Sunrise View
The charming jungle town of Santa Maria is a stop for most trekkers. And if you wake up early, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking sunrise over the Amazon-Andes transition zone. The peaceful moment, with mist-rolled trees and distant mountains, is an unforgettable way to begin the journey.

Hidden Hot Springs of Cocalmayo
The Inca Jungle trek is full of surprises, with coffee farm encounters and admiring the surrounding coca plantations lying in hammocks, to the famous hot springs of Colcamayo. Here, you can calm your senses in the medicinal waters, which are nestled between the mountains.

Unmarked Ancient Trails
On the way from Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes, there are old stone pathways—possibly pre-Inca or unused segments of original trails. These trails often lead to small ruins, hidden beneath, offering a quiet place to reflect. Our team make your trip worthwhile by going a little beyond the regulars.

Family-Run Jungle Kitchens
As our name suggests, Green Peru Adventures, we like to keep things green or say eco-friendly. Rather than large restaurants, the trek passes homes that double as tiny eateries, where the families serve traditional Peruvian food and cold beer to enjoy while you rest your legs. The nights are also spent in small and cosy family-run hostels.

Jungle Wildlife
The off-beat path of the Inca Jungle trek, might let you spot colorful toucans, capuchin monkeys, and, in rare cases, spectacled bears near the trails between Lucmabamba and Llactapata. Bring binoculars, and relish the good spots for wildlife viewing.

Final Tip: Go Slow
The entire idea of the Inca Jungle trek lies in the quote, “Journey is much more beautiful than the destination.”  If you approach the trek as more than a checklist of activities, it will unfold in beautiful, unexpected ways. Be prepared to fall in love with nature once again with us.

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Machu Picchu is a city in Peru meaning “old peak” in the Quechua language. It is a 15th century Inca citadel believed to have been built for the emperor Pachacuti. It’s exhilarating and beautiful scenery, as well as its incredible building style, has made it become one of the most visited places by tourists from all over the world. In 2007, it was voted into the category of the seven new wonders of the world making it more famous.

Going to Machu Picchu is a wonderful experience, as you get to meet the wonderful and warm-spirited people of Peru, know their history, learn a bit of their culture and tradition, go on a tour of the city, try their lovely dishes and every other thing the city has to offer.

The most  suitable time to take a tour to Machu Picchu  his from July-august as there is less rain enabling you to hike and enjoy the tour.

Going to Machu Picchu from Cusco, you have the options of going to a shuttle bus, a train or hiking. Either way, I do advise that you book your tickets down. Booking a tour to the city saves you a lot of stress as the tour company includes all the fees required as you book. The train is the best option for the tour as you get to see more and get better views as you go. The train stations offer you three types of cabins:

– Expedition

– Vistadome

– Luxurious Hiram Bingham

So depending on your budget and how much comfort you want, you can choose from any of the three types. However, I advise you go for the vista dome because it offers you nice views from the huge windows and the ceiling windows. Although the fee might be more expensive, it is worth it especially if you want to take pictures. Do remember to Sit on the left side if you’re facing forward in the train, the views are much better. The train stops you at a bustling tourist town of Aguas Calientes, which is the base for the Machu Picchu tourism and shuttle buses leave from here to the city daily.

The best period to visit Machu Picchu also falls into the summer vacation in a lot of countries and It being the summer season, there is usually a lot of people around to hike the Inca trails so do ensure to come out early so as to get a ticket and access to the beautiful city.

On beginning your tour in the city, I advise you go along with water and snacks as hiking the trails will get you exhausted, hungry and dehydrated due to long distance.

Other necessary items you should come along with are:

– Bug spray

– Passport

– Coins for using the bathroom

– Sunglasses

– Camera

Have a blissful time as you enjoy the wonders and architectural beauty of Machu Picchu.

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The Christmas Eve or Noche Buena

The Spanish introduced people to Christianity sometime around the 1500s. Unlike in other parts of the world Christmas is celebrated with pomp and pageantry on the 24th of December, known as Noche Buena or the Good Night. Evening is the time when the celebrations start with the ritual Mass at the local church. The mass is known as the Rooster Mass and begins at 10 PM. After Mass people return to their homes to open gifts and this is followed by champagne for adults and hot chocolate for the children. Dinner is usually turkey, Paneton and other local foods including tamales. Cake with a fruit center known as the Paneton is the specialty of Christmas. Children then enjoy bursting of fireworks. This done, the adults start celebrations with dances that last till the early hours of Christmas.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Nativity

While western homes emphasize Christmas trees and their decoration you will find that Peruvians place importance on the Nativity scene. Known as pesebre, this recreation of the scene of the birth of the Christ is done in painstaking detail with the use of local pottery, stone and grass manger. One member of the family formally places a figurine of the Christ known as Nino Manuelito or baby Jesus in the manger. However, trees are now making their presence felt in the Christmas decorations. Peruvians go out of their way to set up the Nativity scene in their living room. It is intricate and includes a statue of the child Jesus and three wise men in addition to animals. In Peru, they use Llamas and Alpacas instead of donkeys, camels and oxen. Some people may create a detailed nativity scene while others can buy retablos, a box in which the scene is set up. You just place it in your living room.

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Highlights

While gifts are traditionally exchanged on the 24^th night, it is a ritual in the Andean regions to let the gifts be until the 6^th of January, the Epiphany day of the arrival of the three wise men who symbolically brought gifts for the child Christ.

Drinking chocolate known as chocolatada and distributing it to the poor and needy who line the streets is another important ritual. Rich men and churches organize chocolatadas and distribute hot chocolate with biscocho, a sweet bread with fruits to people.  Chocolatadas symbolizes the Christmas spirit of giving of gifts to the poor.

Santa Claus is not a prominent figure in Peruvian Christmas celebrations since the government banned him on various grounds. However, it is up to the people. Some believe and presents are opened on Christmas eve. For those who do not believe, the day for opening the gifts is 6^th January.

While people in other parts of the world wake up early on Christmas day to open gifts and go to Church, people in Peru are sleeping late because of the previous night’s revelry.

Since Christmas coincides with the summer break children and adults alike are free to devote time and energy to celebrate it with gusto.

It is common to find children forming choirs and walking around singing Christmas carols. The group has a shepherd and the three Kings or Magi.

Girls dress up in a skirt and blouse with spangles and ribbons as well as a handkerchief on the front. This is topped with a hat with ribbons.

Food

For most people Christmas means roast turkey with tamales, salads and sauces. Some might opt for chicken instead while some even have a roast suckling pig. The traditional cake is Paneton, a bread with raisins and candied fruit. The paneton is usually accompanied with hot chocolate flavored with cinnamon and cloves. Tamales for Christmas are special with fillings of meat, cheese and chilli. Rosca de Reyes or the King’s Ring is a round sweet bread served on Epiphany day, 6th January, marking end of celebrations. The Rosca de Reyes usually has a tiny figure of Christ hidden inside. Whoever gets it is considered to be lucky. The midnight Christmas meal is known as Cena de Navidad.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Christmas in the Andes

Christians in Cusco in the Andes celebrate Christmas, endowing it with Incan flavor of dances and plays. A special market known as the Santurantikuy (buying of saints) springs up and farm people gather to sell plants and mosses used in nativity scenes. Epiphany day on 6th January has special significance since the day coincides with the taking of power of the varayoc. People gather and take out a procession headed by the image of the Christ Child and San Isidro.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Worthy of special mention is the Christmas celebration of Takanakuy. While people dance, put on costumes and celebrate as is usual in the Andean regions and in the plains, the Takanakuy is a special event in Cusco. The world beans “when the blood is boiling”.  It is a way to get rid of social tensions and stress. Fights are organized and there are referees supervising matches. Fights usually last only about a minute or so. Anyone can participate, even teenagers and women. People settle grievances against neighbors or family members in an amicable way during the short fight.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Christmas in Peru has a festive, carnival air and one cannot but help become immersed on the Eve. You are likely to stay awake all night, dancing, eating and roaming the streets. Enjoy Christmas in the most exotic way you never imagined before.

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Peru: Land of the Incas

National Name: Republica del Perú
Capital City: Lima
President: Dina Boluarte(2023)
Prime Minister: Otarola(2023)
Land Area: 494,208 sq mi (1,279,999 sq km); total area: 496,223 sq mi (1,285,220 sq km)
Population (2012 est.): 29,549,517 (growth rate: 1.92%); birth rate: 19.13/1000
Infant Mortality Rate: 21.3/1000, life expectancy: 72.73
Monetary Unit: Sol (2016)
Languages: Spanish, Quechua (both official); Aymara; many minor Amazonian languages
Ethnicity/Race: Amerindian 45%, Mestizo 37%, White 15%, Black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religion: Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other %, unspecified or none 2.9% (2007 est.)

Etymology

The word “Peru” is derived from “Bir,” the name of a local ruler who lived near the Bay of San Miguel, Panama, in the early 16th century. When Spanish explorers visited his lands in 1522, they were located in the southernmost part of the New World, which was not yet known to Europeans. Thus, when Francisco Pizarro explored the regions farther south, they came to Bir or Peru. The Spanish Crown gave the name legal status with the 1529 Capitulac in de Toledo, which designated the newly encountered Inca Empire as the province of Peru under Spanish rule, the country adopted the denomination Viceroyalty of Peru, which became the Republic of Peru after the Peruvian War of Independence.

Geography

Peru covers an area of 1,285,216 km² (496,225 sq mi). It borders Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Andes Mountains run parallel to the Pacific Ocean, defining the three regions traditionally used to describe the country geographically. The Costa (coast), to the west, is a narrow plain, largely arid except for valleys created by seasonal rivers. The Sierra (highlands) is a region of the Andes, encompassing the Altiplano plateau and the country’s highest peak, Huascarán, at 6,768 m (22,205 ft). The third region is the selva (jungle), a vast expanse of flat terrain covered by the Amazon rainforest that extends east. Almost 60% of the country’s area is located within this region.

Climate

The climate varies according to the area. On the coast, winter lasts from June to September. During this period, the mountainous regions are often sunny during the day but cold at night.

Culture

Peruvian culture is primarily rooted in Amerindian and Spanish traditions, though it has also been influenced by various African, Asian, and European ethnic groups. Peruvian artistic traditions date back to the elaborate pottery, textiles, jewellery, and sculpture of Pre-Inca cultures. The Incas maintained these crafts and achieved notable architectural milestones, including the construction of Machu Picchu. Baroque dominated colonial art, though modified by native traditions. During this period, most art focused on religious subjects; the numerous churches of the era and the paintings of the Cusco School are representative. Art stagnated after independence until the emergence of Indigenismo in the early 20th century. Since the 1950s, Peruvian art has been eclectic and shaped by both foreign and local art trends.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 60Hz. (110 volts AC is available in most 4- and 5-star hotels)

Visas

We recommend you check if you need a visa before visiting us.

Click here for Embassies in Peru

Click here to check if you need a Visa

Information About Cusco

Cusco, also known as Qusqu or Qosqo, is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of both the Cusco Region and the Cusco Province. In 2009, the city had a population of 348,935, which was triple the figure of 20 years ago. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cusco, its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft).
Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is a major tourist destination, receiving almost 2 million visitors annually. It is designated as the Historical Capital of Peru by the Peruvian Constitution.

What You Need to Visit Around Cusco

Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turistico). This ticket costs approximately 130 soles. US$47 (half price S/.70 for students with a Student Card) and is valid for 10 days.

The best way to get entry tickets for almost all sites in the Cusco area and Sacred Valley is to purchase a Boleto Turistico.

The sights are divided into three circles. Each circle can be purchased separately or all together as a General Ticket.

Circuit I: S/70 Good for one day

-Sacsayhuaman
-Qenqo
-Pucapucara
-Tambomachay

Circuit II: S/70 Good for two days

-Museum of Contemporary Art
-Museum of Regional History
-Museum of Popular Art
-Museum at Qoriqancha
-Pachacutec
-Native Music and Dance show at Qosqo Centre of Native Art
-Tipon
-Piquillaqta

Circuit III: S/70 Good for two days

-Pisaq
-Ollantaytambo
-Chinchero
-Moray

Cost of the general (General) ticket is S/.130 (or S/.70 for students (Estudiante) under 26 years and carrying an ISIC ID) and is suitable for ten days. Children can also buy BT Estudiante for S/.70 70 if they show their passports. If you’re planning on visiting the sites of the Sacred Valley, we recommend purchasing the general ticket.

Tickets can be purchased at Avenida el Sol, in an office located right next to the iPeru office, or at the entrance of any of the sites included in the Boleto Turistico.

Note this ticket does not include: Entrance to Koricancha (or Qorikancha) 10 soles or entrance to the Main Cathedral 25 soles.

Shopping in Cusco

In Cusco, you can find shopping areas in different points of the city, around the Plaza de Armas and Av. El Sol. Most souvenir shops sell silver and alpaca wool products.
There are various types of shops, local markets, and some more upscale establishments.

Places to Eat in Cusco

We are currently compiling the latest information on green, sustainable restaurants that source their ingredients locally.

Health Care

We recommend that you bring full health insurance; most clinics in Cusco will accept insurance and also US dollars.

Clinica Paredes
Hampi Wasi
O2 Medical Network

We recommend that you hydrate yourself before reaching Cusco to minimise the effects of altitude sickness. Also, try not to eat or drink alcohol excessively on your first few nights’ stay in Cusco.

Note: With US Dollars, most of the agencies, shops, and small businesses accept payment in dollars, particularly in tourist areas.

Currency Exchanges

Currency exchanges, or casas de cambio, can easily be located in Cusco and Lima, typically in the airports and main plazas. In Cusco, numerous currency exchanges surround the Plaza de Armas and line Avenida El Sol. Most banks also offer currency exchange services.
Exchange Rate Indicators – Approx. US$1 = S/ 3.30
N.B. The rates fluctuate daily.

Banks, Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

In all tourist areas, you can find banks and ATMs that accept Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, American Express, and Cirrus.

Banks are open from Mon-Fri 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sat 9:00 am -1:00 pm

Communications and Internet

Telephone Country code: 0051. City Code Cusco is 84
Mobile Telephone – International automatic roaming agreements only with the Claro mobile company.

We rent cell phones with local numbers.

The internet is available in hotels, coffee shops with Wi-Fi, and restaurants. Additionally, public cabins are available throughout Peru, particularly in popular tourist destinations.

Posting airmail to the rest of the world takes up to one to two weeks.

Postal facilities: The main post office in Cusco is situated on Av. el Sol. But you can find outlets selling stamps and mailboxes in souvenir shops. Sending a postcard to the U.S. and Europe costs 6 Soles.

Customer Flights

Flights between Lima and Cusco
LAN (www.lan.com)
Avianca (www.avianca.com)
Star Peru (www.starperu.com)
Peruvian Airlines (www.peruvianairlines.pe)

If you have any further questions, please let us know!

Warmest regards,
Roland Leonardo

info@greenperuadventures.com
Skype: roland13581

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