Living in Peru : your everyday companion

The beauty of the coastline south of Lima is undeniable. Driving through Chorrilos on the Malecon  C Montarela and going further south along the Paseo Billinghurst you will find vistas that delight the eye, as well as the sounds of the ocean’s waves crashing on the rocky coast that will sooth away the stress of a busy day. Regardless of the weather, this drive will provide you with ample photo opportunities and nice pull off areas to take them from. Besides driving through this area I saw a group of people on bikes taking this route and one lone young lady jogging along the coastal highway.

Nestled high in the Andes at an altitude of 2350m, and overshadowed by a 300m peak, lies an Old Mountain. For years, the morning mists settled on this ancient site keeping the complex beneath it shrouded in mystery. Overgrown with dense vegetation, it remained hidden from the outside world until 1911, when an archaeologist named Hiram Bingham ‘officially’ discovered the site. “Old Mountain” was home to the ancient Inca Fortress, better known today as Machu Picchu.

Thought to have been built by the Incan ruler, Pachacuti Inca Yapancui, the sanctuary of Machu Picchu overlooks the deep canyon of the Urubamba River, and covers an area of 5 square kilometers. It is part of the larger Machu Picchu Heritage site, spanning an area of  32,600 hectares and is home to numerous archaeological wonders and a myriad of magnificent flora and fauna.

by
Rodney L Dodig

Arequipa, the White City, is another of the many must see places when visiting Peru. The city is surrounded by majestic volcanoes, fertile fields and minor canyons. On arriving in Arequipa you are struck by the dichotomy of a historical city center surrounded by a modern growing district capital. It is said by many that the old city is reminiscent of Seville in Spain and I must agree.

At the edge of Lake Titicaca there is a hotel that not only offers the maximum level of comfort to its visitors but also offers an experience that allows you to discover all its attractions. Welcome to Titilaka.

In the middle of the plateau of Collao, the “rock puma,” or Titicaca, if we translate from Quechua the name of the highest navigable lake in the world (at 3, 810 meters above sea level), lies immobile, yet gives off high levels of energy. It is situated between Puno and Bolivia. And what is a better way to understand the strength that surrounds this natural area, and that converts it into a protagonist of the Altiplano, than to spend time observing it.

Dare yourself to be imprisoned by its waters, the landscapes and those attractions that fill Lake Titicaca with magic. Dare yourself to complete the experience with personalized expeditions and luxurious attention. Welcome to the mouth of the Puma, or Titilaka.

photos by
Julián Igue

On Sunday, September 6th, Miraflores came alive with the "Corso de Wong" (Lima's Independence Day Parade). The event had been scheduled to coincide with Lima's Independence day (the 28th of July), but was postponed due to concerns of AH1N1. The massive crowd that was there to witness the spectacle didn't seem to mind the change of dates in the least, and they all waved their Peruvian flags with proud enthusiasm. There was plenty to see as well as the parade marched on for several hours featuring great music, great dancing, and tremendous displays. Below are some pictures from the event, which is just one more reason to plan your trip to Peru!

Cajamarca may easily convert itself in to the ideal weekend destination, due to the popular “Baños del Inca” (Incan Baths). The Baños del Inca, as their name suggests, are natural thermal baths located just six kilometers east of the city of Cajamarca. The Baños del Inca have suites that include rooms with hydro-massage, Jacuzzis filled with the thermal bathwater, and pools. 

If you travel there from the 5th to the 7th of September, you will be just in time to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the creation of the district of Baños del Inca. The celebration will honor the town’s traditions of conservation and strict management of water resources.

Time passes slowly in the green fields of Pozuzo, fields which are planted with wooden houses, orchids, and sleepy milk cows. In town, grandmas still prepare srukalas (a typical dessert) with flour and bananas, while their grandchildren form cheeses and bottle jars of honey.

But this is not only a calm German-Austrian colony in the central jungle of Peru. This town, full of silent and prosperous organized streets, lives together with the unexplored territory, a virgin jungle full of frenetic rhythms and adrenaline. The town we are talking about is Yanachaga Chemillén, one of the forests with the greatest biodiversity on the planet. Yanachaga flaunts the highest category of an ecological reserve: the “Parque Nacional.” But, different from Manu (Yanachaga’s twin between Madre de Dios and Cusco), Yanachaga has a low profile, which has maintained its fragile ecosystem far from the effects of tourism.

El Pueblo Resort and Convention Center now offers their visitors a unique experience close to the capital of Peru. This traditional hotel, located only 45 minutes away from Lima, has family packages which include lodging, food, drinks, entertainment and much more. “The best advantage is that Peruvians have access to “everything included” without having to leave the country. This is very original, because it this type of offer is generally only offered by beach hotels and not by those in the sierra,” explains Juan Martín Aguirre, General Manager of El Pueblo.

Mylene d'Auriol
Taken from El Comercio

by
The Iquitos Times

Rafting Club, based in Iquitos, Peru, invites rafters, canoeists, rowers, paddlers and adventurers from all over the world to compete in this year’s event. The 3 day race will start in the town of Nauta on Friday, 25th September 2009, and finish in the City of Iquitos on Sunday, 27th September 2009. Each 4 person crew will paddle a raft they built themselves the day before the race (24th September). Each raft will be constructed of lightweight balsawood logs which will be provided. Then the teams will raft down the mighty Amazon River for 112 miles. The winning crews will show excellence in raft construction, teamwork, stamina and knowledge of currents and rivers.