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PERULINE |
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PERULINE e-mail: info@peruline.de |
NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2005 |
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Dear friend of Peru, After the celebrations of Fiestas Patrias Peru is now getting back to normality. Many Limeños took advantage of the holidays around these independence festivities at the end of July in order to travel around their country. While some headed North to enjoy sun and beach along the tropic coast of Mancora, others stayed near the town and explored the closer surroundings of the capital. One of the main attractions just North of Lima is the sacred town of Caral. Read more about this presumably oldest town of the Americas in this month's top topic. No matter where the journey leads to, most trips start on one of the
most famous roads worldwide, the Carretera Panamericana. In our Region's
section you will get to know more astonishing facts about this coastal
highway that stretches along all of Peru´s shore line. Enjoy reading!
The Sacred City of Caral - Every archeologist's dream
Until five years ago, the Mexican Olmecs were thought to be the oldest
American civilization. But in 2001 the radio carbon dating of a fiber
found in one of the ruins of Caral, brought the evidence: those pyramids
that the Peruvian archeologist Ruth Shady Solís discovered in the
early 1990ies in the Valley Supe north of Lima are another millennium
older than the ones from Mexico. The fiber dates back from 2627 B.C.,
the same time when the first great Egyptian pyramids were constructed.
By that, Caral is regarded the so long oldest town living society of the
Americas, belonging to the oldest cultures of the world besides Mesopotamia,
Egypt, India and China. History books worldwide need to rewritten!
One precondition for this was the refined and sophisticated irrigation
system of the community that allowed year-round farming and growing of
legumes and vegetables like pumpkins. These irrigation systems found later
use and were further developed and improved by the Inca.
Inca Trail applies for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List Besides the Inca Trail, extra attention by the UNESCO and the INC are paid to Chan Chan. This largest town of pre-columbian America has ever since 1986 been on the list of endangered World Cultural Heritage. Due to the immense restoration and conservation efforts taken, the site has recently been considered to be removed from this list of endangered heritage. 7 Nominations for Peru at the World Travel Awards
The World Travel Awards were first held in 1993 in order to honor and encourage special efforts, investments and developments in global tourism. English conservation organisation invests USD 100,000 in the protection of Bosque de Pomác The Bosque de Pomác is situated in Ferreñafe,
around 35 km South of Chiclayo. Besides the dry forest, the archeological
zone of Batán Grande with the tomb of the Lord of Sipan is worth
a visit.
In balance with the environment - Turismo Vivencial at Amazon Lodge & Safaris
The second program of Amazon Lodge & Safaris includes the observation
of flora and fauna, especially of birds, in the Amadeus bio reserve. In
this untouched piece of land an incredible diversity in species can be
studied.
10 years of outstanding service and best quality - the Gran Hotel Chiclayo celebrates its anniversary
Besides its hospitality pleasing every guest, the hotel does also obey
its social responsibility towards the community of Chiclayo. It does not
only offer 120 secured jobs for Lambayequeños and is one of the
main buyer of local businesses, but does also support numerous educative,
religious and social institutions of the region.
Latest fashion trends in the restaurant of the DoubleTree El Pardo Hotel
Hotel Pastoruri allows special side glances
Since the end of July a new high resolution telescope on the roof of
the Pastoruri facilitates watching the spectacular mountains. With this
huge binocular hotel guests can now get a "closer" view of the
surrounding snow covered peaks like Huascarán, Huandoy, Copa and
many others.
Cusco: Culinary delights in Hotel Ruinas Besides its cozy and stylish ambiance, the excellent hotel, which already had been distinguished with several international awards, impresses with its attentive and friendly service staff and delicious Peruvian and international specialties. Also, the hotel puts an extra effort in satisfying its guest and conveying its much appreciated hospitality.
COAST: Road Trip through Peru's diversity - the Panamericana The idea for such a road that would connect all of the Americas in a
more or less direct North-South link, was born in 1923 during the Fifth
International Conference of American States. It took another 13 years
until the signing of the convention about the Carretera Panamericana on
December 23, 1936 in Buenos Aires. Only in Peru, the distance that this highway covers from Tumbes in the
North to Tacna in the South, amounts to 2.800 km. Important tourism centers
like Mancora, Chiclayo and Trujillo are on the so-called Panamericana
Norte while Ica, Nazca and Arequipa lie along the Panamericana Sur, starting
South of Lima. The largest part of the Peruvian Panamericana goes along
the Pacific ocean, crossing the major coastal cities and mostly sparse
deserted areas. But very often, like for example right North of the capital,
drivers can enjoy a spectacular view of the sand dunes that steeply drop
off into the sea. Not seldom, drivers will witness stunning sun sets,
venturous paragliders that hop off of the cliffs or just typical Peruvian
every day life scenes that are charming in their own sense.
Huaraz - Cactuses, palmtrees and snow ...
We are impressed and deeply touched by the beauty of this lake. We arrived
just in time to see the last few sunrays illuminate the lagoon before
they disappear behind the surrounding mountain peaks. The sun set and
the upcoming cold remind us of how late it already is. We get in the bus
and return to Huaraz - Mount Huascarán always on the horizon. It´s
the last thing I remember before I doze off after this long and tiring
day …
... that 10 Peruvian top-attractions are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List? These sights are the city centers of Cusco, Lima and Arequipa, furthermore Machu Picchu, Huascarán National Park, Chan Chan, Manu National Park, Rio Abiseo National Park and the Nazca Lines as well as the Pampas de Jumana. ... that the first two commercial ships cruising Lake Titicaca (Yavari and Yapura) were built in 1861 in James Watts´ foundry - the same foundry that used steam for engine-purposes for the first time? ... that Peru´s most famous dogs, the "Perro sin pelo del Perú", the so-called hairless dogs from Peru or also known as Peruvian Inca Orchids, have ever since pre-Columbian times been the Peruvians´ "best friends", and are by that almost "more Peruvian" than the traditional Pisco and Ceviche?
peruline is a tourist information service about Peru. Many tourist enterprises support and finance our promotion and information job. Our main objective is to benefit the sponsor companies as well as the country itself. Our services at a glance: Our monthly newsletter informs you about the latest Peru news. The topics
of this newsletter were chosen by Katrin Mistelbauer. With best wishes from Lima, Yours, Sünje Fischer |
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TOP
TOPIC
Life of an archeologist is tough. Especially if you spend most of both
your working and leisure time in the Peruvian desert, right between the
Cordillera Negra and the Pacific Coast. Sun burns merciless from the deep
blue sky, the air is dry and warm. The wind that comes up in the afternoon
blows each grain of sand that you just swept off the main stairs of the
pyramid back to where it was before. The only shadow far and wide is the
one of your sun shade. But all the effort is worth wile if the pyramid
you are sweeping the sand off is at a unique spot like Caral.
This
is not the only fact making Caral such an extraordinary place. Findings
of fish and sea fruit from the Pacific coast as well as fruit and vegetable
from the Amazonian region allow the assumptions that the people of Caral
were in regular contact and trade with settlements far beyond the Andes.
Supposedly, the people left the Pacific coast due to the weather phenomenon
of El Niño. Every four years this climatic occurrence repeats itself
with its catastrophic floods and devastating rain showers and by that,
in former times, forced the people to settle down in this dry and deserted
strip, around 20 km inland from the coast.
The
precise planning and structure of the irrigation as well as the axial
alignment of the settlement indicate that this early culture did already
have profound knowledge of sciences like geometry, topography and astronomy.
Furthermore, music seemed to play a significant role in the daily life
and ceremonies,as findings of numerous flutes made from bird bones prove.
The separation of the settlement into a lower and a higher town reflects
the predominant hierarchy of the society.
Peru
already has 10 sites belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Now
the INC, the Peruvian National Institute for Culture will also apply for
the tense network of the Andean Main Road Qhapaq Ñan to be added
as a "Cultural Itinerary" to the List of Heritage of Humanity.
Presentation papers will have to be handed in at the UNESCO by the beginning
of 2006. 
Peru
has been nominated in 7 categories for the World Travel Awards that will
be held at the Royal Opera House of London this November. Every year,
175,000 tour operators and travel agents vote for the winners in the respective
categories and by that way also determine the nominees for the following
year.
In
the course of the "Pro Nature" Project of the England-based
"International Conservation" Organisation, USD 100,000 will
be invested in the Historic Sanctuary Bosque de Pomác in Batán
Grande. The project will start in September of this year and one of
the main priorities is the protection and conservation of this famous
dry woods with their unique flora and fauna. Guides and rangers will
be equipped with up-to-date mobile communication technology in order
to guarantee preservation of this biosphere.
Our
partner Amazon Lodge & Safaris has always been emphasizing sustainable
tourism and the protection of the unique flora and fauna of the Amazon
rain forest in Peru. Respecting animals living in proximity of the lodge,
no electricity is being used. Instead, kerosene lights contribute to a
very special ambiance without keeping away wildlife or damaging the environment.
For
this season, Amazon Lodge & Safaris sets two focal points in its programs.
With "Turismo vivenical" guests have the once in a lifetime
opportunity to participate in the day to day life of indigenous people
from the rain forest. By living with families and sharing their activities,
tourists will be able to experience first hand what the "real"
jungle is and what it is like to live in this area. This will be an impressive
adventure, contributing to every traveler's perception of Peru.
Already
for a decade now, our partner the Gran Hotel Chiclayo has been among Northern
Peru's best hotels and one of the driving forces of tourism development
in the Lambayeque region. One of the hotel's main priorities has always
been to offer its guests a constant service of top quality in combination
with innovation and comfort. 129 luxurious rooms, equipped with top amenities,
will not leave anything to be desired. The hotel restaurant "Huaca
de Oro" and the bars will spoil guests with local culinary highlights.
Crowned
with success, José Miguel Valdivia presented his newest fashion
line at the Restaurant Junius of our partner DoubleTree El Pardo Hotel
lately. This renowned Peruvian fashion designer introduced his latest
collection Alpaca at the event attended by invited guests and local notables
from society and industry.
Our
partner Hotel Pastoruri in Huaraz has ever since its opening in March
had a special attraction: its viewing platform on top of the 7-story building
invites to enjoy the amazing view of the Callojón de Huaylas and
the Cordillera Blanca and Negra.
Our
partner Hotel Ruinas Cusco has recently renewed its restaurant in order
to be able to even further improve its already excellent service. Both
hotel and a la carte guests that only come for dinner can now spoil themselves
in the restyled comfortable restaurant of the Hotel Ruinas that serves
up to 42 people at a time.
Most
trips and excursions starting in Lima have their first highlight already
shortly after passing the city limits: a cruise on the famous Pan-American
highway, locally know as the "Panamericana".
Ever
since this date there has been constant construction going on around this
huge road net with its length of almost 48.000 km. Only a 90 km section
between the Panama Canal and Northwestern Colombia has not been finished
yet. Until today, the realization of this last part of the Panamericana
fails due to the opposition of various environmental NGOs and the local
population who are worried about an endangerment of the neighboring jungle
and its residents. Other than that, the whole roadway can be traveled
on - at least in dry season - and is one of the most important transit
routes of the Americas. On its way from Prudloe Bay, Alaska, down to Ushuia
in Fireland, this longest North-South connection of the world crosses
15 countries, 4 climate, 6 time zones and almost all of the world's vegetation
zones.
It´s
5 a.m. and pretty chilly when we arrive in Huaraz after 8 hours of bus
trip from Lima. After 3 weeks in the cloudy capital it is the first time
that we see the clear and most beautiful starry sky of the Southern hemisphere.
Before we freezing in, we decide to get a cab to our hotel. Gladly we
booked early-check in and are therefore able to immediately get to our
room and sleep some more before exploring the town and its surroundings.
Right
after waking up in the late morning we climb up the outlook platform of
our hotel to soak in the fresh air and enjoy the incredible view of Huascarán,
with a height of 6769 meters Peru's highest mountain. Impressed by this
panorama we head off to the Plaza de Armas. We are surprised how hot it
actually is and due to the altitude that we are still not used to and
the by far too warm cloths we put on, we are soon short of breath and
in desperate need of a refreshment. Finally we find a café that
still serves breakfast at noon. Again we enjoy the amazing panorama of
Huascarán while we sip our coffees and eat our eggs.
The
next morning we are packed and ready at 9 am - just as arranged with the
tour operator. 50 minutes later the bus arrives - it´s Peru, we
should have known that! After two "pit stops" to buy souvenirs
and to visit the Campo Santo of Yungay - a memorial for the victims of
1970´s earthquake and subsequent avalanche - we finally arrive at
the crystal clear, turquoise colored Lagoon of Llanganuco in Huascarán
National Park.