Former Workington woman Julie takes on Inca trail for charity

Julie Hinchliffe, 40, spent her early years in Branthwaite, near Workington, and is a childhood friend of Clive Jenkin’s sister Louise. Clive, of Ennerdale Close, was diagnosed with the disease over a year ago.

Julie, who now lives in Paisley, Scotland, will walk the Inca trail in Peru to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

She said: “Louise and I met 29 years ago at Derwent School, Cockermouth, and have been friends ever since. It didn’t take long before I felt part of their family.

“As our 40th birthdays were approaching, I suggested to Louise that we should do something different, like the Great Wall of China. I knew that Clive was going through tests at this time, but believed that he would be okay.

“When Louise told me that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, I was devastated. I then looked online for the association to see what charity events were available.”

Julie signed up for the walk along the Inca trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu.

She must raise £3,000 before June 28, and has received help from Clive’s family to get the money.

Last month her daughters Emma, 12, and Cara, nine, took part in a triathlon with Clive’s daughter Rebecca, 10, and other friends.

Money has also been raised through bag-packing at a supermarket and further events are planned.

To donate visit http://justgiving.com/juliehinchliffe

On top of the world

Sinking Spring, PA - Kirstan Ulrich of Spring Township took a monthlong trip to South America in November, spending 10 days in Peru, four of them hiking on the Inca Trail.

Ulrich spent six weeks preparing her body for the trip, training with Shawn Stanislaw, an advanced personal trainer at Spring Valley Athletic Club in Lower Heidelberg Township.

Ulrich started her journey in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Ulrich stayed in Cusco for two days, taking the recommended amount of time acclimating to the altitude of approximately 8,500 feet. From there, Ulrich took a bus to the start of the Inca Trail at 8,900 feet. She eventually got to 13,800 feet during the hike.

Ulrich, 34, was inspired to get fit for her trip due to the challenging nature of the Inca Trail. After speaking with a friend who works at Spring Valley about the trip, she was set up with an advanced personal trainer. Stanislaw proved to be the right person for the task.

"She needed to improve her cardiovascular and muscular endurance," Stanislaw said.

They worked out one hour per day, twice a week, for six weeks prior to her trip.

"I am so glad I took the time, effort and money to work with Shawn - when I was on the trail, I really felt it helped," she said.

Ulrich spent three nights and four days on the Inca Trail, typically starting her days at 6 a.m.

"We had porters who carried our tents, food and everything," she said.

She would hike four to five hours with her group before stopping for lunch, and then hike until dark before settling into a campsite for the night. Ulrich hiked from seven to 11 hours a day. Ulrich's tour group of six people was accompanied by one guide and 11 porters.

Overall, her muscular strength held up well, but it wasn't without some challenges given the high altitude.

"After the 12,000 mark it was hard - you literally took about 20 steps and had to catch your breath and then take another 20 steps," she said. "Your heart was kind of pounding out of your chest."

Ulrich planned the trip with her sister, Megan Ulrich, 26, of Brentwood, Calif. Megan always wanted to go to South America, and she put together the month-long trip through the Llama Path tour company.

In addition to the hike, they spent the rest of the month touring South America.

"I'm thankful enough to have a career where I have flexibility in my job," she said.

Ulrich is a financial advisor with Waddell and Reed, covering Berks, Chester and Delaware County for 13 years. She always wanted to see Machu Picchu, Peru, but never imagined getting there.

Ulrich and her group hiked the Inca Trail along the Andes mountain range before hiking to Machu Picchu, located at 7,800 feet. "Machu Picchu is fascinating and beautiful, but hiking the Inca Trail itself was the most extraordinary and challenging thing I've ever done in my life, without a doubt," she said.

Ulrich's trip provided a welcome relief from her hectic life.

"The sense of awareness that you were completely removed from society and everything we know of day to day - you have no choice but to be in the moment," she said.

She felt a great sense of accomplishment given the difficult terrain and high altitudes.

"I was really proud I made the hike," Ulrich said.

However, it didn't happen without a minor problem.

"I sprained my ankle two and a half days into the trip and that definitely made the last leg of the hike more challenging," she said.

Kirstan said she was able to work through her injury thanks to her training.

The program Stanislaw developed for Ulrich consisted of joint stability exercises and muscle strengthening.

"If you get injured, it's going to be harder to make it through, and it will be more difficult to get to you if you need to be rescued," Stanislaw said.

Stanislaw encouraged people to take as much time as they can to get ready for a trip such as the one Ulrich took, stressing the importance of preparing your body.

"The average Joe can't just get on the Inca Trail and accomplish what Kirstan did," he said.

Her hours spent working out were very hard, but it paid off when Ulrich was hiking.

"I saw the benefit of it for my own well-being," she said.

In addition to getting in shape, she also lost some weight, which she was happy about.

The highlight of Ulrich's trip was her time spent on the highest peaks, she said.

"When you look around and are looking across at the snow tops, you felt you were on top of the world," she said.

Resource: readingeagle.com

1.8 million tourists to travel around Peru during Holy Week

At least 1.8 million Peruvian tourists will travel around the country during the long Easter weekend, which begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday, said Peru's Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Apavit).

Apavit’s president Publio Santander explained that this number includes those who leave their place of residence to travel to other areas during the holidays.

“This number includes people who depart from Lima to places like Canta, Pachacamac, Yauyos, Lunahuana, Barranca and the beach resort of Asia," said Santander.

He mentioned that the southern department of Ica, with the Ballestas Islands and Nazca Lines as its main attractions, is one the most popular destinations for local tourists.

According to Santander, other places people love to visit are Lunahuana in Cañete, Chiclayo, Huaraz, Huancayo and Ayacucho, where tourists can still find accommodation to suit any pocket.

He also explained there are two types of Peruvian tourists, those who travel on their own without a travel agent's assistance, representing 95 percent of the total tourists in Peru.

And tourists who book tickets through travel agencies and arrange a full travel itinerary, accounting for five percent.

Resource: Andina

Thank you so much Peter Sherratt

testimonials about guide Silvio II

testimonials about guide Silvio

Peru: Junin expects to welcome 70,000 tourists in Holy Week.

According to regional president of Junin, Vladimiro Huaroc Portocarrero, that region is expecting to receive 70,000 tourists during the upcoming Holy Week holidays.

The regional director of Tourism, Jose Ramos Alvarez, expressed his confidence in placing Junin as the second tourism destination, pointing out at the efforts made in Lima -with travel agencies, media, and population with relatives living in Junin- to promote Junin's attractions.

In order to protect national and foreign tourists as well as people from Junin, the Territorial Police Directorate VIII (DIRTEPOL) has developed a contingency plan to ensure optimal security -in the nine provinces of this jurisdiction- during the seven days of catholic Holy Week's festivities.

Resource: livinginperu.com

Peru tourist attractions promoted on Facebook and Youtube

Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) has began to promote various Peruvian attractions online through Facebook, Youtube, Flickr and Twitter, besides offering the opportunity to download promotional videos for Ipods.

In the case of Facebook, Flickr and Twitter, Promperu has introduced information as well as visual content of a group of tourist destinations as a way to attract potential tourists.

"We are introducing a new version of our tourist promotion web site intended fo foreign travelers, which presents a new design and tools for users to interact with other people interested in Peru", said Mara Seminario, Director of Tourism Promotion of PromPeru.

She said PromPeru has signed an agreement with YouTube to have a Branded Channel, specially designed for the promotion of Peru, showing videos under the campaign "Peru, live the legend."

resource: andina

Cafe owner takes Inca trail to raise charity cash

A CAFE owner from Teignmouth is undertaking the challenge of his life to raise cash for the Shelterbox charity.

Roger Palmer, 28, from East Cliff Café, will be heading to Peru to trek at high altitude along the ancient Inca Trail.

His mission comes after a year of dramatic weight loss following hospitalisation for a pancreas illness.

Shelterbox sends the boxes around the world to disaster areas to people in need.

One box contains a 10-person tent and ancillary equipment designed to enable a family to survive for at least six months. Other items may include insulated groundsheets, thermal blankets, a multi-fuel stove, cooking equipment, tools and mosquito nets.

Roger decided to raise money for Shelterbox following the earthquake in China last May which killed thousands.

He said he felt inspired when he saw how quickly Shelterbox reacted in sending aid instantly to the people who need it.

Throughout the last year he has been raising money by jumping out of an airplane at 15,000 feet, having sponges thrown at him while encased in stocks and has held coffee mornings at his café.

His fund-raising efforts have resulted in boxes being sent to victims in Sudan, Gaza, Congo, Nepal and Haiti.

He said: "I think the scary thing about doing the Inca Trail is that it is nearly the same height as my skydive, where it was freezing and hard to breath."

Roger initially thought he was unable to do it due to his weight.

He explained: "I knew a few friends who did it and said it was tough, but I had always thought I couldn't do it because I was too big — I was nearly 25 stone.

"But I thought about it and decided there was no reason not to do it anymore: I had lost nearly 10 stone in the last year as I had a spent three weeks in hospital with pancreatitis."

He signed up for the Inca Trail Challenge and has spent 11 months training for it.

"I thought if I can give myself a year to get ready for it, I could do something I've always wanted to do", he said. "It would give me one big push to lose that last bit of weight and get fit. To raise money for Shelterbox at the same time would be fantastic."

Roger, who has run the resort's seaside refreshment premises for nine years, has been training up to six times a week, adding: "I've never been so fit in my life, I weigh less now than when I was in high school.

"The trouble is I can get bored when exercising so have mixed my training up with lots of walks, going to the gym, swimming and doing training with the Teignmouth Beach Surf Life Saving Club."

The Inca Trail is 45km long and crosses rugged mountains at over 14,000 ft high.

Roger will spend four days hiking when he reaches the final destination of Machu Picchu.

He leaves on April 24.

For more information on Roger's challenge visit www.RogersChallenge.co.uk

Cajamarca expects to receive over 5,000 tourists during Holly Week

Cajamarca, Mar. 24 (ANDINA).- The department of Cajamarca, located in northern Peru, expects to receive more than 5,000 domestic and foreign tourists during Easter holidays from April 9 to 12, reported Tuesday the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur) director, Julio Palacios Matute.

Palacios explained that most of the visitors will be domestic tourists, who take advantage of the long weekend looking for tranquility; some prefer to enjoy the countryside, visit tourist attractions, enjoy the food, and participate in church activities organized by the Bishopric.

In spite of Cajamarca has major tourist attractions and an exquisite cuisine, this season of the year is very competitive due to the promotion campaigns carried out by the central, southern and northern regions of the country, he said.

The main attraction during Easter holidays is the “Feast of the Cross”, which takes place every Palm Sunday in the village of Porcon, ten kilometers from the city and over 2,900 meters above sea level.

"It's a big party attended by the whole community, led by butlers who decorate the crosses with mirrors, pictures and flowers", stated the regional official.

The B-52's will visit Machu Picchu

The B-52’s Band, which reached their highest peaks of popularity during the first years of the 80’s, will perform in Peru for the first time next April 23rd (at the National Stadium), and have announced that they also have book a trip to Cusco after their performance because of their interest in visiting Machu Picchu.

“We’ve been on the road since months ago, and when we scheduled our dates for Peru we all agreed that it would have been crazy not visiting Machu Picchu”, commented to a local newspaper Lisa Arzt, the band’s manager.

The authors of “Private Idaho” and “Rock lobster” will travel to Cusco the day after the concert; they will spend a day at the city and will also take the luxurious train Hiram Brigham, that will take them to Machu Picchu citadel, where they will stay.

Reportedly, they have also booked a session with an expert in ancient naturist medicine, who would show them the healing properties of the coca leaves.

Resource: www.livinginperu.com

Lake Titicaca tops wonders of nature ranking

Lake Titicaca, a nomination shared by Peru and Bolivia, moved into first place in Group F (Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls) of the New Seven Wonders of Nature campaign.

"This is rewarding for all local authorities and public institutions that have been supporting the promotion campaign,” said Julián Barra Catacora, executive president of Lake Titicaca Binational Authority (ALT).

Last weekend, Bolivian President Evo Morales also joined ongoing efforts by voting for Lake Titicaca during his visit to the border town of Copacabana.

Lake Titicaca, which straddles Peru and Bolivia, is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world.

By volume of water it is also the largest lake in South America. The lake is located at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia.

It is composed of two nearly separate sub-basins that are connected by the Strait of Tiquina which is 800m across at the narrowest point.

Meanwhile, other Peru nominees including Amazon River and Colca Canyon ranked second and fifth in Groups D and E, respectively.

resource: andina.com.pe

Choquequirao

Choquequirao (Southern Quechua: Chuqi K'iraw, Cradle of Gold) is a partly excavated ruined city of the Inca in the south of Peru. It bears a striking similarity in structure and architecture to Machu Picchu and is referred to as its 'sister'. Choquequirao receives far fewer tourists than its sister but the ruin is no less delightful and is a good alternative to the sometimes overcrowded Machu Picchu. Unlike Machupicchu, you cannot visit Choquequirao by train and bus. The only way to visit the site is to go on a scenic 2-day hike from outside Cusco.

The ruins at Choquequirao are comprised of buildings and terraces at different levels from the lower level Sunch'u Pata to the truncated hill top. The hill top has been leveled and ringed with stones to form a platform of 30x50 meters wide.

Floating beds on Lake Titicaca

Five families promote the experience of staying at "floating beds", unique in the world and live with them in one of the islands of the Uros, totora manufactured artificially in Lake Titicaca, to three thousand 810 meters above sea level in the department of Puno.

Visitors wishing to enjoy this experience, including reservations for August next year, according to Cristina Suan, a promoter of tourism and sustainable living on the island Qhantati, located about 40 minutes by boat from Puno.

During his stay in the tourist island fishing, reed cutting, do craftwork, hear stories, dance and sharing everyday activities with other families, in addition to wearing traditional costumes and enjoy food and Novoandina "floating beds" said.

Suan said that visitors do not suffer from cold when on the island overnight, although located in the middle of the plateau and have no heating, then with hot water and blankets and quilts for shelter.

Indicated that young people are trained on the island in order to give continuity to the project, assisted initially by Puno Cusco Corridor Project, and currently enjoys a five families comprising 20 persons working in the tourism existential Uros Qhantati.

Also, the Suan goal is to get all the islands of the Uros provide the hosting service to national and foreign tourists, for which purpose will train other families in the community.

However, to realize this goal, he said, should resolve the problem of sanitation in the rest of the islands.

Explained that the eight double rooms and two single island are lit by solar panels, after ruling out candles on his dangerousness.

They also have portable toilets and for washing and use purified water and bottled water, referred in statements to the agency Andina.

He said that the price to enjoy a day and a night on the island Qhantati is $ 40 per person, excluding transportation (20 soles) and income (5 soles) to the community.

"For now we are reinvesting. Perhaps just this year we will start to win (...) We are in the process of promotion and are three to four pairs a month, "he said.

Those interested can book a visit by writing to email uroskhantati@hotmail.com.

Suan disseminate its innovative project, initiated in 2005 thanks to a suggestion by a pair of Dutch visitors, in an event on sustainable tourism to be held next week in Lima.

The Catholic University organizes 25 to March 27 the I International Forum on Sustainable Tourism PUCP 2009 to promote tourism awareness through an interdisciplinary reflection on the significance and trends of tourism as a strategy for sustainable development and combating poverty.

The event, whose slogan is "Let us be responsible travelers, tourism is everyone", will be attended by specialists from Spain, Argentina, Cuba and Brazil, along with exhibitors from the national public, private, rural communities and civil society.

Resource: www.andina.com.pe translate to english

Hotel rooms fully booked in Ayacucho for Holy Week

All hotel rooms in the historic center of Ayacucho city, southern Peru, are fully booked as Holy Week celebrations draw closer.

According to the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur), 14,000 tourists are expected to visit this Andean city on the occasion of its religious celebration.

Tourism official Rosa Lopez told Andina that there are a total of 79 hotels in the city of Ayacucho, of which 50 percent are located in the city's center and are fully booked.

Lopez said this year it is expected to receive 14,000 foreign and Peruvian tourists, coming mainly from Lima, Cusco, Ica and Huancayo (Junin).

She added that the regional government plans to hold a press conference next week in Lima to provide further details on the schedule of Holy Week activities in Ayacucho.

Regarding the security issue, she said that local authorities are to implement a joint plan with Peru’s National Police and District Attorney’s Office to provide security to visitors.

Easter celebrations in Ayacucho, which begin on Palm Sunday and end next Sunday (Easter), include processions, folk dance shows, as well as craft and cattle fairs.

During the first Sunday of the Holy Week, people do a remembrance of the triumphal entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem. Very early in the morning, donkeys and llamas, with herbs from the area, enter the city. Later those herbs are incinerated during the next Sunday (Easter).

Then, on Wednesday, the image of Jesus is venerated. All the pilgrims surround the image holding candles in their hands, and in that moment, the light from the city is turned down. Images of some other saints, taken from churches of the area, accompany this procession.

After that, on Thursday, people do their visit to 33 churches of the city.

On Friday, there is a big procession to the Saint Sepulcher. It begins during the evening from Santo Domingo Church. A coffin made of crystal with the image of Jesus that lays on white rose petals, go over the city, followed with another images and women from the city all dressed in black.

Saturday is the day in which "Morochucos", riding on horses, climb the Acuchimay Mountain with people from Ayacucho.

Then, on Sunday all the people wake up with the ringing of the bells from all the churches in Ayacucho. After that they go to the Cathedral, carrying out a very big image of Jesus brought back to life, this image is carried by more than 250 men. They go around the city, with many pilgrims, giving end to this special Holy Week.

resource: www.andina.com.pe

Pre-Inca citadel, cemetery found in Amazonas region

A pre-Inca citadel and cemetery have been discovered near the Chucmar village in Bagua Grande, capital of Utcubamba province in the jungle region of Amazonas.

The discovery was made by a group of local people including Utcubamba deputy mayor Teofilo Rojas, cameraman Humberto Cedano, tourist guide Olga Cabanillas and authorities of Nuevo Jerusalem , La Palma, Jordan Sachapoyas and Chucmar villages.

The archaeological complex consists of circular stone houses, located in one of the highest part of a mountain with lush vegetation, five kilometers from the village of Chucmar.

The expedition did not only find circular stone houses, located in an area of approximately ten hectares, but also stone pestle to crush seeds, as well as stone axes and pottery bowls.

In the pre-Inca cemetery, there were a number of skulls and other skeletal remains of ancient people who lived in the area.

resource: www.andina.com.pe

Colca and Titicaca rise in N7W of Nature rankings

Lima, Mar. (ANDINA).- Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca, two of the three Peruvian nominees competing to be a wonder of nature, improved positions in the latest rankings table.

According to the N7W Foundation website, Colca Canyon moved up four places to fourth in Group D (Caves, Rock Formations and Valleys), while Lake Titicaca climbed one spot to sixth in Group F (Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls).

Unfortunately, the Amazon River dropped to second place in Group E (Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves), which is now led by Puerto Princesa of the Philippines.

Moises Bendezu, head of the Amazon River promotion campaign, said the support of local authorities has been crucial to gain more votes for Peruvian nominees.

The 21-finalist list will be released by the organizers in July this year.

Mums tackle the Inca Trail - with lippie

A TEAM of Guernsey women are walking the Inca Trail to raise money for Georgina’s Gang.

‘Lipstick will be worn at all times,’ said Ali Good, 47, a full-time mum of four, who instigated the trip.

Mum of two Sarah Meader, 42, was quick to sign up, saying that walking the trail in Peru had been a lifelong dream.

Fellow members of the team are, from Guernsey, Jennifer Barrow, 40, a part-time occupational therapist and mum of three, Michelle Le Clerc, 48, head of bank operations at Investec, and from the UK, Mel Firth, 39, a part-time bereavement counsellor.

Georgina’s Gang was the perfect incentive to get their walking boots on, they said.

Ian and Tania Pearce are aiming to raise £90,000 to adapt the family home so their daughter, 12-year-old Georgina, who has been diagnosed with a rare and incurable genetic disease, Niemann-Pick Type C, can spend her remaining time in the familiar surroundings.

Until Christmas, Mrs Good worked as a teaching assistant at Hautes Capelles Primary and had spent one-on-one time with Georgina, who started school there.

Mrs Barrow said: ‘We thought we would use it as an opportunity to raise some money for a Guernsey charity.

Resource: www.thisisguernsey.com

Garzon: tourism in the Amazon and 25,000 euros for one hour of lecture

A day after that Garzon, finally emerging from the investigation of PP, still many details of their activities outside Spain. El Mundo claimed that 25,000 euros for one hour conference in Mexico. La Razon about his "adventure" in the Amazon.

(Libertad Digital) As reported by LD, the star judge of the Audiencia Nacional has traveled in the last two years the equivalent of around the world while three served as judge in matters such as Operation hunting, they finally left to the Courts Senior Justice of the Valencian Community and the Community of Madrid.

On these trips, Baltasar Garzon, in addition to lecturing, he has had time to do tourism. The judge, as have La Razón and El Mundo, he took the permission of the CGPJ to move to Peru in August 2007 to visit the Amazon jungle. A publication Peruvian Caretas, he dedicated an extensive photo report in which the judge next to monkeys in the Amazon, leading a mototaxi or wearing a scarf on his head.

Garzon, photographed by Caretas, on the cover La Razon

The magazine titled its report "Amazon Adventure of Judge Garzon," and recounts, among other things, how the judge piranha fishing on the River Napo, Iquitos. The judge had moved to Peru to attend the second meeting of Financing of Terrorism, held in Lima from 8 to 14 August 2007.

Meanwhile, the world reveals that Garzon claimed 25,000 euros for one hour conference in Mexico. The judge went on October 8, 2007 the town of Tampico, to give a talk entitled "Security and Administration of Justice: Comparative Reflections." The money received was divided among the cache of 14,037 euros and 11,400 in court costs, says El Mundo. These include a stay in a luxury hotel and business class tickets for himself and his bodyguard.

Resource: www.libertaddigital.com spanish to english

The future of eco-tourism in Peru

With over 30-years experience guiding an ever increasing number of travellers through the ecological delights of Peru, José Koechlin is a world-renowned expert on eco-tourism.

As co-founder of Inkaterra, Mr Koechlin has pioneered a carbon neutral approach to the exploration of Peru's many delights; a practice particularly valuable with the world now facing the growing threat of global warming.

Here he talks to travelbite.co.uk about the many delights of his native Peru, the threats the world faces and offers his opinions on how the global community can best tackle the specter of climate change.

Now over 30-years-old what is it Inkaterra offers guests, especially those from Europe? What is it that sets it apart from its competitors?

For all our visitors, without distinction of origin, Inkaterra offers its guests authentic and unique experiences combining exceptional lodging, properties, nature & cultural activities, as well as 34-years dedicated in conservation, research and social responsibility.

These general concepts have produced specific useful outcomes which prove that ecological research which leads to conservation – carried out by local populations - can be funded by tourism. We have proved that eco-tourism is a means to conserve the primary forest while creating local jobs.

What do you find it is draws people to Peru? Is it city breaks in Lima, or a more environmentally orientated trip, drawing on the history and ruins of the country for example?

What draws people to the diversity of Peru is a very complex mixture of interests combining an extraordinary variety of offers: including both the ancient and modern cultures.

Lima, for example, capital city along the Pacific Ocean, the city of viceroys designated by the Spanish Crown to govern all the Pacific Coast of South America, including Argentine until the Independence in 1821 and now capital of Peru situated along the sea shore; Cusco the Andean Inca Capital of the Empire that covered from Colombia to Argentine, and over which the Spaniards expressed their architecture; In the coastal deserts north of Lima, Chan Chan, the largest the pre-Inca 'adobe' city in the world; the mysterious Nazca Lines only observable from the sky; and the Amazon which covers over 60 per cent of Peru.

There is also the amazing biodiversity (84 life zones with its diverse products; possibility for the Europeans to observe hummingbirds & bromeliads; 10,000 years of plant domestication, like Mesopotamia), pluri-cultural fusion in populations (natives, Asian – Japanese & Chinese, black community, Europeans, cuisine (native & fusion).

Cultural art craft (amazing ceramics, textiles music……); Civilizations with constant new discoveries, (Caral 230 km. north of Lima, a 5,500 years´ old civilisation) are also important.

People come to Peru because of its diversity, expressed in authentic and unique features.

Has demand for your product been falling as a result of the global economic slowdown, or has the unique offering of your organisation insulated you from its impact?

No one is exempt from suffering the counter effects of the current economic, social & financial turndown: results are slightly below 2008. However the quality and uniqueness of the products that Inkaterra offers to high-end travellers in search of authentic experiences limits the negative effects of this crisis.

Inkaterra has a base at the Machu Picchu hotel – from here do you offer tours of the surrounding areas outside of the Inca trail and Machu Picchu? Where do you find tourists want to visit, outside of the 'established' sites?

One of the greatest achievements of Inkaterra at Inkaterra Machu Picchu hotel is to have restored the cloud forest within its property, making it different from all other 'established' sites.

Inkaterra is the only one group that works on the same basis that the Incas did on the environment. Inkaterra researches and restores the cloud forest as to expose what nature was when the Incas built what is now in ruins.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu hotel offers exclusive guided tours within its property – orchid, bird watching, nature, mystic tours, organic tea plantation demonstration, visit to the bear rescue project which inspired the Paddington Bear, specialized orchid and bird watching tours, pay to the earth 'Pachamama' ceremonies and other mystical activities; besides outside the property, Inkaterra proposes individual visits to the sites, as well as accompanied hikes and treks throughout Machu Picchu Park.

Do you find your visitors are environmentally aware, what is it you hope to teach them during a trip with Inkaterra?

It´s a current trend for some visitors to be environmentally aware. Inkaterra has been proposing a philosophy of investigation & conservation funded by tourism for the past 34 years. It´s an opportunity for us to share our commitments and make visitors and locals feel more sensitive to these issues.

How do you achieve your carbon neutral status? Through carbon offsetting? How is this carried out?

At Inkaterra, we strongly believe we all need to change our behaviour as individuals, as countries and as a global community. We all contribute to global warming; thus, everyone needs to be part of the solution. Since 1975, based on a principle of respect for the ecosystem, Inkaterra has been developing conservation programs to preserve the natural characteristics of the Amazon rainforest, which helps prevent global warming.

Inkaterra stewards more than 17,000 hectares of original forest, which have sequestered directly 3,315,000 tons of carbon. This measurement was initiated in 1989 by The University of Leeds (UK), and by the Institute for Earth and Biosphere, professor-specialists Dr. Oliver Philips and Dr. Timothy R. Baker at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, the first site in Peru where carbon fixings were measured.

Furthermore, Inkaterra indirectly fixes more than 12,600 tons/CO2/has/year through its support of a variety of external conservation programs. Inkaterra hotels use clean technology and eco-friendly practices (green operations).

With these programs, Inkaterra has become a truly Carbon-Neutral organization, and every guest at Inkaterra hotels has a 100 per cent carbon neutral stay.

What do you feel are the strongest weapons against climate change? Are you hopeful the global community will be able to tackle the crisis in time?

Nature has a social function which is inherent to the concept of the interaction of all earthly factors. Inkaterra tries to create an economic model that may conserve the forest while providing permanent jobs for local and migrant human populations that would better their quality of life, as also of the flora and fauna as well.

The world needs to continue to update its efforts to mitigate the effects of human presence.

The Kyoto Protocol looked upon promoting reforestation to sequester carbon. Monitoring primary rain forest has shown that conserving it may be a better solution: more carbon tons may be fixed while maintaining its flora and fauna; this is the basis for the concept of paying for avoided deforestation.

Inkaterra presents a further step which is providing value for those who do not only conserve the primary forest but who, in addition to it, provide jobs in the forest with no negative impact to it.

That is eco-tourism: ecological research and conservation funded by tourism.

Inkaterra is proactive in its eco-tourism – using funds to support ecological research with a view to improving the environment – while the majority of organisations merely seek to neutralise their impact…

Human population growth, in terms of numbers and in terms of their better quality of life expectations, means that 'new lands' are to be used. This is impossible to avoid. Thus a compromise has to be achieved by which nature complies with its social function without being changed.

Inkaterra promotes research as to learn about the environment as to use it properly. First action was to define the forest: do inventories. Then expose them to visitors and locals, by documents.

Knowledge allows longstanding actions. Constant actions create a group culture. Inkaterra promotes bettering the quality of life of all populations, humans, flora and fauna alike in an economic self sustainable way

Do you feel this is a logical next step for eco-tourism worldwide, or has it only been possible due to the unique circumstances of Peru?

This is an economic model that hopefully may be presented in Copenhagen later this year as a further step to Kyoto Protocol. The concept is applicable worldwide.

What are the biggest threats to the Amazon rainforest and the Andean cloud forest? Can these threats be conquered?

The biggest threats to the Amazon rainforest and cloud forest reside in the deforestation, the chaotic and uncontrolled increase of negative actions of migrant populations and the introduction of highways.

The big difficulty to regulate these negative impacts is the immensity of humans encroaching into untouched areas, as the Amazon regions, the lack of capacity to enforce law above social forces.

This can only be mitigated by creating alternative ways of providing jobs that do not harm the environment, along with proper education as to allow people who depend on the land as to either use it well or to learn how to work on another environment providing services, as eco-tourism....

It´s a huge task which everyone on earth is part of and must act for.

You are a member of SERNANP, what is the agenda of this organisation? How do you contribute to it?

Yes, I have been designated as one of the four members of the SERNANP Board.

SERNANP is the new Peruvian Government Agency in charge of Parks with over 200,000 km2, four times the size of all the country of Costa Rica. Its purpose is to create a self sustainable Agency with a strong ecotourism work.

Inkaterra is a natural example from which SERNANP may benefit from.

You worked on Burden of Dreams with Werner Herzog? Did you find the role increased awareness of environmental concerns in Peru??

'Burden of Dreams' (1982) was the film shot by California Film maker, Les Blank, which described the untold stories of the making of the film Fitzcarraldo by Werner Herzog, multiple award winning film writer, director and producer.

Before Burden of Dreams, we worked, Werner & I, on 'Aguirre, the Wrath of God' (1972), which was a very strong presentation of Amazonian Peru.

Film making is a good venue to create awareness of a given location. Thus we also worked together in producing Fitzcarraldo (1982), which was my way of honouring a Peruvian geographical hero.

The film was presented to various film festivals, and won, among other prizes, the Best Director award at 1982 Cannes-France Film Festival.

Yes, it´s the last ethnographic film document on the Ashanika native tribe.

What was Herzog like to work with? Can you tell me a little more about the film?

Werner and I have nurtured a true lifelong friendship based on mutual joint efforts amid confusing circumstances.

resource: www.travelbite.co.uk