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Background: Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime. FUJIMORI won reelection to a third term in the spring of 2000, but international pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government; his presidency has been hampered by allegations of corruption.

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By IanMcL
October 10th 2008

Peruvian Amazon to Sacrd Valley

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

IMGP0247

The trip to Puerto Maldonado and ultimately Reserva Amazonica was again smooth. Contours Travel are really coming through on admin. Nice cabin in the jungle, and excursions started with a jungle walk. I crashed and Pete and Chris went on a dusk river cruise and Chris filled her ambition to see a family of capybaras in the wild. Also spotted some caimans. The following day saw a trek thru the jungle and a canoe on Lake Sandoval trying to spot wildlife. Day was completed with a visit to a local family but we believe that it was more showbiz than reality. [View Full Entry]

By ChloeU
September 6th 2008

Inca Project Life

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Painting the wall!

I arrived safely in Cusco and was met at the airport by Care Supervisor Yessika. What I didn´t realise is that it was a five hour car journey from Cusco to Huyro where my project is stopping in Urubamba to go to the Projects Abroad office. After a quick chat with Tim the director for Peru we started of again. The journey involved going over a really high pass (like 4000m) and then back down the other side. I wasn´t quite prepared for how bumpy the ride would be! The roads aren´t paved or anything they´re literally dirt tracks and I´m [View Full Entry]

By Doc Nic
August 19th 2008

The Sacred Valley: just when you thought you´ve seen all the Incan ruins...

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Pisaq market
There are over 30 kinds of corn in Peru. Here´s a sampling... The dark one is used for a tasty beverage with sugar, lime juice, and cooked corn mash. The white is the sweetest and tastiest (especia... [more]

When we last left our heroine, she had just enjoyed a long overdue nap, and was blogging just before dinner. Since we're out here in the middle of nowhere, the choices for dinner are a little limited. Basically it's the hotel restaurant or nothing. As much as I usually hate hotel restaurant food and think it's crap, we gave it a go. It was fantastic! Edwin ordered the alpaca steak, I went with the more subdued chicken in elderberry sauce. Both were great! And we finally got to try alpaca (tastes just like steak but a little more tender). We finished [View Full Entry]

By MONIA AND KIKI
August 16th 2008

Sacred Valley

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Ollantaytambo

We took a day trip from Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First we visited the town of Pisac and its market which to be honest was a disappointment as we found the prices to be higher than in Cusco, so we didn't buy anything, but Monia called her mum as it was her name day. Then we visited the town of Ollantaytambo and its huge Inca ruins founded by Pachacuti, the most influential Inca. Our guide was really knowledgeable and told us all kind of stuff about the Incas including the fact that they were apparently not very [View Full Entry]

By QCLC
July 22nd 2008

Cusco and The Sacred Valley

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Plaza de Armas

Cusco was really our biggest introduction to the impact the Spanish had on the Andean people. Cusco, was the thriving heart of the Andean people until the Spanish destroyed it searching for gold, building churches and corrupting the traditional ways and beliefs of the Andean people. Now, what remains requires you to use your imagination to see, for instance the layout of the stones in Sassaywama to look like a paw print or a llama. Or Cusco itself, layed out to form a Jaguar (a sacred animal to the Inca's). Juxtaposed with the stunning alterpieces and artwork inside the Cathedral gives [View Full Entry]

By Travelling Fraggles
July 19th 2008

Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo & Pisac

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Our room in Ollantaytambo

After visiting Machu Picchu we got the train out of Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. There were plently of taxi touts seeking fares for taking people to Cuzco at the station gate so we knew that we wouldn´t get stuck there. Our initial impressions were that we might not have much luck on the accommodation front - no touts at the station and the first place we asked in charged 90 Soles per room (about 45 NZ), that´s almost double the most we have paid in Peru so far and for that much we´d head back to Cuzco. But we headed to [View Full Entry]

Street seller Marie bought a belt off making them

By Jono Dahna
July 18th 2008

The sacred valley

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

spiky horizons
sacred valley, Peru

On the way to Machu Pichu we decided to pay for a bus tour of the sacred valley and finish at Ollantaytambo, where we needed to catch the train to Machu Pichu from. I felt a little like a sheep in a herd being prodded along, and the challenge of making any sense of the words being fired at me like rapid machine gun fire made my head hurt by the end of the day, but the valley is definitely amazing. It is a fertile valley in the middle of altiplano desert where civilisations way before the Incas grew potatoes, corn, [View Full Entry]

By Neil and Nicky
July 17th 2008

Cusco and the Sacred Valley

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Cusco - Plaza Armas

Nicola: For most of our trip we have been seeing places in the off-season. It has meant the weather hasnt always been great but the tourist sights havent been as busy and things have generally been cheaper. However, at the moment Peru´s high season is just getting under way. Hotels and bus comapnies put up their prices which is annoying but it also means there are hundreds of fantastic festivals and celebrations going on. We have been really lucky that every Sacred Valley village that we have wandered into has had some brilliant, loud and colourful dancing going on. It all [View Full Entry]

By kath amy
June 26th 2008

Chawaytiri Community - Peru

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Shaman

So . . we survived the Inka Trail, (yippee), but first things first . . . As we haven't been able to talk, we have a lot to catch up on. Let's introduce you to our special group of new friends- the Llamas. One would think when joining with a tour group, you may strike trouble. But oh no, our Llamas (the name of our group) are legends. So, let's introduce you to our Llama family. Firstly there is Sam. She's a Melbournian who is nutty and brilliant. We then have Kate. She is Canadian who speaks Spanish, newly appointed as [View Full Entry]

By Deboradg
June 1st 2008

Cusco - Dia 2 - Vale Sagrado

South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley

Vale Sagrado de los incas

Hoje pegamos uma excursao pelas ruinas ao redor de Cusco, conhecidas como o Vale Sagrado de los Incas. Apos dormir 12 horas e consequenemente ter perdido uma noite de balada em Cusco (Cusco tem uma noite bastante famosa), acordamos e arrumamos nossas coisas para o tour, ao final do tour ficariamos em Ollantaytambo, um vilarejo a 70 km de Cusco onde pegariamos o trem ate Aguas Calientes, a cidade mais proxima de Machu Picchu, que iremos amanha. Pois bem que quase nos atrasamos, engolimos o cafe porque demoramos pra arrumar nossas mochilas, levamos somente uma troca de roupa, comida e os [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Peru » Cusco » Sacred Valley