Living in Peru : your everyday companion

New suspension bridge inaugurated in Colca Valley

The district of Coporaque, in the southern province of Caylloma (Arequipa), celebrated its 151st anniversary of political creation with the inauguration of the suspension bridge called "Huito" over the Sahuara river. It was built with financing of the Social Development and Compensation Fund Project (Foncodes). This suspension bridge was built to link the town centre to the southern bank of the Sahuara river in an effort to improve economic and social conditions of rural communities living near the Colca Valley. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


UNESCO backs Peruvian right over Machu Picchu’s relics housed in Yale

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative in Peru, Katherine Müller-Marin, said Peruvians have the right over Machu Picchu’s relics, which are currently housed in U.S. Yale University. The Peruvian Government asked U.S.-based Yale University to return all artifacts found at Machu Picchu in the early 1900s which according to the last inventory are 46,332 relics. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Municipality of Callao promotes free night tours

The Lighthouse at Callao, the Iglesia Matriz (considered Callao’s Cathedral) and San Felipe’s Fortress are some of Callao’s tourist attractions that have been visited by hundreds of tourists during night tours promoted by the municipality of this province. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


More tourists visit Machu Picchu since named World Wonder

Machu Picchu’s selection as one of the new Seven Wonders of the modern world in June 2007 has led to a 20 percent increase in the number of tourists visiting the Imperial city of Cusco so far this year, reported today the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur). Last year, about 900 thousand tourists visited Cusco, a 20 percent rise compared to 2006, said the head of Cusco - Dircetur, Jean Paul Benavente. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Two leading hotel chains to invest over $100 million in Peru

Two world’s largest hotel chains would enter the Peruvian market this year with investments exceeding 100 million dollars, the general manager of Peru’s Hotel Society (SHP) Tibisay Monsalve said today. “They are currently on the stage of negotiations, which includes the purchase of the lots and properties for further remodeling”, she stated to Andina news agency. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Río Shilcayo to open two tourist shelters in Amazonas

Río Shilcayo Hotel and Convention Center, located in Tarapoto (San Martín), plans to open two tourist shelters in the jungle province of Amazonas in the first half of 2009 as part of its expansion plan, said today the company’s general manager, Luis Dalmau. “The project was designed last year and we have created the scale models the following months”, stated Dalmau. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Junin to host first Tourist Fair of Pachamanca and Cuy

For promoting and reappraising the tourist attractions such as gastronomy, handicraft and milky products of the Chupaca province, the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur) in Junin with the support of the peasant community of Marcatuna are organizing the First Tourist Fair of Pachamanca (traditional Peruvian dish) and the Cuy (guinea-pig). (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Huamanga celebrates 468° anniversary of Spanish foundation

The beautiful city of Huamanaga celebrates today its 468° anniversary of Spanish foundation with a civil-military parade, an exhibition of Peruvian paso horses, and handmade, gastronomic and folkloric festivals. “Discover the charms of Huamanga”, is the name of the event which gathers the best craftsmen, shoemakers and talented chefs that will prepare the best of local gastronomy. The main promoter of this festival is the provincial municipality of Huamanga supported by “Construyendo Peru” government program and a series of NGOs. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

In an effort to promote tourism inside of Peru and encourage the country's residents to travel to different parts of the country, the government has declared another "long weekend" for Labor Day.

Over the past years it has become common practice for the government to declare an extra day-off when a holiday is on a Thursday or Tuesday.

If a holiday falls on a Thursday, like this year's Labor Day on May 1, the government adds an extra day-off, which in this case would be Friday.

If Labor Day had been on a Tuesday, then Peru's government would have declared Monday a holiday as well.

While these holiday's are officially declared for the country's public sector, private companies usually join in as well.

According to the government's supreme decree, it has been announced that this long weekend will be from Thursday May 1 to Sunday May 4.

Peru's Tourism Promotion Agency, PromPeru has suggested that residents in Lima travel to places such as Azpitia, where tourists can enjoy beautiful scenery and delicious shrimp.

Further to the south of Lima, PromPeru has suggested that tourists visit Lunahuaná, where one can go rafting, canoeing and visit places where wine and pisco are produced.

The possibilities in Peru are endless, said the tourism promotion agency.

Luxury hotel Las Casitas del Colca opened with $4.5 million investment

Global luxury hotel chain Orient- Express opened a Las Casitas del Colca, Las Casitas del Colca Hotel, a luxurious place in the heart of Colca Canyon, Peru one of the deepest canyons in the world. The hotel project required an investment of 4.5 million dollars. Orient Express-Peru corporate manager, Gonzalo Rojas, said that guests have been staying at the hotel since last Sunday (April 20th) and added that the hotel is fully booked until August this year. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


140 thousand tourists to visit Colca Valley in Arequipa this year

The Colca Valley, 164 km north of Arequipa, gets ready to receive some 140 thousand local and foreign tourists this year after the beginning of the peak season, said today the head of the Colca Autonomous Authority (Autocolca), Luis Talavera Suárez. “As part of the ongoing improvement efforts in the area, the road to the Colca Valley is currently being paved so we can handle the growing number of tourists”, he said. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Unesco mission arrives in Peru to assess conditions at Historical Center of Arequipa

A mission from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will be in Peru from April 20 to May 1, to assess the state of conservation at the Historical Center of Arequipa, one of its World Heritage sites. The mayor of Arequipa, Simón Balbuena, announced that a UNESCO mission will be monitoring the condition of cultural-historical monuments at the Main Square and its surroundings in Arequipa. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Cajamarca, Peru promoted as attractive tourist destination

As part of its tourism campaign “Don’t let routine trap you…escape the routine. Peru: too much to discover”, the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Agency (Promperu), will promote Cajamarca as an exciting tourist destination from April 20 to May 11. Julio Palacios Matute, head of the Tourism Department in Cajamarca, said this initiative will also benefit the cities of La Libertad, Junin and Ayacucho. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

One of Spain's largest tourism exhibitions, the SITC (Salon Internacional del Turismo en Catalunya), recognized the work Peruvian representatives did in promoting the country's treasures.

Peru was granted the "Best International Tourism Promotion" award once the convention came to an end, said PromPeru, the country's tourism promotion agency.

Event organizers awarded the display promoting Peru for its originality and the way in which the country was presented to the tourism show's participants.

Peruvian organizers were commended for the way in which tourists were involved in interactive activities while receiving information on the country's most popular destinations.

With dancers dressed in typical Peruvian clothes, raffles for Peruvian handcrafts as well as pisco and Peruvian food tasting, the delegation won the Andean country another tourism award.

The international tourism show, which brought 1,500 representatives from 75 countries, was held in Barcelona from April 17 - 20.

More Mexican tourists would visit Peru if trade deal is extended

The arrival of Mexican tourists to Peru would increase 10 percent this year, if the extension of the Economic Complementation Agreement (ECA) N° 8 between both nations is approved, said today the Mexican ambassador to Peru, Antonio Villegas. Another reason for this growth would be that Mexican tourists regard Peru as a great tourist spot because of the similar customs, infrastructure, culture, and gastronomy that both countries have. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peruvian cookbooks awarded in England

Once again, the Peruvian gastronomy has been recognized internationally due to its richness and innovative contribution to the world cooking. On this occasion, the 14th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2008, which was held last Sunday in London, honored the book “Panes del Peru. El encuentro del maiz y del trigo” (Bread of Peru. The encounter of corn and wheat) by Andrés Ugaz Cruz, with the highest award in its category. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Bandurria is the oldest Peruvian archaeological site, says expert

The archaelogical site of Bandurria dating back 3200 BC (located in the province of Huaura, Lima) is considered the origin of ancient American civilization, said archaeologist Alejandro Chu Barrera, director of the Archaeological Project of Bandurria. “Several radiocarbon datings done in the United states confirmed that Bandurria dates back from 3200 B.C., while Caral dates from 2900”, said the archaeologist. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Canadian hotel chains plan to invest in Peru

A group of important hotel businesses from Canada are interested in investing in Peru and study several projects in this sector, the ambassador of Canada to Peru Geneviéve des Riviéres said today. “I cant reveal the names of the hotels interested in Peru, but they have arrived since last year to know how the tourist industry is performing”, stated the ambassador to Andina news agency. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Amazing lighting system at Real Felipe Fortress in Callao to be inaugurated today

An amazing lighting system for the historical Real Felipe Fortress will be inaugurated this evening, as part of the tourist attractions in the port of Callao, to host the 32nd Tourism Working Group Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and the 5th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting & Related Meetings, being held in Lima. The opening ceremony will be carried out in the front of the Real Felipe Fortress at 18:30 hours (23:30 GMT), and it will be lead by the mayor of Callao, Félix Moreno. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Promperu to promote receptive tourism with international media

The Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Agency (Promperu) will promote the country as a tourist destination through the publication of articles in international media. This strategy aims to intensify the promotion of Peru globally as well as to increase the number of receptive tourists. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Promperu to promote inbound tourism at Mexican fair

The Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Agency (Promperu) will participate in the International Travel Fair ARLAG 2008 to be held at Guadalajara city in Mexico, in order to promote Peru’s image abroad. The ARLAG is the Airline Representatives Association of Guadalajara, and will hold around 286 exhibitors in a 5,100-square meter area. It is expected that this fair will be attended by 1,1000 visitors. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Peruvian citizens wishing to obtain a passport to travel abroad will now be able to do so for a much cheaper price.

According to a supreme decree promulgated by Peru's president Alan Garcia, two of the three fees that had to be paid to obtain the document have been eliminated, thus, reducing the price of a new passport to 37.05 soles.

In the case that travelers want to renew their passports, the new fee will be 33.36 soles. According to Peru's Immigration Services, passports are to be valid for five years.

As soon as the regulation is placed into force, citizens will no longer have to pay a 29-sol service or a 15-dollar processing fee.

These fees were eliminated with the help of Peru's Supreme Court, which established in January that the extra expenses were unconstitutional.

The Supreme Decree also establishes that the ministry of the interior, through the country's immigration services, is responsible for all of the paperwork needed to be done for the acquisition and renewal of a Peruvian passport.

The funds raised will be administered by the ministry of the interior to continue providing citizens with new and renewed passports.

Andean Railways to offer attractive rates in Machu Picchu train route

The Andean Railways Corporation, new company authorized to operate in the Machu Picchu train route, plans to offer a "social service" for the different market sectors interested in visiting one of the new seven wonders of the world. Andean Railways’ General Manager, Maria del Carmen Leyva, said that the company wants to lease the traction and rolling stock from Ferrocarril Trasandino (Fetransa), the current leaseholder, in order to offer new daily services. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Prices in luxury hotels to increase 20% next year

As part of a strategy to counter the weakening of the U.S. dollar, hotel rates in most five and four star hotels in Peru will increase by 20 percent next year, estimated Casa Andina, a Peru's leading hotel chain. In the first three months of the year, the U.S. dollar has declined 8.2 percent on a trade-weighted basis against major currencies of industrialized countries. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Spain’s AB hotel to launch "old mansion" project in 30 days

Spain’s hotel chain Alojamientos Barcelona (AB Hotel) expects to launch its first hotel project in Peru within the next four weeks, announced today the company's representative in Peru, Marc Roca. AB hotels is interested in purchasing an old mansion known as Hospicio Ruiz Dávila, which is owned by the Charity Association of Lima and located in front of the mansion of “Trece Monedas” (thirteen coins) in Lima downtown. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


More Brazilian tourists to visit Peru in mid term

In the medium term there would be a greater demand from Brazilian tourists for Peruvian destinations, due to the Interoceanic Highway, the Tourism vice minister Pablo López de Romaña said today. He said that Brazil has the fastest-growth demand for Peruvian tourist destinations which complements the traditional tourist demand from Europe and the United Sates. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Peruvian pisco at ProWein 2008 attracted interest from Nordic countries

Peruvian pisco companies had a successful participation at the ProWein 2008 International Trade Fair, Europe’s most important international wine and spirits exhibition held from March 16 - 18 in Dusseldorf (Germany), attracting great interest from Nordic countries. The markets that showed greater interest for Pisco and pisco-based drinks were those of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Holland and Poland all of them with vast knowledge and tradition in alcoholic beverages. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru is becoming a unique tourist destination, says minister Aráoz

Peru’s minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz, assured that Peru is becoming a special, different and authentic tourist destination which is why the further development of this sector in Peru represents a priority objective. “Peru is competing against important traditional destinations. For instance, German travelers consider Peru as one of the places they are willing to visit in the next seven years”, she said. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Los Girasoles Hotel to invest over US$ 500 thousand in enlargement

Three-star hotel Los Girasoles, located in Miraflores, will invest more than 500 thousand dollars to enlarge its capacity due to the demand for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) to be held in Peru this year. Los Girasoles general manager Ana María Valdetaro said that this enlargement will include the construction of 23 additional rooms. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)