Chronicles of On The Road Travel

Day Trips from Lima

If you have a day to kill in Lima in between arrival or departure and want to get away from the noise and pollution hire a car and driver from your hotel and head to the Mala Valley, 80 kms. south in the province of Cañete.  You will pass through the town of Mala first where a stop at the local market is a must.  Here you will find wonderful local produce at bargain prices, as well as all sorts of meats and even toys and clothes.  Be sure to find the fruit stands in one of the corners of the market.  Even if you’re not looking to stock up on flavourful and exotic fruits, you will find perfect photo ops here.

Asking the locals for directions continue towards the hills about 15 minutes to the town of Santa Cruz de Flores, where you can taste local wines.  Another 15 minutes further (and more asking for directions) and you will reach the town of Azpitia, your final destination.  This area is known for its pisco as well as its breathtaking view of the valley.  El Balcon del Cielo was the first restaurant to come to this location.  Its stepped balconies overlook the valley where you can spot grape plantations, river shrimp farms (camarones) and other local fruit. 

This is the perfect place to spend a lazy day enjoying a long lunch to the sound of the water from the Mala River.  Many locals from Lima come here in the winter for lunch on the weekends escaping its grey days.  In the summer the upper class that vacations in the nearby beaches also frequents the town.

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* Note that this delicious variety of shrimp is in ‘veda’ from January until the 11th of april.

The Body Exhibit in Buenos Aires

If you have missed this traveling exhibition, you can still catch it here in Buenos Aires. Consisting of 16 bodies and 200 human organs, The Body Exhibition, is confronting but highly educational. The bodies, which were donated to science, have been preserved in wax and stripped so that muscles and bone can be seen.

The exhibit is being held at the Abasto Shopping Center until March 3rd. For more details and other events in Buenos Aires, check out our calendar of events.

More Carnival in Brazil...

Right after finishing yesterday's post about Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, I sat down to my favorite Sunday activity - the New York Times Travel section - and found this mini-guide to experiencing Carnival outside of Rio de Janeiro. The article brings up a great point, which is that Carnival can be enjoyed throughout all of Brazil, not just in Rio. In fact, Salvador de Bahia is often referred to as the heart of Carnival, thanks in part to the surrounding Afro-Brazilian influence.

The author also recommends Morro de São Paulo, a nearby favorite of mine. This charming island is a short flight or ferry ride from Salvador and offers a fun beach setting with plenty of character.

Whether you're in for the full-blown tourist show in Rio, or you want to experience a 'smaller town' version of the party, one thing is for sure... if you don't have a room booked by now, you'll be sleeping on the beach!

For more articles on Brazil, click here.

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Preparation for Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's Carnival is less than a week away, but preparations have been underway for months now. Samba schools start rehearsing almost immediately after carnival ends, to be prepared for the following year's event.

Dance routines aren't the only preparations taking place in Rio. Plastic surgeons are busier than ever prepping local women for the big show. Click here to read the story of one Samba dancer / model / recent-celeb who has achieved fame by flaunting her silicon stuff to the crowds of Carnival attendees.

Health officials are also busy in an effort to distribute nearly 20 million condoms by Carnival's Grand Finale on Ash Wednesday.

If cosmetic surgery tourism isn't your thing, there are plenty of activities taking place that you should not miss this week in Rio. The Roda Gigante (giant ferris wheel) has been set up at Post 6 on Copacabana beach, courtesy of the Skoll beer company. You can enjoy outstanding views of the Bay while taking in a DJ show on the beach below. If it's culture you're seeking, the Paço Imperial, a former palace of Portuguese Royalty, is displaying The Image of the Sound of Samba, where works of art inspired by samba songs are shown along with the lyrics and headphones to hear the music.

For more details on these and other activities leading up to Carnival, check out our Calendar of Events for Rio de Janiero. Read more about Carnival in Brazil and listen to our podcast...

Romance In Brazil

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. If you find yourself in Brazil for this special Hallmark day, you are likely to have all the romantic spots to yourself. Fear not, Latin America's most passionate country hasn't overlooked the event... they just celebrate it at a different time of year. 'Dia dos Namorados' or 'Day of Lovers' takes place on June 12th in Brazil. This is the eve of Saint Anthony, whose gift is to spread the love and encourage good marriages. 

No need to miss out on the fun if you hadn't planned in advance. Lee Weingast, our editor in Brazil, has a great list of romantic venues in Rio de Janeiro. Read more about the best places to pop the big question in Rio de Janeiro.

Travel Trends for the New Year

Travel & Leisure magazine has listed the top 5 trends that will change travel in 2008. Most of these suggestions are unremarkable (ecotravel has been on the rise for years, spas are always getting more luxe), but I did think it was interesting that they pointed to Latin America as a top destination offering good value, specifically Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Again, this isn't a new trend, but is certainly a more obvious one in the face of a weak US dollar.

I would also commend their realization that hotels are moving towards providing a home away from home. These are exactly the types of hotels that we focus on in our recommendations:

In Peru's Sacred Valley, Kuychi Rumi offers six individual guest houses offering two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a living room and a wonderful patio, all at a very affordable price.

On the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, you can kick back at Terraza Choi and enjoy the views from the comforts of this beautiful, modern home.

In Rio de Janeiro, the coastal city that never sleeps, you have your choice of a variety of bed and breakfast options in the artsy, hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Cama e Cafe will match your travel preferences with one of the 50+ homes in their network.

Despite its big-city feel, Buenos Aires has plenty of options for a 'home away from home'. Suites hotels such as Artsuites, Design Suites and Soho All Suites offer apartment-style accommodations with full kitchen and living areas. This is a great way to get to know a city at your own pace, relaxing in your suite with a meal on down days and exploring the city when you've caught your breath again!

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Attention Shoppers: Walmart is Going Big in Brazil

While the US is bracing itself for a potential recession, business is booming south of the equator.  In recognition of Brazil's strong economy, which is currently poised for growth with record low interest rates, Walmart has announced plans to invest nearly US$700 million to expand its presence in Brazil.

Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, plans to open 36 news stores in Brazil this year (up from 20 in 2007), in an effort to take advantage of Brazil's rapidly expanding market. The company will go head to head with another international giant, Carrefour, for the leading stake.

For those who prefer to shop locally, check out our recommendations for Shopping in Rio.

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Updates for Travelers to Peru

A few news updates for those traveling to Machu Picchu:

1) Perurail has modified its train schedule to Machu Picchu. The new itinerary was effective January 1st, 2008. Services from Cusco to Machu Picchu are now only twice daily (one in Vistadome and the other in Backpacker). The rest of their trains to Machu Picchu will run from Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) or Poroy (for passengers of their luxurious “Hiram Bingham”). Each service has a new price for 2008. Visit their web page www.perurail.com or contact them at 00 51 84 23-8722.

2) Inflation is affecting the prices in and around Cusco. Beginning July, 2008 the price of the tourist ticket for Cusco’s attractions will rise from 70 soles to 130 soles. The entrance to Machu Picchu costs 122 soles. Note the exchange rate is now between 2.9 and 2.96 and is expected to stay like that in the next months.

3) Don't forget that the Inca Trail is closed for regular maintenance during the month of February

This article was posted by Andrea Tello, our editor in Peru

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Visit Museums For Free Tomorrow!

If you are in Lima this Friday, 18^th, the Municipality of Lima is offering the opportunity to visit all the museums in the Historical Center of Lima (known as ‘Centro de Lima’) for free! If you are staying in the Historical Center, everything is within walking distance; however, if your staying in Miraflores, Barranco or San Isidro, keep in mind you will have to take a cab (10-15 soles) to the centre…ask the front desk of your hotel/hostal to call a taxi for you.

The following museums are included:

 

Museo del Banco Central de Reserva (10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m)

Museo Gráfico El Peruano ( 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m)

Museo de la Inquisición (9:00 – 5:45 p.m.)

Museo Numismático del Perú (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

Museo Religioso de la Catedral de Lima (12.30.p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

Museo del Convento Santo Domingo (9:00 a.m.-12:30m/ 3:00-6:00 p.m.)

Museo de los Combatientes del Morro de Arica (9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.)

Museo Nacional de la Cultura Peruana (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

Museo de Sitio del Parque de la Muralla (9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.)

Centro Cultural San Marcos (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

 

Read more about Lima's Museums here...

This article was posted by Andrea Tello, our editor in Peru

National Geographic Documents Peru's Cosmic Clash

Professionals from the National Geographic Channel arrived in Peru last December to prepare for an upcoming documentary about the meteorite that landed on the community of Carancas in Chuchito. You may remember back in September, a meteorite fell from the sky, leaving a crater 65 wide and 15 feet deep. The National Geographic crew have have been doing their investigations together with specialists of the Geophysics Institute of Peru. We'll keep you posted on this film which should be presented later this year. In the meantime, if you're really interested in the meteorite, it looks like you can buy a slice on eBay!

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