Traveling To Peru? Don't Fly United!

If you are planning a trip to Peru any time soon, you definitely do not want to miss this piece of information. After all, there are more than a couple of ways to get there.

Since the merger between Continental Airlines and United Airlines, nothing has gone smooth for these 2 major U.S. carriers. Continental Airlines was my go-to carrier for traveling to Peru, South America and Europe. But, things have changed. Booking my latest flight to Lima, Peru was nothing short of a nightmare. "Computer System Merger" they now call it. 3 days, 15 hours of talk-time on my cellular, more fees and charges than expected, and really nothing to show for.

Customer Service representatives kept blaming each airline's prior system for the mishaps. They were unable to perform tasks that once upon a time seemed basic, such as transfer of miles between one account to another -in the same family and household-, booking a reservation, or issuing a refund for Pete's sake. Again, the whole experience was nothing short of a nightmare.

My prefered carrier nowadays between San Francisco, California and Lima, Peru is LAN Peru Airlines. They have a direct flight between those two destinations, unlike any other carrier, unless you were flying out of Miami, Houston or Newark. That's it. They are still in the "old-school" airline mode: complimentary adult beverages and above-average meals, not to mention more personal space around you. However, not everything is rosey, as you might expect. Carry-on luggage can not exceed 8 kilograms -17.5 lbs-. But if you are like me and travel only with carry-on luggage, that could be a challenge.

Sand boarding is Quickly Becoming Very Popular

Sand boarding is not a very old activity in Peru. In fact, only recently has begun to acquire a massive following not only from local Peruvians, but from tourists around the world as well.

The most popular sand boarding spot in Peru is located in Ica, 300 kilometers south of Lima. Within Ica, one of the most beautiful spots to sand board is right around Huacachina, a beautiful oasis with beautiful sand dunes. Here, sand boarding is not the only activity, as visitors and adventure seekers can indulge in dune buggies, ATV's and even dirt biking. Not to mention all the awesome activities you can engage in, at the Huacachina Lagoon.

However, another up-and-coming sand boarding spot has recently been established in Acarí, Arequipa, where Duna Toro, or Toro Dunes, claims to have the longest descent in the world! Although way further south from Lima than Ica, if your travels take you around Arequipa it would be a great add-on stop to your plans.

Tour companies, lodging and transportation companies abound in these locations so I recommend you plan ahead and shop around for better prices and offerings.

You will definitely not be disappointed with these adventures, which are guaranteed to thrill the entire family or traveling group.

A Myriad of Activities in HATUN MACHAY

HATUN MACHAY

Is a mistical rock formation area high in the Black Mountain Range in northern Peru. The word, which is quechua -the native Inca tongue- means "Big Cave". This area was formed by the erosion caused by the elements over thousands of years, and it is now home to the biggest rock climbing school in Peru and an impressive geologic attraction.

The activities in which we could engage here in Hatun Machay, at almost 14,000 feet above sea level, range from rock climbing, mountain biking, trekking, backpacking, camping, kayaking and much more. All these in the Area called Callejón de Huaylas, definitely one of the most beautiful in the country.

The beautiful town of Huaraz is the center of the region, from which we could depart onto a huge variety of adventures. Hatun Machay is one and a half hour from Huaraz travelling on a mix of roads until we arrive to a rustic shelter which can house up to 50 people. Here is where we set-up camp and begin our fascinating adventures. The refuge -which has a kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, cafeteria, etc.- also offers climbing equipment rental at nominal fees.

Once here, what we, outdoor and adventure lovers can do, is nothing short of paradise due to all the different activities we can engage in. It truly is an adventure-seeking "amusement park"!

As you may have gathered from some of our previous writings, we definitely favor the "path less traveled", and this area is definitely one of them. We do not like crowded areas at all, but how long will these uncrowded areas of Peru continue to be like that, is a question we can not answer. With Machu Picchu having being named one of the 7 Wonders of the World, and the Amazon just making the list of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World a couple of weeks ago, more and more adventure seeking travelers will flock to Peru. One of our objectives here at Outdoor Peru, is to let you -our avid reader- know about those not-so-well-known gems in Peru.

If you have any questions about getting to Hatun Machay, or any of the different activities while here, please let us know in the comments section below.

Enjoy!

PERU: Adventure Traveler's Paradise

Peru has been enjoying a huge influx of visitors, thanks in part, to increased promotion overseas by the Tourism Ministry. When we say that Peru is a true adventure-traveler's paradise, we mean it whole heartedly.

As proof of our word, enjoy the following video which serves as testament of our statement.

Peru Land of the Inkas from Outdoor Peru on Vimeo.

CUZCO

What can we say about Cuzco that has not been said or done already? Very little indeed. However, here at Outdoor Peru we are going to take you on an unforgettable journey not many people know about.

Without a doubt, one of the highlights of most visitors to Cuzco is the Inca Trail as one of the options of arrival at Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is now limited, by Peruvian tourism authorities to 500 people per day, and permits have to be secured months in advance. With 500 people per day, and taking into consideration the time it takes to arrive to Machu Picchu, it is not surprising to have literally a couple thousand people on the trail on a daily basis. I do not know about you, but to me that is extremely crowded for an adventure which is supposed to fill me with serenity, peace, beauty and at times, solitude.

We have found a wonderful alternative to the Inca Trail. It is the Salkantay to Machu Picchu route. The Salkantay trail, also built by ancient incas, goes alongside the gorgeous Salkantay glacier. The views are stunning, the descent into the jungle with flocks of parrots and macaws flying over-head, the coffee plantations, and the spectacular flora and fauna make this trip one to remember.

The guides we found by tour specialists Munaycha Aventura were simply superb. Not only was their service impeccable, but their knowledge and insight of the area and history make this trip a must for everyone interested in visiting Cuzco.

Covering everything Cuzco has to offer in one article would not do justice to the majesty of the region and the city. Thus we have decided to break them into several areas of focus by activities and attractions. Keep checking back as we will continue to bring you the best of what Cuzco has to offer.