The town of Huacachina is located quite close to other areas that are popular with tourists such as Cuzco, Arequipa and Nazca.  There are also quite a few activities to participate in while staying in this oasis town.  Dune buggy rides are a popular activity with many tourist operators offering the opportunity to ride up and around the huge dunes that are present around the township.  The area also hosts sand surfing competitions with tourists able to hire sand boarding gear to try the sport for themselves.

As well as the activities in the town of Huacachina this area is also a great place to base yourself if you are planning on seeing the Nazca lines.  The town of Nazca and the famous Nazca lines and desert pictures are located quite close to the oasis town which makes it easy for day trippers to experience the mystery of the Nazca.

The Nazca lines and pictures were thought to have been created in the time that the Nazca Indians inhabited this area.  The lines and shapes would have taken some time to complete due to their size and detail.  There are many theories about why these lines and pictures were created but no one is quite sure why they were done.  The best way to see the lines and the pictures is to charter a plane or organise a flight through the many tourist companies that are located in Nazca.  The flight over these ancient and mysterious lines and pictures is well worth the money you will pay.

This city has a cruel and sad history with many indigenous Peruvians loosing their lives to the mining activities that made this town.  After the Spanish had moved in and taken this area the local people were used in the mines to extract the rich sources of mercury and silver.  This activity was dangerous and many people lost their lives.  The current town of Huancavelica was founded officially in the late 1500s and has definite colonial history that is reflected in the many buildings and churches that are present in the town area of Huancavelica.

Tourists that are planning on visiting this area of Peru should think about visiting during the dry season which is between May and October.  This area can be very cold with wind coming off the tops of the mountains.  Apart from the colonial style influences of architecture Huancavelica also has great little markets and many activities that are centred around the main square in the middle of town.

The accommodation is quite reasonable and the prices are quite cheap compared with other areas of Peru.  To cater for the tourists that move through this area during the dry season there are a few great places to eat and as with the accommodation much of this is located in the town centre.

Huancavelica is a great place to visit especially for those travellers who are looking to add to their Peru experience by travelling somewhere that is a bit off the beaten track.  Many tourists don’t visit this area as sometimes it can be quite a challenge to organise travel to Huancavelica but those who persevere will be rewarded with an experience that will be both memorable and rewarding.

The Rio Amazonas was brought over to Peru from Scotland in the early 20th century and has been fitted out for day cruising and also has accommodation for those travellers that are looking for a longer paddle boat experience. The river boat is the traditional wood panel boat with three levels of accommodation and plenty of space for travellers.

The Rio Amazonas has weekly cruises along the Amazon River to the boarders of Brazil and Columbia.  They offer a range of activities and experiences for tourists which is sure to suit most tourists.  The staff on board conduct activities such as wildlife observation and fishing as well as stop offs at local communities where travellers can meet local people and enjoy traditional food and dance.

The river boat has a maximum capacity of 40 guests at any one time so it is advised that you book ahead to get a place.  The accommodation is basic but does offer backpacker style or a master suite cabin.  If you are looking for something a little different to do on your next trip around the Peru area then this might be something different to experience.

The World Bank has money set aside each year to fund environmental projects all over the world.  This year there were 26 winners including Gold and his team each receiving money to fund projects that it is hoped will benefit the environment.

The extinct glacial area that has been chosen as the site for the project is the Chalon Sombrero which in its day provided water for the valley below and several rivers in the area.  The theory of the project is that the white surface on the top of the mountain will reflect the sun’s rays which should in theory cool the area around the mountain top.  The simple science behind the idea is that a change in the albedo (or reflectivity of a surface) means that the surface doesn’t absorb as much heat and doesn’t emit as much infra red radiation which is a problem when it heats greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Many of the people who live near the glacier and have watched it slowly melt away are optimistic that the white paint may cause a return for the glacier.  The villages in this area rely on water from melting glaciers as well as melting snow so any idea that can return some of the extinct glaciers will also potentially return life to some of the villages that rely on this water.

Although there are some people who feel that this project is not the best way to spend the grant money, we will all have to wait and see whether the white paint is enough to change the microclimate on the mountain and promote new glacial ice forming.

President Obama congratulated the Peru President for his countries handling of the economic crisis on a local level.  The US President was especially impressed by Peru’s successful economic gains in what has been a difficult 12 months for world economies.

Although the meeting was only a short one, going for just over half an hour both Presidents where able to discuss the important issues of the financial crisis and the cooperation between these two countries.  Peru has had a bilateral free trade deal with America since January 2009 and this is set to continue into 2011.

Peru’s President is keen for countries in Latin America, including Peru to become stronger in terms of their democracy.  Talks between Peru and America will continue into the future as Peru looks set to move forward as a vibrant economy that embraces technology and investment.

Not everyone was pleased with Peru’s President visiting the United States.  Protestors supporting the rights of Indigenous Peruvians and also a ban on the extraction of oil from the Amazon region were vocal outside the white house during the talks.

Clinton has a very full schedule during this trip which included meetings in many of the larger south American countries including Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.  America’s support of these countries and financial aid are related to much of the discussions with these countries.

One issue that has been ever present during this trip is the issue of allowing Honduras to rejoin the regional block after their recent coup.  The US is arguing that Honduras be allowed back into the organisation with the current president coming to power after the latest elections.  Many countries including Brazil and Nicaragua oppose this move by the US and support a reinstatement of the oust president who is now in exile from the country.

There are many other items on the agenda which involve the US and countries in Latin America which include the new immigration laws in Arizona, the US gaining support for new UN penalties on Iran over its nuclear program, the ever present drug trade that comes from countries in this area of the world and discussion over growing issues of endemic crime and violence.

Although not an official agenda item the new immigration laws in Arizona have caused some concerns to the countries of people who move to the US for work.  Latin America sees these new laws as racial profiling and the laws also make it illegal for immigrants that are not in citizens of the US to solicit work.  There is some support for this new law even though the US President conceded that the law is “poorly conceived” and “not the right way to go”.

One of the main agenda items is for the US to gain support from these countries over the UN penalties for Iran over there nuclear program.  Backing by countries in Latin America would be a boost for the US and the UN as Brazil and Turkey had just recently worked together with Iran the put in place agreements to avoid new penalties.

Currently Mexican and Colombian drug lords as well as the Shining Path Guerrillas are fighting for control over this growing drug trade in Peru.  Most of the product that is grown and produced in Peru is smuggled into the US and parts of Europe.

Many of the people in government and law enforcement in Peru realise that stopping the growing and smuggling of drugs in their country is seemingly  impossible but efforts can be made to slow the trade down by finding crops and removing or destroying them.  In Colombia anti Narcotic forces, funded by the US, have had some success but the problem with targeting one area means the drug producers simply shift to other areas of the Andes, in this case Peru.

During the 1990s there was a huge crackdown on the growing of coca in Peru and Bolivia which shifted the drug producers to areas of Colombia.  Aerial spraying of crops in these areas of Colombia then forced the drug cultivators to move to many new areas and start once again.

The time line and the activities of the drug cultivators has come full circle with the increase in the cultivation of coca in Peru.  Rebel groups have killed thousands of people through wars with government forces over drugs being cultivated in Peru.

The areas of Peru that are seeing a resurgence of coca cultivation were the areas that had the first cocaine boom in the 19th century after the Germans discovered a way to make cocaine with the coca leaf.  Much of the cultivation of coca is done by local farmers who can get a much better return on cultivating coca than other more tradition crops.

The US government has increased the amount of money it will be spending on antinarcotics aid for Peru which will help fund new Police and allow more enforcement of the current drug laws.  Both the US and the Peruvian governments realise that the battle to eradicate drugs and coca cultivation is going to be a long and drawn out affair.

Many tourists that come to Machu Picchu say that the most amazing moment while visiting this place is when the sun rises over the land of the ancient Incas and it takes your breath away. What can be more fascinating than standing on the top of the mountain range and be able to witness one of the world’s most ancient cities being slowly illuminated by the sun’s rays and revealing an abundance of colour and contrast. This is the time when Machu Picchu looks most peaceful. It can indeed become very crowded closer to noon and may remind you of a hectic Manhattan rather than a secluded, ruined city. Needless to say that Peru overall is an extremely attractive place to visit as it combines jungle, rainforest, cities, mountains and the ocean all in one country.

With Machu Picchu being one of the major attractions, this spot has been recognised not only by Peru by also by UNESCO and is now part of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites which can be compared to the world’s most admired wonders. The attraction is the natural beauty of the site and the touch of the ancient civilisation of the Incas and those prior to them. It is indeed a real heritage of ancient civilisations. Westerners discovered Machu Picchu only at the beginning of 20^th century, which is amazing in itself. However, Machu Picchu is not unique in its beauty as there are similar sites in the area which are as impressive and alike in terms of historical impact. For instance, the city of Caral is another great archaeological and historical site which is a little underestimated. Somehow Machu Picchu has stolen all the attention from tourists. The downside of Machu Picchu and other archaeological destinations in Peru is the lack of modern facilities and amenities for visitors but the experience of visiting such an amazing site outweighs any of these slight inconveniences.

There is a limit of only 200 tourists allowed to hike the Inca Trail per day. Booking in advance is recommended if you do not want to miss out on this experience while in Peru. However, if you decide to travel by train, this is not as highly restricted and means there is not the pressure of having to pre-book a long way in advance. Some planning is still recommended though, especially if you would like to see the most amazing sun rise over Machu Picchu!

In Sacred Valley there is a river running through the valley which is divided into upper and lower sections. Interestingly, Spanish conquistadors occupied the area and the fascinating temples but failed to find the main treasure of the area, namely Machu Picchu. It is like the jewel in the crown of  the Amazon which shines brightly and attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.

There are also some agricultural terraces to be found in the northern part of Sacred Valley which served a basic purpose of the agricultural need of the Incas. Another element of worship for the Incas be found in the Sacred Valley is the peaks of the mountains which are covered with snow. The Incas believed that this had spiritual significance and included it in their rituals of worshiping nature and the gods of nature.

One of the cities in the Sacred Valley that is worth visiting and that is less popular than Cusco is Pisac. There is a track that leads over the mountains to Pisac. On your way you can see religious areas and some agricultural parts. The town is positioned high above the valley and gets as close to heaven as possible (according to Incas beliefs). Next Moray is a remarkable attraction of the valley, which has colosseums that are believed to have been used by the Incas for creating micro climates for growing crops.

There are many more attractions in the Sacred Valley which you should definitely explore in addition to Machu Picchu and they will not leave you disappointed.

Many people come to Peru to see its astounding and breathtaking rainforest which must be explored in order to get a feel of how Incas that came into the area in the twelfth century have explored it similar way. You can choose a more civilised way to explore the Amazonia rainforest which is by boat rather than on foot. Taking a boat ride down the Amazon River into the in-depth jungles is indeed an unforgettable experience. Along the way, you can see how locals perform their daily activities such as women washing their clothes in the river, men sitting near their huts which are picturesquely built on the banks of the river and the children running around. And this is all in the middle of the jungle! The next step is to arrive to Iquitos from where you can book tours to go deeper into the jungle. There are different options offered for all types of tourists – it can be the more budget options such as camping and treking or at the other end of the scale, a luxury boat with on board accommodation (Ceiba Tops) that has all the perks of well-developed civilisation.

When you are in the rainforest, you can experience fishing for famously blood-thirsty fish – piranhas. You will note that it is not the common fishing you would expect, but something  rather unique. Your bait is raw meat that you throw into the murky water. Piranhas vigorously start biting and in a blink of an eye you should have one of those crazy creatures ready to be cooked for your own dinner. Alternatively, you can take a boat to spot special dolphins that are rare in colour and would surprise you with shades of pink. If you are more of an adventurous type, then try to explore Lake Titicaca that is part of the area of rainforest. It is positioned near the border with Bolivia and is indeed a never to be forgotten experience for those who love adventure. The lake area, apart from the view, offers great markets and local shops as well as cosy eateries.

Wherever you go in the rainforest, make sure you acclimatise and move relatively slowly with your journey. It is the Andes and it is very high in altitude which can cause  severe headaches due to change in the pressure. Thus, take one step at a time and if you feel nauseated in the rainforest, try to rest for a day without rushing into another adventure. This can save you from trouble, considering that you do not want to fall over into the pond with piranhas or fall from the cliff.