Peru: Other Cool Places To Visit Besides Machu Picchu

from: http://southamericatourist.com/top-10-tourist-attractions-in-peru/?utm_source...

#1 Amazon (Iquitos)
Situated in the middle of the Peruvian jungle and left of the river bank, Iquitos is well loved for its beauty and biodiversity. The virgin nature of the Amazon rainforest offers a unique ecosystem of flora and fauna, making it a top eco-tourism site. Here, you can find some of the most diverse species of birds and mammals on Earth, including a huge number of amphibians, insects and reptiles.

#2 Colca Canyon
Even if hiking is not your thing, never go home without taking a glance at the spectacular canyon of the Colca River. Did you think that the Grand Canyon found in the US was the deepest canyon? Think again. This Peruvian attraction is reputedly the deepest in the world with a depth of 9,842 feet. This place is also known for its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and as a home to the rare species and world’s largest living bird, the Andean Condor.

#3 Nazca Lines
The Nazca lines can be found in the Nazca Desert bordering the towns of Nazca and Palpa. These peculiar “lines” are a series of ancient figures written enormously in the desert sands. The forms are so huge that the only way to view them entirely is to fly a small plane (you can make arrangements for this). The Nazca Lines are believed to be created between 200 B.C. and 700 A.D. They consist of simple lines, geometric designs, several wildlife creatures, and human figures.

#4 Huacachina
This is a town located in the city of Ica, a few hours travel to the south of Lima. It is a small desert village built around an oasis, a small natural lake. The towering sand dunes surrounding the village are what make the place one of the best tourist attractions in Peru, especially for those looking for thrilling adventures such as sand-boarding and high-speed sand dune rides.

#5 Mancora
If surfing is your thing, this place is best for you. The coastal town of Mancora is a favorite to surfers. It features long stretches of white sandy beaches with great waves year round, as well as a mountain of partying and nightlife.

#6 Lake Titicaca (Uros Islands)
Ever imagined stepping into an island made entirely of dried reeds? It is possible with these artificial islands from the Uros, a tribe of pre-Incan people. These floating reed islands are located in Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake.

#7 The Sacred Valley
Stretching between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the Sacred Valley offers a bit of history, culture, and traditions of the Incas. Not only does it feature fascinating ruins and archeological sites, but this ancient Incan empire is also famous for its incredible landscape, rich agriculture, and the beautiful Urubumba River flowing through the valley.

#8 City of Lima
As a general gateway to the country, Lima is a vibrant metropolis. Its historical center features stunning colonial structures, pre-Hispanic archeological sites, and some of the best museums in South America. The city also offers a great variety of cultural shows, rich Peruvian cuisines, luxurious nightlife, and the beautiful coast of Miraflores.

#9 Huaraz
This is a beautiful city in north-central Peru, 420 kilometers north of the capital city. It is the entry to the Cordillera Blanca, or the White Mountain Range, a wonderland of snow-capped summits, glaciers, turquoise-blue lagoons and the magnificent Andean mountain range. It is also here where you can find the highest mountain in Peru, the Huascaran. This region is perhaps one of the best trekking sites when backpacking South America.

#10 Paracas
One of the best South America tourist attractions, this ecological destination offers the best wildlife experience in Peru. It is here you’ll find the Ballestas Islands often dubbed as Peru’s “Galapagos Islands”. It is a home to many birds which include pelicans, cormorants, Peruvian boobies, and Inca terns. Also a favorite spot of penguins, sea lions, dolphins, turtles, and whales, lucky are you if you can spot them in action. Don’t forget to add a bit of fun with windsurfing, deep sea fishing, and scuba diving!

South America: The New Hotspot

from:http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/south-america-a-new-hotspot/story-e6frfq80-1226160837451

South Ameria has been thrust back into the limelight because of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Machu Pichu.

SOUTH America is emerging as one of the hottest destinations for next year, with tour operators struggling to keep up with strong demand from Australians looking for new destinations, adventure and value.

The spotlight has been on Peru following the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of Machu Picchu this year and improved flight connections are also making it easier than ever to get there.

LAN Airlines now offers daily flights to Santiago in Chile from Sydney or Auckland, while Qantas will begin flying from Sydney to Chile three times a week in March. LAN is also improving connections from Santiago to Lima in Peru and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and plans to improve its links to Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Contiki, best known for offering holidays to Europe for 18 to 35-year-olds, begins tours to South America next month in response to feedback in post-tour surveys and on social networking sites such as Facebook.The tours have proven so popular Contiki has sold out until April and is being forced to add extra departures.

"We have been in Asia for three years now and and it's been a booming success that product model of small group touring and authentic local experiences using local transport is growing at the speed of light," consumer marketing and brand manager Deanna Marrocco said. "It's how people want to travel in these destinations."

Trafalgar is also launching its more relaxed At Leisure program, which has been a big success in Europe, in South America for the first time next year. It has also begun offering Be My Guest dining experiences, inviting guests into the homes of locals to experience authentic homemade cuisine.

APT is also reintroducing tours to South America next year after withdrawing in 2009 because of the global financial crisis. Its restructured program includes 16 itineraries and it was forced to add three extra departures a few months after launching its brochure in April because of the strong response.

Ted Dziadkiewicz of Contours Travel, which specialises in trips to South America, said "voluntourism" was also becoming increasingly popular. Its new Heritage Trails of Sacred Valley of the Incas tour includes a visit to Australian Jane Gavel's organisation Peru's Challenge, which helps build schools and sustainable communities in Peru, and guests can choose to stay longer and work on the projects.

The cruise market is also soaring, with a growing number of specialist cruise itineraries including the Amazon River and the Chilean fjords. Peregrine has introduced four new cruise itineraries in the Galapagos Islands to help reduce the environmental impact on the fragile ecosystem, and is offering a new 10-day Highlights of Argentina tour.

Foodies are also increasingly discovering South America, with World Expeditions offering a new one-off culinary trip to Peru led by Crave Sydney Food Festival director Joanna Savill in November.

Apps for South America

from: http://gosouthamerica.about.com/b/2011/09/29/south-americas-travel-apps.htm

If you have a smart phone you know there's an app for everything - especially travel. But the truth is that while there are some great apps specific to North America and Europe - the app craze hasn't trickled down to South America.

But the good news is that there some great apps that are great for South America travel so each month we're picking one to review. This month Porteño Spanish is up for review and if you're thinking of heading to Buenos Aires you will definitely want to read on.

http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/planyourtrip/fr/South-America-Travel-Apps-...

Keep Your Valuables Safe in South America

(from: http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=117323 )
September 27, 2011 -- Alex Ivory is the founder & inventor of Dovetail travel in peace and a world traveler.

She has lived, worked and traveled throughout Asia, India, Arabia, Africa, Europe and South America for the past 25 years. While traveling in Argentina late last year, Ivory had her 'moment of knowing' in terms of evolving the concept of Dovetail travel in peace into reality.

Since the beginning of time, people have had to find a way to protect their valuables. Ivory had used many of those 'secret ways' and thought 'I can do better than this'! 'Better than this', meant that something had to be created for women travelers, designed for a woman's body. It had to be right, it had to serve its' purpose and it had to be comfortable and effortless.

Ivory took the traditional money belt and 're imagined' it into a light, modern, minimal system of 'travel safe body bands', made exclusively for women travelers.

'It needed to be streamlined, ultralight and effortless', form following function, and disguised as inner wear,' says Ivory. She ventured out to design prototypes and developed two distinct options for women travelers; the 'travel band' and the 'travel wing'.

The 'travel safe body bands' concept arose and is offered as a set. As a former dancer and present walker, swimmer and yoga student, Ivory had 'an idea' of what worked on a body in movement and in this manner looked for ways in which travel essentials could be 'held' on the body with comfort and ease, eliminating the thick seams, straps, buckles, zippers, loops and toggles found on conventional money belts.

Most travelers seem to use the money belt around their waist, outside of their clothes which seems to defeat the purpose and actually, in fact, 'announces' to potential thieves 'exactly' where your valuables are! A simple jostling in a crowd and 'poof', your travel documents, bank cards and cash are gone.

'Travel with confidence, knowing that your essentials are secure, concealed on your body', says Ivory. The 'travel band' fits on your hips and goes over your usual underwear. The 'travel wing' wraps around the upper body and goes over your bra and has a small clasp at the front. You can choose which to wear and when, while out and about traveling.

The Dovetail 'travel safe body bands' are made of strong, stretch power net, and move with you, hidden under your clothes. Lighter and thinner than support weight lingerie but more substantial than everyday lingerie, Ivory found a perfect travel safe option with the power net.

'I look forward to experimenting with other colors, materials, production and finishing techniques', says Ivory. She envisions female travelers of all ages using the 'travel safe body bands' to protect both themselves and their valuables while traveling but also female study abroad students,

Humanitarian Aid & Peace Corps workers, reporters, photojournalists etc. 'Do some research, be conscientious and use common sense while exploring new geographies', says Ivory.

Enjoy your time traveling and experiencing being there, not fretting about your essentials. From Jakarta to Djibouti, Vancouver to Valparaiso, Berlin to Bhutan... For women of all ages with 'a girl scout spirit' who love to travel: Welcome to the launch of... Dovetail travel in peace. The Dovetail travel in peace set includes; the 'travel band', the 'travel wing', the portfolio and a small, light bag to carry it all in.

Available exclusively at http://www.dovetailtravelinpeace.com

Be Safe In Columbia

from: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/travel/article-23991112-safe-advice-to-guide-yo...

An ideal trip begins in the colonial city of Cartagena on the north coast (accessible via Miami on American Airlines). Explore the city and its beaches, then head along the Caribbean to the resort of Santa Marta, gateway to the sensational seascapes of Tayrona National Park.

Then fly to Bogotá for a brief visit, focusing on the colonial "village" of La Candelaria. Finish your trip at Cali, now blossoming as the salsa capital of the nation. You can return from here via the US, probably on American Airlines.

You are right to be alert to safety issues: consult the latest Foreign Office (fco.gov.uk) and US State Department (travel.state.gov) advice before you go. But with the help of a good guidebook (I tend to use Lonely Planet's) and advice from other travellers, you're very likely to stay safe.

. Cartagena is just the most beautiful city I have ever seen. I spent 3 weeks in Taganga (outside Santa Marta) in a private apatment without securtiy and had no security issues. I spent 5 months in Central and South America and found Columbia to be the safest and happiest country of all. The people are wonderful and the music is awesome! Plus, you can go out at night, unlike many of the neighbouring countries. Go enjoy yourself! - B.Wolf, Goa, India., 26/09/2011 17:33

Remember that the security situation here is getting worse quickly. Today a group of five on a beach resort in the carribean were killed by unknown gunmen. Just check the colombian press. - Sofia hernandez, Colombia, Cali., 26/09/2011 14:55

Manu Peru Highlights

By Birtan Collier

The Peruvian Amazon makes up about a third of the country’s land area and is as rich and untamed as the rest of the Amazon in neighboring Brazil and Ecuador.

The Peruvian government has been vigorous in its efforts to protect the nature and the native peoples of this region and as a result, the Amazonian Peru has some of the most pristine primary rainforests of the world.

Although logging, mining, ranching and agriculture compete with these preservation efforts, much of the biodiversity of this region’s nature is still protected and vibrant.

Our destination is the Manu National Park in the southern Amazon, which along with Tambopata National Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park forms a vast sanctuary enormously rich in wilderness. Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve is over four and a half million acres sustaining an entire ecosystem and hosting the most diverse flora and fauna in the world. Thanks to this rich nature,

Peru ranks near the top in world’s lists of mammals, amphibians, fresh-water fish, insects, butterflies and plant life. It has 1,800 species of birds, 1,000 of them in Manu. Thus the Manu sanctuary allows a person to experience a true Amazonian wilderness in its forest trails, forest canopy, tranquil lakes, rivers, clay licks, bamboo trails, clearings and gardens.

We start our journey in Lima and, after an evening arrival from Miami, rest overnight and catch a morning LAN flight to Cuzco and Puerto Maldonado. Puerto Maldonado is a city in southeastern Peru in the Amazon basin near the convergence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. It is the capital city of the Madre de Dios region, established in 1912.

With a population of 52,000, this quaint city has as its main economic activities logging, gold-mining, Brazil nut-growing, cattle-ranching and ecotourism. Since gasoline is very expensive, motorcycles and three-wheeled motorcars are very popular here. Because of its proximity to the Manu National Park, Puerto Maldonado is our launching point for Manu.

After several van rides and river crossings, we reach the dockside of the Madre de Dios River in the small village of Atalaya, where we board a long wooden motorized canoe fitted with comfortable seats for 12, a roof for protection against the strong sun, and enough space for our luggage. Since

Manu has no roads, motorboats are the primary means of transport and in fact our lodge, the Manu Wildlife Center, on the banks of the Madre de Dios, is only reachable by boat after a three-hour ride from Atalaya. Along the way, we see wood storks, yellow-billed terns, cocoi herons, ringed kingfishers, black caracaras, plumbeous kites, black skimmers and neotrophic cormorants. Flocks of scarlet macaws and parrots fly over our heads.

The Manu Wildlife Center (MWC) is privately owned by Manu Expeditions and the Peru Verde Conservation Group, a nonprofit organization involved in rainforest-conservation projects. MWC is a rainforest reserve that forms part of the Manu Biosphere Reserve and is in the Cultural Reserve Zone for the indigenous Amazonian tribes.

The infamous rubber baron Carlos Fitzcarrald opened Manu to the outside world in 1893 through his discovery of the watershed divide that carries his name. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. For five nights we stay at the MWC’s bungalows built with local wood, bamboo and palm fronds in the same style as the local Machiguenga communities. The bungalows are raised on stilts as the river floods every 3-4 years.

They are connected to each other and the main house of the lodge by gravel walkways. All rooms are screened and all beds are furnished with mosquito-netting and comfortable mattresses. All rooms also have bedside tables with windows facing the rainforest and garden. Although furnished with private toilets and showers and hot (gas) and cold water, the bungalows do not have electricity. So come 5:30 p.m., it is pitch dark and we put on our head lamps, pull out our flashlights and light up the candles the management supplied us.

The lodge is strategically located in an area of the forest with the highest diversity of habitats, which has more species of animals, birds, reptiles and insects than elsewhere in Manu. Our five-day stay at MWC, which includes many forest walks, catamaran and boat rides to clay licks, and climbing two-canopy towers, just to name a few of our activities, is a testament to this Amazonian Garden of Eden. In addition to being a refuge for animals and birds,

Manu is a refuge to many native tribes including Machiguenga, Piro, Mascho Piro and Yaminahua. Some of these natives are so elusive that no one knows how many of them there are. During the entire day, we are serenaded by the bubbly syllables and high-pitched squeal of the russet-backed oropendulas with their pendulum nests hanging from a tall seiba tree in the middle of our bungalows. Our first morning starts with a 4:45 a.m. wake-up and a 5 a.m. departure by boat to the

Blanquillo clay lick where we witness a most beautiful spectacle of brightly colored macaws and parrots. Perched on the vertical walls of the river bank to eat clay are flocks of red-and-green, scarlet, blue-and-yellow and chestnut-fronted Macaws, and hundreds of blue-headed, yellow-crowned and mealy parrots. It is believed that the birds eat enormous amounts of clay to help absorb and neutralize the toxins from the unripe fruits they feed on, especially in the dry season when food is not plentiful. We stay and watch this phenomenal display of color for several hours while having our breakfast before returning by boat to MWC for lunch.

Several afternoon walks in the forest trails of Manu treat us to common squirrel, brown capuchin, white-fronted capuchin, red howler and black spider monkeys and saddleback tamarins, always first heard by breaking branches and falling leaves as they acrobatically swing from tree to tree. Another ever-present resident of the forest trails is the screaming piha – a small bird the size of a starling, with a unique high scream, heard loud and clear throughout the forest.

Scanning the forest floor, we are rewarded with a group of 15 roaming pale-winged trumpeters searching for a meal of insects and reptiles. There are many 5 and 5:30 a.m. mornings at MWC, which are very rewarding. One such morning, we climb the 120 circular steps up a huge kapok tree to a canopy tower, where we hear the early chorus of birds and are surrounded by sweat bees. Collared, blue-crowned, black-tailed trogons, white-throated toucans, curl-crested aracari, yellow-tufted woodpecker, and golden-green, cream-colored and crimson-crested woodpeckers are but a few of the birds sighted by us, which make the up-and-down climb and the battle with sweat bees well worth our while.

Another highlight is a catamaran – which is a large plank of wood resting on two narrow hulls – to one of the oxbow lakes, Cocha Blanco. From the comfort of our fold-out chairs, we see horned screamers, wattled jacanas, red-capped cardinals, Cruvier’s toucans, Amazon kingfishers, black-capped donacobius and the strange-looking hoatzins with blue faces and punk-hair crests.

Another resident of the oxbow lakes are the giant otters living in family groups. Families of eight capybaras, the world’s largest rodent, were seen along the banks of the Madre
from: http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2011/09/23/main_line_times/life/doc4e7c...

Read more here: Continued..Comstory »

Highlights of South America: Don't Miss These

South America is home to dramatic landscapes, archaeological splendours from the past and a dizzying variety of wildlife – the largest collection of plant and animal species on earth, in fact.

For the sheer awe factor, it’s hard to top seeing Incan ruins through mist-covered cloud forest, spying monkeys and toucans in the Amazon or trekking past topaz-coloured alpine lakes and snow-covered peaks in the Andes.

Comprising 13 countries, and home to dozens of indigenous cultures, South America has all this and much more. Here’s a roundup of top places to see on a journey to South America.

1. The Andes The massive peaks – the world’s longest continental mountain range – stretch for nearly 8000km from Venezuela to southern Patagonia. There are fantastic trekking opportunities from gateway towns like Huaraz, Peru and Bariloche, Argentina. For those who want to explore indigenous villages among fantastic scenery, the options are near endless in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

2. Machu Picchu Prior to the Spanish arrival, the Andes were the home to some of the hemisphere’s most advanced civilizations, which reached their peak under the Incas. The mountain citadel of Machu Picchu – whose exact purpose still remains unknown – was first brought to the world’s attention in 1911 by American explorer (and later US senator) Hiram Bingham III. Visiting ‘the Lost City’, with its dramatic setting amid cloud forest and craggy peaks is spectacular, particularly if you’ve arrived on foot along the popular but challenging 4-day Inca Trail. Buying entrance and train tickets in advance is key. Visit www.machupicchutickets.com for info. For hiking the Inca Trail, check out www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/treks/incatrail4.html.

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3. Galápagos Islands The chain of volcanic islands lies roughly 1000km west of Ecuador and holds a strange and wondrous collection of wildlife, from gigantic tortoises and blue-footed boobies to marine iguanas and insatiably curious sea lions. These creatures proved inspiration to Charles Darwin (who visited in 1835) and his later, groundbreaking work on natural selection. Travel here is pricier than elsewhere in South America, since the only practical way of seeing the Galápagos is on a cruise vessel, visiting different islands on a 5- to 10-day circuit. But for the once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s well worth the investment.

4. The Amazon The largest rainforest on earth is home to a stunning array of plant and animal life. You can watch the green landscape glide slowly from the hammock-packed deck of a puttering riverboat (the buses of Brazilian Amazonia) or take a trek deep into the wilderness. Swimming with piranhas, gliding across flooded forests by dugout canoe and taking edifying walks with naturalist guides are all essential parts of the Amazon experience. Manaus in Brazil is the most popular gateway, with dozens of agencies offering private tours, while a bevy of nearby jungle lodges provide a base for exploring. Other good entry points to the Amazon include Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador; Leticia, Colombia; and Iquitos, Peru.

5. The Pantanal This vast wetland area, which spreads across parts of Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, may be less famous than the Amazon, but the wildlife watching here is superb, with over 650 bird species and 80 mammal species, including capybara (the world’s largest rodent), giant otters and various monkeys. In fact, owing to the dense concentration of species, your chances of seeing animals here is generally better than in most parts of the Amazon. The key is to visit during the dry season (April to September). Visitors typically stay in lodges (from rustic to lavish) and take day trips on horseback, by boat or on foot in search of wildlife. Cuiaba and Campo Grande, both in Brazil are top places to enter the Pantanal.

6. Iguazu Falls Set deep in the rainforest, the massive and thundering falls are not one but many (some 275 in all), which straddle both Argentina and Brazil. Catwalks meander through biologically rich forest (keep an eye out for wildlife) and past the deafening waterfalls. While Brazil has the grand overview, Argentina gets the lion’s share of Iguazu – and from here you can take a (very wet) speedboat trip to just beneath the roaring falls. If you plan to visit the Brazilian side, you’ll need a visa (best arranged in advance). Go early in the morning to see abundant birdlife and to beat the crowds.