Peru’s Hidden Gem: The Tambopata National Reserve
The Tambopata National Reserve (TNR) is part of a 3.7 million acre conservation unit in southeastern Amazonian Peru created in 1990 by the national government working in partnership with local grassroots and international conservation organizations, including Rainforest Expeditions . This reserve protects the biological diversity of the entire watersheds of the Tavara and the Candamo…
The Alpaca Herds of Peru
Head north, south or west of Lake Titicaca when you travel to Peru, and you will be surrounded by the soft, wooly creatures that provide the fleece for those divine alpaca sweaters. The alpaca farms of Peru are found primarily in Peru’s southern highlands, home to most of the world’s alpacas. Though Peru’s major commercial…
Camelids
The Camelids of South America Most of what we know about South American camelids is their hair. The fleece of these animals contains no lanolin, so it is hypoallergenic, and though not waterproof, it makes warm lightweight garments. The llama and guanaco both have an outer layer of coarser hair and an inner layer of…
Breeding Alpacas in Peru
Beyond the contribution of nutrition and adequate care of alpacas to maintain healthy herds, breeding practices are at the heart of what goes into making alpaca fleece soft. The science of alpaca breeding employs several different methods, ranging from inbreeding to breeding unrelated animals, all for the purpose of improving the fleece quality of future…
Alpaca Products of the Andes
Could there be a more perfectly created yarn than alpaca? Less expensive than vicuna yet softer than cashmere, warmer, stronger and more lightweight than sheep’s wool, alpaca fleece makes durable garments, perfect for layering in cold mountain temperatures, not to mention making a unique souvenir for travelers on Peru tours. Because alpaca fleece contains no…
Alpaca Industry of Arequipa
When your Peru tours take you to Arequipa, you will have arrived at the center of the world’s alpaca industry. Much of the fleece sheared raised on the alpacas of Peru’s altiplano is shipped to the major processing mills in and around Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city. Many who travel to Peru never make it…
An Introduction to peru for Travelers
With forty mountains higher than 19,000 feet, the country is a hiker’s paradise. Its whitewater-rafting routes travel through idyllic scenery, from the Andes to the Amazon, and through two canyons twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Peru’s reputation as a surfing mecca is growing. Now the site of international surfing competitions, the region’s uncrowded…
In and Around Lima
In the City Of Lima There is much to experience in the capital for visitors on Peru tours. The country’s national symphony orchestra, the Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional, is considered one of the premier orchestras in Latin America. Bullfights are held at the Plaza de Acho ring starting in July. Popular evening pastimes include the penas,…
The Inca Heartland
The center of the Inca universe The Inca Trail , the hidden city of Machu Picchu , the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca all bring the Inca Empire to life for visitors on Peru tours. Here tourists learn first hand about the Incas’ sophisticated engineering, hydraulics and agricultural techniques by viewing the Incan ruins along…
Peru’s Northern Coast
Terrain and Weather The region is mostly desert terrain, including 800 miles of coastline and the 72,000-sq mile Sechura Desert between Piura and Chiclayo. In places, the Andes and the Pacific meet. Though coastal weather is pleasant year-round and usually sunny, most visitors prefer the summer months, starting in November and ending in May. Surfers…
Peru’s Southern Coast
Terrain and Weather Peru ‘s southern coast is desert terrain. There is more variation inland where deserts are interspersed with fertile valleys, gorges, mountains and plateaus. The coastline has a dry year-round climate and is sunniest from December through March. From May to October, the garua mists enshroud the southern coast. As one travels inland,…
Peru’s Northern Highlands
Terrain and Weather In northern Peru, the Andes divide into three ranges, the Cordillera Occidental, near the coast, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental, splitting into more ranges, most predominantly, the Cordillera Blanca where Peru’s highest peak, 22,205-ft Mt. Huascaran is found, and the Cordillera Negra. On the west, the region is comprised of…
