Peru Travel Deals

Archive for the ‘Peru Holiday’ Category

Technorati Tags: Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Huaraz, Lima, Machu Picchu Tour, Peru, Peru Travel Deals, Puno, the Sacred Valley, Trujillo

Dos Manos Peru
Based in Cusco, the former capital of the Incas we have a direct link to the diverse aspects of the culture and the history of our Country — and the best local contacts.

Our link URL is http://www.dosmanosperu.com/

Travel Links Directory – Hotels Flights Destinations
Directory of travel related web sites with links to – flights hotels vacations destination guides travel agents agencies and travel information.

Our link URL is http://www.travellinksdirectory.com

PERU TRAVEL INFORMATION

Description: PERU ADVENTURE TOURS is authorized adventure tour operator by the Peruvian government. PERU ADVENTURE TOURS features a variety of private and luxury excursion all over Peru; Peru Cycling, Peru Trekking, Peru Climbing, Peru Horseback Riding, Peru Birding, Peru Rent A Car, Peru 4×4 Tours, leisurely jungle tours, private and backpacker Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Salkantay trek, Lares Llama Trek, Ausangate Trek, Trekking to Choquequirao, Trek in the Colca and Cotahuasi Canyon and more amazing outdoor activities on the high Andes of South America.

Our link URL is  http://www.peruadventurestours.com

Email: info(at)peruadventurestours.com

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The links to the companies above are for reference.  We are not personally familiar with all of these companies, so further research may be required before using their services.

Technorati Tags: Peru Links, Peru Travel

Helicopters ferried out the last tourists stranded near Machu Picchu on Friday, leaving the country to contemplate a prolonged shutdown of its most important tourist site. Some 3,900 tourists and residents were flown out of the tiny mountain village of Machu Picchu Pueblo this week after mudslides and torrential rains on Sunday destroyed sections of the railway that is the only form of transit to the village, which is below the Machu Picchu citadel. The remaining 1,277 travelers were evacuated Friday, a police colonel, Santiago Vizcarra, said. The railway’s operator, Perurail, said that it would take months to repair the line.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NYTimes.com
Published: January 29, 2010

Technorati Tags: machu picchu, machu picchu pueblo, perurail

No one seemed too bothered about the early start (4am) on the final day.  We were all too excited and had been unable to sleep properly anyway – our dreams of seeing Machu Picchu were about to be realised.  For almost the first time in four days it was not raining and the sky was full of bright stars.  It was only now that it became apparent how many other people had been actually walking the Inca Trail.  Joined by extra groups who were on a shortened two-day Inca Trail there suddenly appeared to huge numbers of walkers heading towards Machu Picchu.  Looking in front and behind us along the path was a torch lit procession snaking along the side of the mountain through the woods.  We walked in almost complete silence for a couple of hours, getting more and more excited.  The hair on our heads stood on end from the anticipation, and not the fact that it had not been washed for 4 days.  Heading towards Intipunku, the Sun Gate, we became agitated by slower walkers.  As the sky became lighter and lighter, the whole valley below us was revealed to us as the sun started to rise from behind a mountain in the distance and we were anxious we were going to miss our first view as the sun rose up over Machu Picchu.  We virtually ran up the steep steps to the Sun Gate.  As we walked around the corner and looked down on the ancient citadel, our hearts dropped.  The valley in front was filled with a mass of swirling cloud.  We tried not to be disappointed, but after 4 days of walking in the rain to be greeted with fog was not what we had planned on.

Joe, an American in the group, chuckled to himself.  He had not really been prepared for the walk, wearing jeans and trainers that got soaking wet on the first day.  His attempts to carry all his kit did not last and he had resorted to hiring a porter by day two.  He caught a cold and looked like he had not enjoyed the trek.  It was also very disturbing when he spoke, because his slow drawl sounded just like the character played by Billy Bob Thornton in the Oscar winning film, Sling Blade.  At any moment we expected him to say, “Ah, Huh, I Rekkun”.  If he could see the funny side of the situation then we had no reason not to either.  There was nothing else we could do about it, but laugh with him.

   We hung around at the Sun Gate, waiting for the fog to clear, but it was not looking very hopeful.  Our guide told us that he probably only sees Machu Picchu from that spot once or twice a year.  That is something they don’t bother to tell you in the guidebooks or at the tour agencies.  Of course we had to take some photos, it was after all our first view of Machu Picchu.  We thought we might be able to use it for a game, a bit like pin the tail on the donkey.  As we descended into the clouds we glanced behind us to admire the valley and mountains from where we had come from which were now bathed in early morning sunlight.

After 30 minutes walking down through the fog we finally reached the photographers vantage point, known as the ‘Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock’.  If you have ever received a postcard of Machu Picchu, it is likely that it was taken from this spot.  The fog started to lift and we got our first glimpse of the ruins.  There were the obligatory wisps of clouds clinging to the hillside making it looked really mystical.  An ideal photo opportunity, the only noise was from the clicking of cameras.

Maybe it was the angle that the photos had been taken at, but we imagined the ruins to be a lot bigger.  It is the location of the ruins that make them so important and not it’s size.  The beautiful natural setting of Machu Picchu at 2,430 m above sea level, set amongst tropical mountain forest, is extraordinary.  The site lies in the middle of a saddle shaped ridge between two mountains.  No one knows what the Incas called their city, which has adopted its name from the mountain that rises behind the ruins, Machu Picchu (literally meaning ‘Ancient Peak’).  This mountain is just one of four ancient peaks that surround the ruins, the other three being Huayna Picchu, Putukusi and Pumasillo.  From the centre of the site, each peak points towards a specific direction, North, South, East or West.  Blending in naturally with the landscape, its giant walls, terraces and ramps could easily be mistaken for the rock escarpments that it is built on.

It is easy to understand why these ruins went undiscovered for so long, it’s remote location and its concealment ensuring that the Spanish did not know of its existence.  If they ever did know, it was probably too inaccessible for them to have bothered with.  For whatever reason, it luckily escaped the looting, plundering, burning and destruction that most Inca sites were subjected to during the Spanish Conquest.  As a result, this has become the most significant and famous archaeological site in South America.

It was not until 1911, when a Yale University expedition led by a chap called Hiram Bingham, that the ruins at Machu Picchu were ‘rediscovered’.  Bingham paid a local Quechua man one sol (things haven’t changed much since 1911), who told him that on top of the hill, out of sight was an archaeological ruin.  He assumed it to be the site he was looking for, Vilcabamba (one of the last Inca strongholds), and so he actually discovered Machu Picchu purely by mistake.  The site was totally overgrown with vegetation and although it had been abandoned by the Inca centuries before, a couple of local peasant families were living there.

The search for Vilcabamba continued for many years, until 1964 when Gene Savoy (an American archaeologist) unearthed the site at Espiritu Pampa.  Hiram Bingham had already made it there not long after he had discovered Machu Picchu but had left it alone thinking he had already found the last Incan stronghold.  In his excitement he forgot to log the exact location, and therefore it became ‘lost’ again.  More recently, Peruvian and British explorers have discovered a number of other lost Inca cities all in the same area.  Lying only 40 kilometres from Machu Picchu are one of these sites, Corihuayrachina.    These ruins are even more sophisticated than Machu Picchu, suggesting a well-developed settlement.  Included in the site are ruins of circular homes, storehouses, cemeteries, funeral towers, roadways, waterworks, farming terraces, a dam and a truncated pyramid.

Obviously, there has been a lot of archaeological exploration since the discovery of Machu Picchu and new things are always being excavated.  In total, about 150 skeletal remains have been exhumed; the vast majority of these are females, with only about 20 males and four children.  The large number of female remains was quite curious and has led to various theories, the most popular being that the last inhabitants of Machu Picchu were women, left by the men who had gone off to fight the Spanish, selected to stay to continue important ritual ceremonies.  The theory of it being a glorified brothel is a great suggestion but, unfortunately, very unlikely.

The mystery surrounding Machu Picchu and its precise function is one of is greatest attractions and huge numbers of people believing it was a particularly important centre of worship and ceremonies come searching for a spiritual experience.  Maybe it was the two dogs copulating in the main grassy plaza that distracted us, but it did not really feel that it was a particularly sacred place.  Neither of us felt compelled to sit down and meditate, or take off our clothes and run around naked for that matter.

The majority of the site is split between agricultural terracing and buildings to accommodate about 500 people.  Even though there are a number of temples and the usual stone alter that is illuminated by the sun during one of the Solstices, most of the buildings are very functional consisting of not just houses, but also workshops, storage areas and baths.  Built at the height of the Inca Empire it was probably one of the most amazing urban centres, not the biggest, but certainly one of the most dramatic.

Machu Picchu is an exceptionally well-preserved archaeological site, with some fantastic granite stonework, locking together like a huge jigsaw puzzle (one stone had 34 interlocking angles cut into it).  Anyone who has ever worked with granite will know that it is not only a very heavy stone, but also very tough and is takes a great deal of skill to cut it accurately.  There are 3 granite quarries within the site, which must have been working full time to provide a constant supply of stone during the city’s construction.

 Our guided tour only took an hour and a half and by 10 am we were left to explore on our own.  Vicky decided to climb up Huayna Picchu (Younger or Lesser Peak).  This is the hill that is the backdrop for most of the photos taken of Machu Picchu and is almost 400 metres higher than the ruins.  We had been warned it was not the easiest hills to climb and those with a fear of heights, including Caius decided to give it a miss.  The route clings to the side of the mountain and there is an almost vertical stairway of about 50 metres carved into the rocky face.  It was not too scary and there was a handrail much of the way to support and pull yourself up.  The final climb to the top was with the aid of a rope, which someone had apparently recently misjudged and had tumbled to their death.  The panoramic view from the top was worth the tiring climb, with Machu Picchu, the Urubamba Canyon and the snow-capped peaks in the distance.  There were too many people hanging around at the top, determined to try and find the highest and most precarious rock to conquer.  The walk back down was a little more disconcerting and from the top of some mini terraces we realised how steep it really was.  The set of tiny steps we had come up now seemed even smaller and steeper and we realised there was nothing at the bottom to stop us from falling right to the bottom if we had slipped.

By the time we had reached the bottom, the ruins were crawling with tourists.  Caius had managed to spend a relaxing hour wandering around before the train from Cusco had arrived.  Even though there are restrictions on the number of people walking the Inca Trail, there are none on the number that can visit the ruins.  From a height it looked like someone had been painting the ruins in splodges of white, blue, red, green, yellow and black.  What we were actually looking at was a load of tourists wearing ponchos, shuffling around in their organised tour.

It had been a good idea to walk in shorts, while it was raining, but now we were lower down and it was warmer we were the prime targets for sand flies again.  We were too engrossed in the excitement of going to Machu Picchu we had forgotten to put on any mosquito guard that morning.  They were particularly attracted to our bare legs, which were soon covered in small, weeping wounds.  Our early start had been worth it, but sharing the ruins with a couple of thousand other people (and sand flies) was not enjoyable, so we made our escape just as it started to rain – again.

Article taken from Inca Hoots by Caius Simmons & Vicky Brewis.

Technorati Tags: Inca Trail Peru, Machu Picchu Tours, Peru Holiday, Peru Travel Deals, Peru Vacations

 

 

(Lonely Planet CUSTOM Guide)

 

Sorry the button is so big!

The trekking in Peru is world-class you can camp below tropical mountains, reach Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail or lesser-known routes, and descend into one of the planets deepest canyons in Arequipa. If you’re looking for one guide to help plan your trip and your trekking in Peru, this book is for you. It combines in-depth trekking information from our 2003 Trekking in the Central Andes guide, with detailed travel information from our 2007 Peru guide.

Technorati Tags: Arequipa, Central Andes, Cusco, Huaraz, Machu Picchu Tours, Peru

 

 

These travel writings capture the excitement and spirit of the South American Andes.

Our journey starts at the equator and takes us south through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Wherever possible we leave the beaten track to get a true feel of the cultural, geographical and historical diversities of this inspirational continent.

Highlights include a tour of the mysterious Galapagos Islands, walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a humbling trip to a working mine (in Bolivia) which has claimed the lives of millions and being robbed at gunpoint.

Technorati Tags: Inca Trail Peru, Machu Picchu Tours, Peru Travel Deals

Technorati Tags: Peru Holiday, Peru Travel, Peru Travel Deals

1. Be flexible with when you can travel.  If you can travel Monday-Thursday, you may be able to get a cheaper flight.  Non stop flights to Lima are the most expensive. Breaking up the long flight with a connecting flight (eg Quito in Ecuador) may save you money.

2. Booking flights on-line generally saves you money.

3. Last minute travel deals are becoming increasingly scarce.  It now seems that booking early ensures you get the best deals.

4. Book your travel for off-peak season (avoiding, for example, the Northern Hemispheres key summer holiday periods) to find exceptional travel deals and getaways.  

5. Travelling on holidays, such as Christmas Day, New Years Eve or July Fourth could save you quite a bit of money, as people will generally be reluctant to travel on these days.

6.  Compare prices from several airlines to determine which will offer the best price or provide specific travel deals.

Listed below are the main Airlines and Flight Agents operating flights to Peru.

Flights from the US and Canada to Peru

Airlines with flights from the US and Canada

Air Canada www.aircanada.com

American Airlines www.aa.com

Continental Airlines www.continental.com

Delta Airlines www.delta.com

LAN www.lan.com 

United Airlines www.ual.com

Flight Agents

STA Travel www.sta-travel.com

www.cheaptickets.com

www.exitotravel.com

www.travelcuts.com (from Canada) 

Flights from the UK

Airlines with flights from the UK

KLM www.klm.com  (flights via Amsterdam)

Iberia www.iberia.com (flights via Madrid)

Lufthansa www.lufthansa.co.uk 

American Airlines www.aa.com (via USA)

Continental Airlines www.continental.com  (via USA)

Delta Airlines www.delta.com  (via USA)

United Airlines www.unitedairlines.co.uk  (via USA)

Flight Agents

Bridge the World www.bridgetheworld.com

STA Travel www.statravel.co.uk

Trailfinders www.trailfinders.co.uk

Journey Latin America www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk

Travel Bag www.travelbag.com   

Flights from Australia and New Zealand

Airlines with flights from Australia and New Zealand

Aerolineas Argentinas www.aerolineas.com.au

Air New Zealand www.airnz.com

LAN www.lan.com 

Quantas www.quantas.com.au (Australia) or www.quantas.co.nz (New Zealand)

United Airlines www.unitedairlines.com.au (Australia) or www.unitedairlines.co.nz (New Zealand)

Technorati Tags: Peru Travel, Peru Travel Deals

Crossing the border from Ecuador into Peru is not the most pleasant of experiences.  There were plenty ‘words of wisdom’ concerning how to, where to, how not to and where not to cross the border into Peru, from Ecuador.

We crossed by taking the bus from Loja to Piura.  The journey was no different than any other we had taken, but for some reason it seemed longer, hotter and more uncomfortable than any we had been on so far.

The bus was particularly knackered, the brakes emitting a horrible burning smell every time we went down a hill and there was a disconcerting knocking noise when we went over about 35mph.  The noise was so bad, even the driver got out to investigate where it was coming from.  Apparently one of the wheels looked a bit loose, but the driver didn’t seem overly concerned.

The touts who got on the bus were even more annoying than usual.  At one point there were 21 vendors on the bus, a bit of an overkill, but hilarious to watch all the same.  We could have easily eaten a four-course meal if we had bought something from everyone. 

The bus stops regularly at military checkpoints, where the bus stops around until either our, or the bus drivers, documentation were verified.  It didn’t quite make sense that the military were mostly interested in European and American documentation, rather than the Peruvian, as it is the Peruvians who are their main threat.  In the past Ecuador has lost quite a bit of its territory to Peru and they were at war together as recently as 1999.  Tensions are still fairly high, and the army actively protects its borders, especially as there are oil and gas fields along the boundary.

Perhaps it was our nervous expectation of what Peru had in store for us that made the journey drag on.  Whatever it was it didn’t make the bus go any faster and it took us over five hours to reach the border town of Macara.

There were a couple of other tourists on the bus, and this was also their first border crossing in South America.  No one really knew what to expect, but it wasn’t very difficult to work out.  The Macara – La Tina border crossing consisted of a few buildings, which house the Ecuadorian and Peruvian immigration and customs officials.  A wide river separates the two countries and the bus driver dumped us at the end of the bridge, promising he would wait for us at the other side.

The last problem we had with the crossing was the mosquitoes.  Dusk was not the best time of day to be standing next to a river, filling in immigration forms, when all our insect repellent and long sleeved tops were on a bus parked up the road.  The mosquitoes were particularly enjoying the fresh blood, and we were slowly being eaten to bits.  Luckily the formalities were quite straightforward, taking no more than ten minutes to cross over the bridge.  Desperate to get back to the safety of the bus, we almost forgot to remember the fact that we had just left Ecuador and arrived in a new country, Peru.  

Technorati Tags: Ecuador, Macara, Peru, Peru Vacations, Piura

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