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!

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

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.

Most tourists taking part in the Inca Trail Trekking adventure to Machu Picchu are not necessarily specialist trekkers. Therefore, at TOUR IN PERU EIRL, we strongly recommend our clients to follow a reasonable course of training in order to get the maximum benefit while on the hiking adventure. Although you feel you are in good physical conditions (fit enough), keep in mind that the Inca Trail does not include activities of your regular routine; therefore, apart from requiring a reasonable standard of fitness, you need to be used to climbing hills and walking along narrow paths at different altitudes.

Recognizing the importance of a good preparation to enjoy your Inca Trail adventure is really important; therefore, we invite you to start exercising in advance. The demands of a trekking holiday are specific and very different from other activities so it is important that your training programme is also specific to the demands of your trek. The trekking consists of 6 to 7 walking hours a day, normally, in different temperatures and over hilly and rigged terrain at times. So in order for you to have a hazzle-free advetnure, this requires endurance, leg strength, aerobic fitness, stamina and a good comfortable pair of walking boots!

It is not enough to spend endless nights researching on the Inca Trail adventures, its location, duration and appropriate precautions to take; this could be the trip of your lifetime and you need some fitness preparation. See our travellers testimonials for inspiration on your next adventure!

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.

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

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.

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

The Cathedral, the Church of La Compañía, El Trifuno Church, and many restaurants and shops face the plaza – and now a McDonalds and Starbucks. Though the Spanish architectural grandeur of the plaza is evident – and commercialization is increasingly pervasive – delve a bit deeper and you’ll find plenty of well-preserved hints at the former glory of the Inca Empire. Perhaps nowhere else is a theme of conquest spelled out in architecture; a Cusco city tour is a history lesson written in masterful stonework rather than books. While Spanish influence prevails in Cusco, the city’s Inca heritage is what keeps visitors enthralled.

The Cusco Cathedral is a good place to start your Cusco city tour. Built in 1539, the cathedral was expanded over the next century using stone from the nearby Inca fortress of Sacsayhuamán. It’s architectural style is Gothic-Renaissance, with Baroque embellishments, wooden altars, and gilded interiors. Look closely on the Cathedral door to see a jaguar carved in relief – a token of the Inca religion’s persistence into Catholicism. Inside, there is an impressive collection of artwork from the Escuela Cuzqueña, or Cuzco School of Art, a distinctive style of religious art from the early colonial period, when the Spanish sought to convert the locals through visual Bible stories. The most famous painting is that of the Last Supper con cuy – with a guinea pig as the main entree. Also look for the Maria Angola bell in the right bell tower, and the Black Christ, a crucifix that gets toted around each year during the Lord of Miracles celebration.

Also facing the Plaza is the Iglesia de la Compañía, a Jesuit church that was built over the ruins of another Inca palace. It’s baroque facade is so ornate that it often gets confused for the main Cathedral. The original church was built contemporaneous with the cathedral, but was destroyed in the 1650 earthquake. The building that stands today was built in 1668. The interior is dominated by an altar gilded in gold leaf, and there is also a collection of Cusquena artwork.

Just a few blocks past the Iglesia de la Compañía down Avenida El Sol is Qoricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, which the Spanish Convent of Santo Domingo was built upon. This temple was the Inca’s crown jewel; dedicated to Inti, the Sun God, Qoricancha was gilded in solid gold, adorned with golden statues, silverwork, jewels, and artwork that has become the stuff of legends. Much of it was stripped and taken to Cajamarca, where the Inca emperor Atahuallpa was being held for ransom by the Spanish. A legendary sun disk, which becomes the object of fixation for Hollywood in The Secret of the Incas, is said to have been spared. Dominicans leveled much of the temple to make room for their convent. Some of the original Inca walls remain, and the rounded wall facing the Jardin Sagrado is one of the most elegant examples of Inca stonework. Check out the museum underneath the garden; entrance on Avenida El Sol.

Art-lovers and history buffs should also check out Iglesia La Merced, located one block away from the Plaza de Armas. Inside this church is a collection of impressive art, including one painting of the Holy Family attributed to Rubens, and a golden communion cup encrusted with diamonds and pearls.

After you’ve tuckered yourself out on religious art and extravagant Spanish churches, head to the fine museums that delve into Cusco’s incredible historical legacies. The Museo Inka, to the left of the Cathedral, is the best choice for students of Incan history. Housed in a 16th century mansion (also built over Inca ruins), this museum (rebuilt after the 1950 earthquake) has a wide collection of Inca pottery, textiles, metal work, jewellery, elongated skulls, and mummies that give insight into Inca beliefs and customs. The collection of artifacts covers Incas throughout the empire, including those of the Lake Titicaca and Puno area. There is also a selection of photographs of Machu Picchu from when it was first encountered by the archeologist Hiram Bingham.

Another fine museum is the Museo de Arte Precolombino, also built in a colonial mansion. It features a rich collection of artifacts from pre-Inca cultures such as the Nazca, Moche, Chimu, and Paracas.

Also worthy of note is the Casa Concha Museum, which now houses several hundred artifacts retrieved from Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Bingham pilfered the artifacts and loaned them to Yale University, where they remained for 100 years. After decades of talks and formal suit filed against the Ivy League college in 2008, Yale recently returned the artifacts, which include thousands of pieces of pottery, jewels, and mummies. According to a letter in 1916 addressed to the National Geographic Society, which backed Bingham’s expedition to Machu Picchu, the artifacts were supposed to be on loan for 18 months.

12-Angled Stone. Don’t miss the famous 12-cornered stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street on the way to the San Blas district, to the right of the Cathedral. The street is made up of giant stone-cut walls that border the Palace of the Archbishop. The walls once lined Inca Roca, the palace of the 6th Incan ruler. The 12-cornered stone fits snugly amidst the other blocks, and it is perhaps the best example of Inca stonework that you can see up-close. (see the hidden animal shapes in this stunning building)

Many Cusco tours include trips to see Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay, Qenko, and other Inca ruins in the outskirts of the city. If you have an afternoon to spare, these sites are a must; they afford excellent views of Cusco from above, give you a chance to stretch your legs and get out of the city, and of course, are indispensable to Cusco’s history. You might also want to consider taking a horseback ride or mountain bike ride around the area to make this archeological lesson more of an adventure.

Sacsayhuaman. It was once a magnificent Inca stronghold that overlooks Cusco from the foothills. It too was razed by the Spanish, although many of its massive stones – some more than 8.5 meters (27 feet) – remain as imposing as it must have in the 16th century. Some stones weigh in at 300 tons, and according to a 16th century historian, over 20,000 men were involved in construction. The site is famous for being Manco Capac’s last stand against the Spanish in 1536. This is also the site of the colorful Inti Raymi festival held each year in June.

The seat of the Inca Empire, Cusco is more than just a rest stop on the way to Machu Picchu. It’s the centerpiece of Inca history, and an in-depth look at its historical monuments tells tale of a centuries-long rivalry between deep-rooted Inca culture and strong-handed Spanish colonial influence.

Source: enperublog.com

In the 1954 film Secret of the Incas (watch) starring Charlton Heston, Heston takes co-star Nicole Maurey to visit a museum in Cusco before heading to Machu Picchu. The movie was filmed on location, giving an excellent perspective on Cusco as it was in the 1950s. While the Cathedral’s bells toll, a few trucks, farmers, and passerby make their way along the adobe-lined streets of this Cusco of fifty years past. Much has changed in the city that once was called “the Navel of the Universe” by the Incas, but those on a Peru tour can still see remnants of a bygone era while on an in-depth Cusco city tour.

If you travel to Cusco by plane, you’ll find the Cusco airport, located on the sparse outskirts of the city, is still as small as it was when Heston graced its presence. The airport’s terra cotta tile roof fends off the penetrating highland sun rays, and dust kicks up and blows through the valley surrounded by rounded foothills. A few cars wait in the parking lot to take visitors to their hotels, but crowds are few. The sense of tranquilo, of sustained calm in contrast to the busyness of Lima’s urban sprawl, is dominant. The sky stretches over the sun-lit valley, and it seems no wonder why the Incas were worshippers of the Inti, the sun god.

Take a 10-minute drive down Avenida El Sol into the city, where you can check in to your Cusco hotel. There are plenty of hotels and hostels within walking distance of the Plaza de Armas, or main plaza, which is where you’ll find all the main action and the best views. The neighborhoods of San Blas and Resbalosa are located on the hillside, within walking distance of the Plaza, and hotels here are worth the walk for the incredible views overlooking the city. Take it easy for the first few hours in Cusco; the city is 3399 meters (11,152 feet) above sea level. If you’re worried about soroche, or altitude sickness, you can always bypass Cusco and camp out in the Sacred Valley, which lies at a slightly lower altitude.

Start off your Cusco city tour with a visit to the Plaza de Armas, or main square. You might see some niños selling gorros (hand-knit beanies), finger puppets in the shape of llamas, and other trinkets. Stroll the perimeter of the plaza as you reflect on the historic events this plaza has seen: the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, claimed this town for himself in 1532; an earthquake devastated the Church of La Compañía and many other buildings in 1650; the upstart Tupac Amaru II was killed here in 1780; and it is here that the annual Lord of the Miracles procession – a celebration of the Cathedral’s survival of the 1650 earthquake – takes place.

Source: enperublog.com