100 anni dalla scoperta di Machu Picchu. Così viene festeggiato il sito archeologico Inca annoverato tra le Sette Meraviglie del mondo!

Una delle sette meraviglie del mondo moderno compie cent’ anni! Si tratta di Machu Picchu, Patrimonio Unesco, meta sempre più ambita per viaggi di nozze e vacanze. A celebrarla una mostra, che dal 26 Luglio al 28 Agosto in quel del Casino dei Principi di Villa Torlonia a Roma, vi porterà in questo scenario davvero suggestivo.

Se avete amato la cultura Inca certo non potrete perderlo. Cento fotografie saranno pronte a ricordarvi quei luoghi fantastici, scoperti il 24 Luglio 1911 da Hiram Bingham, lo studioso di Yale che compì la sua prima missione in Perù. Le foto di questo luogo che sorge tra due picchi montuosi della Cordigliera delle Ande, a 2500 metri di altitudine, vi colpiranno anche nella città del Colosseo. Vedere l’antica tenuta reale con i suoi duecento edifici circa in foto d’autore, vi rispamirerà un lungo viaggio, o forse vi farà venire voglia di programmarlo.

Ecco che a svelarlo saranno le fotografie aeree dei coniugi Ruth e Kenneth Wright: tra queste la scalinata in granito bianco che porta al Tempio di Inti, dio del Sole, i templi della Luna e delle Tre finestre o la pietra del pilastro piramidale detta Intihuatana. Porseguono poi tutte quelle immagini che ritraggono il profilo della montagna circostante: «La simbiosi tra elemento naturale e ‘artificiale’ era un concetto fondamentale nelle civiltà antiche – sottolinea la curatrice Calcani – oggi purtroppo è andato perduto».

Per l’occasione dei 100 anni di Machu Picchu a Yale verranno inoltre posti 4000 reperti archeologici portati da Bingham nel 1911. Un viaggio senza dubbio da fare, ma anche da rivivere attraverso foto così veritiere che vi toglieranno il fiato. Per i suoi 100 anni ovviamente i turisti stanno prendendo il luogo d’assalto, questo silenzioso e ameno retaggio della cultura precolombiana. Ben 800 mila turisti ogni anno, un luogo che possiamo dirlo a pieno titolo è entrato nel “turismo di massa”. Meno rischi senza dubbio per la mostra…. a voi poi decidere se andare o meno alla fonte!

August 15, 2011
The city of Arequipa was founded in 1540 by Garcí Manuel de Carbajal, who in the nearby fertile lands of Huasacache built his mansion. Huasacache, in the valley of the river Socabaya only a short distance from the city, passed through various hands over the years until it was bought by Jesuit missionaries.

The Jesuits made many additions to the home, most notably several new rooms and an adjoining chapel. It became a place for retreats and meetings. When the Jesuits were expelled from all Spanish territories in 1767, the land and the mansion were confiscated by the local government and sold at auction for 68,965 silver pesos.

After being sold and bought again, the lands and mansion passed into the hands of another famous family, that of Juan Crisóstomo de Goyeneche y Aguerrevere, a captain of the Spanish army. It was a family in which it stayed until 1947 when his descendants parcelled and sold off the land.

In 1978 a group of enthusiasts of Arequipeña architecture bought the mansion, by now laying in ruins, and over many months restored all that was lost. It has since been open to the public as a tourist attraction.

Source: enperublog.com

By Catriona Spence

Peru’s northern coast gets most of the glory as beach & surf destination, leaving the far more isolated southern coast as a getaway for locals and independently-minded travelers. The southern coastline stretches south from the department of Lima all the way to the border with Chile. The sea is cold, thanks to the Humboldt Current which brings icy waters north from Antarctica, but this doesn’t stop the locals and more than a few tourists enjoying the numerous beaches.

The department of Arequipa, well known for beautiful Arequipa City, has some of the beast beaches of the southern coast. Those wanting to relax can find peace and tranquility in the natural beauty at Puerto Inka. Calm, clear waters await and there are accommodation options for all, from camping to hotels. With the naturally green desert hills as the backdrop to the town, it is an idyllic setting. Those seeking action can hire jet skis and kayaks from the hotel Puerto Inka, while those interested in history can visit the archaeological site of Quebrada de la Waca, at the southern end of town. Established during pre-Inca times, the site grew as an important source of fish and other coastal resources for the Inca Empire, with trading and supply routes reaching high into the distant Andes towards the ancient capital, Cusco. A further option for visitors looking for a pleasant spot to relax is the quiet beach of Jihuay, very rarely visited by foreign tourists. Both Jihuay and Puerto Inka are relatively off the beaten track and have patchy public transport services, so travelling by private transport is the best option. Puerto Inka and Jihuay are located off the Pan American Highway at kilometer 610 and 601 respectively.

For surfers the best waves lie in the far south, in and around Ilo. There are three good beaches: Gentilares, La Cruz and Piedras Negras. The waves break right and left, hold up to 3 meters and are consistent year-round. Although facilities at the beaches are relatively non-existent, the town of Ilo located just minutes away has numerous restaurants and hotels to suit all budgets. It can also be reached directly from Lima and Arequipa with the bus companies Tepsa and Flores.

The small town of Boca del Rio has a few pleasant beaches, which can be reached from Tacna and Ilo by bus. The town comes to life in summer when wealthy locals come to their holiday homes but, like many of Peru’s beach towns, it almost shuts down in winter. Surfers can enjoy the waves here too, with three breaks near the town. Most foreign tourists to Boca del Rio come from within South America so Western tourists can live an authentic Peruvian beach experience at this town. Independent travel in Peru is relatively easy and convenient. If you prefer to organize your trip with expert advice, contact a Peru travel agent such as this specialist in luxury Peru tours.

El Inti Raymi o Fiesta del Sol fue una ceremonia Inca que se realizaba, con carácter anual, en el Cusco, la capital del Tawantinsuyo, entre el período final de la cosecha y el inicio del equinoccio invernal de los Andes, es decir en la segunda mitad del mes de junio.

El Inti Raymi en la época de los Incas era, el equivalente a lo que hoy es para nosotros la fiesta de año nuevo. La celebración solar era una fiesta en la cual se iniciaba un nuevo año y terminaba todo el año agrícola anterior entre los meses de mayo o junio, y al mismo tiempo se iniciaba el nuevo ciclo agrícola a partir del mes de julio, de modo que el período existente entre la última semana del mes de junio y comienzos del mes de julio era un lapso de transición del año viejo agrícola a uno nuevo, entonces la fiesta estaba dedicada a ese acontecimiento.

Escenarios de la ceremonia del Inti Raymi : El 24 de junio, la fiesta en honor al dios sol, se realiza en los tres escenarios históricos y naturales que habitualmente se utilizan para la escenificación:

El Qorikancha (Cerco de oro): En la época incaica era el principal templo consagrado al sol.

La Plaza de Armas (el antiguo Auqaypata o Plaza del Guerrero): Durante el incanato, en esta inmensa plaza se desarrollaba íntegramente la ceremonia en medio del gran ushnu o plataforma ceremonial.

Saqsaywaman (voz que deriva de los términos quechuas “saqsay” y “waman” que traducido al español significa “halcón saciado”). Este impresionante centro arqueológico se encuentra a 3,555 m.s.n.m., a un kilómetro del barrio inca de Qolqanpata.

Escenificación final del Inti Raymi – Actos en Saqsaywaman

Emplazamiento ceremonial, Informe de los 4 Suyus o Regiones: Qollasuyu, Kuntisuyu, Antisuyu y Chinchaysuyu, Rito de la Chicha, Rito del Fuego Sagrado, Sacrificio de la Llama (camélido andino) y augurios, Rito del Sankhu (pan sagrado), Q’ochurikuy (estallido de exaltación popular).

Horarios de La Ceremonia del Inti Raymi

09:OO hrs Qorikancha: Inicio de la escenificación. Duración 30 minutos.
11:OO hrs. Auqaypata (Plaza de Armas): El lnka y su séquito real, ingresan por la calle Inti K’ijllu. Duración 45 minutos.
13:3O hrs. Ceremonia central. Duración de 90 minutos.

Reservaciones: Contacte a nuestros expertos en viajes y haga sus reservaciones con anterioridad. El tour de la fiesta del SOL o Inti Raymi de 01 dia es un tour especial a través del cual llegaremos a conocer mas de la gran Cultura de los Incas.

By Manuel Vigo

On Wednesday Carlos Canales, president of Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), expressed his joy at news that Peru will host the start of the 2013 Dakar Rally.

“We are happy, happy. We have to greet and congratulate the Tourism Minister Silva because he managed to take the initiative, the grand opening of the 2013 Dakar will be in Peru and especially in our coasts,” he said to local radio RPP. Canales estimated that over one hundred thousand tourists could travel to Peru, to watch the race in January 2013. “The Dakar Rally will involve being in the eyes of over 1.2 billion people. Over 300 TV channels are going to know what Peru is […] I think we will surpass one hundred thousand tourists,” he said.

The head of Canatur also estimated that the rally could bring over $400 million to the country. “More than $ 400 million could be billed from domestic tourism, and the most important thing is the event’s opportunity to sell Peru [as a tourist destination], not just in January,” he said. Canales’ estimate is far higher than the amount received during Peru’s first time hosting part of the race in 2012.

Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Jose Luis Silva said this year’s rally generated about $70 million for Peru’s hotels and gas stations, reported Andina. 2013 will mark the fifth time the Dakar Rally takes place in South America, after security concerns in Africa forced organizers to look for different countries to host the rally.

Contact our travel experts to start organizing your 2012 / 2013 Peru travel packages and start dreaming about your next Machu Picchu tours.

peruthisweek.com

By David Hill

New concerns about “human safaris” are now being raised in Peru, where tour operators are profiting from the exploitation of indigenous tribes in the Amazon jungle.

An increase in economic activity and tourism in the Manu region has led to a dramatic rise in the number of reported sightings of the Mashco-Piro – one of around 15 indigenous groups in Peru who have no regular contact with outsiders, and one of only 100 or so such tribes left in the world.

Fenamad, the local indigenous rights organisation, has criticised tour operators who have taken advantage to take tourists “close to where” the tribespeople were seen.

There is growing evidence that travellers and tourists are attempting to make contact. “Uncontacted Indians are not a tourist attraction,” said Rebecca Spooner of Survival International, which aims to protect tribal peoples. “So-called tour guides should already know better.”

Growing concerns over “human safaris” caused a scandal in India after the Observer revealed how tour operators in the Andaman Islands were colluding with police to offer sightings of an indigenous group, the Jarawa, who have only had contact with the outside world since the late 1990s.

In Peru, the Mashco-Piro live in the Manu national park of the Madre de Dios region, near the Brazilian border. More than a century ago the Mashco-Piro were driven off their land in the upper Manu river by rubber tappers supplying the American and European car and bicycle industries. The tribe was forced to retreat to more remote jungle areas.

After Survival International published photographs of the tribe last month to publicise the need to leave it in peace, a spokesman for Peru’s national protected areas department (Sernanp) urged people to steer clear of “communities trying to remain apart from the outside world”. However, independent research has confirmed that unscrupulous tour guides are flouting that advice.

“The uncontacted peoples have been sighted on the Madre de Dios river in Manu. Let me know how many days you want and I’ll suggest a tailor-made programme for your party,” said one, contacted anonymously with a specific request to seek out the tribe.

“We can’t be 100 per cent sure we can see the uncontacted. If we are lucky we can see. In 2011 they came out in the months of May and October,” said another.

“The best time to see these uncontacted natives is towards the end of the dry season, when the turtles are laying their eggs along the riverbank,” said a third operator. “The best chance you would have to see them is between July and September. Along the main rivers is the best place …”

But other tour operators gave a markedly different response. Manu Nature Tours, based in Cuzco, said: “We do not offer any possibility to see [the tribe]. It is very dangerous to attempt any contact with them. A simple cold can kill them all. Any attempt to try to contact this people can put you in jail in Peru and Brazil.”

Atalaya Tours said: “It is completely forbidden to contact ‘non-contact people’. We have tours to Manu park, but Atalaya fully respects all the laws protecting non-contact natives and we don’t agree with the illegal guides or operators that try to commercialise these kinds of visits.”

According to Fenamad, “There’s great concern because the Mashco-Piro are very vulnerable. In addition to their susceptibility to common diseases and epidemics, the sightings are occurring in an area of open-river transit where there is an intense traffic of commercial and tourists’ boats.”

Glenn Shepard, an anthropologist who has worked in Manu, says tour operators have approached the Mashco-Piro on the riverbank so that tourists can “get photos like they would for a jaguar”.

Video footage of the Mashco-Piro emerged last year that appeared to show travellers “playing a game of cat and mouse with the naked tribesmen” and discussing whether to leave food or clothing for them on the riverbank.

None of the trips to Manu advertised by tour operators on their websites openly offers Mashco-Piro sightings, but several acknowledge the presence of “uncontacted” people in the rainforest.

“We need governments to act to protect indigenous communities, tour operators need to follow a code of conduct and tourists need to be educated and informed,” said Mark Watson, director of Tourism Concern.

Source: nzherald.co.nz

Start dreaming about your next Inca Trail adventure.

By Andrew Kolasinski

While Ceviche is Peru’s national food, Tacu Tacu is undoubtedly more widely available and is more often a part of daily meals. It is served in all regions of the country, and is made in a range of styles and variants, using local ingredients to create a unique twist on basic beans and rice.

The dish is believed to originate from slaves from Africa in colonial times. It was a creative use of leftover beans and rice, spiced with hot pepper and garlic, and served with pork, beef, or an egg, and slices of fried plantain. Usually it is formed into a patty shape, pancake, or tortilla, and then fried crisp in oil. Often bits of crisp fried pork or bacon are mixed in with the rice and beans. Lima beans, chickpeas, or lentil beans are commonly used.

It has evolved, depending on the region, into an upscale accompaniment to seafood, foie gras, or steak. In some kitchens it is not formed into a pancake shape rather it is served loose on the plate. In other variations it becomes almost a stew with a greater range of ingredients such as pieces of beef, sausages, olives, and mixed beans.

My introduction to Tacu Tacu was in Pimental on the central coast. In the beachfront restaurant, Tieda del Pato, with my fledgling Spanish vocabulary I asked for a meal of local fresh fish. I paid little attention to the main course of fried sole, enjoying the side-dish. The next day on Pimental’s fishing pier I witnessed a crew bring a 10 foot hammerhead shark ashore. Returning for a second dinner, my fish course turned out to be that hammerhead shark. As fine as it was my attention was again captured by the mysterious side-dish. My attempts to learn the recipe prompted my server to resort to mime and cartoon drawings, as she recreated the act of forming the ingredients into patties.

I was hooked on Tacu Tacu, but nowhere else in the country served it well as at Tienda del Pato in Pimental. A close second was at El Sombrero in Trujillo, where it was offered with the standard thin sliced beef steak. Also a great meal.

I’ve since mastered the art of making Pimental-style Tacu Tacu in my home kitchen and have impressed local friends with the spicy satisfactions of Peru’s everyday treat. Enjoy your Peru tours with delicious traditional dishes.

Source: enperublog.com