• ANDINA/Jack Ramón

• Lima, Dec. 27 (ANDINA). With trendspotters predicting the rise of Peruvian flavors in 2012, the country’s culinary ambassador and local hero Gaston Acurio is preparing to expand his empire with five new brands next year.

  Acurio, who enjoys rock star status in his country for his culinary prowess and has been described as the Jamie Oliver of Peru, is planning to launch five new brand concepts to add to an empire that already spans Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Spain and the US, reported Peruvian press agency Andina.

  The concepts include Los Bachiche, Gringacho, Macambo, Super Chicha and La Chingana, though few other details are available.

  Between 2012 and 2013, his restaurant franchise will open up 20 new establishments around the country.

  His first New York outpost of La Mar Cebicheria Peruana opened to critical acclaim this year.

  Javier Wong is another Peruvian stalwart who’s garnered a cult following for his closed-door restaurant Chez Wong in Lima, which serves what’s been described as the “best ceviche in the world.”

  Meanwhile, Peru hosted an international food festival that attracted the world’s culinary elite, including Ferran Adrià, René Redzepi and Michel Bras, who helped put Lima on the gastronomic map this year.

  Restaurant consultancy group Baum + Whiteman also predicts that Peruvian cuisine -- the source of the world’s “most exciting ceviches and tiraditos” -- will enjoy the culinary spotlight next year, Relaxnews reported.

Archeological sites, Kuelap Fortress are main attractions in northern Peru
 

• Kuelap fortress, in Amazonas. Photo: ANDINA/Jack Ramon.

• Lima, Dec. 26 (ANDINA). Archeological tourism in Lambayeque and Kuelap Fortress in Amazonas are the main attractions for visitors who have arrived in northern Peru this year, Peru’s tourism information and assistance service (Iperu) reported Monday.

  Iperu representative Jose Herrera noted that the tourists have requested information about the location, entrance fees and transportation to the archeological sites in Lambayeque and museums such us the Royal Tombs of Sipan, Brüning, Huaca Rajada and Sican.

  Tourists were also interested on the attractions located in surrounding areas such us Amazonas, especially Kuelap Fortress, the sarcophagus of Karajia and Gocta Cataracts, which might be the third world’s highest waterfall.

  Iperu Chiclayo provided information to some 6,126 both national and foreign visitors from countries such as Spain, France, United States and Germany between January and November this year, Herrera stated.

  Herrera recalled that Iperu assisted 7,315 tourists in 2010 and expects to increase said figure in 2011.

  According to Herrera, Iperu started to promote Ventarron archeological complex -which received Franco-Peruvian funds- as it meets the infrastructure conditions to be visited.
  
  

Bolivian president climbs Huayna Picchu on Christmas Day
 

• Bolivia's President Evo Morales at Machu Picchu in Cusco. ANDINA

• Cusco, Dec. 25 (ANDINA). Bolivian President Evo Morales celebrated Christmas by climbing up Huayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru.

  The Bolivian leader climbed the "young mountain" in a record twenty-five minutes after visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World for the second time this weekend.

  Morales arrived in the Andean city of Cusco on Thursday to spend Christmas with his two sons. On the first day, Morales met with his Peruvian counterpart Ollanta Humala on a range of trade and development issues.

  The eternal guardian of the Sanctuary, Huayna Picchu or Wayna Picchu (meaning "young mountain" in Quechua) towers over the Incan city. To conquer its summit is truly an unforgettable experience. Along the route and at the top are sacred structures and eye catching terraces, built right against the slope's edge.

  It is possible to begin the ascent from Machu Picchu's main square by way of a path the Incas themselves made. Today, it is well marked and in good condition. The view from Wayna Picchu is remarkable: Machu Picchu spread out in all its glory, the Vilcanota River Canyon, and the surrounding mountains.

US ecotourism company develops custom luxury Peru tour
 

• Tourists visiting the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Photo:ANDINA/Alberto Orbegoso

• Lima, Dec. 24 (ANDINA). California based specialty travel company Global Basecamps has developed a new 11 day luxury Peru tour that covers the highlights of the country.
  
  
  The itinerary includes a Machu Picchu tour, and also allows sufficient time to explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley, as well as Lake Titicaca. The Peru tour is custom-built, so it can be revised to meet any travel goals, hotel preferences or time restrictions.
  
  
  The custom tour begins in Arequipa, known as the "White City," located in southern Peru and surrounded by the peaks of El Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Next, it goes to Colca Canyon, which is one of the deepest canyons in the world and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. 
  
  
  Parts of Colca canyon have pre-Colombian terrace fields still supporting agriculture and human life. An expert local guide will provide insight into the people who inhabit the canyon. Travelers spend another day in Colca visiting the Condor research center, watching the birds in flight and exploring the Yanque Church.
  
  
  According to sfgate.com, day four is a travel day to Puno, a city located on the shores of beautiful Lake Titicaca. 
  
  
  The following morning travelers enjoy a boat excursion on Lake Titicaca to visit the Uros Indians, who build their homes on floating islands of totora reeds. The boat ride continues to the Island of Taquile, which is renowned for its decorative weavings. Taquile is an Aymara community where visitors can discover the unique customs of the local people and explore the island. 
  
  
  The second half of the journey begins in Cusco, where there is plenty of time to explore the beautiful city, including the colonial architecture, surrounding ruins, and rich culture. The journey continues to the Sacred Valley, which is located between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The Sacred Valley has incredible Inca ruins, Andes Mountains' views, and quaint towns.
  
  
  The highlight of the trip will be Machu Picchu, which travelers reach via train from Ollantaytambo. The four-hour ascent includes beautiful views above the great valley and a waterfall near the site of Wiñay Wayna. 
  
  
  The hike passes through Inca Trail sites, lush cloud forest, and then joins the main Inca Trail Trek. After exploring the citadel of Machu Picchu, travelers spend the night at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. 
  
  
  The next day starts with an early morning guided tour of the ruins, before retuning to Cusco for the evening. 
  
  
  "This itinerary allows you to explore the diverse landscape of Peru. Peru is a country that never ceases to amaze and inspire, promising to thrill the adventurer, excite the historian, and astound any nature lover," says Global Basecamps' Product Specialist Lauren Hoffman who recently visited Peru.
  
  
  Global Basecamps is a specialty travel resource designed to simplify the process of researching and booking sustainable hotels, lodges and private tours worldwide. 

Peru to hold national fair in 2012 to increase domestic tourism
 

• Tourists iin Machu Picchu, Cusco. Photo: ANDINA/Percy Hurtado.

• Lima, Dec. 23 (ANDINA). Peru will host the first national tourism fair in June 2012 in order to promote domestic tourism providing Peruvians with accommodations and flight tickets to any destination of the country at special prices, Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) reported Thursday.
  
  
  Attendees, which are expected to total 100,000, will have the chance to buy flight tickets for 60 dollars, hotel rooms for 50 soles (some 18 dollars), travel packages an loans to travel at preferential rates.
  
  
  “This fair will encourage the people to travel during the National Holidays and the following months. The main purpose to promote domestic tourism, traveling boosts the economy of a city, a town, a tourist destination, their people and their job,” president of Canatur Carlos Canales stated.
  
  
  Canales recalled that Mexico, with 90 million inhabitants, domestic tourism generates 160 million trips annually and a turnover of 64 billion dollars.
  
  
  “In our country, we hope to reach to 28 or 30 million domestic trips. At present, there is an average of four million trips that have a turnover of six billion dollars,” he told Andina news agency.

• Payment to the earth ceremony in the Sacred City of Caral. Photo: ANDINA/Difusión

• Lima, Dec. 22 (ANDINA). The night of December 31 the 5,000-year-old city of Caral, world heritage located in Lima’s Barranca province, will be the place for a special New Year’s Eve celebration.
  Activities for visitors will start with a night stroll through the archeological site accompanied by lighted torches and music played with Andean instruments.

  
  

  Under the starry sky, tourists will walk along the path taken by Peruvian ancestors, surrounded by millenary pyramidal constructions, Caral-Supe Special Archaeological Project (PEACS) stressed.

  
  

  In addition, the traditional Andean ritual called “payment to the earth” will be carried out on the lower slope of Gozne hill, in order to give thanks for all the blessings in 2011. Also, this ceremony will mark the beginning of the new year with renewed energies.

  
  

  Then, the group will head back to the campsite, where they will share their experiences around the bonfire before going to sleep.

Machu Picchu received over 300,000 Peruvian visitors in 2011
 

• Machu Picchu.Photo: ANDINA/Percy Hurtado

• Lima, Dec. 22 (ANDINA). The president of Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) Carlos Canales said that over 300,000 Peruvian tourists visited Machu Picchu this year, an increase of 35 percent compared to 2010.

  However, Canales noted that said figure is still low despite the increase. “The amount of Peruvians who have visited our wonder is still extremely low,” he said.

  As to foreign visitors, the head of Canatur noted that nearly 700,000 tourists arrived to Machu Picchu thanks to the promotion programs carried out abroad, reported elcomercio.pe.

  “The program launched last year about Machu Picchu’s 100th anniversary has paid off. We have recovered from the losses of February and March 2010,” he said.

  Moreover, Canales noted that tourism sector has had a positive year and, according to official figures provided by the Ministry of Tourism (Mincetur), the arrival of tourists to the country rose 10 percent over last year.

  “The figures have been very interesting. There are revenues worth 3.3 billion dollars projected for 2011,” Canales told RPP.

First Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Peru to open in 2013
Marriott continues growth in Peru with San Isidro hotel
 

• The hotel will open in the San Isidro business and retail district of Peru's capital city in 2013. Photo: ANDINA/Archive

• Lima, Dec. 21 (ANDINA). Marriott International has announced it would develop a 150-room Courtyard by Marriott Lima, under a management agreement with Inversiones La Rioja, owners of the JW Marriott Lima in the nearby Miraflores district, and the new JW Marriott Cusco, set to open in 2013.

  The Courtyard by Marriott Lima, the brand’s first in Peru, will be ideally located in the San Isidro district, one of the most important municipalities in Lima, near to offices, restaurants and retail and adjacent to Parque Murillo and an upscale shopping mall currently under construction.

  “We have 18 Courtyards operating and 11 in the pipeline in the region, and the brand has done particularly well in Mexico and Central America,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, chief development officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America. 

  “We are happy to see interest for this upper moderate hotel brand in South America, where we consider strong growth demand in this segment,” he added.

  Alfonso Brazzini, president of Inversiones La Rioja, said they were very pleased with their relationship with Marriott International and their performance at the JW in Lima.
  
  "We are excited about our hotel’s opening next year in Cusco and felt Lima needed a quality midmarket product. Courtyard by Marriott seems like a perfect combination,” he said.

  The high-rise urban Courtyard Lima will offer the brand’s signature “refreshing business” lobby, featuring bright contemporary design, innovative technology and flexible space. A casual restaurant will be open for breakfast, with a limited menu for lunch and dinner as well as catering for small meetings.
   
  The redefined lobby area allows guests more control and choice over their stay, with services and amenities that create a healthy balance between working and relaxing.

  A signature element of the new lobby is the exclusive GoBoard technology, a 55-inch LCD interactive touch screen packed with local information, maps, weather, and news, business and sports headlines.

  Ideal for leisure and business guests, each room will be equipped with flat-panel television, complimentary Wi-Fi access and feature a functional work area with a multi-level desk that gives guests the space to spread out and work however they choose.
  
  The centerpiece of the living area is a stylish and modern loveseat sofa that also doubles as a pullout bed.

  The five-star, 300-room JW Marriott Lima towers about grand, oceanside cliffs and is the most cosmopolitan and contemporary of Lima’s hot five-star hotels.

  The boutique-style 160-room JW Marriott Cusco, will be located in the heart of Cusco’s historical district, gateway to the mountain sanctuary Machu Picchu, will open in 2012 with a highly customized design built around Inca remains found on the site.

  Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced.  Intuitive services and design accommodate guests’ needs for choice and control. 

  With more than 900 locations in 36 countries, Courtyard by Marriott hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay.

First Domestic Tourism Virtual Fair received 5,344 visits
 

• Nasca Lines in Ica. Photo: ANDINA / INC

• Lima, Dec. 21 (ANDINA). The First Domestic Tourism Virtual Fair, held between December 16 and 19, received a total of 5,344 visits during all four days it was open and more than 10,000 visits since it began its promotion campaign, Peru’s export and tourism promotion agency (Promperu) said.
  
  
  Over 1,800 people registered at the virtual platform to participate in the fair, as buyers or visitors, and to learn the offer of participating companies from the different regions of the country.
  
  
  The fair, aimed at the public in general, enabled participants to get information on travel packages and other services provided by renowned companies of the travel industry through customized stands and chat rooms to interact with an agent of the company. 
  
  
  In addition, visitors had the option to leave a business card at each of the chat rooms, in order to establish direct contact later.
  
  
  In April next year, a new edition of the Tourism Virtual Fairs will be carried out aimed at promoting Peru as a destination among operators, wholesalers and travel agencies of Latin America.
  
  
  The First Domestic Tourism Virtual Fair was an initiative of Travel Update with the support of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Ahora), the Peruvian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Apavit), and Promperu, and sponsored by Movistar.