Showing posts with label Cusco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cusco. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Adventures by Disney launches Peru tours for next year

Adventures by Disney will offer next year a number of travel tours that cycle from the Peruvian capital Lima to Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco and back to Lima, giving tourists the opportunity to explore a blend of cultures, history and natural beauty.
The tour's highlights include a visit to the Center for Traditional Textiles in Cusco, where master weavers demonstrate their intricate art, as well as how to spin and dye alpaca wool.
And a privately guided Machu Picchu tour, in which tourists will spend an afternoon exploring the fascinating ruins and stunning views of these magnificent structures surrounded by green peaks glazed by a soft mist.They will also have the chance to raft down the Urubamba River (Class I-II rapids), where experienced guides will describe the fascinating cultural and natural history as tourists glide along this scenic route.The tour will also take visitors through the ancient Incan path into the fascinating ruins of Moray and Maras in Cusco's Sacred Valley.

Source: Andina
Tours in Cusco / Hotels in Cusco

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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Cusco to become fashion capital of Latin America

Cusco will become the fashion capital of Latin America when the “Cusco always fashion” show takes place in October featuring the best of young Peruvian designers' work, announced Wednesday the head of the Regional Directorate for Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur), Victor Hugo Perez.
"One of the main objectives of this event is to turn Cusco into the design and fashion capital of Latin America, we aim to create a different and unusual tourist attraction," the tourism official explained to Andina news agency.

The idea is to mix pre-Columbian with contemporary designs, non-traditional, in order to promote the Peruvian style.

The organization is considering requesting the participation of at least ten well-known national designers with international experience, as well as different models interested in appearing on the catwalk along with other local models from Cusco.

Several fashion shows are expected to take place in different parts of the Imperial City.

However, the main event will be held in Koricancha, where the best designs will be exhibited

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Monday, August 3, 2009

Cusco ranked third in Best Latin American cities contest

The city of Cusco in southeastern Peru got the third spot among cities from Central and South America in the contest “World’s best” organized by Travel+Leisure magazine, reported today Peru's Tourism and Export Promotion Board (PromPeru).
The first spot was occupied by Buenos Aires, Argentina and the second place by Oaxaca, Mexico.
Cusco was also voted the world's 16th most popular tourist destination.Popular destinations such as Barcelona, London and even Paris did not reach the global list of 20 top cities. Indian city Udiapur led this year's list, pushing 2008's winner Bangkok to the third place.
The magazine, which conducted its poll between January-March 2009, also ran a rating of the world's best hotels, top tour operators and top large-ship cruise lines. In the category of Central and South America’s best resorts, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel was ranked 4th after the Blancaneaux Lodge in San Ignacio (Belice), the Four Seasons Resort in Carmelo (Uruguay) and Explora Patagonia (Chile).
In the City Hotels category, the Monasterio Hotel in Cusco was also ranked 4th, after the Duhau-Park Hyatt Palace and the Alvear Palace Hotel, both in Argentina; followed by the Casa Santo Domingo Hotel in Antigua, Guatemala.A festive ceremony was held in New York honoring the winners.
In first half 2009, Peru appeared in many important American magazines and newspapers like Elite Traveler, Travel and Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, Bon Appetite, Gourmet, New York Times, among others.
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.


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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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Thursday, July 16, 2009

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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Friday, July 10, 2009

Cusco-Machu Picchu route among world's top 10 train rides

PeruRail's train service between Cusco and Machu Picchu has been included in the list of "Top 10" most exciting and scenic train rides in the world released by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
PeruRail is a specialist train travel provider, running trains to Machu Picchu and beyond through some of the most beautiful parts of Peru. A choice of routes are available - between either historic Cusco or the Sacred Valley and the legendary Machu Picchu, or between Cusco and the marvelous Lake Titicaca.
SATW, the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, polled its members to come up with the world’s top 10 train rides, listed in order of votes and with comments from SATW writers, here they are:
The Rocky Mountaineer offers spectacular two-day journeys through the Canadian Rocky Mountains from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper.
The Glacier Express is the famous Swiss mountain railway from St. Moritz to Zermatt, a 7.5 hour railway journey that crosses 291 bridges and burrows through 91 tunnels.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad winds through rugged canyons in the remote wilderness of Colorado’s two-million-acre San Juan National Forest.
The Bernina Express from Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy, makes the highest rail crossing of the Alps, passing from icy glaciers to palm-shaded piazzas in just a few hours.
Peru Rail, Cusco to Machu Picchu carries passengers on a spectacular journey through the high Andes. There are three levels of service, from backpacker trains to Vistadome cars to the luxurious blue and gold Hiram Bingham train, named in honor of Hiram Bingham, the explorer who discovered the Inca citadel in 1911.
The train passes by lush green fields and colorful villages in the foothills of the Andes and climbs along the Urubamba River through a dramatic canyon before reaching Machu Picchu. "On the train from Cusco to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu, it’s easy to feel you’re traveling into a mystery as you roll past secluded farms, squeeze between rugged mountains and, on my trip, become enveloped by low brooding dark clouds." Susan Farlow, freelance travel writer. The Coastal Classic Train on the Alaska Railroad winds through the wilderness between Anchorage and Seward.
The Royal Scotsman rolls through the ever-changing landscapes of sweeping glens, towering peaks and mirror-calm lochs as the train weaves through wild countryside and along virgin stretches of coast on two to seven night journeys in the Scottish highlands.
The Whistler Mountaineer in Canada is a three-hour ride along the magnificent coast of British Columbia, from Vancouver to Whistler, famous for its views of cities, old-growth forests, deep valleys, snowcapped peaks and seascapes.
Mexico’s El Chepe ventures into the imposing landscapes of the Sierra Tarahumara and into Mexico’s famed Copper Canyon, passing through 87 tunnels and crossing 37 bridges.
The Flam Railway is regarded as one of the highlights of the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour. The 20-km-long train journey from the mountain station of Myrdal down to Flam, beside a fjord, takes 55 minutes.
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is a non-profit professional association that works to promote responsible travel journalism and to provide professional support for its members, including travel journalists, photographers, editors, electronic media, film lecturers, television and film producers, and public relations representatives from the travel industry.
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Pre-hispanic wall discovered at Historical Center of Cusco

A pre-Hispanic wall was discovered in the subsoil of the Historical Center while archaeological excavation works were being carried out, reported Friday Carlos Rosell Bocanegra, archaeologist at the Peruvian National Institute of Culture (INC) in Cusco.

The wall, built in green diorite stone, measures 80 cm. width, has 7-meter long in one archaeological excavation and an additional meter in the other excavation located 20 meter away, which is why people estimate the wall stretches over 100 meters across the street.

Specialists have not determined the period in which the wall was built yet; but according to its predominant characteristics, they believe it belongs to the Killke period or Early Inka, which will be ratified or rejected in the coming days.
“They will conduct a study of the ceramics found around the wall,” he added.

Triunfo Street comes out into Cusco Main Square. During the Inca period, it was the royal entrance to Antisuyo, one of four regions of Tahuantinsuyo.
Archaeological exploration works are being carried out as part of the improvement project in Triunfo Street by the Municipality of Cusco and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)
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Friday, June 26, 2009

Hollywood producer Ron Howard visits Machu Picchu

Hollywood producer, director and actor Ron Howard arrived in Peru and visited Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, that has attracted many worldwide celebrities. Howard took the Hiram Bingham train at Ollantaytambo station as any other tourist, but some minutes later some passangers recognized him asking him to pose for some pictures with them. The 55-year-old famous director agreed and signed some autographs for his fans, reported Peru's newspaper El Comercio.

The American producer arrived in Machu Picchu around midday and started to visit the place accompanied with a local guide. The Hollywood director took notes and recorded everything the guide was saying.Howard is one of the most sought-after and highly regarded directors in the business. His films, including Splash, Cocoon and Apollo 13, have been some of the most memorable entertainment experiences of our era. He won the 2002 Best Director Oscar for A Beautiful Mind, which also won the 2002 Oscar as Best Picture. In the 1970s he became famous as Howard Cunningham's son and Arthur Fonzarelli's best friend, Richie Cunningham, on Happy Days (a role he played from 1974 to 1980).

Machu Picchu's popularity has rapidly risen sicne it was chosen one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Many celebrities such as The Police guitarist Andy Summers, have traveled to the Andean city of Cusco and visited the Inca citadel. The list of celebrities include Princess Beatrice, daughter of Prince Andrés and Sarah Ferguson, Olivia Newton John and Cameron Díaz. Multibillionaire Bill Gates also visited the Inca citadel and attended the Inti Raymi in Sacsayhuaman, and so did Hollywood actors Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson in December last year.


Source: Andina


Hotels in Cusco / Tours in Cusco / Tickets Lima - Cusco

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Thousands of people witness Inti Raymi in Cusco

Thousands of tourists and local people attended the staging of the Inti Raimy or Festival of the Sun, whose first ceremony took place at the Santo Domingo Qoricancha Covent with the greeting to the Father Sun or Inti Tayta.

The Inti Raymi is considered as the most solemn and grandiose festivity of the Inca era.
The Inca, along with principal members of his court and the Huillac Uma (Main Priest), performed a ritual of greeting to the Inti Tayta (Father Sun) at the Qoricancha esplanade, where the rests of the famous Inca temple dedicated to the Sun are located.

Afterwards, the Inca, escorted by all his entourage, moved to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, where this festivity was originally performed and where the Cusco's Cathedral is located, this last one built on the temple dedicated to the god Wiracocha or universal god for the Andean culture.

That’s where the dubbed “Encuentro de los tiempos”( Encounter of the times) took place, act where the Inca talked with the major of the city and offered a speech to the people of Cusco and its authorities.

In these moments, the Inca accompanied by his Coya (queen), his royal entourage and his imperial army goes to the Archeological Park of Sacsayhuaman for the central ceremony of Inti Raymi.

The Inti Raymi ("Festival of the Sun") is a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti (Sun). It also marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere.

Source: Andina


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