PERU: Visit Popular Tourist Attractions In Peru

Peru is a country of history, culture, beauty, and adventure, with a full spectrum of possibilities for travelers. The ancient Inca City of Machu Picchu is one of the highlights of any trip to South America, but there is much more to discover throughout Peru.

Visitors can take a boat trip on the highest navigable lake in the world, look out over one of the deepest canyons in the world, try their luck sandboarding in the dunes, hike in the Andes, fish for piranha in the Amazon, explore the mysteries of the Nazca lines, walk through ancient ruins in the Sacred Valley, or experience modern Peru while wandering the streets of Lima.

The diversity of the landscape, the people, and the experiences here make Peru one of the most unique destinations on the continent.

Sacred Valley

Less than an hour's drive north of Cusco is the beautiful Sacred Valley and the towns of Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. This fertile valley has many Inca ruins worth exploring but is also a peaceful area to spend some time wandering through markets or soaking up local culture.

Some of the main highlights in the valley are the Pisac Ruins, the Sunday Market in Pisac, smaller market days are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the ruins and fortress at the beautiful little town of Ollantaytambo.

A little out of the way but worth the trip is the town of Moray with circular terracing used as an agricultural testing area by the Incas, and the salt mines at Salinas, which have been in use since the time of the Incas.

Machu Picchu

Perched high upon a ridge, 300 meters above the Urubamba River, the majestic Inca City of Machu Picchu is one of the most dramatic settings of a ruined city anywhere in the world.

Almost as impressive as the ruins themselves is the spectacular backdrop of steep, lush, and often cloud-shrouded mountains.

Standing near the caretaker's hut, looking out over Machu Picchu, the jungle covered mountains, and the river far below, it is not hard to imagine why the Incas chose this place to build their city.

Hiram Bingham came across Machu Picchu in 1911 and believed until his death that it was the Lost City of the Incas, first documented by Spanish soldiers in the 1500s. However, historians believe the real lost city of the Incas was at Espíritu Pampa, a ruin Bingham knew of but discounted as being insignificant.

The journey is also part of the experience of visiting Machu Picchu, whether it's by hiking the Inca Trail or seeing the route by train. In either case, it's impossible not to be inspired by the scenery.

Trains leave from Cusco, Ollantaytambo, or Urubamba to Aguas Calientes. From Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu, a bus takes visitors up to Machu Picchu, which is about a 20-minute drive. It is possible to walk up this road to the site, but this is a long, uphill climb.

To avoid the crowds, the best times to visit the site are in the morning or late afternoon, either before the trains arrive from Cusco or after they have left.

The high season is June to August, but the two months on either side of this also see decent weather and can be a good time to visit with fewer crowds.

Arequipa's Historical City Center

Arequipa, at more than 2,300 meters, is often regarded as Peru's most beautiful city. Set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, the city center is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city's main claim to fame is the old architecture constructed of sillar stone, a volcanic rock that radiates a bright color in the sunlight. Most of the colonial buildings in the historic city center are made from this stone, giving rise to its nickname of the white city.

Arequipa is also often a stopping-off point for those looking to visit the Colca Canyon or Canon del Colca, which is about a four hour's drive from the city.

Ica and the Sand Dunes at Huacachina

For the sporting type looking to try something a little different, the oasis resort of Huacachina on the outskirts of Ica has just the answer.

This picture-perfect, palm-fringed resort town just west of Ica, and technically still part of the municipality of Ica, is situated around a lagoon surrounded by huge sand dunes, some of which reach 1,000 meters in height.

While they are beautiful to see, people come here to try out the sport of sandboarding. Similar to snowboarding, sandboarding is surfing down the sand dunes on specially made sand-boards, which can be rented in the area.

For the less coordinated, renting dune buggies is another great way to get out and enjoy the landscape.

Ica is slightly higher than the ocean and consequently is not affected by the usual coastal mist like other towns along this stretch. The town has a year-round sunny and dry climate, making it a good place to visit at any time.

Inca Trail

The famous Inca Trail is a four-day hike, which terminates at Machu Picchu, and is regarded by many as the highlight of their trip to Peru. This scenic trail is often more demanding than what many people are expecting, but also more rewarding.

There are a couple of different starting points for the Inca Trail, but the traditional four-day hike begins at km 82 of the Cusco - Aguas Calientes rail line.

From this point, the trail passes more than 30 Inca ruins and traverses through some spectacular scenery. The most difficult portion of the trail is the second day of the hike, with a climb of 1,200 meters in elevation gain and two high passes.

The hike must be done with an agency, and reservations should be booked well in advance, particularly in the high season of June to August. Some agencies offer a shorter version of the hike, which entails either the last two days or just the last day of the hike.

There are campgrounds at intervals along the trail and one at the base of Machu Picchu. Depending on the type of tour, hikers can either carry their own backpack or have it transported for them.

Cusco's Architectural Treasures

Walking through the streets of Cusco is like wandering through a museum, with history built upon history in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inca ruins have been used in the foundations of many of the lovely old colonial buildings lining the narrow roads, showcasing the city's long history.

The main square, Plaza de Armas, in the city center is home to the Cathedral and La Compania, two equally impressive structures. The square is also a great place to start a walking tour, grab a meal, or people watch during the day.

While there are countless buildings and museums worth visiting, the church of Santo Domingo, resting on the ruins of the Inca site of Coricancha, is one of Cusco's must-see attractions.

Barranco

The quaint hillside district of Barranco, just south of Central Lima and Miraflores, is a charming area within easy commuting distance of downtown Lima.

With unassuming colonial architecture lining the narrow streets and hillside ocean views, the area offers a much more relaxed pace than the city. The area has long been popular with artists and poets, giving it a Bohemian feel.

This is a great place to wander in the afternoon or enjoy a meal, particularly at sunset, at one of the restaurants overlooking the ocean. Besides the atmosphere, the one main tourist attraction in Barranco is the Puente de Los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs).

Pisco and the Ballestas Islands (Islas Ballestas)

The main reasons visitors come to Pisco, about 200 kilometers south of Lima, are to see the nearby Islas Ballestas and the Reserva Nacional de Paracas on the Paracas Peninsula.

Almost directly west of Pisco, the Islas Ballestas, sometimes referred to as the poor man's Galapagos, are home to hundreds of thousands of birds, large colonies of sea lions, pelicans, penguins, and dolphins.

Boat tours, which visit the islands daily, leave in the mornings from Pisco. The full tour takes passengers past the Candelabra, a hillside geoglyph seen from the coast, and then spends a considerable amount of time boating around the islands watching for wildlife.

This tour is generally a half-day trip, returning around noon.

The Paracas Peninsula, jutting out into the Pacific Ocean just south of Pisco, is home to the Reserva Nacional Paracas and the largest section of protected coastline in Peru.

The shoreline of the Paracas Peninsula supports a huge variety of wildlife, with approximately 200 species of seabirds, two types of sea lions, a rare type of otter, and the endangered Humboldt penguins.

Puerto Maldonado and the Amazon

Just a half hour flight from Cusco, Puerto Maldonado is a key jumping-off point for tours of the Amazon. This is a completely different experience than visitors will find in other parts of Peru, with hot humid jungle and a chance to see all kinds of unique wildlife.

Caimans, capybara, monkeys, parrots, turtles, and piranhas are what visitors can expect to find in this part of the country.

The Reserva Nacional Tambopata and the Parque Nacional Bahuaja Sonene are the two main attractions, and they are well serviced by a number of jungle lodges. The Reserva Nacional Tambopata jungle lodges are approximately a one-hour boat ride from Puerto Maldonado.

Parque Nacional Bahuaja Sonene is across the river from the Parque Nacional Madidi in Bolivia and takes about four hours to reach by boat. Tours typically range from a couple of days to week-long adventures.

Lake Titicaca

The sparkling blue water of Lake Titicaca is surrounded by rolling hills and traditional small villages, offering a mix of beautiful scenery and culture that sets it apart from other regions of the country.

Sitting at 3,820 meters above sea level, Lake Titicaca is known for being the highest navigable lake in the world, but it is also an extraordinarily scenic area where visitors can relax and enjoy some tranquility.

A boat trip to the islands and surrounding villages is the best way to appreciate the lake. One of the main tourist attractions is the Uros Floating Islands (Islas Flotantes), which sustain small communities of Uros Indians.

These are man-made islands constructed of reeds that have sustained a traditional way of life since the time of the Incas. What travelers see on tours to these islands is designed for tourism, but it does offer a glimpse into a traditional way of life.

The floating islands are only one very small part of Lake Titicaca's attraction, with the real charm lying in the small villages in the hills along the shores of Titicaca and on the main islands of Isla Taquile and Isla Amantani.

The main gateway to Lake Titicaca is the city of Puno, a less than inspiring destination, with hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies. There are trains and buses to Puno and flights in and out of the nearby city of Juliaca.

Colca Canyon Or Canon del Colca

Although it was once thought to be the deepest canyon in the world, Colca Canyon or Canon del Colca, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, is the second deepest after nearby Cotahuasi Canyon.

The canyon reaches a depth of 3,400 meters and is the result of a seismic fault between two volcanoes. At the base far below is a winding river.

The Colca Canyon area has been inhabited for thousands of years and was home to the Collagua, Cabana, and eventually the Inca peoples. Stone terracing along the canyon walls dates to AD 800 and is still in use today.

The canyon is about a four-hour drive from Arequipa. Day trips to the canyon are available from Arequipa but two or more days are recommended considering the driving time involved in accessing the canyon.

Besides gazing out at the canyon, there are also hot springs, churches, villages, and Inca ruins to explore. Condors are also a big attraction in Colca Canyon as they soar past the cliff walls.

Lima's Plaza de Armas

One of the most pleasant places in Lima is the main square, Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor), in the heart of the city's historic district. Most of the buildings on the square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, date to the mid 18th century.

Many of the structures were rebuilt following the devastating earthquake of 1746. The highlights around the Plaza de Armas are the cathedral on the east side and Government Palace (Palacio del Gobierno) on the north side. Also of interest are the Archbishop's Palace and the Casa del Oidor.

Leading off the square is the pedestrian street, Jiron de la Union, with shops, restaurants, and the historic Iglesia de La Merced.

Sillustani

Sillustani, outside the city of Puno and not far from Lake Titicaca, is the site of some of the area's most impressive funerary towers (chullpas).

Standing as high as 12 meters, these structures were built by the Colla people around AD 600 to bury their nobility. Entire families, along with food and personal possessions, were buried in these cylinders.

Most of the towers are set in a scenic area along the bank of Lake Umayo. Visitors walk up a hill from the parking lot to the plateau above. The towers stand at the far end of the field with the lake behind.

Below the parking lot is a small marshy lake where locals can be seen poling along in their boats, harvesting reeds.

Nazca Lines

The mysterious Nazca lines are an unusual sight that will leave visitors with a sense of awe. These huge images on the desert floor were relatively undiscovered until planes flying over the area in the 1920s saw the lines from the air and realized they formed distinct patterns and images.

Until that time there was some recognition of the hillside drawings near Nazca and Paracas, which can be seen from ground level. However, the huge drawings on the flat desert floor are so large that it requires an aerial view to be appreciated.

From the air, it is possible to see 70 different plant and animal drawings as well as hundreds of lines and other geometrical shapes. Some of these lines stretch as long as 10 kilometers, and they are spread over hundreds of square kilometers.

Most notable among the figures are a lizard measuring 180 meters long, a condor with a 130-meter wingspan, and several others that include a monkey, hummingbird, killer whale, and spider.

Although it is not known exactly who created the lines or how and why, theories hold that the lines were the product of the Paracas and Nazca cultures sometime between 900 BC and AD 600. Why they were created is the subject of much debate.

Some of the theories put forward suggest the lines were a type of astronomical calendar for agriculture, an alien landing pad, a running track, walkways joining ceremonial sites, or part of a water cult.

The lines were created by removing the dark surface layer of stones and piling them at the sides of the lines, creating a contrast between the dark stones and the exposed lighter soil below. Flights can be booked in advance or on a walk-in, first-come first-serve basis.

Approximately four kilometers outside of Nazca are the Cantalloc Aqueducts. Built around AD 300 to 600, the aqueducts were designed to provide a year-round water source for the area. They conduct water from the mountain springs down to Nazca by means of underground canals.

Some of the Cantalloc Aqueducts are still used by farmers in the area.

Also of interest in the area is the Cemetery of Chauchilla, which contains Nazca remains and mummies.


Tourism Observer

PERU: Tourists Overwhelm Rainbow Mountain

Tourists gasp for breath as they climb for two hours to a peak in the Peruvian Andes that stands 5,000 meters above sea level.

They’re dead tired, but stunned by the magical beauty unfurled before them.

Stripes of turquoise, lavender and gold blanket what has become known as Rainbow Mountain, a ridge of multicolored sediments laid down millions of years ago and pushed up as tectonic plates clashed.

It’s only within the last five years that the natural wonder has been discovered by the outside world, earning it must-see status on Peru’s burgeoning backpacker tourist circuit.

You see it in the pictures and you think it’s photo shopped, but it’s real, says a tourist from Mexico.

The popularity of Rainbow Mountain, which attracts up to 1,000 tourists each day, has provided a much-needed economic jolt to this remote region populated by struggling alpaca herders.

Environmentalists, however, fear the tourists could destroy the treasured landscape, which is already coveted by international mining companies.

From the ecological point of view they are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, said Dina Farfan, a Peruvian biologist who has studied threatened wildlife in the area just a few hours from the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.

As proof, he points to a 4-kilometer dirt trail climbed by tourists to reach Rainbow Mountain that has been badly eroded in the last 18 months, scarring the otherwise pristine landscape.

A wetland once popular with migrating ducks has also been turned into a parking lot the size of five football fields that fills each morning with vans of mostly European and American visitors.

There are more serious threats, too. Camino Minerals Corp., a Canadian-based mining company, has applied for mining rights in the mineral-rich area that includes the mountain.

The company does not respond to a request by The Associated Press for comment on its plans.

Yet the flood of tourists has meant jobs and hard cash for the local Pampachiri indigenous community, which has struggled with high rates of alcoholism, malnutrition and falling prices of wool for their prized alpaca.

Many have abandoned nomadic life for dangerous gold mining jobs in the Amazon.

Now, they charge tourists $3 each to enter their ancestral land, netting the community roughly $400,000 a year – a small fortune that has triggered a tax battle with an impoverished, nearby municipality, which has seen no part of the windfall.

The surge in tourists also comes with a responsibility to be good stewards of the environment and their new guests, and Pampachiri community leader Gabino Huaman admits he is not sure they are ready to fully handle it.

Despite the challenges, roughly 500 villagers have returned in the last couple of years to take up their ancestral trade of transporting goods across the Andes.

The difference is that now they are hauling tourists on horseback.

It’s a blessing, says Isaac Quispe, 25, who quit his job as a gold miner after six of his camp mates were murdered.

He returned home and bought a horse that last year earned him $5,200 hauling tourists uphill.

The guides dress in colorful woolen clothes and wide-brimmed, traditional hats to lead the horses.

Farfan, the biologist, said he hopes the Pampachiri can learn from other sustainable tourism endeavors in Peru.

It was the success of one such project, in the nearby town of Chillca, that first put Rainbow Mountain on the map.

For much of the past decade, a group of shepherds had been quietly taking small groups of tourists to the mountain as part of a five-day hike around the fast-melting Ausangate glacier.

Over time, and thanks to the stunning photographs posted on the internet, the secret got out.

Today the shepherds of Chillca manage four lodges made of eucalyptus wood with a capacity for 16 tourists each. They are lighted only by candle, but have hot water.

Arriving guests are given shoes made of alpaca leather and wool.

At dawn, lodge-keeper Orlando Garcia gently awakens his guests with a love song performed in the Quechua language.

You always have to be guessing what the client wants, and take care of it so you don’t lose their smile, Garcia says.

We want them to feel the greatest comfort at almost 16,404 feet.



Tourism Observer

BRAZIL: About Brazil

FLAG OF BRAZIL
Explore the map of Brazil, the largest country in South America. The country got its name from the 'brazilwood' tree that was grown along the Brazil's coast. Ecuador and Chile are the only South American countries that do not share the border with Brazil. It is the only Lusophone (Portuguese speaking) country in America and also the largest in the world.

Brazil was inhabited by indigenous people since at least 8,000 years ago. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Brazil, which was discovered by Pedro Alvares Cabral in April 1500. He claimed the territory for the Kingdom of Portugal.

However, Portugal was preoccupied with lucrative trade with India, China, and Indonesia, so Brazil was mostly ignored from the time of discovery until about 1529. During this time, invasions by the French and Dutch were mostly unsuccessful. In the mid-16th century, Brazil was a major producer and exporter of sugar, leading to the import of slaves from Africa to meet labor requirement for the sugar industry.

During the Peninsular War in 1808, the Portuguese government fled Napoleon's invasion by moving its operations to Brazil, setting up the capital in Rio de Janeiro, which lasted for 13 years. When King Joao VI returned to Portugal, he left his son Pedro I to govern Brazil.

Pedro I led Brazil in a war of independence from Portugal in 1821, declaring independence and becoming Emperor Pedro I in 1822. The monarchy was overthrown in 1889, and the government was re-established as a Federal Republic. Throughout the following decades, Brazil was plagued by revolts and political instability, a period of military rule, before first civilian president got elected in 1985.

Brazil's economy suffered during these regimes with persistently high inflation rate. Notable leaders during this period include Getulio Vargas, who led first as a dictator and later elected as a president. Another leader of eminence was President Juscelino Kubitschek, who helped in reviving the economy. The country began the process of redemocratization in the 1980s.

In 1989, Fernando Collor de Mello became the first directly elected president since 1960, attempting to reform the economic system, but failing. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, elected in 1994, continued Collor's reforms, and introduced controversial reforms. More recently, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected to confront the wealth disparity. Dilma Vana Rousseff took over the presidency in 2011. Brazil's political scene has been fairly stable in recent years.

Geography

BRAZILIAN FOOD
Brazil is the largest country in South America, and the fifth largest country in the world. Located in eastern South America along the Atlantic Ocean, Brazil borders Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Because of its large size, Brazil is endowed with diverse landscapes. Though the country is mostly flat, there are mountain ranges and highlands, as well as coastal regions. Many rivers flow through Brazil, which has mostly tropical climate. The Amazon is the second largest river in the world that flows through this country. About 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest is within Brazil, which has suffered deforestation and drought in recent years.

Politics
Brazil is a Federal Democratic Republic, which is true for all levels of government: federal, states, and cities.The President of Brazil is both the chief of the state and the head of the government, who appoints the cabinet and the Ministers of State. Brazil has a bicameral National Congress, and its two branches are the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Brazil is divided into 26 states and one federal district, the capital, Brasilia. Each state enjoys a high degree of autonomy, with their own governors, legislators, and courts. The municipalities of Brazil also have autonomy, with their own tax collection, mayors, and legislators.

Travel

BRAZIL SAMBA DANCERS
Brazil sprawls over half of South America and is considered one of South America's main travel destinations. The country is distinctly known for its white-sand beaches, tropical islands, and spectacular sites like Atlantic Ridge Forest,secluded beaches of Fernando de Noronha, cascading waterfalls, and Amazon rainforest with untouched wilderness. One of the breathtaking and extraordinary natural wonders of the world is Iguazu Falls, which is situated between the border of Argentina and Brazil. It is wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara Falls. The most stunning of them all is the popular Devil's Throat, a long chasm with 14 different falls.

The Christ the Redeemer, is Corcovado is a major landmark of Brazil. This beautiful statue is made up of Soap stone and reinforced concrete. It is allowed to visit the top of the place to have an excellent view. Brasilia is the only city of the 20th century that was granted the status of World Heritage Site.

Major cities of Brazil such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia always brim with activities. From culinary delights to music and dancing, these big cities are unique and vibrant.

Education
The federal government handles the education system in Brazil through the Ministry of Education. While the standards are set nationwide, the municipalities of Brazil are responsible for carrying out the regulations.

Brazil's education system is structured into a few different levels, roughly based on the age of the students. Preschool is available for children under six years, but attendance at preschool is optional. Elementary school is required for children aged between six and 14, and is split into two sections: I and II. Elementary school covers the general education requirements, including Portuguese language, mathematics, science, history, and arts. The second-half of elementary education in Brazil usually incorporates a second language, such as English or Spanish.

Once students have finished their elementary education, they can continue to a school for secondary education. From this juncture, the focus shifts to the core curriculum, which includes science courses like Chemistry and Biology. Secondary school lasts around three years, and are only mandatory for students who move on to higher education.

Higher education in Brazil is similar to many other countries, with undergraduate and graduate levels and about four years of coursework to complete a bachelor's degree. Professional degrees such as engineering and medicine take longer, with five or six years of classes, and often requires an internship or fieldwork.

Trivia
- Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas.
- Brazil borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
- Brazil is one of three modern nations in the Americas (along with Mexico and Haiti) to have had an indigenous monarchy, which it had for almost 90 years.
- The Amazon rainforest in Brazil has the most diverse ecosystem in the world. There are an estimated 10 to 15 million species of insects in the country.
- Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).

BENIN: Ganvie Lake Village

In colonial Brazil, runaway slaves and free natives formed communities deep within the Amazon as a means of escaping the brutality of Portuguese slavery.

A combination of dense vegetation, waterways, and perilous wildlife and disease separated these societies from the slave traders who pursued them.

A small group of people outside of what is now Cotonou, Benin, took advantage of a different set of circumstances to evade capture by the Portuguese.

At the time, the powerful West-African Fon tribe was hunting and selling other native tribesman to the Portuguese. While there were few physical impediments protecting the ancestors of today's Ganvie village from outside attack, Fon religious practice forbade their raiders from advancing on any peoples dwelling on water, laying the groundwork for the Ganvie Lake Village.

Ganvie is a village of roughly 20,000 people that stands on stilts in the middle of Lake Nokoue. The founders of the village fled there to avoid Fon warriors, and in the roughly 500 years that have passed since, Ganvie has developed an intricate and prosperous culture within the constraints of life on the lake.

A school is the only one of Ganvie's 3,000 buildings that exists on land, although a cemetery mound is currently under construction.

The villagers of Ganvie travel almost exclusively by boat, and the few domesticated land-animals they maintain live on plots of grass that spring up from the water. Without a good supply of domesticated animals, Ganvie relies on a complicated network of underwater fencing to corral and farm various fish populations.

The village sits several miles from the nearest shoreline and is about a 4 hour journey from the capital. Ganvie is Africa's largest lake village.

ECUADOR: Visiting Ecuador After The 7.8 Earthquake

According to the Minister of Tourism, tourists can visit unaffected areas of the country with no concerns over security

A 7.8 Richter scale earthquake occurred on April 16 near the northwest coast of Ecuador, in the Manabí state region.

According to a release by the Ministry of Tourism, areas like Amazon, Andes, and Galapagos – airports, hotels, travel agencies and ground transportation – “remain open and fully operational.”

“Visitors traveling to Ecuador or planning a visit to unaffected areas can feel confident that their trip will not be impacted, and can feel secure to continue with their plans to visit the country,” Fernando Alvarado, Ecuador’s Minister of Tourism declared.

Infrastructure and services across the four main regions of the country after the shake are fully or partially operational, as follows:
Amazon – no changes, as all travel related features operate normally.

Andes – airports, ground transportation and hotels are fully operational. No major damage was reported in the area.
Coast – The airport and hotels in the city of Guayaquil remain open and fully operational.

The cities of Manta, Pedernales, Bahia de Caraquez, and Portoviejo were severely affected by the earthquake and have closed main roads and airports. It is recommended that tourists avoid this regions.

Galapagos Islands – not affected by the quake; tsunami alert was lifted. The area is considered to be safe.