“We want to promote this new route which takes us to one of the world’s seven wonders. This is what thousands of citizens wanted and now it is possible,” he added.

The mayor pointed out that the highway, which was completed a year ago, also facilitates transport of coffee from the VRAE and Urubamba River areas.

The motorcade, dubbed Por la nueva ruta a Machu Picchu (Taking the new route to Machu Picchu), will be held on July 12-15 with the participation of municipal officials and local adventurers.

(ANDINA)

Luckily, this misconception is seen as obsolete more and more each day. Lima has the bustling life of a major Capital city, the warmness of the Latin American culture and the food only the Gastronomic Capital of South America can offer; characteristics which will just make you fall in love with the well known City of the Kings.

Lima was founded in 1535, being the most opulent Viceroyalty and the preferred location in South America by the Spanish Crown. This helped make Peru’s capital rich in culture and history, with many places to see which date back to the past 5 centuries. Not only has Lima been successful in blending various cultures, languages and peoples; it has also allowed a mix of construction styles, which harmonize with one another, making up a 1,088.5 square mile metropolis.

Downtown Lima is where most colonial buildings and early republican buildings stand, among these edifices,  you will find many churches, leaded by the Basilica Cathedral of Lima in the Main Square. Many museums carrying unique pieces and collections are found throughout the city.

Although the city is over 470 years old, some evidences of pre-colonial peoples withstand. In many districts you will find “huacas” (worship temples from pre-Incan cultures). About 40 KM from the capital is the citadel of Pachacamac, an enormous archaeological site which lies by the Lurin river.

Nightlife in Lima is by far one of the busiest in the continent. Restaurants, coffee houses, lounges, discotheques and streets that never sleep are the vivid proof that Peru’s capital likes to enjoy itself. Restaurants come in all shapes, sizes and types. From a small “Chifa” (Peruvian – Chinese fusion) restaurant on a small street, to the finest restaurants in the country, Lima is the proud Gastronomic Capital of South America. The eagerness of a more posh lifestyle has taken the younger folk out of your typical “bar” and placed them in “lounges”, nicely decorated venues which offer drinks and appetizers, play music but seldom have dancing areas.

Chiclayo City is the capital of the department of Lambayeque, which gave rise to the pre-Hispanic cultures as Mochica, Sicán or Lambayeque and Chimú.

Chiclayo City is a skilful and economical power city from the north of the country. Located on a productive valley, where agriculture activities are very important, outstanding rice production, sugar cane and cotton. It is a strategic point in the middle of many highways and roads connections.

In its valleys flourished many important pre-Inca cultures, such as “Lambayeque or Sicán”, “Mochica” and “Chimú”. Part of its culture and treasures can be seen in Lambayeque at the Brüning Museum and the new Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum and Sicán National Museum.

During the Colony, it was only a simple Indian village in the road that connected Lambayeque and Zaña. Colony constructions does not exist, nevertheless today it is a city in full development process, having important discoveries as a main entrance, such as “El Señor de Sipán” (Lord of Sipán) at Huaca Rajada (important master discovered in 1987 with his in-life treasures), “Señor de Sicán” at Batangrande and Túcume. Thanks to these important discoveries, Chiclayo turns out to be the second important destiny, after Cusco, for the archaeological and monumental tourism in Peru.

The kindness and warmness of the people from Lambayeque had worth the nickname of “capital of friendship”; being very religious and having devotion to “Cruz de Chalpón”, that each year celebrate a great festival that joins a lot of pilgrims in Motupe from all the country.

In Monsefú and Eten, expert craftsmen, descendents of the Mochicans (important pre-Incas culture) work with straw and fine yarn, and ceramics.

Arequipa is Peru’s second largest city and was founded in 1540. The site was chosen for its proximity to the coast, enabling settlers to trade the products of Cusco and the mines of Potosi (Bolivia) with Lima. The local cultivation of wheat, corn and grapes all contributed to the regions economic growth.

The city is surrounded by 3 volcanoes; El Misti, still active at 5822m, the higher and extinct Chachani 6075m and Pichu Pichu 5571m. The Incas highly respected these volcanoes since the melt water from their snow-capped peaks form the headwaters of the mighty Amazon River, thousands of kilometers away.

Plaza de Armas

Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas is one of the most beautiful in Peru. On the north side of the Plaza is the impressive, twin-towered Cathedral, founded in 1612 and largely rebuilt in the 19th Century having been repeatedly damaged by earthquakes and fire. Inside is fine Belgian organ and elaborately-carved wooden pulpit. The Plaza is surrounded on its other 3 sides by colonial arcaded buildings with many cafes and restaurants. Behind the Cathedral is a pretty back street with many handicraft shops.

Santa Catalina Convent

(Open daily 9am – 5pm, last admission 4pm. Entrance fee $7.50 )

The Monasterio de Santa Catalina is the most astonishing site in Arequipa. It was opened to the public in 1970 after 400 years as a cloister. The convent has been beautifully refurbished with period furniture and paintings. Behind the closed doors the nuns, daughters of aristocrats, paid little heed to the vows of poverty and silence. Each had her own servant and dined with porcelain plates, fine tablecloths and silver cutlery.

The convent is a complete miniature walled colonial town in the middle of the city. There are flower filled gardens, spacious patios, granite fountains as well as arches and narrow streets. The tile-roofed buildings are painted in traditional white, brown and blue. About 20 nuns still live in a section of the convent, which once housed up to 500.

Museo Sancuarios Andinos

Climbing El Misti Volcano

Colca Canyon

Most people who visit Arequipa take a tour out to the Cañon de Colca, one of the worlds deepest canyons formed by an enormous seismic fault between the Coropuna (6425m) and Ampato (6325m) volcanoes. The tour can be arranged on arrival in Arequipa at one of the several tour operators or travel agents around the Plaza. Many hotels can also arrange this activity. Although a tour can be fit into one day, it’s best to go for at least 2 days, staying the night at the village of Chivay (3633m) the first village on the edge of the canyon.

Remember to bring a swimming costume and towel for a visit to the thermal springs on the outskirts of Chivay. (Open 0600 – 1900. Entrance $1.50)

Beautiful unspoiled Andean villages line both sides of the canyon. In addition you’ll have great views of the smoking Sabancaya volcano, one of the America’s most active volcanoes, as well seeing the many traditional pre-Inca agricultural terraces which line the steep valley sides.

The high point of the tour is an early morning visit to La Cruz del Cóndor (3320m), a 1½ hours drive from Chivay. From this natural observatory you can see into the deepest part of the canyon, and witness the majestic flight of the Andean Condor, rising on the morning thermals (at around 9am.)

Peru ranks amongst the world’s great centers of ancient civilization. Their remains fascinate travelers and archaeologists alike. Peru is located in the west central part of South America and is a country of geographical and cultural contrast. Peru is the 19th largest country in the world and is bordered north by Ecuador, to the south by Chile and Bolivia, to the east by Columbia and Brazil and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is a diverse country due to the climatic, natural and cultural variation of its regions, which include coast, sierra and jungle.

Peru is populated by over 23 million people, largely descendents of Spanish settlers and native Inca and pre-Inca cultures. Today there are three national languages: Spanish, and the native Quechua and Aymara, reflecting the native Indian and Spanish roots that cultivate modern Peruvian society.

I hope you enjoy my adventures and experiences, i-ll try to be as detailed as possible with the information I give you, since I really need this website to become a guide for all those travelers that are already thinking about traveling to Peru.