Peruline Newsletter

Dear friend of Peru,

The intensity of cultural interaction between the pre-Inca cultures in Peru and their influences on one another is literally shown by the Andean cultures' faith with their reappearing symbols puma, snake and condor representing the different levels of the Andean cosmos. The Chavín-Culture is a good example for this. Eventually there will be built a museum close to the excavation site. Please read more about it in our top topic.

We are delighted to welcome two new partners, the Hotel Maury in Lima and the Puntas Ballenas Inn in Mancora in our peruline family and are excited about the innovations made by the Manu Wildlife Center after its rennovation.
The section from the regions will take you to the Peruvian rainforest and the Tambopata Reservate in the country's South. Katrin Mistelbauer will tell you from her first hand experience about her impressions that she has gained from her journey through the South of Peru.

The year is about to end soon and the peruline team wishes merry Christmas, happy holidays and a prosperous year 2006 when we will inform you again about the most important news about Peru in our new issue of the newsletter!

Enjoy reading!
Yours
Sünje Fischer

OUR TOPICS:
Top Topic	Our Partners
Chavín de Huantar - an important ceremonial center finally gets its museum	Hotel Maury - Inventor of the Pisco Sour
At a glance	Punta Ballenas Inn on the beach of surfer's paradise Mancora
New Peruvian airline Wayraperu will start operation before christmas	Manu Wildlife Center closes its doors for renovations
Trial concerning the destruction of the sundial on Machu Picchu	Casa Andina Puno: Seasonal closing of two hotels
Rise of prices for Machu Picchu and the Boleto Turistico de Cusco taken into consideration	Gran Hotel Chiclayo welcomes Chilean Airforce
DEG invests 6.7 Million US Dollar in Peruvian train infrastructure	From the Regions
Jaguar statue at the excavation site of Huaca Partida discovered	Rainforest: The Tambopata Reserve
Peru's Nature Reserves	Travel Notes
Festivities and celebrations around Cusco	The monkey-whisperer
	Did you know, ...?
	About us

TOP

TOP TOPIC

Chavín de Huantar - an important ceremonial center finally gets its museum

Chavín de Huantár The negotiations between the Department for International Collaboration of Japan and the National Cultural Department of Peru lasted for three years. Now both parties have come to a conclusion. The Japanese department will provide an allowance of 2.7 Million US Dollar for constructing a National Museum Chavín. A dream comes true for many archaeologists as the site Chavín de Huantar is known to be one of the most important influencial centers of different Peruvian cultures. Already the famours Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello who was head of teh first excavations in Chavín had been considering a huge museum at the site of the excavations.

Chavín de Huantar is situated in the canyon Callejón de Conchucos in the Cordillera Blanca and probably has been built in 800 BC by the Chavín culture whose influence spread from the Cajamarca and Chiclayo in the North of Peru to Ayacucho and Ica in th Chavin de Huantar e South. Pilgrims are said to have come to Chavín even from as far as the rainforest in order to consult the oracle of Chavín about the future, the weather forecast and the conditions for their farming. Being discovered by Julio C. Tello, the historical site has been declared World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO in 1985. The patrimonial consists of a main temple with a widely spread tunnel and labyrinth system inside. In front of this main temple a ceremonial square is aligned after the points of the compass. An older temple with a preliminary amphitheatre is located right beside it.

Cabeza clave A small museum displays ceramics as well as the typical Chavín stone heads with the symbols of many Andean cultures: condor, puma and snake as szmbols of the trinity of the cosmos. The claws of the condor are thought to characterize air, the teeth of the puma are said to represent earth and the snake probably stands for the element water.
As the contemporary museum in Chavín lacks equipment the main part of the findings are momentarily exhibited in the Archaeological Museum in Huaraz as well as in different museums of Lima - as for instance the Raimondi Stele or the Tello-obelisc (named after its discoverer) in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Only one of the innumerable stone heads is still in its original place on the temple wall. All the other heads have been covered by a mudslide in 1945. In the year 1993 further parts of the building were destroyed by a flood caused by the high water level of the river Mosna.
There are yet many mysteries beyond Chavín de Hunatar and archaeologists presume that further tempel structures are to be found beneath the existing village close to the ruins but cannot be excavated as it would mean to ablate the complete cottage. It is said that the site itself by now has only been excavated by 1% and consequently beside the museum there is also a project to construct a permanent institution for archaeologists and scientists in order to advance in excavating, saving, sustaining and researching.
For being able to display the objects close to the excavation site and thus create a reasonable connection to the culture and its homelands. With Japanese support the constructions of the museum are planned to start before 2007. The museum shall be built 700 m north of the Plaza de Armas of the village Chavín which is about 1 km out of the ceremonial center.

Links:
More information on all the Chavín de Huantar you will find on our website www.peruline.com

Are you looking for accommodation in the region of Chavín de Huantar? We recommend our partners Andino Club Hotel and the Pastoruri Hotel.

For further information just send us an e-mail to info@peruline.com.

TOP

New Peruvian airline Wayraperu will start operation before christmas

The arrival of the first aircraft of the type Fokker 100 on the international airport Jorge Chávez in Lima on November 30, marked the official kick-off for the new Peruvian airline Wayraperu. Before Christmas Wayraperu is supposed to start operations. Various cities within Peru, among them popular destinations like Cusco, Arequipa, Piura, Trujillo and Puerto Maldonado, will be soon approached by Wayraperu - "wayra" being the Quechua-word for "wind"´- on a regular basis.

Trial concerning the destruction of the sundial on Machu Picchu

While shooting a TV commercial three years ago at the ceremonial center Intihuantana, the sundial at Machu Picchu had suffered damages caused by a falling camera crane. The upper part of the granite sanctuary had broken apart and caused indignation among the historians and archaeologists on Machu Picchu. Now the first trial had been termined. The judge sentenced the responsible worker with six years custody. The refutation trial as well as the trials for the other blamed are yet to come.

Rise of prices for Machu Picchu and the Boleto Turistico de Cusco taken into consideration

The past confusion about rising entrance fees for Machu Picchu are still not dissolved. The director of the National Culture Institute of Cusco, David Ugarte, has neither neglected nor justified the rise. An increase to 30 US$ at the beginning of the year 2006 is taken into consideration. Word gets around that also prices for the Boleto Turistico de Cusco (entrance pass to all major sights of Cusco) which costs 20 US$ (10 US$ for students) shall be increased.

Links:
More information on the destination Cusco you can find on our website www.peruline.com

DEG invests 6.7 Million US Dollar in Peruvian train infrastructure

In order to extend the 500 km long railway track from the Peruvian port Callao (near Lima) run by Ferrocaril Central Andino (FCCA), the German Society for Investment and Development (DEG) provides 6.7 Million USD and further 1.8 Million USD are given to the grantee (receiver of the concession). Further allowance can be expected by the American Corporation for Infrastructure Finance (ICIF). These funds are dedicated to convert the trains for the locally conveyed cheaper fuel natural gas.

Jaguar statue discovered at the excavation site of Huaca Partida

The group of archaeologists under the Japanese archaeologist Koíchiro Shíbata recently proclaimed their progress in excavating the historical site of Huaca Partida situated close to the village Nepeña on the Northern coast of Peru. The archaeologists discovered a stonecarved figure measuring one meter in broadth which is simultaneous to those of the ceremonial center of Chavin de Huantar. The excellent conservation state of the relief - which is said to have been constructed between 800 and 700 BC - gives further material for researches on the Cupisniquean Culture (1800 BC to 500 AD) who once settled there as well as further comparison to the Chavín Culture (800-400 BC). Since the excavation started two years ago, 10 % of the in three steps constructed ceremonial center has been researched.

Peru's Nature Reserves

Peru is a country with one of the most diverse flora and fauna on earth. In order to preserve them the Peruvian government has declared 10 zones as National Parks as well as 11 areas Nature Reserates. For further information about location, extension, existing plants and native animals of the national parks and nature reservates peruline worked out an overview that can be visited on our pages.

Links:
To get further information about situation, expansion, native flora and fauna of the national parks and nature reservates please visit our new category "Nature Reserves" on our homepage.

Festivities and celebrations around Cusco

Also during the assumed quiet season there is a lot going on in Cusco. Especially in the time around Christmas as well as in January and February various religious and traditional happenings take place in and around Cusco.
For the holiday on December 8 several villages around Cusco organize celebrations, dances and even bull fights.
On Christmas evening Cusco's Plaza de Armas will convert into a typical market, bringing together artists and artisans from all over Southern Peru offering they ceramics, jewelry and textiles.
On January 6 the Christmas festivities will come to an end. Various theater performances will portray the visit of the three Magi at the Jesus' cradle.
Some events will also be hold in honour of the Virgen de la Candelaria (Candlemas).
From February 20 until March 9 carnival will dominate the region. The celebrations are colorful and cheerful and traditions vary from village to village.

Links:
For your stay in Cusco we warmly recommend our partner hotel Picoaga Hotel.
If you are interested in knowing further details to any of the mentioned or other celebrations, please just write us an e-mail to info@peruline.com

Hotel Maury and the invention of the Pisco Sour

We are delighted to welcome a hotel with long tradition in Peru in the peruline family!
The Hotel Maury is located right in Lima's center, 50 meters away from the Plaza de Armas so that all sights of the historical center can be easily reached by foot. Until the 80ies it has been the most famous hotel in town and reopened its doors again in the year 2000 in a new style that by far exceeds the standards of a 3*** hotel.
The 64 rooms and 12 suites are equipped with telephone, TV, internet access as well as heating and air conditioning. The hotel takes you on a culinary trip meeting all its guests' wishes. Choose between the exquisite hotel restaurant "Salon de los Espejos" (mirror saloon), the Chinese restaurant "Chifa Maury" or fast food in the self service restaurant "Maury Express". You may also want to try the Pisco Sour in the Maury Bar as nowhere else this national drink tastes more authentic as in the bar where it has been invented. The Pisco Sour is primarily recorded in the beginning of the last century mixed by the Maury Bar bartender combining the grape schnapps Pisco with lime juice, albumen and sugar.

Punta Ballenas Inn on the beach of surfer's paradise Mancora

We are happy to welcome the Punta Ballenas Inn as peruline's new partner. Peru is known for its Andean highlands and immensely diverse rainforest but there is more to the picture - Mancora is said to be the beach of your dreams, not only for surfer!
The first hotel on the beach of Mancora provides 9 rooms and two suites and not only lures with its wide territory but especially with its excellent personal service. With the auspicious location right at the beach it gives the guest various opportunities to relax. The hotel itself offers a pool in its trimly garden but also a library and TV saloon.
The hotel manager is Chef at the same time and due to his long year experience knows to tell a thousand stories about the region, its history and development. Enjoy one of the Chef's self-created cocktails or one of the culinary deliciously composed fish dishes that are masterpieces in themselves while getting to know more about the land and its people than anywhere else.
Mancora Beach is the perfect place for visitors looking for recreation in a calm environment. The hotel moreover is famous for the whales passing right in front of Punta Ballenas Inn's terraces.

Manu Wildlife Center closes its doors for renovations

According to the owner's information the Manu Wildlife Center will close in January and February 2006 in order to realize its renovations on the main building as well as other parts of the lodge.
Bookings already made for this period will be met without any confinement of services. The guests will be provided with bungalows equipped with hot water bathrooms as usual.
For guests willing to participate on a rainforest program we recommend the Heath River Wildlife Center. On 1 March the Manu Wildlife Center will reopen with its improved program "Manu Wildlife Center and Biotrip - from the Andes to the Amazon River".

Casa Andina Puno: Seasonal closing of two hotels

The Casa Andina Puno Tikarini will be closed from 2 December till 1 January due to seasonal shortages and in the continuing the Casa Andina Puno Plaza will be closed from 4 January till 10 February. One of the hotels though will always be at your service during that time. After that both hotels will be at your disposal with the usual Andean flair and excellent service.

Gran Hotel Chiclayo welcomes Chilean Airforce

Invited by high rank members of the Peruvian Airforce FAP (Fuerza Aérea Peruana), a delegation of the Chilean Airforce (Fuerza Aérea Chilena) visited our partner Gran Hotel Chiclayo. While the guests were served some delicious Peruvian specialties at the hotel restaurant "Huaca de Oro", they enjoyed a colorful show with typical dances like the Marinera and the Tondero. Both the representative of the Peruvian as well as the Chilean Airfore were enchanted by the personalized service and the warm welcome they were given. Once again the Gran Hotel Chiclayo was able to prove that it can easily also accommodate special guests and that it is the city's best hotel.

Rainforest: The Tambopata Reserve

Puerto Maldonado is the capital of the province Madre de Dios and is located on the mouth of the river Madre de Dios and the Tambopata River.
The province Madre de Dios is one of the regions with the highest biodiversity on earth and is home to three major Nature Protection Areas: the Manu National Park (declared World Natural Heritage by the UNESCO in 1987), the National Park Bahuaja-Sonene and the Tambopata Nature Reserve which shall be presented in the following.

As a perfect place for watching butterflies the Tambopata National Reserve is home to 1265 different species. Furthermore more than 600 bird species, 90 mammal species and 120 reptiles and amphibians as well as innumerable species of insects turn the nature reserve into a paradise for nature fans. Watching the sloth or the anteater, the tapir or one of the many monkey species is probably an unforgettable experience. A special highlight of its own is moreover the bird hoatzin (opisthocomus hoazin) who attracts attention due to his body size and its displeasing odor. Scientists claim it to be a descendant of the famous stone age bird Archaeopteryx. Anyway they are th Hoatzin

e only existing cudding birds.

Starting at Puerto Maldonado it takes about one hour with the boat along the Tambopata River passing various vegetation zones until diving into the colorful world of the 274,690 ha territory rainforest.
Lake Sandoval and Lake Cocococha being situated within the Tambopata Reserve are probably among the most magnificent rainforest lakes on earth and give the visitor the opportunity to watch giant otters, caimans, water turtles and many other exotic animal species.
This area is furthermore home to the language family of the Takana.

Trips to the Tambopata Reserve may be perfectly integrated in a roundtrip through the Peruvian South. It only takes 30 minutes by plane from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and there are several flight connections from/to Lima as well as Cusco.

The monkey-whisperer

"¡Rápido, ven!", our Guide Victor whispered and, pulling me behind him, led me cross-country away from the jungle path into the copse - running, jumping over fallen trees and little runnels, passing huge ant and termite dens. Every couple of meters he stopped and listened to the sound of the rainforest before we continued our sprint. To be honest, to me it sounded just equally like all day long already: whistles and twitters of birds, rustling of leaves and the omni-present buzzing of the hive of mosquitoes that had already been accompanying us all day long. Suddenly Victor stopped again, searched the tree tops for a second and eventually showed me, what we had been chasing all the time. On a branch about 6 meters above us there were two red howler monkeys - the largest monkeys that were to be found in this region. While one of them seemed to be sleeping, the other one swiftly climbed and jumped from one tree to the other. Highly interested we observed these animals with their beautiful and shining red-brown fur for a while before we continued our walk.

We had planned to walk to the Heath Pampas, a huge savannah-like area in the middle of the rainforest. In order to avoid the extreme heat of the day, we had only left the lodge on the shore of the Heath River in the late afternoon. To arrive at the grassland before sunset we had to hurry up a little. But our hike hadn't lasted for a long time when Victor suddenly stopped again. He repeated the strange whistle, that he had already let off earlier a few times. But this time something answered with just the same sound. Victor advised us not to move and not to make any noise before he repeated his whistle. Again, something answered in the same way and a second later we could already see moving leaves and branches and some dark shade, that seemed to fly from tree top to tree top - capuchin monkeys! Obviously Victor's whistling had attracted some of these cute little monkeys. But as soon as they saw us and realized that we, apparently, were none of their relatives, they turned around and disappeared to where they had come from earlier. I was deeply impressed. Not only by the experience of seeing so much wildlife within only a couple of days, but even more by our guide Victor. He had the ability, to identify the sound of moving leafs and branches, a howl in the distance, the singing of birds or the whistling of monkeys immediately and witho Sunset Heath Pampas

ut even thinking connected them to the respective animal. I didn't even manage to have my grandma's dog do what I want it to and Victor was able to attract a group of wild capuchin monkeys with a single whistle!

Eventually we continued our walk towards the pampas and after one hour and a half of leisurely walking we left behind us the dark rainforest and stepped out into this savannah-like grassland. After another 10 minutes we reached an observation platform from where we were able to enjoy the amazing sunset with all its shades of red, pink and blue. We decided to return before it would get absolutely dark.
Again, Victor astonished me with his instinct and experience that, it seems to me, all indigenous people have, that grow up in the rainforest. With his flashlight he illuminated the path and discovered - within split seconds - spiders, toads and scorpions, that I probably wouldn't have even notice at daylight and if I had stepped onto them. It was pitch-dark by the time we arrived back at the lodge. But after this eventful day we enjoyed sitting in the lobby of the Heath River Wildlife Center, having a cool drink and listening to the noises of the never-sleeping jungle around us.
(Written by Katrin Mistelbauer)

... that Peru is home to 3700 different species of butterflies and with this occupies the first place worldwide?

... that the sloth living in the Peruvian rainforest measures up to 50 cm but only weighs 5 kg?

... that the railway track from Callao to the Andean highlands is on 4800 meters above sea level and passes 69 tunnels as well as 67 bridges?

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:
- Callcenter in Germany and delivery of information material free of charge
- Route planning for individual travelers
- Help with reservations info@peruline.com
- Information about hotels, lodges and language schools
- Suggestions for trips in Peru and useful links on our web site www.peruline.com
- Organization of press trips
- Photo archives

Our monthly newsletter informs you about the latest Peru news. The topics of this newsletter have been choosen by Sabrina Mc Fadden.
If you have suggestions and ideas for our newsletter, we would be pleased to receive your e-mail. Your feedback is welcome! We also thank you for your comments about our web page.
Please also visit our tourist information service for Ecuador www.ecuadorline.com and for Bolivia www.bolivialine.com.

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2005