Everyone knows that Paddington Bear arrived in England from Deepest Darkest Peru. That description of his homeland arises from the dense, brooding rainforests covering large areas of the country but of course that's only part of what makes holidays to Peru so special.

There are the mighty Andes mountains rising up out of the dark green blanket of jungle and the rivers, notably the incomparable Amazon that for centuries were the only way into the heartland of the country. As if the breathtaking scenery alone were not enough to make Peru Holidays the most unforgettable you could ever experience there's more. There's the romance and history of the country. The Incas and the Spanish Conquistadores have left us the most intriguing relics to remind us of their dramatic stories.

If hiking is your thing you can go Trekking Peru and follow ancient tracks to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas which sits on a high saddle between two much higher peaks in the mountains North West of Cuzco. Here you begin to get some idea of the mighty empire of the Incas and the advanced civilisation they created so long ago.

The ruins you gaze at today in awe and wonder lay hidden from the eyes of outsiders for centuries before being re-discovered as recently as 1911 by an archaeologist from Yale University in the United States, one Hiram Bingham. It's due to his efforts, and it must have been tremendous undertaking especially back then, that you're able to see this wonder of the ancient world today and from it learn so much about the Incas and their way of life. So remember old Hiram and his companions.

Not far from the Urubamba valley, known as the Sacred Valley, lies the Regional Capital, Cusco, often spelled "Cuzco". This city was the capital of the Inca Empire from about the 1200s to 1535 when it was sacked by the conquistadores led by Francisco Pizarro.

Although several of the buildings erected by the conquistadores were practically destroyed in a severe earthquake in 1950 most of the old Inca structures survived and their remains can be seen to this day. Your Andean adventure should certainly include a visit to this city where modern life goes on amid so much history.

High in the Andes you must find your way to the highest commercially navigable lake in the world, lake Titicaca, 12507 feet (3812m if you must) above sea level. It's also the largest lake in South America in terms of volume of water. As you gaze across the lake from Peru the next land on the far side is Bolivia. You can take excursions by boat on the lake and explore its islands.

Of course all of these well known sites such as Manchu Picchu and Cuzco, so rich in Inca heritage and Lake Titicaca too are unmissable visits for all Peru holidays but they are still only part of what this incredible country has to offer.

One feature you can't miss of course because of its sheer size is the mighty Amazon. Whether it's the longest river in the world or the second longest seems to be the subject of some debate. What is certain is that it's the largest in terms of volume of water flow. In fact one fifth of all the water that flows along all the world's rivers flows down the Amazon.

The mouth of the Amazon is in Brazil on the Atlantic coast of South America while its source is in Peru so anywhere in Peru is a long way upstream. Nevertheless the river in Peru is already large enough for quite large vessels to use it and it has long been the easiest means of access to large areas of the country. Today trekking Peru usually involves travelling by boat at least some of the time.

You can spend a whole holiday in Peru on and near to the Amazon or one of its many tributaries. Kayaking is very popular for those who want to get really close to nature but if comfort is more your thing there are various cruises on the rivers with knowledgeable local guides.

In Peru as elsewhere in South America the rain forests are under threat from various factors and you won't want to add to the problems. Tourism has to be sustainable in these sensitive areas so when you look for a holiday company which arranges Peru holidays it's important to choose one that can demonstrate its commitment to sustainability in all its activities.

Peru is a long way away from the UK so make your journey worthwhile by allowing yourself as much time there as possible. It'll be an experience you will never forget.

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The idea of warm lazy days in a tropical beach paradise is sufficient to allure travelers to see Cook Islands. It is the ideal getaway for people like you who would like to have a rest from the demanding way of life with the modern cities. Allow yourself to savor a moment of peaceful relaxation in this great haven.

Scattered from the expanse on the South Pacific are 15 tiny islands each brimming with wildlife. Apart from the immensely remarkable pure scenery, Cook Islands greet you with a Polynesian tradition uniquely molded through a thousand of years. In Rarotonga, the main island, the beaches playfully sparkle as if calling your name. But there is far more to this island than its beaches. You will discover several activities in this island at the same time. Hiking, horse riding, sailing and windsurfing are just a few of the activities tourists can enjoy. All the same, travelers on a holiday in this location prefer to just lay back and relish in the scenery and particularly the food. There are restaurants that offer an assortment of dishes ranging from Chinese, Italian and Continental but it is recommended that you try Umaki - the Island's classic normal Polynesian feast.

Aitutaki also draws in visitors because of the enjoyable coral atoll that surrounds an equally beautiful lagoon. Divers and snorkeling enthusiasts enjoy the glorious coral reef that is home to a colorful marine living. Then there's Atui, an island with limestone caves which is fit for exploration. The rest of the islands, especially those in the northern component, are seldom visited by visitors owing to its distance from the chief island.

The unspoiled beauty of Cook Islands would make you wish you could stay a bit longer. So enjoy it although you'll be able to, breathe from the fresh breeze that gently touches your face, and savor every pleasure that this island has to offer.

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Indian tribes

The main focus of this article is to outline some historical and esoteric subjects related to the area of the Amazon, where is the presence of many native tribes, some of them even unknown to us. The world is more importantly aware of the situation of various native people, who live in isolation, and it is almost unbelievable that animals have better protection than groups of people living freely in nature, if their wish is to stay forever in isolation. A desire to live this way is the legitimate right - the basic right... The situation of these people is, however, appalling even in spite of the UNO's recommendations.

The Madidi National Park

One of the most attractive and arcane natural parks is the Madidi National Park, which was established on September 21, 1995. It covers the area of almost 19,000 km2 and it is on the Bolivia-Peru border in Latin America. There is not even a full list of the flora and fauna in the area, as this place has been explored only a little until now.

The National Geographic classifies this area as "the reservation with the richest biodiversity in the world". The population consists of various groups, of the uncontacted people, too. In our history, Indians were abused by the influx of white settlers, who made slaves of them, and this is the dark side of the Latin America's history, but in North America it was not much too better. Many Indian tribes experienced their worst times particularly in the period of the so-called "rubber industry", when white migrants massacred them often.

During the age when South America was first explored, some historians followed various native tribes that had never come into contact with the white culture. One of such tribes is the alleged Toromona group of people. During the colonization, Spaniards did not have much luck to settle down in the area of the Amazon, where their main goal was to find a secret place called Patiti - an alleged hiding place of the Incas' biggest treasures, which the Incas concealed from Spaniards. There are also some historical records that confirm the fact that the Incas sealed subterranean tunnels in ritual ceremonies.

Toromona Indians contacted the white civilization only in battle. It is known that they supported the Incas and there are historical records about this tribe, albeit it has never been found. One of their chieftains became famous in a battle against Spaniards and records say that his name was Tarano.

Sometimes in the 20th century, Protestant missionaries observed, during their flight above the Amazon area, an isolated group of Indians somewhere near the Madre de Dios River and they came to a conclusion that it could be these Toromona people. However, later - after making a personal contact with them - they identified them as quite a different group (Araona), the number of which is about one hundred and they live in vulnerable conditions; however, they linguistically belong to the same group as the Toromona tribe.

Cordillera Apolobamba is probably the least explored area in the Andes. It is a line of hills - cordillera, the highest peak of which is Chaupi Orco at 6044 m above the sea level. Many people consider this particular part of the Andes to be a place where El Dorado or Patiti can be found. Apolobamba has a unique eco environment with unknown species of fauna and flora. Father Miguel Cavello Balboa wrote about one city of gold and he described Patiti as a place protected by warrior women; he also mentioned the Toromona tribe with notes that it did not have any mercy in killing.

A route from La Paz (capitol of Bolivia) to Pelechuca (a little city in the heart of Apolobamba) takes about 14 hours by bus and civilized people seldom visit such a wild region. This is certainly one of the reasons why this area is known so little. Apolobamba ends with the Amazon forest on its eastern side; many people died here, as they thought that a way to the legendary "lost city" starts somewhere here. Madre de Dios forest starts here, too; if translated, it is the Mother (Madre) of (de) God (Dios).

A well-known British traveler Percy Fawcett made several expeditions to the Amazon including this region (Apolobamba) and in 1914 he met one Indian tribe called Maxubis in the region of Mato Grosso (Brazil). These people were sun worshippers. They showed him some signs to prove that they had come from a much higher civilization.

We can speak about two types of "alienated" Indian or native tribes - 1) the isolated and 2) the uncontacted ones. Whereabouts of the isolated are known, but they refuse to come into contact with us. There may be some information about the uncontacted, but the contact has never been established. The word "contact" is important to understand here, as it means more than just one meeting with a member of the majority race. For example, among the uncontacted is the Toromona tribe, but also Huaorani or Tagaeri, though the existence of the Toromona people requires an independent confirmation.

On January 18, 2007, FUNAI (Fundacao Nacional do Indio), which is a Brazil's national institute for protection of Indians, confirmed the presence of 67 tribes as the uncontacted, while in the year 2005 FUNAI reported the number of 40.

Albeit the Norwegian biologists Lars Hafskjold, who searched for this ethnic group (Toromona), became quite famous by his disappearance (1997), we still know nothing about the existence of the Toromona tribe. However, it is known that Lars had only one goal - to find this tribe, which is a puzzle to many historians.

Uncontacted tribes in South America

Brazil is the country with the biggest number of unknown ethnic groups in the world; their number in a group is about 20 to 400 aborigines.

Bolivia: Sinabo/Kapuibo (Nahua), Yanaigua, Yuqui...

Brazil: Apiaka, Apurina, Arua, Ava-Canoeiros, Guaja, Ingarune, Kanibo (Mayo), Kaniwa (Korubo), Karafawyana, Karitiana, Katawixi, Kayapo do Rio Liberdade, Kayapo-Pu'ro, Kayapo-Pituiaro, Kayapo-Kararao, Kulina, Maku (Nadeb), Mamaindé, Hi-Marima, Mayoruna, Miqueleno (Cujubi), Nereyana, Pakaa-Nova, Papavo group, then Pariuaia, Piriutiti, Sateré, Tupi-Kawahib (Piripicura), Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, Wayapi (Yawapi), Yakarawakta...

Columbia: Karabayo, Guaviare Macusa

Ecuador: Huaorani

Guyana: Wapishana

French Guiana: Wayapi

Peru: Morunahua, Parquenahua, Pisabo

Surinam: Akulio

Venezuela: Yanomami

Paraguay: Totobiegosode clan

Aramu Muru

Aramu Muru, a mysterious door found only recently (1996), can be photographed some 34 km from Puno, a city in Peru in 3825 m above the sea level near the lake Titicaca. After discovering this mysterious door, a wider public became more interested in an Indian legend that spoke of a "gate to the land of Gods". The "stargate" near the lake Titicaca is a stone construction seven meters high and seven meters wide. There is a legend about an Incan priest, Aramu Muru, who belonged to the "seven rays cult"; one day he set off from Tiahuanaco to Cusco with a golden disc that represented the "Key of the Seven Rays Gods". The disc had allegedly controlled openings into subterranean tunnels. The priest disappeared on his way and nobody has ever seen him since then.

Native people living nearby say that strange phenomena can be seen sometimes near this door, for example, high men accompanied by shining "balls of light", or "people" entering into this door and disappearing there. For those who live here, it is clear evidence that legends really contain messages of gods. In addition, there are many historical records about tunnels in South America; these reports appeared immediately after Spaniards found that the Incas concealed most of their gold and used the tunnel system to hide it. Does not the "door" of Aramu Muru look like an entrance into the underground?
http://www.karinya.com/door1.htm

More from history

There are theories about an ancient migration from Asia to America. Nobody denies that the ancient history of South America can yet even today reveal unknown secrets from the time of many years before Christ, and that more civilizations co-existed here. Albeit scholars consider the Olmecs to be the oldest civilization, other cultures like Pucara and Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) are often mentioned in historical relation to the lake Titicaca, from the waters of which Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo arose - as the legends say - who founded the Inca Empire. There is an Island of the Sun with very ancient temple in the middle of the lake.

Before the Inca Empire, the Aymará culture lived here. It is the ethnic group living in part of the Andes, especially in Peru and Bolivia, even today. The heritage of this culture is also Pachamama (Mother of God), who has her shrines in Peru and Bolivia. The Incas absorbed Pachamama as a "dragon goddess" of fertility, but the best translation is "Mother Earth". The Aymará culture, which had prospered near the lake Titicaca already some 1500 years before Christ, left various archeological artifacts here. In the 15th century, the Incas conquered this civilization.

The Incas

Most historians agree that the Incas had 13 emperors: 1. Manco Capac, 2. Sinchi Roca, 3. Lloque Yupanqui, 4. Maita Capac, 5. Capac Yupanqui, 6. Inca Roca, 7. Yahuar Huacac, 8. Inca Viracocha, 9. Pachacuti-Inca-Yupanqui, 10. Topa Inca Yupanqui, 11. Huayna Capac, 12. Huascar, 13. Atahuallpa. The Inca Empire arose in the year 1200 AD and ended in 1535 AD.

People in Peru, Bolivia and the rest of the Inca Empire were not all the "true Incas", but Indians of the Quechua and Aymará origin. The Incas were the elite governors of other race, who were convinced that they had come from a bearded messenger of gods, whom they worshipped as Viracocha. It is known that this is the reason why they welcomed Spaniards with such a great respect; however, they made a mistake and their genocide followed soon. After the Spanish colonization the Indians, who refused to become Christians, were made slaves. The Inca Empire was remarkable by making it possible to build the territorially biggest Empire in the pre-Columbian America and its political center was Cusco, a city in nowadays Peru. The Empire did not last too long. Spaniards destroyed it in the 16th century also because the Empire was undergoing a severe crisis in the time when Atahualpa, who reigned in the North, and his brother Huascar, engaged in combats against each other. Thus, the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, entered into historical records as the conqueror of the Inca Empire.

The Incas, when they understood that they lost in the war, ran away into the mountains. Many of them fell to slavery or were killed by diseases that Europeans had brought here.

Religion

The concept of Viracocha or Apu Qun Tiqsi Wiraqutra and, too, Con-Tici Viracocha - the god of the Incas, was taken from the culture of inhabitants living in the region before the Incas took over. The legend has it that Viracocha had a son - Inti, and a daughter called Pachamama. The legend also speaks about the deluge in which the two Inti's children had been saved - the son Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo (mother of fertility), who rebuilt the world thereafter.

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I've noticed a lot of changes in myself as a direct consequence of aging. Overall, I have a higher level of equanimity than I did as a 30 year old. I'm better at accepting without agreeing with points of view that diverge from my own on almost any subject. I more regularly and rigorously remind myself that my beliefs - even my strongly held ones - are not facts, and that each of my corresponding points of view is simply that. I think I've attained some wisdom (as distinguished from enlightenment) from having my backside kicked and as a result, make generally better choices than I did at 30 or 40.

Three developments have surprised me as I've aged, however. First, my patience regarding some things has actually diminished, which contradicts what I was led to believe by my parents - that I'd become much more patient as I got older. As a result, I now avoid two types of people like the plague: The first are those who uniformly put their own interests ahead of those of other people, including their own families and closest friends. The key word here is "uniformly." The second are people who I refer to as "naysayers, doomsdayers, and dreamslayers." Those people view every glass as half empty and every personal aspiration as out-of-reach or self-indulgent.

The second development is my sense of urgency to accomplish things as my vitality naturally diminishes with age, albeit only a bit. Next year I'm climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. There's nothing magic about this particular goal except as a metaphor and for propulsion. I'm also publishing a book entitled "Redefining Type A" (the subtitle is still being debated). I feel as if I have a long way to go and a short - or shorter - time to get there.

Coincidental to what I do for a living is the third development: my frustration with people who have stopped growing and are OK with that. These are people who seem to believe that the first 25% of life is for growing and the last 75% is for resting. They are who they are going to be. They're satisfied, entitled, bored or resentful. Their skills are outdated and/or their perspectives have congealed and solidified. They pine for the way things used to be and whine about how things are. Many regard themselves as victims and all others as villains. I'm fortunate, however. The people who gravitate to working with me are not those people. My clients are executives and business owners committed to fulfilling productive visions of their lives.

The great business philosopher/consultant/speaker Jim Rohn once said, in describing what he did for a living, that he "worked on issues that matter with people who care." I'd love to steal that and have it printed on the back of my business card. It describes me and my business to a tee.

Here are my wishes for you: Create the life you dream about. No excuses, no blame, no guilt. Do more; give more; spend some; save some. Become the person you have always wanted to be. Establish goals and take relevant action toward their achievement. Measure your progress; make course corrections along the way. Learn from your mistakes, of which there will be many if you're actually doing things. Read the great books. Visit museums. Develop new skills. Make new friends and appreciate the ones you already have.

Most of all, whatever your aspirations, never quit!

My friend and trainer to elite athletes (Drew Brees and LaDanien Tomlinson, among others), Todd Durkin, admonishes and encourages others with the phrase "and then some." You want to be a great leader? Be a great leader, AND THEN SOME! A great dad? Be a great dad, AND THEN SOME! Along the same line, here's my question for you: If it isn't worth doing well, is it worth doing at all?

Don't wait; the time for action is now!!

A couple of years ago, I invoked the name of John Goddard to make a point about personal growth. His name, his life and his accomplishments are worth mentioning again here, for context.

Goddard is one of the world's great adventurers. Articles about him have been written in many renowned publications. At the age of 15, he created a list of the things he wanted to do, see or experience during his lifetime. Among his accomplishments, he visited the Great Wall of China; he attended the Rose Parade; he retraced the route of Marco Polo; he climbed the Matterhorn in a blizzard that was so bad, even the professional climbers wouldn't do it.

Here's Goddard's wish list. Items with an asterisk are those he completed by the age of 74.

The List EXPLORE:
1. * Nile River
2. * Amazon River
3. * Congo River
4. * Colorado River
5. Yangtze River, China
6. Niger River
7. Orinoco River, Venezuela
8. * Rio Coco, Nicaragua
STUDY PRIMITIVE CULTURES IN:
9. * The Congo
10. * New Guinea
11. * Brazil
12. * Borneo
13. * The Sudan (nearly buried alive in a sandstorm)
14. * Australia
15. * Kenya
16. * The Philippines
17. * Tanganyika (Now Tanzania)
18. * Ethiopia
19. * Nigeria
20. * Alaska
CLIMB:
21. Mt. Everest
22. Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina
23. Mt. McKinley
24. * Mt. Hauscaran, Peru
25. * Mt. Kilimanjaro
26. * Mt. Ararat, Turkey
27. * Mt. Kenya
28. Mt. Cook, New Zealand
29. * Mt. Popocatepetl, Mexico
30. * The Matterhorn
31. * Mt. Rainier
32. * Mt. Fuji
33. * Mt. Vesuvius
34. * Mt. Bromo, Java
35. * Grand Tetons
36. * Mt. Baldy, California
37.Carry out careers in medicine and exploration (studied premed, treats illnesses among primitive tribes)
38. Visit every country in the world (30 to go)
39. * Study Navaho and Hopi Indians
40. * Learn to fly a plane
41. * Ride horse in Rose Parade
PHOTOGRAPH:
42. * Iguacu Falls, Brazil
43. * Victoria Falls, Rhodesia (chased by a warthog in the process)
44. * Sutherland Falls, New Zealand
45. * Yosemite Falls
46. * Niagara Falls
47. * Retrace travels of Marco Polo and Alexander the Great
EXPLORE UNDERWATER:
48. * Coral reefs of Florida
49. * Great Barrier Reef, Australia (photographed a 300-pound clam)
50. * Red Sea
51. * Fiji Islands
52. * The Bahamas
53. * Explore Okefenokee Swamp and the Everglades
VISIT:
54. North and South Poles
55. * Great Wall of China
56. * Panama and Suez Canals
57. * Easter Island
58. * The Galapagos Islands
59. * Vatican City (saw the Pope)
60. * The Taj Mahal
61. * The Eiffel Tower
62. * The Blue Grotto
63. * The Tower of London
64. * The Leaning Tower of Pisa
65. * The Sacred Well of Chichen-Itza, Mexico
66. * Climb Ayers Rock in Australia
67. Follow River Jordan from Sea of Galilee to Dead Sea
SWIM IN:
68. * Lake Victoria
69. * Lake Superior
70. * Lake Tanganyika
71. * Lake Titicaca, S. America
72. * Lake Nicaragua
ACCOMPLISH:
73. * Become an Eagle Scout
74. * Dive in a submarine
75. * Land on and take of from an aircraft carrier
76. * Fly in a blimp, balloon and glider
77. * Ride an elephant, camel, ostrich and bronco
78. * Skin dive to 40 feet and hold breath two and a half minutes underwater.
79. * Catch a ten-pound lobster and a ten-inch abalone
80. * Play flute and violin
81. * Type 50 words a minute
82. * Make a parachute jump
83. * Learn water and snow skiing
84. * Go on a church mission
85. * Follow the John Muir trail
86. * Study native medicines and bring back useful ones
87. * Bag camera trophies of elephant, lion, rhino, cheetah, cape buffalo and whale
88. * Learn to fence
89. * Learn jujitsu
90. * Teach a college course
91. * Watch a cremation ceremony in Bali
92. * Explore depths of the sea
93. Appear in a Tarzan movie (He now considers this an irrelevant boyhood dream.)
94. Own a horse, chimpanzee, cheetah, ocelot, and coyote (yet to own a chimp or cheetah)
95. Become a ham radio operator
96. * Build own telescope
97. * Write a book (about his Nile trip)
98. * Publish an article in National Geographic Magazine
99. * High jump five feet
100. * Broad jump 15 feet
101. * Run mile in five minutes
102. * Weigh 175 pounds stripped (still does)
103. * Perform 200 sit-ups and 20 pull-ups
104. * Learn French, Spanish and Arabic
105. Study dragon lizards on Komodo Island (boat broke down within 20 miles of island)
106. * Visit birthplace of Grandfather Sorenson in Denmark
107. * Visit birthplace of Grandfather Goddard in England
108 * Ship aboard a freighter as a seaman
109. Read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica (read extensive parts in each volume)
110. * Read the Bible from cover to cover
111.* Read the works of Shakespeare, Plato, Aristotle, Dickens, Thoreau, Rousseau, Conrad, Hemingway, Twain, Burroughs, Talmage, Tolstoi, Longfellow, Keats, Poe, Bacon, Whittier, and Emerson (not every work of each)
112.* Become familiar with the compositions of Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Ibert, Mendelssohn, Lalo, Liszt, Rimski-Korsakov, Respighi, Rachmaninoff, Paganini, Stravinsky, Toch, Tschaikosvsky, Verdi
113.* Become proficient in the use of a plane, motorcycle, tractor, surfboard, rifle, pistol, canoe, microscope, football, basketball, bow and arrow, lariat and boomerang
114. * Compose music
115. * Play Clair de Lune on the piano
116. * Watch fire-walking ceremony (in Bali and Surinam)
117. * Milk a poisonous snake (bitten by diamondback during photo session)
118. * Light a match with.22 rifle
119. * Visit a movie studio
120. * Climb Cheops' pyramid
121. * Become a member of the Explorer's Club and the Adventure's Club
122. * Learn to play polo
123. * Travel through the Grand Canyon on foot and by boat
124. * Circumnavigate the globe (four times)
125. Visit the moon ("Someday, if God wills")
126. * Marry and have children (has five children)
127. * Live to see the 21st century
What are you waiting for?
Copyright 2009 Rand Golletz. All rights reserved.

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An international campaign to identify the world's Seven Natural Wonders has begun, with places of natural importance from each continent being ranked by voters around the world.

With such attention on some of South America's most spectacular sights, we thought we'd give a Latin America For Less guide to visiting each place that is in contention for the title of South America's most important Natural Wonder.

The Amazon rainforest is currently ranked in first place as South America's most important natural wonder. It is the biggest forest in the world and is home to the single greatest concentration of life on the planet: one tenth of the planet's species are found right here, in the Amazon.

Visiting the Amazon has become increasingly easy in recent years, especially during a Brazil or a Peru vacation, and thanks to the growth of eco-tourism, it's now possible to visit the rainforest while causing minimal disruption to the pristine environment.

Where To Go

There are many options for exploring the Peruvian Amazon, but the three most popular entrance points are Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado and Manu.

Iquitos, the world's largest city not accessible by road, is a genuine frontier outpost deep in the wilderness. You can only get here by air or a long boat journey, but once you've arrived you will discover a truly unique tropical city, with entire neighborhoods of house boats floating on the river, restaurants serving exotic and delicious jungle delicacies, a lively night scene, and plenty of jungle lodges dotted up and downstream, offering a chance to get up close and personal with the wildlife.

Puerto Maldonado meanwhile is a more accessible but somewhat less intriguing town. The appeal of this ramshackle settlement is its proximity to Cusco, another popular Peru vacation destination. Travelers can leave Cusco in the morning and by mid-afternoon be settled in to their tranquil jungle lodge, a long way from civilization.

Finally, the Manu reserve on the eastern flanks of the Andes is some of the most remote and least accessible stretch of jungle in Peru. This is a vast region of protected land, and is a paradise for the jungle's many native species of creatures, especially birds. A visit to Manu offers a genuine taste of jungle life, one of the few remaining places with large populations of large mammals, including jaguars, anteaters and tapirs.

All three destinations offer similar standards of lodges, although the range in Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado is much broader than in Manu.

However, visitors should bear in mind that Iquitos is a large city, with plenty of economic activity focused around the river. Its size and unique atmosphere make it an interesting Peru travel destination in its own right, but also means that the nearby jungle is not a great place for wildlife spotting. You need to journey for several hours, preferably upriver, to get into untouched territory.

Finally, throughout the Amazon, certain restaurants serve questionable produce, including endangered or threatened species such as paiche (an enormous fish), turtle, and caiman. Although it is technically illegal to serve these species, the law is largely un-enforced, but visitors should consult their conscience before indulging.

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Imaginative travelers among us Baby Boomers are flocking to enjoy Peru. Adventure tours in Peru are taken in some style these days - no more of that backpacking nonsense for us!

Peru has it all. Desert, mountains, lakes, jungle and of course The Galapagos Islands. But before you imaginative travelers get too excited to book your adventure tour in Peru, here are some tips to help you enjoy Peru even more.

Learn just a few words of Spanish before you travel, it goes a long way with the locals.
 
When visiting the street markets, buy something. The locals will appreciate the trade.
 
Pack an open mind in your suitcase! Be willing to try everything especially the Chicha Morada, it's lovely!
 
Be prepared to encounter poverty and squalor but  remember your adventure tour will help some families.
 
Enjoy the opportunities available on your tour. An overnight bus trip is an experience not an inconvenience.
 
Tipping: allow US$18 per week for ordinary tips and tip your Tour leader at your own discretion.
 
Check  your vaccinations and take your preferred remedy as recurrent diarrhea can be a problem!
 
Take out comprehensive travel insurance before you travel otherwise you will have to buy it in Peru.
 
Finally,  do not leave your commonsense in the airport at baggage claims when it comes to your personal safety!

Baby Boomers...an adventure tour in Peru is a trip of a lifetime, take in as many extras as possible. The ultimate wildlife experience must be to visit of the Galapagos Islands. It's so good, so why not?

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Who ya gonna call? -

Where do you buy your cruise tickets to get the best price? Should you buy from a traditional travel agent, an online mega-seller or direct from the cruise line? Surprisingly, when it comes to the base fare, it doesn't make much difference. Price variation is more contingent on qualifying for a particular type of discount; promotional, seasonal, past passenger, military or last minute booking- than on where you buy your ticket. The real variables between booking channels are in the level of service provided during the process and perks offered. So read on to learn how to max the experience while making sure you are getting the best value.

When trying to determine actual price from the advertised price, cruise fares can be almost as maddening as airline pricing. Advertised cruise prices are often misleading and unnecessarily vague. Published prices are always per person based on double occupancy. Additional people occupying the same cabin pay less...usually a lot less. Port taxes and other fees are considerable and are the same for everybody, regardless of category and whether they are the first or fifth person in the cabin. The add-on fees and taxes when combined with the base fare have been known to add 20% to 50% to the total per person, especially on shorter, already deeply discounted cruises. Always remember to ask about price inclusive of all fees and taxes- or note the fine print if you are reading a brochure. Some cruise lines include the added fees in their advertised prices, most do not. Always ask.

How to qualify for discounts -

The most common discounts are seasonal, last minute, military, geographical, past passenger, senior citizen, positioning itineraries, promotional and distressed categories.

Seasonal - Caribbean cruises are typically discounted in the fall. Alaska cruises will be cheaper at the beginning and end of the season (May, September and October). Ditto for European and Mediterranean cruises - avoid the peak months of July and August and you'll probably snag a good deal.

Last Minute - Waiting to book can also lead to a great bargain, especially if you are prepared to depart on short notice, having no strong preferences on which ship or itinerary.

Military - Tell the agent that you won the Medal of Honor fighting alongside Sgt York at the Battle of Verdun and you might get an extra 5% to 10% off.

Geographical - Sometimes small discounts will be available because of where you live - say in Paris, Texas instead of Paris, Tennessee. (Don't ask why - it is something known only to cruise line executives.)

Past Passenger - lines will frequently offer discounts and/or perks to loyal customers -depending on the number of previous cruises with that particular cruise line.

Senior Citizen - If you are over age 55, ask if an age related discount is available.

Promotional - These kind of discounts can rear their pretty little heads for any number of reasons - again, some only known by cruise lines executives.

Positioning Cruises - These are necessary but less popular itineraries needed to get the ship from one seasonal station to another - say, from Miami to Seattle for the Alaska season. These itineraries are available mostly in the spring and fall and almost always offer deep discounts. But be forewarned - these positioning cruises involve long days at sea and fewer ports. This is especially true of trans-Atlantic positioning cruises.

Category Sale - Another frequent price promotion - a ship may be over-sold in one category and grossly under-sold in another; resulting in deep discounts on the latter.

How to get the most perks -

Many times it is as simple as asking! If you are working with a travel agent, have the TA quiz the cruise line reservations department about any and all available promotions and perks on the sailing(s) that interest you. A good, experienced agent will have a long laundry list of possible perks for which you might be qualified. Or, if booking direct with the cruise line, use what you have learned here about booking direct- but you will need to play the role of Grand Perk Inquisitor yourself.

People who are associated with a group of passengers traveling on the same sailing will automatically qualify for some combination of perks- such as category upgrades, on board spending credits, free photo, bottle of wine, private meetings, a free shore excursion, etc.

Tip - What most would-be cruisers don't know is that you only need to be associated with the group on cruise passenger list - not literally. Hence, you only need to find an agency or online consolidator that has group space reserved on cruises that match your desired dates and destination- and before you know it you're cruising in Perk City. Additionally, if the group is a theme group lead by a celebrity- you might find yourself temporarily basking in the glow and glory of one of your all time idols. Imagine the thrill of being part of the Simon Cowell School of Charm Cruise - complete with an in-the-flesh tongue lashing and public humiliation by Mr. Warm & Fuzzy himself!

Many mega-agencies will have hundreds of departures available with blocked group space into which they can slip perk hungry purchasers.

How to keep on board costs low -

Cruises were once all-inclusive - one price paid for everything. Today the cruise fare can pale in comparison to the bill you receive at the end of your cruise. There are so many extra cost options - you need to manage those activities as you go.

On board you have no need to carry cash, a credit card or even your wallet on your person - you are issued one card with a magnetic stripe that does triple duty as your room key, on board spending card and boarding pass. You can purchase anything on board with this little piece of plastic convenience in your pocket- alcohol, soft drinks, gift shop items, shore excursions, photographs, spa treatments, art work, surcharges for alternative restaurants, internet access, ship to shore phone calls- you can even buy chips for gambling in the casino.

Tip - many ships now allow real time access to your on board spending tab at any time from the closed circuit TV in your cabin- displaying a current, up-to-the-minute running total - with details for each line item. So, you can rein in spending if it appears to be getting out of hand. Plus, you can call the front desk at any time to dispute an item if you think the charge is incorrect or excessive for any reason.

Tip toe lightly through the minefield of extra costs -

Alcoholic beverages - Booze is always at extra cost with prices running about what you would expect to pay for similar service in a moderately upscale on-shore establishment.

Sodas - priced from $2 to $4 per soda depending on ship and cruise line - if you consume soda daily best bet is to buy the flat rate "unlimited sodas" option for duration of the cruise.

Wine - always at extra cost with prices running about what you would expect to pay for similar in a moderately upscale on-shore establishment - there will be some "freebies" like at the Captain's Welcome Aboard party or a complimentary bottle if it is your anniversary.

Specialty & Alternative restaurants - most have surcharges of $15 to $40 per person per reservation - the average being about $30. In our opinion the price is well worth paying for a night or two - especially if you want to experience elegant, high-end dining at a level that could easily cost $100 or more per person in a similarly upscale shore side establishment.

Internet access - Available on most ships, you can purchase a basket of minutes for a fixed price. To economize on these dearly priced minutes, read and compose email offline - then log on just for sending and receiving.

Ship to shore phone calls - forget about it! Charges run $2 to $3 PER MINUTE! Buy the Internet access plan instead - then use Skype from your laptop. Plus, your regular cell phone will work on occasion - especially if you are departing from a US port and near land. My Sprint phone usually works just fine from the deck of the ship when within 5 or 6 miles of Miami, Ft Lauderdale or any US island like St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, etc.

Coffee bar - Although regular coffee at meals is included in the cruise fare, you are charged extra for specialty coffees such as espressos and cappuccinos - priced at about what you would expect to pay at Starbucks.

Photos/videos - They are grossly over-priced but it's a captive audience, so they can get away with it. Even so, you might want to go ahead and buy one or two. My spouse and I always like to get a classy shot of us all dressed up in our matching pink satin bib overalls on formal night.

Shore Excursions - another huge profit center and usually way over-priced - but there's good news; there are now highly reputable and reliable third party options that can save you a ton of money. Shoretrips.com is a good example.

Art Auctions - Usually held on days at sea to insure a captive audience, these events are intentionally set in a high trafficked public place to guarantee that innocent victims strolling by will be sucked in by the slick, silver-tongued Art Auction barker. You are cautioned to hold your hand firmly over your pocketbook when in proximity, as well as averting your eyes, humming loudly to yourself to drown out the beguiling sales pitch. It is our personal theory that these Pimped Up Picasso Pushers may be a contributing factor in the recent rash of suicides by jumping overboard. But, that's just us.

On Board Shopping - What started out years ago to be just a storage closet with a Dutch door - only open for business for an hour or two each day - primarily for elderly passengers to stock up on essentials such as Denture Cream and Preparation H (sold separately so as not to be confused) has now morphed into mega-malls to rival those of a small city. And, the deals have gotten better and better - with volume has come lower prices - sometimes even lower than shore side because of the lack of taxes.

Tip: Merchandise often goes on sale during port visits - if local authorities allow the shops to stay open while in port - as well as on the last day of the cruise. If you can wait to buy that tacky tank top that says "I went down on the Titanic", you might save a few bucks.

Gratuities - This is another aspect of cruising that has changed drastically over the years - from no tipping, period...to no tipping required...to "you'd better tip if you ever want to see your luggage again"...to prepaid tips. On cruises today you can expect to tip - but our preference is to maintain control over who and how much. So we stick with the old fashioned method. Pretending to be Congressional lobbyists, we go around the ship on the last night passing out envelopes stuffed with cash. However, if you are into convenience - go the prepaid route. You can always give a little extra on the side at the end of the cruise.

Gambling - There is a reason why the English blackjack dealers refer to customers in the casino as "punters". For that same reason, our advice is to STAY OUT!...especially if you are easily mesmerized by loud noises, flashing lights and shiny objects going around in circles (NASCAR fans...are you paying attention?)

Tip: Occasionally people just have to test Lady Luck. If this is the case, set aside a fixed amount of money - an amount that you can afford to lose - and when that is gone, casually sip the last of your drink - but NEVER eat the ice; nervous, out-of-control ice eaters have been known to snow in their pants - then slowly but humbly stagger away from the table with downcast eyes, pockets turned inside out. Your dog will still love you.

How to earn a free cruise -

It is a well known secret that cruise lines offer a "TC" - or Tour Conductor berth - to travel agencies booking groups. With most cruise lines the ratio is one free for every fifteen full fare paying passengers traveling on the same cruise. The sixteenth person pays only the taxes and fees. (Note that only the first two people occupying a cabin are credited towards the TC- third and fourth people sharing a cabin at a discount rate don't count- so you can't stack-the-deck by cramming five people into each of three cabins.)

Tip - There several ways to leverage this offer - and most travel agencies will work with you on this. Give the credit away to a fellow cruiser; use it to defer your own cost of cruising; tell your travel agent that you want the credit to be an overall discount for the group- or, like a bankrupt CEO bailed out by tax payer money - skip the cruise, pocket the credit as a cash bonus and retire to your deluxe double-wide on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Pros & cons of booking direct with the cruise line -

Pros - If you know exactly which line you want to take, the cruise line should be able to answer all your questions in great detail and will take your booking direct. You can access a cruise line's online booking engine 24/7 and not have to wait for the travel agency to open for business.

Cons -The cruise line is going to offer the same price as travel agents - you won't save any money on the fare. However, they are not going to tell you about any other cruise line that might match your needs - or have lower prices for the same itinerary. If you register on many of the cruise lines own sites for information, the lines will contact you often. One can receive weekly phone calls and emails for months or years!

Once you've talked with a travel agency, you need to let the agency handle the cruise booking details, follow up questions, etc. (although other cruise related add-ons such as airfare, hotels, car rental, travel insurance, shore excursions, etc. can still be handled on your own - or online if you are a "do-it-yourselfer" and wish to avoid agency service fees.)

If the cruise line knows that you have already reserved space through an agency they are not likely to provide further information. In such case, when called directly, the cruise line will stonewall - relentlessly referring you back to your travel agent for any more details.

Now you are ready to cruise - to max the experience while controlling the costs. But there's more. Coming soon - articles on getting the best airfare; the best stateroom, maximizing shipboard experiences such as dining, activities, entertainment, as well as how to get the best deal on travel insurance (hint: it is usually NOT the coverage offered by the cruise line).

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As you read this book you will have to suspend the disbelief you feel when confronted with my assertions that for at least 5000 years man has been in close contact all over the world. If you have read my other books you will know I have made the case better than any and that there are lots of good scholars who agree with me.

Puma Puncu and Lake Titicaca may provide the proof as a recent research team finally checks out the spires of ancient buildings that fishermen have tied their boats to for millennia. Here high in the Andes we know there were astronomers who also were in Central America where the Earth Energy Grid allowed something fantastic to dovetail with other places including Giza. The Cosmic energy and earth energy in concert with their soulful energy was able to build psycho-spiritual attunements that have only recently been sublimated by most nations or our leaders. Yet these leaders are members of cults or Christian Mystery Schools like the Rosicrucians who use this occult knowledge against us.

I think there is a great chance that it was well understood 15,000 years ago by Andean astronomers who were Kelts and later became Chachapoyas and leaders of the Incas in a time when much of the real knowledge had diminished. High above the clouds they could see the Milky Way formation that looks like a serpent without the glass lenses that they got from the slow moving lava flows and that have been found at La Venta in Mexico and in modern day Ecuador by archaeologists. Quetzalcoatl, Kukulcan, Viracocha, Xolotl and others are the 'travelers' who I think I have proven are Druids through many sources in other books. Here is a little of the Theosophist viewpoint on the serpent or Dragon wisdom that led Central America and included people boarding their kid's heads to look like serpents.

"We read in The Secret Doctrine that fohat, divine messenger, intelligent cosmic electricity, who at the Divine Word proceeds forth to create worlds and the beings thereon, moves in a serpentine course, generates spirals; and this spiral plan of evolution is imitated throughout nature, from the nebulae to the spiral growth of plants. The serpent means divine wisdom, creative intelligence; and Masters of Wisdom are called serpents -- which gives a new meaning to the injunction "Be ye wise as Serpents." Hermes or Mercury carries the caduceus, a wand with two serpents entwined on a staff; the Chinese made the serpent the emblem of their emperors; the Druids called themselves snakes; serpent-emblems called Dracontia once covered the globe and are still found; Quetzalcohuatl was the snake-deity of the ancient Mexicans; dragons are found throughout ancient symbology with the same sense. But we also hear of evil serpents. The Gnostics spoke of an Agathodaimon and a Kakodaimon, or a good and an evil divinity, represented as serpents; Hercules slays Python; Apollo at birth overcomes a serpent, but does it by means of another serpent -- the higher wisdom in man overcoming the lower. The two nodes of the moon, Rahu and Ketu, are called the Dragon's head and tail. So the serpent can represent the duality of human nature -- which is but a copy of the duality in cosmos. A dual geometry may be based on the right and left helical curves. There is the serpent of spirit and the serpent of matter, the heavenly wisdom from above and the earthly wisdom from below, of which Paul speaks so often." (1)

There are many books that Adrian Gilbert, Robert Bauval, Robert Schoch and others have done which show the correspondences between Egyptian and Mayan prophecy. I regard a lot of this as mere rationalization of Armageddon type fear-mongering and 'miss'-story. Inevitably they draw alien influences into the game and often they see it going from Egypt to the Sarmoung Brotherhood rather than having an earth-based prior culture in places such as archaeology does now prove. I have documented these things in books starting with Diverse Druids. The chances of my work getting a real publisher are minimal as a result. Archaeologists do not integrate all the discoveries throughout the world and the media in the US refuses to report on finds such as Yonaguni or tell us why Kennewick Man's site was destroyed. I know 60 Minutes asked that pointed question but I have yet to find an answer as to who did this or allowed it to happen the day before Congressional Bills were set to take effect.

The correspondences of the Mayan calendar with Egypt are real in some ways and I do not throw away the information provided. I do however look for the science to explain these things rather than take the easy answer which fits a paradigm that has fed excrement to us about Elohim or other alien influences for the last five thousand years.

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Forty miles northwest of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, and a city on most Peru travel itineraries, you'll find another town worth visiting: Ollantaytambo. One of the exciting aspects of Ollanataytambo, is its layout, which, constructed by the Inca's, is one of the few surviving towns that has retained its original Inca design. There are four parallel streets intersected by seven cross-streets. At the center of the grid, you'll find a large plaza. And from the plaza you can see huge terraces cut into the hillside beside the town.

Ollantaytambo, is a quaint town with cobblestone streets and typical Spanish roof tiling that adds to its charm. It is often called a 'living Inca city' because of its uniqueness of having added modern amenities to its ancient structure as opposed to replacing it.

Getting to Ollantaytambo from Cusco or Aguas Calientes, below Machu Picchu, is fairly easy, though depending upon how you would like to go, depends upon how easy it is. Taking a bus will take the longest and you may have change in Urubamba, though it will definitely be your cheapest option. If you take a smaller mini-bus you can probably get one direct from Cusco's Terminal Santiago and generally there will be buses going all morning. When the driver has sold all his seats determines when he will leave. So if you don't want to wait around it is probably best to go in the morning.

If you would like to take a train, the journey is fairly simple as all trains between Cusco and Machu Picchu stop at Ollantaytambo. To avoid all the complications and hastles of organizing, we recommend signing up on a tour. A well-organized simple tour that visits all the sites of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu as well as Cusco, will simplify the planning tremendously. Here is a good example of a tour that will visit the highlights of the reason and of course a lot of things are flexible and can be catered to your needs.

You'll have a transfer from the Cusco airport to your comfortable hotel. There will be a half-day city tour of Cusco that day. The second day you will visit the Sacred Valley of the Inca on a full day tour, including the beautiful and culturally exciting town of Ollantaytambo. On the third day you will take the train either from Cusco or from Ollantaytambo (depending on where you chose to stay) to Aguas Calientes, below Machu Picchu. Here again, you can decide whether you would like to spend a night in Aguas Calientes or at the Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu. You can see Machu Picchu and then take an afternoon train back to Cusco or Ollantaytambo or you can spend the night and perhaps another day at the ancient citadel. It's all up to you.

With easy comfortable transfers taking you to and from airports and train stations you'll avoid hassles of taxi drivers who don't know where they are going and who are probably overcharging you. At sites you'll avoid waiting in lines for tickets, because you will already have them in your hand. One thing is sure, when booking your tour, request an extra day in the Sacred Valley, perhaps at a comfortable Ollantaytambo hotel. There is plenty to offer there and you wouldn't want to fly through and miss it.

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There are many unique things to do in Puno Peru. It was an important place for the Incas, and officially founded in 1668 by a Spanish viceroy. It is known as the folkloric capitol of Peru, hosting several festivals throughout the year. Most visitors to Puno are there to see Lake Titicaca which crosses the Peru-Bolivia border.

The Top 5 Things to Do In Puno Peru Are:

1) Lake Titicaca: One Day

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,500 feet above sea level. Inca myth states that the first Inca, Mano Capac, rose from its waters. The Lake is notable for its floating islands, called Uros, that are artificially made from floating reeds. A one day tour of the lake will also pay brief visits to the natural islands of Taquile and Amantani.

2) Lake Titicaca: Two Days

A two day tour of Lake Titicaca includes a visit to the Uros people, walks through Taquile Island and a night's stay with a local family on Amantani Island. This island is populated with Quechua speakers and is host to two mountain peaks with ruins on top.

3) The Yavari Viceroy Steam Ship

This ship was taken to Lake Titicaca in 2,766 pieces. Construction began by the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd in London in 1861 and ended in 1870. The ship was restored in the 1990s and now hosts a museum.

4) Silliustani

Sillustani is a pre-Incan burial ground near Lake Umayo. The tombs were built by the Colla people before Inca conquest. They are built as large, stone towers and were intended to emphasize the connection between life and death.

5) Market

Puno's main market has a very large variety of handicrafts, cloths, food and items you would never even think about. Some of the handicrafts come from Bolivia, and most get distributed throughout various parts of Peru. The market is a good place to buy quality items at discounted prices.

Puno has a fusion of Catholic and Andean beliefs which have created an aura of folkloric mystery that should be on any traveler's itinerary when visiting Peru.

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South America's primary mountain range, the Andes, attains one of its widest points in Bolivia. Here the Andes are divided into two subranges, Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera Occidental. Peaks in these areas are in excess of 20,000 feet. Between these subranges lies the Altiplano which contains the highest navigable lake on earth. Lake Titicaca, which also lies in Peru, is 12,507 feet above sea level.

Also in the Altiplano is one of Bolivia's capitals, La Paz. At 11,700 feet it is one of the highest cities in the world. This region is home to one of the centers of Inca civilization and pre--Inca cultures.

Lake Titicaca is what helps make the Altiplano livable. This body of water is large enough to temper the coldness in its vicinity. Grains have been raised for centuries on the surrounding arable land up to the amazing elevation of 12,800 feet. The area supports a major group of subsistence farmers to this day.

Bolivia has had a troubled history. Aside from numerous internal struggles, the country first lost its access to the Pacific Ocean in a conflict with Chile. It then lost its northern territory of Acre to Brazil in a dispute involving the rubber industry in the Amazon Basin. On top of all that, Bolivia was forced to give up 55,000 square miles of southeastern Gran Chaco territory to Paraguay. Bolivia has reactivated its claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, to secure sovereign maritime access for Bolivian natural gas.

Modern Bolivia is the product of European domination, however that influence has not affected some of the Amerindian population clusters. But these indigenous Bolivians still lost their land as did their Peruvian and Ecuadorian counterparts. However, what made the richer Europeans in Bolivia wealthy was not land but minerals.

The city of Potosi in the Cordillera Oriental became well--known for the huge silver deposits in its surroundings. Zinc, copper, and other ores were found there. Bolivia's tin deposits provided a large portion of the country's export income throughout most of the twentieth century. But in the 1980's, tin reserves declined and that along with weak world prices reached the point where Bolivia's antiquated mining methods forced the industry to all but shut down.

Oil and gas are now accounting for an increasing portion of foreign revenues. Bolivia exports much of it gas to Argentina and Brazil. In return, Brazil is commtted to assisting the development of the corridor between Santa Cruz and Corumba, Brazil, in the southeastern lowlands. It is here that commercial agriculture--especially soybeans--is on the rise.

Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolving disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts, and waging an anticorruption campaign. The country does have its problems, but it also has its optimism.

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Machu Picchu is one of the new wonders of the world, and despite its location in the high peaks of the Andes, it is accessible in the highest style. In one week you can visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes without feeling pressure like you are rushing through things. This is a once in a lifetime experience for most people, there's no need to rush through it.

A quality tour striving to make you as comfortable as possible, with all the little details means luxury travel. In luxury travel and luxury vacations you expect 5-star service, at top value and top quality. Just because you are travelling luxury doesn't mean you don't consider where every dollar is going. If you are interested in luxury service to Cusco and Machu Picchu, you should expect private, comfortable transfers, in order to avoid sweaty cab rides and miscommunications and language barriers. You can expect tours will be private or at least very small numbers. No one enjoys riding around in a giant tour bus, having to wait until everyone is ready to go, and not being able to move through the tour at your own pace. In luxury travel, you can request private guides to avoid those hassles.

When traveling in luxury your hotels are largely the biggest upgrade that you will have. You will be exploring 5-star hotel options, some of which are destinations in themselves. The Monasterio hotel in Cusco, for example is a restored 16th century seminary that is literally on the site of an ancient Inca palace. Staying at the Monasterio is like staying at a museum. Another example would be the Sanctuary Lodge, right outside the gates of Machu Picchu. While thousands of people have to walk or take the bus from Aguas Calientes in order to get to the gate and lines out front, you will litererally be walking out your front door. This is a big advantage as well for those adventure travelers who want to hike Huayna Picchu. Only 400 people are allowed up Huayna Picchu each day so a line usually forms at the gate of Machu Picchu before it even opens. The first 400 people lined up are the ones who get the exciting privilege of summiting Huayna Picchu.

Luxury travel is certainly the most comfortable way to experience Machu Picchu. With little hassle and the best of the best in comfort, style and service you will not be disappointed with your decision to upgrade your vacation and take your time in this amazing part of the world.

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Some time in July I was watching our local TV station, CityTV, and I caught a part of a report about a Toronto couple that had remortgaged their home to start a non-profit community development organization in a small town on the Pacific Coast in Peru. I didn't catch their name or their contact information, only the website: http://www.paraelmundo.org. I used the contact email on the website to try to locate this couple and to ask them for an interview.

I got a response back and met Danielle Lafond, the female member of the couple and co-creator of the project, in a restaurant in Toronto's Greektown and was struck by her youthful energy, idealism and commitment to improving this world. The decision to put their own finances at risk and invest at least a year of their lives in this Peruvian community had a strong impact on me and I am delighted to be able to introduce to you this delightful young woman: Danielle Lafond.

1. Please tell us about yourself. Where are you from, what is your educational background?

I am in my mid twenties, and I just completed a 4 year social work degree at Ryerson University. Before that, I studied music and also worked and traveled for several years as a tour guide in Canada.

2. You have a very strong social conscience. What life experiences have shaped your belief system?

As a woman of color, I've always been conscious of issues relating to racism and sexism, but I became more politically active after moving to Toronto and connecting with others who had similar experiences. I also had many personal struggles in my teens which influenced my desire to help others.

3. When you were young you hitch-hiked across Canada. Please tell us about that trip and what you learned from it.

I left high school to travel when I was 16. My trip took me across most of the country, and I met many interesting people who were leading very interesting lives, making their living in non-traditional ways. It inspired me to follow my dream of making a life, not just making a living. Also, my faith in humanity, in people, was completely restored. I met many people from many walks of life, and almost everyone was willing to share, laugh, talk and open their hearts and homes to me. The
experience left me with a sense that all people share an essential goodness.

4. Some time ago you also went to Cuba and taught ESL classes in exchange for room and board. Please tell us about that experience.

A few years ago, I went to Cuba with no plans, and very little understanding of the sociopolitical situation in Cuba. To me, it was just another island in the Caribbean. I knew I didn't want to do anything typically tourist-oriented, so I ended up at the University of Habana in the summer months, where I worked out deal with someone working there to give me room and meal tickets in exchange for teaching English a few hours a day. I had $500 dollars in the bank, and a return ticket, and I
managed to last a few months this way. It was an incredibly humbling experience, because I saw for the first time how people outside North America live, and I was able to meet and learn from Cuban people. I learned a little Spanish, and fell in love with Afro-Cuban and Latin music. I had been a musician my whole life, but this trip showed me how music could be used to connect with people across language
and cultural barriers.

5. Through your studies in social work at Ryerson University you spent some time in Peru, completing the placement for your degree requirements. Where did you go and what did you do there? What places did you travel to in Peru and what did you learn about the culture?

As my third year placement, I decided I wanted another international travel experience, and made plans to travel with a close friend. I knew that the experience of doing social work in South America was going to be challenging and emotionally trying, so I was glad my friend agreed to do this together. We spent the first part of our time in Peru travelling, along with my partner Josh. The three of us were amazed by the diversity of the country.

We started in Lima, a city of over 11 million people, with distinct neighbourhoods and cultural practices, then traveled to Arequipa and Cusco, Macchu Picchu, Puno, and Lake Titicaca, which each had completely different cultural groups, languages and food. Many of the people we met were Indigenous Peruvians who spoke various dialects of Quechua. Many of them spoke no Spanish at all. The more we traveled, the more I felt in awe of the strength, resilience and resourcefulness of the
people we met, who had been struggling for many hundreds of years, but who are also rich in cultural traditions, food, music, art, history and languages.

6. This time in South America convinced you to stay involved on a more lasting level with the people of Peru. In particular you wanted to do something for a fishing town called Mancora. Please tell us how you got the idea to create a non-profit international development organization.

After our travels, my friend and I ended up in a small fishing community in Northern Peru, 19 hours north of Lima by bus, and about an hour south of the border to Ecuador. Again, we were completely surprised to see another part of Peru so different from all we'd seen thus far. Mancora is in a desert climate, so it is very dry and sunny, and the town has little infrastructure. Many people don't have running water, and most who do only have it a few hours every other day or so. The power cuts out unexpectedly, and safe clean drinking water is not readily available or affordable. Also, there were no social services and very limited access to health care, unless one could afford to pay for it.

The town's dependance on a once-booming fishing industry is rapidly changing to a dependance on tourism. A big El Nino in 1989 caused much grief for the town, which was isolated for 15 days, but it also created a beautiful beach which is now popular with surfers year-round.

As social work students, we were mostly working with women in the community, and we met an amazing couple who had started a small NGO (Non-governmental Organization, or not-for-profit organization) to try and help the people in the community in various ways. My friend and I spent the rest of our time in Peru living and working with them, working and researching what the most pressing needs in the community were. What we discovered from interviewing Mancorians was that
the people in town were concerned about the lack of affordable/accessible health care, unemployment, alcohol and drug addiction and domestic violence.

When I returned from my trip, I began discussions with my partner Josh, a Toronto Paramedic, and with a few close friends about starting a not-for-profit organization in Canada to help this under-serviced community in Peru. The most important thing for me was to be able to provide assistance to the people of Mancora as they saw fit, and not to impose my own ideals on them. The people we worked with last year seemed to feel strongly that having accessible medical care was an urgent need in their community, so this is where we focused most of our energy and resources for our first year projects.

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With all the wonderful places and sights that South America has to offer, it is hard to decide which ones you should go to first. One of the places you just have to see is of course the Galapagos Islands. This archipelago is one of the strangest and interesting places on Earth, located 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador. There are 13 major islands, and five of these are inhabited by humans. The rest of them are home to some of the most diverse species of wildlife ever together in one location. From tortoises, sharks, seals and other land and marine animals, as well as a multitude of plant and birds species. There are an abundance of different ways to see this remarkable area, from cruises, to Eco-tours, you will have no problem finding ways to visit here.

Another must see place to go if you are in South America is the Amazon Rain Forest. This is one of the largest rainforests in the world, and mainly accessed only by boat, because of how dense the forest is. There are many different river boat tours to choose from, and for a truly unique experience, try the Ariau Amazon Towers, the largest and only tree house hotel in the world. This is truly a one of a kind adventure, and the whole hotel and resort is completely at tree top level, above the jungle floor. You can experience a wide variety of Eco-tourist activities here, from swimming with rare pink dolphins, hiking through the rugged rainforest, adventuring up the Amazon river, or simply relaxing in one of them most luxurious hotels in the world the choice is yours. This is one of Discovery Channel's thousand places to visit before you die.

High above the sea and an altitude of over 12,500 feet is another place that you have to visit when in South America is of course Lake Titicaca. This lake is the biggest freshwater lake in all of the continent, and is on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It has some of the bluest dark water that is unlike anywhere else on Earth. High in the Andes mountains, the Inca people believe that their god Virococha was born on the Island of the Sun, one of lake islands. Los Uros, otherwise known as the Floating Islands is actually a man made island, created some 500 years ago by Indians who fled to the lake, and created it out of reeds, which are constantly being rebuilt.

While in this area, another great sight to behold is the ruins of Machupichu, Lima, and the Inca Trail. Be sure to bring warm clothes, and realize that this area is higher in altitude that most places, so you want to take your time and not over work yourself. There are many other places to explore like Patagonia, which stands for "Land of the Big Feet." and was first discovered by Ferdinand Magellan.

With so many places to choose from, the best thing you can do is go online and explore some of the South America travel websites. You can easily find cruises and Eco-tourism adventures, the official Ariau Amazon Towers website, as well as many others. Whether you want tours of Macu Picchu, or go kayaking on Lake Titicaca, or anything in between, you can find something to fit your plans and budget.

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Traveling is something that most people enjoy, especially if you are going on vacation. There are many places where you can go to explore and contemplate wonders that you have never experience before. A wide variety of traveling destinations are available to be enjoyed. Europe is one of the favorite destinations for Americans while Europeans probably are more interested in vacationing over the new world. One area that is generally overlooked but can offer the vacation of a lifetime is South America. The continent offer many natural marvels and sightseeing that you cannot find anywhere else.

There are a couple of things that you must know before heading to South America. Many of the countries in the continent are actually quite modern and civilized unlike what some people might think. One detail to remember is that most people in South America speak Spanish except for in a few nations: Brazil, Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana. There is also a population of natives on each country that speak only their native language. Learning a little Spanish might be very helpful in order for you to communicate effectively. Knowing how to ask directions can make your trip way more fun and less troublesome.

Traveling with the appropriate paperwork is a must. Your passport and other identification are necessary in order to travel to these countries. If you are going with the family remember to bring the documentation of every family member otherwise your vacation can take a bad turn. The use of common sense regarding your safety applies too. Night traveling should be avoided and going to solitary places is not suggested at all. South America has many amazing places to see, one of them is the Angel Falls in Venezuela. You can get to the area by taking a tour in the nearby city of Ciudad Bolivar. Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the whole world and is a sacred place for the natives of the area.

Another place to visit is the ancient city of Machu Picchu. This is most popular city of the old Incas Empire. The ruins of this mysterious place are astonishing and the fact that is in the top of a mountain makes it more perplexing. Lake Titicaca is the biggest fresh water lake in South America. One of the most amazing things about this lake is that is located at an altitude of 3820 meters. The unparalleled beauty of this lake makes it one of the most mesmerizing places on Earth.

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As South American countries go, Bolivia -- high in the Andes and landlocked -- is somewhat remote. That may be why it is not very high in the list in terms of popularity as a place to study Spanish.

Bolivia is a beautiful country, though, offering many natural and cultural attractions. It also has a number of fine Spanish schools where you can learn the language without being disturbed or distracted by hordes of tourists.

Here are 4 good reasons to study Spanish in Bolivia:

1. You can immerse yourself in the language here far easier than in places such as Mexico or Guatemala. Fewer of the natives speak English than in more touristed countries, so you'll be forced to speak the local tongue in many situations.

2. Bolivia has stunning natural beauty, from that of Lake Titicaca to a "hidden" valley where lush tropical vegetation grows (a surprising counter-example to the image of Bolivia as completely high, dry and windswept). Adventures of all kind await you during your breaks from studying.

3. Bolivian Spanish schools emphasize one-on-one and small group learning. Perhaps reflecting the slow pace of life in the country as a whole, their teachers have a reputation for taking plenty of time to make sure each student gets the maximum learning from his or her classes.

4. Tuition for schools in Bolivia is generally lower than it is in other countries in the region.

Information on different Spanish language schools in Bolivia is easily available by doing a web search. One thing you'll discover is that most of the schools are situated in Sucre, a delightful city of 150,000 people, with a mild and pleasant climate and drenched in history. It's also home to a university and many restaurants and shops.

Sucre is a great place in which to study Spanish in Bolivia. Other choices include schools in La Paz, the nation's capital, and Cochacambra.

Whichever city and whichever school you choose, if you're the adventurous type you'll be glad you decided to learn Spanish in Bolivia.

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An exciting Peru Luxury tour will visit all the important highlights of this amazing country. Go to the Amazon Rainforest, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley and Puno and Lake Titicaca, the exciting birthplace of the Inca Empire. Luxury travel means the highest quality service and comfort. It means you will have 24 hour customer service on call and ready to find answers to your questions. An extension to this popular travel itinerary would be a luxury cruise from Puno to La Paz, traversing this famous high altitude South American lake.

Enjoy all the luxuries of a fancy catamaran cruise ship, departing from Puno. One tour is designed to take you across the lake in an exciting full day of cruising. An early morning land transfer will take you to Copacabana Sanctuary where you will board the Catamaran Cruise Ship.

You will sail directly for Sun Island, enjoying delicious snacks along the way. Sun Island is the mythical birthplace of the Inca Empire where the Inca creator god rose from the depths of the lakes bottom to create the sun, the moon, the stars, the land, etc. Lake Titicaca is the beginning of the world in Inca myth. Also on Isla del Sol, you will be able to visit the Inca Garden and the Inti Wata Cultural Complex. There is also the Ekako Underground Museum, where you'll find traditional medicine displays and the Titicaca reed shipbuilder's displays. You'll find the Pachamama agricultural Inca terraces, a handicraft center, and the Intica lounge and the Manco Capac lookout.

This cruise will bring you into the harbor and you'll be in your luxury La Paz hotel by nightfall relaxing after a beautiful day out on the lake. A second cruise option has you spending the night out on the lake. You will still visit Sun Island and be able to experience all the exciting things on off there. In the evening there will be a romantic candle-lit dinner and you will spend the night on board the Catamaran in a a comfortable luxury cabin with a beautiful view of the amazing scenery around you. You will be in La Paz before mid-day on the following day.

You'll be floating on top of the world on this memorable Peru luxury vacation.

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Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, and is the largest lake in South America. It is home to the Bolivian Navy (being the only accessible part of water for the land locked country) and a range of ancient cultures that live on today.

What attract so many people to the lake is the lakes inhabitants that live on manmade reed islands in a process that has existed for generations. While many of these islanders have now moved towards a tourist dependent income, some of the islands are remote and away from the tourist boats that visit - preserving their society and culture.

The Lake is the dividing between Peru and Bolivia, and sits between the route from Cusco to La Paz making the lake a transit hub and welcome break on the long journey. There are direct buses and trains from Puno to Cusco as well as Copacabana to La Paz. Puno also has its own airport with flights in and out of Lima.

The lake is made up of a number of islands that are split between Bolivia and Peru, with them being visit able from the main towns in each nation, Copacabana and Puno respectively. These towns are where the majority of tours leave from.

Day tours will take you to a number of the famous Uros islands where to can see how the ancient cultures still live today. The islands themselves are an attraction, being constructed by a number of totora reeds that grow in abundance at the side of the lake. The islands require constant maintenance to and this process has been passed down over generations. Some of the islands are open for tourist visitors, whose income is dependent on tourism when other are in relative isolation.

One of the most interesting islands is the Island of Amantani. This island is home to a number of home stays and lodges for visitors to the islands. These offer a unique insight into a different culture and society that lives on today that is very different to our own. Be prepared though, as the accommodation is basic, yet the homes are warm and welcoming with some tasty home cooked local food.

After a day of touring the Islands of Uros you may be interested in visiting the small Island of Taquile which is located about 45 km from Puno and is abundant with numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins.

The whole lake area is scattered with a collection of Inca and pre-Inca ruins and temples. One of the biggest sites is the former town of Tiahuanaco, on the Bolivian side of the Border. Interestingly according to Inca myth the Inca creator (Who is also the sun) emerged from the Lake to create the Incan dynasty. Tiahuanaco is accessible as a day tour from Puno, Copacabana as well as La Paz.

The town of Copacabana is the gateway to the Islands of the Sun and The Moon, with cheap public ferries operating the route along with guided tour boats. These islands are also home to a number of temples and ruins which are wonderful to see.

If you time your trip to these islands correctly you can see a fantastic sunset over the lake.

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