Thursday, July 23, 2009

Aranwa to invest US$36.5 million in five new hotels till 2013

Over the next five years, Aranwa Hotels, Resorts & Spas will invest US$ 36.5 million in opening five new hotels in the southern Peruvian regions of Cusco, Arequipa, Puno and Ica, the company's operations vice president Gabriel Alvarez announced Thursday.
“The company aims to operate seven hotels in the next five years, all with a very marked health and spa concept which differs us from current market options,” he said.
Alvarez said that the company will build a five-star hotel in the city of Cusco, which will have 41 rooms and require an investment of eight million dollars.
Aranwa will also construct a four-star resort in the Block C of El Chaco – La Puntilla, Paracas (Ica), which would start operations in 2011.
In 2012, the hotel chain will focus on the remodeling and expansion of Casona Rickttes, located in the Andean city of Arequipa, where it will build its second five-star hotel with a nine-million-dollar investment.
Aranwa's 2012 plans also include the construction of a resort in the Coporaque town in Caylloma Province, near the Colca Valley. The 60-room project will require an investment of six million dollars.
The company's last project in this 2009-2013 period will be a 50-room resort in the Puno town of Juli, which will entail an investment of seven million dollars.
Aranwa Hotel Resort Spa is a hotel chain linked to Peruvian Tours Agency (PTA), a company belonging to Complejo Hospitalario San Pablo (CHSP).

Source: Andina

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Peru launches Lima-Huancayo rail route tourist guide

Peruvian tourism officials have published the country's first rail route guide called “Lima-Huancayo Train: Adventure through the Andes,” in a bid to promote train trips through Rimac and Mantaro Valleys in central Peru.
The document describes the 332-km trip between Lima and Huancayo, departing from Desamparados Train Station in the Historic Center of Lima to the heart of Huancayo in Junin region.
The guide also features the most important tourist attractions located across Mantaro Valley and its four surrounding provinces: Huancayo, Concepcion, Chupaca and Jauja.It also includes rail, geographic, tourist, historic and/or mining aspects, highlighting the most popular tourist spots such as stations, bridges, zigzags, tunnels and high-Andean zones, among other attractions.
The guide is available both in Spanish and English and can be purchased on the Lima-Huancayo tourist train or ordered by phone.The guide, produced by Koki Zelaya Alva and Jose Parra Pinto, was sponsored by the Municipality of Santiago de Surco, Ferrocarril Central Andino S.A, Railroad Development Corporation and other local organizations.

Source: Andina


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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Amazon River on New 7 Wonders of Nature top list

The Amazon Rainforest/River has been included in the list of 28 official finalist candidates as the third phase of the New Seven Wonders of Nature online campaign is now underway.
Other natural wonders in this selection are Angel Falls, Bay of Fundy, Black Forest, Bu Tinah Shoals, Cliff of Moher, Dead Sea, El Yunque, Galapagos, Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeita Grotto, Jeju Island, Kilimanjaro, Komodo, Maldives, Masurian Lake District, Matterhorn/Cervino, Milford Sound, Mud Volcanoes, Puerto Princesa Underground River, Sundarbans, Table Mountain, Uluru, Vesuvius and Yushan.Competition organizers expect more than a billion people to participate in the online voting, which will continue into 2011, when the finalists by categories will be announced.A panel of experts chose the finalists among the 77 nominees that gained the most votes in an early round of polling. People had suggested 261 landmarks in countries all over the world.
The panel chaired by Federico Mayor, former chief of UNESCO, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, picked the finalists depending on geographical balance, diversity and the importance to human life.
The Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), though the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres), located within nine nations: Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana; Suriname and Venezuela.
The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.
The Amazon River is the largest river in the world by volume, with a total flow greater than the top ten rivers worldwide combined.
It accounts for approximately one-fifth of the total world river flow and has the biggest drainage basin on the planet. Not a single bridge crosses the Amazon.


Source Andina


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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Peru requests Unesco to declare Qhapaq Ñan a World Cultural Heritage

The final technical report aimed to include Qhapaq Ñan (Great Inca Road) on the list of Unesco World Heritage sites, will be submitted to Unesco in 2010, said the director of Peru’s National Institute of Culture (INC), Cecilia Bakula.
"The complete technical report would be submitted next year, so Unesco committee meeting can declare it World Heritage Site in 2011," said the owner.
Qhapaq Ñan constituted the principal north-south highway of the Inca Empire traveling 6000 km along the spine of the Andes. It allowed the Inca to control his Empire that covered a vast region stretching from the south of Colombia passing through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and northwest Argentina to reach Santiago de Chile.
According to Bakula, a meeting of National Committees has been held to consolidate the nominating process of Qhapaq Ñan as World Cultural Heritage and establish the guidelines of the technical report.
The event, scheduled for July 20-23, will be attended by representatives of Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina , Bolivia and Chile. Four stretches of road have been identified in Peru, as well as two other binational paths shared with Bolivia and Ecuador.Different organizations such as Unesco and IUCN have been working to protect this ancient route, in collaboration with the governments and communities of the 6 countries through which the Great Inca Road passes.
The objective of Unesco is to assist the countries that share this common heritage in a pioneering project: the preparation of a unique candidature to inscribe the Qhapaq Ñan as a
World Heritage Site.

Source: Andina



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Peru offers wonderful destinations on National Holidays

Peru is a mega-diverse country with wonderful destinations to meet the expectations of the most demanding tourist. So, don't waste your time, take your bags and choose among the several places you can enjoy in these National holidays.
Magic, sand, waves and relaxation summarize the feeling of the beaches located in the north department of Piura and Tumbes, north coast of Peru.
From the warm beaches of Zorritos (90 kms north from Mancora) to the surfer beaches of Lobitos (80 kms south of Mancora) you'll find beautiful beaches, perfect for swimming and relaxation, many with good tourist services.Incredible waves for surfing and good wind for kitesurfing and windsurfing, and amazing marine life, are perfect for those who practice diving and fishing.
Mancora and its surrounding beaches have changed little by little into the most attractive beach destination for tourists from all corners of the planet.You will find accommodations, ranging from 25 soles (8.3 dollars) to 150 soles (43.3 dollars) on the place.
Don't forget the gastronomy. Ceviche de Mero, perfect barrels, sun and cold beer are the words that we hear daily from Peruvian tourists (mostly from Lima) as well as foreigners who are impressed by the friendly and down-to-earth people of northern Peru.
Southern Peru In the south, Arequipa is one of the most visited places. Its historic center, built in volcanic sillar rock, represents an integration of European and native building techniques and characteristics, expressed in the admirable work of colonial masters and Criollo and Indian masons.
Air ticket prices from Lima to Arequipa range from 250 dollars to 308 dollars, but remember that prices may go up on these days. You can also experience the beauty of one of the deepest canyon in the world. The Colca Canyon and Valley, its gorgeus landscapes and beautiful flora and fauna will surround you.
Tours include visits to main sites in Arequipa city and Mummy Juanita museum. Cusco is a must for travellers. It offers an incredible array of attractions and activities, and it is very worthy of being the main tourist destination in Peru. The city is located in beautiful mountain scenery, and offers a wonderful combination of colonial Peru and the Inca heritage of the country. The nearby archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman, Pisac and Ollantaytambo are some of the most interesting in the country, and the fabled lost city of Machu Picchu is every bit as beautiful and mystical as the famed images suggests. The Cusco area is also home to one of the most famous hikes in the world: the Inca Trail. This walk through Inca settlements offers some stunning scenery, rising through the Andes before descending into the cloud forest and arriving, magically, at Machu Picchu.

Source: Andina



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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Cusco among world's most popular tourist destinations

The Andean city of Cusco in southeastern Peru was voted the world's 16th most popular tourist destination in a 2009 online poll conducted by Travel+Leisure magazine.
Popular destinations such as Barcelona, London and even Paris did not reach the list of 20 top cities. Indian city Udiapur led this year's list, pushing 2008's winner Bangkok to the third place.
"For the first time, Udaipur, India is named World’s Best City, displacing last year’s winner Bangkok, in Travel+Leisure’s fourteenth annual World’s Best Awards readers’ survey", said a press release.Cusco is surrounded by formidable Inca buildings, palaces made with stones and amazing fortresses as it was the ancient capital of the vast Inca empire.The magazine, which conducted its
poll between January-March 2009, is also running a rating of the world's best hotels, top islands and top large-ship cruise lines. A festive ceremony will be held next week in New York honoring the winners.
Newcomers to the top spots in their respective categories include: Bushmans Kloof, Cedar Mountains, South Africa (Best Hotel Overall); Sixt (Best Car-Rental Agency); and Austin-Lehman Adventures (Best Tour Operator), among others.
Bali regains its title from 2007 as World’s Best Island (the Galápagos took the top spot in 2008). Inn at Manitou, Canada is the Best Inn in the U.S. and Canada; Inn at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina is the highest-rated resort in America.


Source: Andina


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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Colca Valley expects over 20,000 tourists in July

Colca Valley, located in Caylloma province, Arequipa, expects over 20,000 tourists in July, specially during the holidays, reported the manager of the Colca Autonomous Authority (Autocolca), Jorge Luis Talavera.
Last year the Colca Valley received 19,350 visitors in July, and this number is expected to increase in 2009, despite the international economic crisis and the AH1N1 flu that affect the entire world.
Talavera said that these inconvenients have not affected, so far, the tourist inflow to the Colca Valley, on the contrary, tourism increased by 11% in the first semester regarding last year’s.The official also said that sanitarian measures have been taken to prevent the AH1N1 flu in case it the flu is detected in Caylloma.
Autocolca purchased masks for the personnel working at the Colca Valley, besides regularly holding meetings with tourist operators to assume the sanitarian measures as well.
Talavera also said that they have coordinated with health centers to check patients with the new influenza AH1N1, in case it is reported among tourists coming to the area.

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Monday, July 13, 2009

Hotel chains in Peru reduce rates to attract more tourists

The president of Peru’s Hotels Society (SHP), Jose Koechlin, said Sunday that several five-star hotels throughout the country have been slashing their rates between 30% and 50% to attract more tourists. Koechlin explained that hotel owners have taken this measure in response to the global financial crisis impact on the country’s tourism sector.He said the reduction of hotel rates, which occurs during the peak months of the tourist season (July and August), aimed to lure more local and foreign tourists.
Koechlin noted this is the first time that major hotel chains have reduced their rates so much during peak seasons.
However, the SHP’s chairman added that despite this fact, Peru enjoys economic and social stability, as well as provides a diverse range of cultural, natural and historical attractions.“This allows Peru to grow tourist-wise since many more foreign tourists could come to Peru in preference to other countries, domestic tourism could also increase through innovative actions taken by the new Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister,” he said.


Source: Andina


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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Mancora beach expects to receive over 5,000 tourists during National Holiday

The magnificent beach of Mancora, located in Peru’s northern department of Piura, expects to receive over 5,000 domestic and foreign tourists during National Holiday, the Committee on Management and Tourism Development of Talara Beaches reported.
The Head of this organization, Harry Shuller, said that up to now hotel reservations amount to 60 percent for this season.
“Hotels have already reservations for these dates, but there are still more places because this year they opened new establishments, so they can receive more visitors,” he said.
He pointed out that they are receiving more Ecuadorian tourists this season, because Peru’s National Holiday coincides with Ecuadorian holiday period.
“We consider that we may receive over 5,000 tourists during National Holiday, however, we may receive more visitors, but we are cautious in our expectations due to AH1N1 flu,” he said.
In that sense, he emphasized that it is necessary that health authorities develop a huge information campaign on measures that must be taken to avoid contracting and spreading this disease.

Source: Andina


Hotels in Mancora / Packages to Mancora
Hoteles en Mancora / Paquetes a Mancora

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Friday, July 10, 2009

Titicaca, Amazonas & Colca among 77 nominees in N7W of Nature

Lake Titicaca, Amazon Rainforest/River and Colca Canyon are listed among the top 77 nominees of the New Seven Wonders of Nature online campaign, based on worldwide voting for the 261 natural sites in the election’s second voting phase that ended July 7.
The New7Wonders Foundation reported that 11 South American nominees including the Peruvian ones are part of the list.
These are: Lake Titicaca (Bolivia and Peru), Laguna Colorada (Bolivia), Amazonas Rainforest (Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Surinam and Venezuela), Iguazú Falls (Argentina and Brazil), Kaieteur (Guyana) and Angel Falls (Venezuela).Atacama Desert (Chile), Chicamocha Canyon (Colombia), Colca Canyon (Peru), and Fernando Noronha (Brazil), complete the list of the South American natural wonder nominees.
The complete alphabetized list of the Top 77 is online at
here.
Candidates in the campaign to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature are clearly defined natural sites not created by nor significantly altered by humans for aesthetic reasons.
Following the established and recognized process used for the man-made Official New 7 Wonders of the World campaign, the New7Wonders Panel of Experts will now anonymously choose the 28 Official Finalists from the eligible nominees in the Top 77.
These will be announced in Zurich at the New7Wonders Foundation headquarters on July 21 at 12.07 GMT.The Panel of Experts will consider some criteria to make their selection, such as unique beauty of the nominated site, diversity and distribution across and among the different site categories, including landscapes, ice formations, islands, mountains, volcanoes, caves, rock formations, valleys, forests, national parks, nature reserves, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, seascapes.They will also consider ecological significance (both as eco-systems and/or in their significance for humans), historical legacy (relations that humans have or have had with the site), geo-location (even distribution of the 28 Official Finalists between continents and countries).

Source: Andina


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