Professor’s Peru findings placed in exhibit in Japan
February 28, 2009
A university professor is being recognized around the world for his extensive research on an ancient culture that predates the Inca civilization.
Izumi Shimada, a professor of anthropology, met with the president of Peru earlier this week to discuss the opening of an exhibit in Japan that would feature Shimada’s findings from the Sicãn culture.
The Sicãns, which were named by Shimada, were primarily located in what is now the north coast of Peru between about 750 and 1375.
Shimada founded an active international project, the Sicán Archeological Project (SAP)in Northern Peru, and his been excavating sites since 1978. The project has found and analyzed hundreds of Sicãn artifacts and would be on display for a year and a half in Japan.
The SAP has conducted 24 seasons of fieldwork at 15 sites of varied size, period and character, mostly in Batãn Grande-Poma, the project’s Web site states.
Shimada said the project is the longest-running archaeological field project in South America to date.
Last summer, his crew found three major tombs in Peru, but looters had disturbed two, Shimada said. He said one was completely intact with a crown, mask and other artifacts. Shimada said graves are found with ‘ground penetrating radar.’
“It’s not a magic wand,” Shimada said. “It only tells you that there is something that may be worth looking into.”
Peru to promote tourism among school kids
February 28, 2009
Members of Peru’s tourism promotion agency, PromPeru, will be holding a meeting today at the Marriott Hotel Lima to discuss how tourism can be fostered among the country’s school children.
For the first time, a round of negotiations dubbed “School Tourism” will be held with twenty-five business people experienced in the field of tourism for school students, said PromPeru.
The state run tourism promotion agency explained that the purpose of the event, which is to be held on Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., is to encourage schools to take trips to Peru’s northern and central regions.
It was noted that these regions offer magnificent and historic tourist attractions that would culturally stimulate Peru’s younger generations.
These proposals will be very attractive to students and will create a habit of traveling within the country, said PromPeru, explaining that this would make tourism a sustainable industry in the country.
Peru’s Best Adventure Sports are Coming to Lunahuana
February 26, 2009
The valley of Lunahuana in Canete will be the sight of good times and extreme sports from February 28th to March 1st when the XX International Festival of Adventure Sports–Lunahuana 2009 takes place. The event, organized by ALDEA (Latin American Association of Adventure Sports), will provide two days of adrenaline that you don’t want to miss. Go and live it to the max!
At the festival you will see many great competitions; first class, high-speed shows; and great fresh-air sporting events. There will also be beautiful acrobatic dancing, river trips and mountain hikes. In Canete, the great rivers provide an excellent playground for canoe, raft and kayak adventures.
Out of the water, the rock faces provide the risk as they defy competitors to climb higher and farther! It makes for a great day to hike in the mountains or climb rock walls in the middle of the valley. Many young people dare to experience new heights climbing as excited spectators look on from below.
You could also try a little artificial rock climbing or mountain bike racing. In Lunahuana during the XX International Festival of Adventure Sports, the days are filled with high energy and fast movement! The festival will end with a grand party to which the participants, the members of the press, and the general public are all invited!
If you come you will meet many outstanding athletes from Huaraz, Lunahuana, Arequipa, Tarapoto, Huancayo, Cusco, Apurimac, Pozuzo, Abancay, Huanco, Lima, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, y Argentina.
So come and explore the fantastic valley of Lunahuana and dare to try some new experiences! The people that make the trip will be able to try their hand at a great variety of wonderful activities (at no charge). If you are able to bring your friends, you can stay at the San Jeronimo Camping facilities, or you can bring tents and sleeping bags. However if you don’t want to camp, you can also find various hotels, hostels or guest houses to spend the night.
This tourist and adventure festival is considered Peru’s most important adventure sport event of the year! It’s a festival that brings together hundreds of athletes and travelers from many parts of the world, and is sure to be a great time! Be at the San Jeronimo Camp grounds at Km. 33 (Camping San Jerónimo) at 2:30 on Saturday February 28th to catch the first event, the Artifical Rock face climbing competition.
Peru’s Kina Malpartida wins WBA title at Madison Square Garden
February 24, 2009
This weekend in New York at Madison Square Garden, Peruvian boxer Kina Malpartida had her countrymen and women roaring with glee as she won the WBA super featherweight title.
Relatively unknown in New York and with only two fights in the past fourteen months - both of which she lost, Malpartida was up against all odds as she faced Maureen Shea, a 13-0 Bronx fighter with two previous appearances at Madison Square Garden.
Even though Malpartida hit the canvas in the opening round of the match, it was Shea that was dropped in the tenth round to have the fight stopped just moments later.
As soon as Shea beat the count and made it to her feet, Malpartida jumped on her and attacked until the referee stopped the fight.
“Undoubtedly this is an extraordinary victory for the country,” exclaimed Arturo Woodman, head of the Peruvian Sports Institute when asked what he thought about Kina’s performance.
“We have to point out however that this is her win because this girl did it alone.”
Peru to Build Its First Paleontology Museum
February 24, 2009
Peru’s first paleontology museum - South America’s third - will be built in the northern city of Trujillo to exhibit more than 800 fossils, the press reported Sunday.
The museum is expected to open at the end of this year and be housed in a 2,000 sq. meter (21,500 sq. foot) building, thanks to $140,000 in foreign aid, researcher Klaus Honninger Mitrani told the Lima daily La Primera.
Museum organizers received support from the Prehistoric Institute in Hanau, Germany, and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.
“The agreement is done. People are coming from Germany and we’ll send our people (from the National Culture Institute) so they can be trained abroad,” Honninger said.
Fossil finds are constantly reported on Peru’s north coast, in the southern desert and in the Amazon region.
Some of the fossils are on display in the paleontology section of the old Natural History Museum at the University of San Marcos in Lima.
Coming Soon: Peru Exports Fuel to the U.S.
February 23, 2009
Ethanol from sugarcane will likely flow into this country in a few years, thanks to favorable weather conditions and legal loopholes.
That’s the prediction from Roger Ballentine, who heads up the consulting firm Green Strategies. Ballentine also served as chairman of the White House Climate Change Task Force and Deputy Assistant to the President for Environmental Initiatives under Bill Clinton.
“Sugarcane ethanol is the missing link between corn and cellulosic ethanol,” he said. “Sugarcane is more environmentally beneficial and economical than corn and, on the flip side, we know how to do it.”
Among other advantages, sugarcane has an energy balance close to 8 (one unit of energy in — eight out.) Corn is closer to 1.6. Cellulosic backers say they can get up to 22, but they are still in the experimental phase.
Buy why Peru? Sugarcane can be grown there on a year-round basis, which boosts the gallons of fuel that can be extracted per year per acre. In seasonal Brazil, sugarcane produces about 650 gallons per acre. Additionally, the U.S. tariffs on sugarcane ethanol don’t apply to Peru, only Brazil, he said. Hence, you have a cheaper product (because of the longer growing season) that avoids a tax.
Ballentine’s interest is more than academic. A client, Stratos Renewables, is building a Peruvian sugarcane plant that hopes to bring fuel to the U.S.
Peru - Chile free trade deal to go into force on March 1
February 23, 2009
According to a decree published in El Comercio daily, the free trade deal signed between Peru and Chile will enter into force on March 1.
The decree states that the free trade agreement signed by President Garcia and Trade Minister Mercedes Araoz will be published in its entirety on MINCETUR’s website.
The commercial agreement was signed by the neighboring countries on August 22 2006 to replace the Economic Complementation Agreement (ACE) and was officially formalized on April 18 2007.
Peru, which recently put into force a free trade pact with the United States, has agreements with Singapore, Canada and Thailand.
The Andean country is also negotiating one with the European Union.
12 new luxury hotels for Cusco - Peru to have 7-star hotel
February 23, 2009
Peru will have its first seven-star hotel this year in the touristic region of Cusco. According to El Comercio daily, Revolutions Perú, a U.S. company, is to make the million-dollar investment.
The luxurious establishment is to have 200 rooms, a restaurant, a spa and a conference center among other first class services.
This project is one of twelve luxury hotels that will open in the region of Cusco this year.
It was reported that in the first trimester of 2009, Liberatador Peru would also inaugurate the Urubamba Luxury Collection, which is to be set in the Sacred Valley.
Simultaneously, Peruvian investors will be opening the new Rio Sagrado hotel.
The Marriott chain has also announced plans to open a 5-star establishment in Cusco and by the middle of the year the Acqua Hotel Resort Spa is to be in operation
2,500-year-old tomb of 3 year-old-boy found in Peru
February 21, 2009
After making an important discovery, archaeologist Ignacio Alva Meneses has affirmed he will stay and live in Lambayeque, one of Peru’s northern regions.
Alva did not make this decision because of a 4,000-year-old temple he found in 2008 but because of a child’s tomb he found last month.
It is believed the child was buried approximately 2,500 years ago.
The tomb was found just 500 meters from Venado Cautivo (Trapped Deer) temple.
The temple was given this name because of a painting of a deer caught in a net on one of the temple walls.
According to carbon dating, the painting is over 4,000 years old.
According to El Comercio daily, the tomb found is that of a 3-year-old boy, who belonged to the Gallinazo culture.
It was reported that the boy’s bones are in a “normal conserved state”.
Peru chefs to showoff cuisine at Hilton Hotel Tokyo in Japan
February 19, 2009
Traditional dishes from northern Peru such as causa, arroz con pato a la Chiclayana, seco de cabrito, pato muchic, cebiche and tiradito among others will delight the most demanding palates at the Hilton Hotel Tokyo.
Prom Peru, the country’s tourism promotion agency is to host a gastronomic festival at the luxurious hotel’s restaurant from February 20 - 28.
Prom Peru has chosen chef Héctor Solís from Fiesta restaurant to show off some of the finest dishes from northern Peru.
Alongside this renowned chef will be Chef Iván Kisic from Cala restaurant, who will be preparing traditional Peruvian dishes.
“We will delight Japanese palates with new tastes, aromas and textures, mainly from the northern part of our country,” said Chef Solís.
Kisic has affirmed his goal is to present the greatest variety of dishes Peru has to offer.
On the menu at the Hilton Hotel he will include twenty-two appetizers, three soups, fourteen entrees and twelve desserts.
This gastronomic fair is a part of EXPOPERU, an event that will give Japanese investors and tourists information about the Andean country.