Featured Country: Peru UPDATE!   Following the car bomb that exploded near the US embassy in Lima on March 20th, the US State Dept has issued an alert to travelers in Peru to be vigilant regarding further terrorist violence in Lima. Travel to other parts of the country should not be affected. Located on the north-west side of South America, Peru shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. Slightly smaller than Alaska, Peru is home to over 27 million people, speaking Spanish and Quechua as their official languages. Lima is the capital city, but most travelers only stop here long enough to fly or bus to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire. Indeed, the ruins of the Incas feature highly in a visit to Peru, with Machu Picchu being the highlight. Hiking the Inca Trail to watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu is an experience never to be forgotten. However, Peru has much more to offer the traveler with some time on their hands. Other places of interest include the salt pans of Maras; the "white city" of Arequipa; the world's highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca; medicinal hot springs in Cajamarca; and the incredibly diverse Manu National Park in the Amazon Basin. Dosh-wise, the official currency is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN), and there are 100 céntimos to a sol. Current exchange rates (approx.): US$1 = PEN$3.30 AU$1 = PEN$1.75 CA$1 = PEN$2.09 GB£1 = PEN$4.71 EU€1 = PEN$2.92 Well, those are a few nuts and bolts. Keep reading for more info on Brazil, as well as other travelers' experiences there. What's in this issue? Airfare Deals Featured Content Featured Message Board Thread What Our Insiders Say Links & Resources From the Bookshelf Tell a Friend and/or What Do You Want? AIRFARE DEALS Brought to you by the BootsnAll TripPlanner Plan and book your round-the-world or multi-continental trip! When searching for multi-destination air tickets, the BootsnAll TripPlanner is tops. After using the TripPlanner to get an idea of the itinerary you want, be sure to submit it to us and talk to our counselors. The TripPlanner is great for giving a rough idea of fares and prices, but our counselors will help you fine-tune, finalize everything and answer your questions. They can also suggest tweaks in your itinerary that will help you get the most out of your ticket – and probably save you more money too. Here are some examples we found: $2300 US New York City - Guatemala City - Quito - Lima - Cusco - Lima - Iquitos - Lima - La Paz - Lima - Miami - New York City $3500 US Sydney - Buenos Aires - La Paz - Lima - Cusco - Lima - Mexico City - Los Angeles - Papeete (Tahiti) - Auckland - Christchurch - Sydney $2500 US London - Miami - Guatemala City - Los Angeles - Lima - Cusco - Lima - Mexico City - Miami - London Now, log on to the TripPlanner and put together an itinerary of the places you want to see! More Specials & Deals The only thing better than flying to South America, is getting a bloody good deal on the ticket. We work with other companies to bring you low, hard-to-beat round-trip fares, to help you fly not only to South America, but to wherever you want to go: Cheap Ticket Links Back to top FEATURED CONTENT With so many great stories about Peru, it was difficult to choose. Here is a quick sampling but if you would like to read more, check out the Peru travel stories page. Blow-outs, Buses and Booze - Andrew Bruton reckons if you travel in South America you'll probably have an accident or two, but what's certain is that if it's not a fatal one, you'll absolutely love it. Butts, Blood and a Bloated Cow on a Peruvian Trek - In a place of death Kari Frizzle had never felt so alive. Until, that is, she starting puking up neon green liquids. The Inca Trail - Shane McDougall makes the four-day climb to the Inca city of Machu Picchu, without the aid of a porter. If you would like to submit an article on your travel experiences, check out our Writer's Guidelines, then send it along. Back to top FEATURED MESSAGE BOARD THREAD NEW RULES for the INCA TRAIL On the Central & South America Discussions board, Ivan details the changes to the rules in hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu that took effect last year. The new rules are for better maintenance of the trail and the ruins along it, and for the safety of travelers. Has anyone come across these and are there any new ones? Log in or register your handle, then jump into the discussion and throw down your two centavos on travelling solo in South America. Be sure to check out the other discussions on our boards as well: http://boards.BootsnAll.com/ Back to top   WHAT OUR INSIDERS SAY BootsnAll Insiders are a great source of information, and they can tell you what the guidebooks can't. We asked some of our Insiders for their take on Peru, and here's what they had to say: Ivan Gallegos Money in Peru What's the best in Peru? Traveler checks or credit cards? Well, the answer is credit cards. The problem with traveler checks is that you have to pay a commission to cash it at banks, commission goes from $5 up to 3% of the ammount you want to cash. Also, only a few banks cash traveler checks, and only AMEX, VISA and MASTERCARD - Thomas Cook checks. With credit cards it's easy to get cash from an ATM (there are many in the cities in Peru), even dollars. The most accepted credit cards are VISA, only a few ATM accept MASTERCARD and AMEX. Kari Frizzle Out-of-the-Way Places in Cusco Many travellers to Cuzco complain about it being too touristy. And it is. But if you want to get away from the other Gringos, it's so easy. Take a local bus to Tambo Machay and walk down through farmers fields to two other small ruins and finally to Sacsayhuaman. A brilliant walk where you won't see another tourist until Sacsayhuaman. Stay the night at Ollantaytambo. Have those amazing ruins to yourself too. Try Las Chullpas hostel in Urubamba with delicious vegetarian meals, your own fireplace in your room and lots of places to hike around. Wisdom Mom Won't Tell You About South American Travel Ignore Your Guidebook They are not always right and there are so many other hostels and restaurants discover. No Over-planning Flexibility and an open mind will make for a happier trip. Take risks Go for it! Whether a crazy mountainbike trip or spending more than you want for a trip to the Galapagos, you will never have any regrets! Get Lost Having a horrible sense of direction is incredibly frustrating at times but has also led to many of my most unforgettable moments. Talk to Strangers Learn the language, meet new friends, experience the culture, bargain hard... Phil Mayor The Inca Trail Don't miss hiking the trail and seeing Machu Picchu (and if you've got the time, you really should do the hike, it's wonderful) just because all the tourists do it. That's snobby and pretentious. There is a REASON that lots of people go. It's absolutely breathtaking. Iquitos If you want to see the Amazon, Iquitos is a good place to go. But be warned that it is hot as hell and there is very little to do there besides get a jungle guide and leave. USE THE TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE in the plaza de armas. There is an incredibly helpful American bloke running the thing and he will save you being conned on a jungle trip. Getting in and out of Iquitos is a bitch. Be ready to fly out or spend a lot of days floating down the Amazon – there's no good way out until Manaus, Brazil, nine days down the river (maybe more). Bus Rides in Peru If you don't speak Spanish (and even if you do), allow yourself a lot of time to sort out your bus tickets at the stations. They are usually crowded and highly confused. Sleeping pills are an invaluable ally on most bus rides – don't worry you will NOT sleep so well that you are defenseless. Not on Peruvian buses anyway. When taking the bus from Lima to major destinations (Juarez, Arequipa), there is a first-class service for only a few extra soles which brings amazingly nicer seats. Don't skip it. Drinking Pisco Be sure to put a few drops of lime, AND NO MORE, into your Pisco. It really makes the stuff much better. Avoid all Peruvian wine like the plague. Back to top LINKS & RESOURCES Use the following sites to learn more about Peru, what it offers to travelers, and how to plan your trip. Indiana Expedition Long-time BootsnAll Peru guide writer and Insider, Ivan Gallegos helps run this tour company in Peru. They run small groups of no more than 6 people and Ivan is always more than willing to answer any questions you might have on Peru. Lima Hotels Most travellers to Peru will spend at least some time in Lima, even just to use it as a jumping off point to Cusco. The above links can help you learn about and arrange hotel accommodation before you get there. Save Machu Picchu Although a World Heritage Listed Site, the Peruvian government, according to this site, is granting concessions to allow the construction of a cable car system and the unlimited development of a luxury hotel on a large piece of land by the entrance of the ruins. CuscoPeru.com Very flashy site which can be annoying, but lots of good nuts and bolts info on Cusco, Machu Picchu and many other places in interest in Peru, such as Sacsayhuaman. Music of the Andes in Europe Seems like no matter where you go in the world, there are some Peruvian pan pipers busking in the street. This site lists all groups playing in Europe along with photos, sound files and links to other Peruvian music websites. Back to top FROM THE BOOKSHELF | PERU by Jennifer Leo, www.JenLeo.com Whether your trip to Peru is next week or still in dream mode, here is a list of books that will enhance your knowledge of the country. Below you'll find practical guidebooks packed with valuable information on where to stay and what to do, books dedicated to the history and culture of Peru, and experiential guides that will give you an intimate look at the adventures of those who've traveled before you. I encourage you to support your local independent bookstore searchable by city, zip code, and country on Bookweb.org. For your convenience, the books are also available right here on BootsnAll through Amazon.com. Bookseller's Recommendation: The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics "An excellent overview for understanding Peru" - Lee Azus, owner of Get Lost Books, San Francisco, CA. Traditional Guidebooks: Footprint Peru Handbook, 3rd Edition, 2001, by Ben Box and Alan Murphy Lonely Planet Peru, 4th Edition, 2000, by Rob Rachowiecki The Rough Guide to Peru, 4th Edition, 2000, by Dilwyn Jenkins Travel Literature/ Photo/ non-traditional guidebooks: The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour by Ruth M. Wright, Alfredo Valencia Zegarra The Inca Trail: Cuzco & Machu Picchu by Richard Danbury Peru: Along the Inca Road: A Woman's Journey into Ancient Empire by Karin Muller (author of Hitchiking Vietnam) The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics by Orin Starn (Editor), Robin Kirk (Editor), Carlos I. Degregori (Editor) Realm of the Incas by Max Milligan, John Hemming Fujimori's Peru: The Political Economy by John Crabtree (Editor), Jim Thomas (Editor) For additional reading lists on Peru, visit: Magellan Travel Books This is an impressive list of Peru titles with color covers and a description of each book South American Explorers Online In addition to books, this list also has Peru specific maps and travel information packets available. Jennifer Leo has co-edited and written for books published by Travelers' Tales, Lonely Planet, and Globe-Pequot. Her full list of works, services, and speaking venues can be found at www.JenLeo.com Back to top WRITE AN ARTICLE If you have a story of your own that you would like to submit on Brazil, have a look at BootsnAll's Writer's Guidelines: http://writers.BootsnAll.com And then send it along. We're always looking for new content and new perspectives, and we hope to get yours soon. TELL A FRIEND If you feel that BootsnAll.com is a valuable resource, or that others might think so, please tell your friends about us. As many of you know, we respond personally to every email we receive in an ongoing effort to build a true traveller's community. Many have responded positively. If you have comments both positive and constructive, we would love to hear them. Tell us what we have done well and how we can improve. We would appreciate it greatly. Back to top