fish and cooperating in avoiding the propagation of sicknesses among other species.

Tourism for conservation
Mundo Azul makes an effort to protect dolphins while studying them and promoting them among the population giving them the possibility of sustainable development off our coasts: touristic watching of these wonderful animals playing and jumping in the waves. After working on the registering of these mammals for three years thanks to foreign donations (expeditions are expensive; an offshore 25 day investigation can cost up to 10 thousand dollars), Mundo Azul raises money for further research by guiding tourist expeditions to watch dolphins and night-time scuba diving in Pucusana.

There is no better way to maintain them in their habitat than with tourism. Stefan is sure of that. Both artisanal fishermen and dolphins alike can take advantage of this.

Program: The Best Peru Tour Peru Explorer 
Pisco - Nazca Map

Peru; Machu Picchu received more than 38,400 tourists in April

More than 38,400 tourists visited Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one month after its official reopening to tourism, reports the National Institute of Culture, or INC.

The citadel remain closed for almost two months, due to the severe damage that last January's rainfalls and floods caused to the railways, which is the only access.

According to Andina news agency, more than 33,000 of those visitors were foreigners, which indicates that the place still draws lots of attention.

Machu Picchu was officially reopened on April 1, with a special ceremony with the presence of the American actress Susan Sarandon; that day the citadel had 1,688 visitors.

The average number of daily visitors was higher than 1,000 during all April.

More photos about Machu Picchu
Best Peru Tour: Luxury Inca Trail Private service

Peru: Chachapoyas airport to restart operations on May 17

Several years after the awful accident of TANS fligh company, Amazonas local airport will restart operating on May 17, with a daily flight served by LC Busre airline company, which will cover the Chiclayo-Chachapoyas route.

Airports of Perú (AdP) informs that this has required an investment of S/. 6.5 million (some US $3.25 million).

Rosa Jaico, Commercial Manager of LC Busre, said they had detected an interesting bussiness oportunity at the zone, since many foreign and Peruvian tourists want to come visit Kuélap and the Gocta Falls, which ranks third among the tallest waterfalls worlwide.

Amazonas airport requires a radar to operate safely, but Corpac has not consider installing one in Chachapoyas yet; instead, Corpac has purchased eight radars, one of them to be located in Cajamarca, to cover Amazonas from there, report TNews and El Comercio.

The Interior: Chachapoyas, Kuelap and Cajamarca
Chiclayo, Trujillo, Cajamarca, Kuelap and Chachapoyas Tours

Peru, special guest at International Trade Fair of Nancy in France

Peru will be the guest of honor at the International Trade Fair of Nancy in eastern France, one of the most visited, important, cultural, trade and culinary exhibitions in Europe, which gathers some 200000 attendees, and will introduce the world to the richness of Peruvian history and cuisine.

This event will be held from May 28 to June 7 and bring together some 700 exhibitors from 40 countries, who will be showcasing products related to different categories.

Those categories are furniture, appliances, home remodeling and decorating, gardening, wine shop, gastronomy, media, entertainment, crafts, banking, and insurance.
The star will be Peru, which is why a 3000-square-meter pavilion will be decorated with Peruvian motifs, including a Machu Picchu replica and a cultural exhibition entitled "The Sacred gold of the Incas."

According to organizers, the purpose is to showcase the cultural economic diversity of the country guest of honor, in this case Peru.

Organizers will also include a restaurant offering the best of the national cuisine as well as a Peruvian traditional and contemporary crafts exhibition.

Previous guests of honor were Brazil, Indonesia, Himalayas, Thailand, Russia, China, Madagascar and Egypt.

The Best Peru Tour
Tour: Taste of Peru
 

Spanish deputies willing to promote Cusco as tourist destination

A delegation of Spanish deputies visited the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu, getting a good impression about the safety of these places after the rainy season, Cusco’s governor Hugo Gonzales Sayan reported Tuesday.

"They were greatly impressed by the work undertaken after the emergency situtation caused by heavy rains and amazed at how tourism develops in Cusco," he told Andina news agency.

The regional authority was confident that some members of the Spanish parliament will emphasize the positive aspects of the Imperial City, and indirectly help increase foreign visits.

This delegation arrived as part of the Peru-Spain Parliamentary Friendship League.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Lima, Peru to have its first historic hotel-museum in 2011

Real Estate company Arte Express announces that they will invest some US $5 million to build  the first hotel-museum in Lima, located in the heart of the historic downtown.

Arte Express is planning to build this hotel using two historic buildings, according to the present norms for such cases, since some of these constructions were originally built 400 years ago.

One of these historic buildings is at the first block of Miro Quesada street, and the other on the neighboring Carabaya street, and both are connected.

According to Fernando Palazuelo, from Arte Express, they are currently finishing the project, aiming to start the works as soon as possible so they can open doors in Sept. 2011.

He told the press that this hotel will be a low-cost, thus a shared room may cost some US $8 per night, and that there will be a piece of Peruvian art in each one.

The Best Peru Tour: Lima/Cusco/Inca trail Classic/Cusco/Lima

Peru: "Incan Empires" cruise includes Lima and Salaverry ports

Holland America Line is offering a luxury cruise: “Incan Empires,” that follows the path of the ancient Incas, reports TNews.

With two overnights in Callao (Lima), this cruise offers time to explore Lima and even to take a domestic flight and visit Cusco.

“Incan Empires” is a 30-day round-trip cruise that starts at San Diego (US) and goes to Lima, and then back to San Diego, visiting seven countries; stops at Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo (Mexico), Puerto Quetzal, Fuerte Armador (Panama) and Salaverry on its way to Callao, and at Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica), Puerto Chiapas, Acapulco and San Lucas Cape on the way back to San Diego.

15-Day cruise segments from Callao, Lima, are also available, and can be sold by Peruvian tourism operators.

This may be the perfect itinerary for those who seek an affordable opportunity to visit South America without booking an international flight.

Tours Cruises facilities in North of Peru

Churches of volcanic rock in Arequipa, Peru: Travel the religious route

Touring the historic center of Arequipa, Peru, you will have a religious experience. A peaceful route full of history, stunning architecture and strange miracles.

Renowned for its stunning blue sky, its towering volcanoes and lush vegetation in the valley, the White City encourages Peruvians and foreigners alike to come and see two ancient cloisters that now function as museums.

The itinerary may take from three hours to an entire day: it all depends on your interest and available time. The trip involves two convents that will take you to the past and provide you with a perspective of the beliefs of Peruvian societies of past ages.

Foto: Cesar Moncloa

Colonial Treasure

During the day you can visit the Convent of Santa Teresa, which was built in 1700 and received women from different social strata who wanted to devote their lives to prayer.

Upon entering its five rooms open to the public, you can feel the loneliness they felt and their strength during the long years of confinement.

Even though this was a modest convent, inside, magnificent works of religious art, depicting the Nativity and the most important scenes of the life of the Lord are displayed.

Jewelery works in gold and silver are displayed in what was formerly the infirmary. Eighteenth century sculptures adorn the halls and classrooms.

In addition the site has a spectacular colonial architecture, with original vaulted ceilings, walls made of volcanic rock (sillar) and small gardens where one can only hear the birds singing.

The silence lingers in Santa Teresa, since currently, 21 nuns remain in this cloister that will soon be 300 years old.

Foto: Martin Tremblay

The mysterious convent

The monastery of Santa Catalina, known as one of the most important tourist attractions in Arequipa, is the next place on the itinerary.

To walk in the footsteps of women who dared to surrender entirely to God, leaving family and friends behind, is extremely interesting. But visiting it at night makes an entirely different experience: much more dramatic and spiritual.

We believe that that is the reason that led to its opening during the night twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday). We recommend you enter at 6 p.m. so that you can visit its 21 rooms and beautiful plazas and walkways illuminated by the moonlight.

It was August 15, 1970 when this convent opened its doors for the first time to the public and presented 400 refurbished pieces, dozens of works from the Cuzco School and an important collection of religious art.

According to the story, cells were built for the nuns due to the earthquakes, where currently equipment and utensils from that time are in exhibition.

The local guides explained that some of the nuns decided on the closure because of an impossible love, a marriage that they did not wish to realize or because they lacked maternal vocation. We know, too, that they came from wealthy families and some were interned along with their maids so that they would wait on them.

Its architectural style is colonial, but emphasizes the fusion of Spanish and Indian elements and its gardens suggest a stay of hours with a good book.

Santa Teresa Convent

Melgar 303, Historic Center of Arequipa.

Monday through Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m.-1:00pm.

Entry is 10 soles, 5 soles for students.

Santa Catalina Convent

Santa Catalina 301, Historic Center of Arequipa.

Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Entry is 30 soles.

Tour Suggested:

The Best Peru Tour: Taste of Peru

The Best Peru Tour: Peru Explorer

Peru eyes to double annual cruise ship arrivals

Peru is keen to boost its tourist sector increasing the number of tourist cruise ships arrivals from 30 to 60 each year, Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Martin Perez reported Thursday.

Paasengers od these cruise ships dock at Callao’s port take a tour around Lima city, but the idea is to make them visit other places such as Pisco (Ica) and Salaverry (La Libertad).
"In this way, tourists would stay longer. We will be addressing that issue in the coming months to attract tourists from around the world," he said.
Minister Perez will be heading to the United States in June to hold a meeting with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and include those routes in the list of cruise ship destinations.
Minister Perez noted that Panama has already offered its support to Peru in this area as it is one of the world leaders in cruise business.
The 30 cruise ships that annually arrive into Peru's main ports contribute with an average 40 million dollars, this number is expected to double as the number of cruise ships arrivals increases.
These ships arrive between October and April with an average of 3,000 passengers who stay 12 days.

Relax and surf: Peru offers the beaches of Pacasmayo

Growing up in Lima, on the coast, made going to the beach part of my regular life. It’s sad that the beaches in Lima aren’t that good unless you drive 40 minutes south. So the idea of going up north to look for a nice beach within walking distance of my accommodation sounded appealing.

A beach at Pacasmayo.

For most people, the best beaches are way up north in Máncora. I agree, but it’s a long drive, 16 hours. I had only the weekend and a long bus ride wasn’t my idea of fun. So I was open to new ideas.

I went to buy a bus ticket and it was right there where I made a decision. The destination would be: Pacasmayo, about 10 hours from Lima. Pacasmayo seemed to be what I was looking for: a laid back beach town, not crowded, but still lively and most importantly sunny, warm and with an endless beach. The only thing I knew for sure about it was that there’s a huge cement factory called Cementos Pacasmayo. I was thrilled of the idea of discovering somewhere new!

We left Lima at 7 p.m. It was a night bus, no options to see the landscape but no big deal since the Peruvian coast is mostly a desert. It was around 5 a.m. when we arrived to Pacasmayo. My first thought was: "This is definitely a small beach town."

A small town with colonial touches

Coming from a city with more than eight million inhabitants, a town with about 27 thousand people was tiny, but they all are very friendly. They let me check in to my lodging although it was very early, just because they assumed I would be tired.

After a nap and a quick shower I was ready to explore the area. Streets are narrow, there are few cars but a lot of mototaxis, not only because of the small size of the town but also due to the warm weather which lasts all year long. It was really quiet. I was expecting a bright sunny day, but it looked a bit gloomy. The positive side: Walking around was more comfortable.

In Pacasmayo you will find very pretty colonial houses, similar to the ones you see in Trujillo. Unfortunately they are not that well preserved, but the charm is still there.

Sure, a beach town is different than small towns in highlands, just think about the houses with flat roofs. But I could also notice differences in the locals. I found people more outgoing and ready to talk to you, while in highlands they could be shy at the beginning. I think people in Pacasmayo are like the architecture of the area, a mix of lovely colonial buildings, nostalgia for a wealthy past, new buildings and high expectations for the future. Everyone seemed to know to each other here and I felt a bit like an outsider, but this feeling didn’t last very long thanks to the people’s warm welcome wherever I went.

Well, it was time to look for something to eat and I knew exactly what to get: a ceviche! I found a small and cozy place selling ceviche, which cost not even half the price of a similar dish in Lima.

Beach time

Pacasmayo is blessed with nice beaches, but there is one, El Faro, which is especially attractive for surfers. It wasn’t a big surprise seeing young people running to the beach to check the waves and then coming back carrying their boards. (One of the most popular and maybe also the biggest store was a surfshop.)

Surfing is becoming more popular in Peru, not only by Peruvians, but also foreigners looking for the perfect break. They like it here because it’s still uncrowded and there are plenty of places to discover. The best waves can be found from April to October. To entice surfers even more, the fishing village of Chicama has waves that stretch two kilometers wide, and is located 30 kilometers from Pacasmayo.

Next morning was Sunday and the sun came out very early, a perfect beach day. But first I went to the highest point in town to get a nice view. As in many other places in Peru, on top of the highest point there was a tall white Christ, arms wide open, like if he was guarding the whole town. From there I saw the pier and couldn’t help it walking along it, which is one of the longest in Peru.

The beach was getting crowded, mostly with locals who wanted to enjoy a quiet day. The only noise I heard came from the waves and children playing. After a couple of hours at the beach, sitting on the porch of the hotel with a cold drink and a book was perfect.

A tip: Pacasmayo is still a small town, so if you miss lunch time, you’d probably have to wait until dinner. Sunday evening is so quiet here. It seems to be everyone goes to bed early either to wake up early to start the work day or to look for waves.

Next morning I left Pacasmayo. There was no bus going to Lima, so I went to Trujillo and from there back to Lima. It was a great opportunity to walk around this lovely city. Pacasmayo will suit you if you want to stay away from the crowded beach areas and prefer a beach town lost in time.

Surfing information
Pacasmayo is recommended for experienced surfers. The best spot is El Faro beach.
Wave quality: World Class
Wave type: reef-rocky
Normal wave length: 300-500 meters.

How to get there

Go to Trujillo and make a connection to Pacasmayo. Buses from Lima to Pacasmayo don’t run often. (Trujillo is a lovely city and spending a few hours in this colorful city would be a wonderful idea.)

Relax and surf: Peru offers the beaches of Pacasmayo

More about beaches in the North of Peru

Peru to invite Sandra Bullock to boost tourism in Machu Picchu

As part of the campaign planned to boost tourism in Peru, authorities are assessing the possibility of inviting Oscar winner Sandra Bullock to visit Machu Picchu Inca citadel, alike US actress Susan Sarandon, Peru's Foreign Trade Minister Martin Perez said Tuesday.

“We are trying to contact her agents so she can join the group of famous people we seek to attract to Machu Picchu; our campaign continues,” he said.

Perez pointed out that the visit of famous American actress Susan Sarandon for the reopening of the Inca citadel had a huge impact overseas, which demonstrates that this type of campaigns produced positive results.

According to Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru), the visit of Susan Sarandon, had a great advertising impact of several million dollars, having international media coverage in different languages.

“The idea is that every 2 months we can attract one celebrity, and we will continue along this year,” he added.

Other future possibilities are Sting, lead singer and bassist of the rock music band The Police; American film director and film producer Steven Spielberg; and also Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra.

Tour Suggested:

The Inca Experience - Peru Tours

Machu Picchu receives some 1,500 tourists daily since reopening

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu receives some 1500 visitors a day from Thursday, when it officially reopened to domestic and foreign tourists, reported the manager of the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu Marco Palomino.

Most visitors are European -mainly French and British- and Latin American -Argentine and Brazilian. Domestic tourists are mainly from Lima.
"Visitors have great expectation of seeing Machu Picchu due to its status as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the recent events," Palomino said adding that he noted the presence of families, young people and even seniors.

He said maintenance and restoration works were undertaken during the closure of the famous citadel, mainly in the area of mount Huayna Picchu.
According to Palomino, the Institutional Image Department of the National Institute of Culture (INC) in Cusco will soon issue a statement with further information on the subject.
Heavy rains caused the Vilcanota River to rise to its highest level in 25 years, flooding roads and destroying the railway near the famous Inca citadel, which forced the closure of this tourist attraction for the past two months.