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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 NoStarchPlease
July 11th 2008

A Photo for the Ages

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

Lil Em3

Judging from their appearance and feel, one would think that Panama hats are made of fabric. They're not. They are made of palm straw. From their geographical name, one would think Panama hats originated in Panama. They didn't. They originated in Ecuador. Towards the end of the 19th century, thousands of Ecuadorian men made their way North to find work on the Panama Canal. They arrived wearing their finely woven, white straw hats which provided the much needed protection from the blistering hot tropical sun. Soon there after men of other nationality's participating in the Big Dig wanted the [View Full Entry]

By longshorty
April 30th 2008

Punta Sal

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

Chan Chan

Von Huanchao aus fahren wir zur archelogischen Staette Chan-Chan. Dies war einst die groesste Lehmzielgelstadt Suedamerikas (event. sogar der Welt) und wurde um 1300 gebaut. 1460 eroberten die Inkas das Chima-Reich. Die Stadt wurde jedoch erst durch die goldbesessenen Spanier zerstoert. Am Nachmittag gings dann weiter zu den Las Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Tempel der Sonne und des Mondes). Dies ist Perus groesstes praekolumbianisches Bauwerk. Es wurden dafuer ueber 140 Millionen Adobezielgel verwendet. Die Pyramide de la luna hat viele Fresken. Der Brauch der Chima, alte Tempel unter neuen z [View Full Entry]

By LegallyBlonde
April 4th 2008

Beyond Lima: Northern Peru

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

Sunset at Huanchaco

Up we go again: to Huaraz So onwards we drove from Lima and it was again another trip up to altitude to visit the city of Huaraz. The journey was pretty long and very bendy and unfortuantly it was raining and overcast so we didn´t get to appreciate much of the views either. We eventually arrive in Huaraz however to another cute little hotel where we got divided into our rooms and I was with two other girls but in a bedroom with five beds so we weren´t complaining! The hotel also had a tv room with lots of dvds which [View Full Entry]

By sphex
April 3rd 2008

Punta Sal

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

small friend
small thingys on the sand

So after travelling for 6 months thru the caribbean, we decided to check out the beaches on the north side of the coast of our own country. We were born here in Piura, but never really lived there except for very often visits to our aunts and cousins during summers while growing up. We had a great time once we arrived to Punta Sal in Tumbes, this beach is just a few minutes away from the famous Máncora, but during the high season,the summer months from Dec. to Mar there is a great difference. No kids beggin, no risk of food [View Full Entry]

By theintrepidvoyager
November 12th 2007

Northern Peru

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

Ingapirca

Its been an interesting week since Banos (and if anyone noticed my facebook page, I wrote that "Matt is feeling pretty relaxed chilling out in Banos", however, banos means toilets in Spanish which is perhaps a bit too George Michael, so I've quickly changed that!). On our way to Cuenca, we stopped off at Ingapirca, the most important Inca site in Ecuador. It was pretty impressive and we had a wonderful guide who was on turbo, as she was trying to avoid the gathering thunderstorm (three years ago a German tourist was killed by a bolt of lighting whilst standing on [View Full Entry]

By Peachey
November 2nd 2007

Only 2 things smell of fish...

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

Up early this morning for Steve, Ross and myself to go out on a fishing trip with one of the locals. The sea was so rough though that we all thought we might capsize at any time. Once we got further out though, it calmed down and we got down to business. From memory, I think Ross caught 3 big ones and a small one, Steve caught 3 small ones, and I caught just the one medium sized one. However, I did catch possibly the biggest fish in the world at one point, but it bit the line in 2 and [View Full Entry]

By Peachey
November 1st 2007

World War III

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

boobs
What I'd look like if I were a woman (possibly)

Arrived at the Punta Sal beach resort yesterday at around 9, after suffering a puncture roughly 10 minutes after we left our hotel in Huanchaco. Our spare was also kaput after it blew on the drive to Lima, which could have left us up shit creek, were it not for another Dragoman truck which was following on behind. After a detour to a tyre yard, we got back on the road after about 2 hours, arriving at Punta Sal in our Halloween costumes to the general indifference of everyone there. The next morning saw scenes reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan (or [View Full Entry]

By draak
May 17th 2007

Day at the beach

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

Sapin Museum

On the way to Punta Sal we stopped at the Sapin museum. It contained all the artifacts found at an intact tomb. Grave robbers had already got to others in the same area. It was a fairly good museum in terms of content. Great pottery and gold and displays of how they were found in the grave, but nothing in english and it was really dark which made us feel dizzy and headachy. Not that fantastic. We arrived quite late in Punta Sal. While the others put up the tents on the beach with the crabs we upgraded to a [View Full Entry]

By dougfitz
March 21st 2005

Travelling North

South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal

Sechura Desert
Sechura Desert just north of Trujillo

The long road north The travel dossier entry makes it look so easy - 'we drive north through the Sechura desert to the tiny beach resort of Punta Sal'. It doesn't say 'we will abuse the driver by forcing him to drive for nearly 14 hours with as few rest stops as possible, give him almost no help when he has a flat, ask him to turn the truck in an area that would be tight for anything bigger than a small car, and still expect him to drive the rear wheels'. Nor does it say 'at every opportunity there is [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Peru » Tumbes » Punta Sal