Peru’s Incoming Tourism Up 159.9% In The Last Decade

The arrival of foreign tourists to the Peruvian South Macro-Region grew by 159.9 percent in the last decade, with an average annual growth rate of 11.2 percent between 2003-2012.

 

The National Chamber of Commerce, Production and Services (PeruCámaras) reported that in 2003 the South-Macro Region was visited by 840,873 tourists; while at the close of 2012 the entity estimates the arrival of 2’185,013 tourists.

 

According to the data collected the largest percentage of foreign tourists came from South America (18.9%); it was followed by France (9.2%), Chile (7.9%), England (6.3%), Germany and Argentina (5.7 percent each)

 

The other European countries represent the 10.2% of the total, Oceania (4.4%), other America’s countries (3.3%), Asia (2.2%) and other countries (2.8 percent).

 

On the other hand, Cusco is the region that exhibits the highest relative weight in attracting foreign tourists with the 62.4% of the total, followed by Arequipa (15.2%), Puno (13.6%), Tacna (5.4%), Madre de Dios (3%) and Moquegua (0.4%).

 

PeruCámaras pointed that the number of foreign tourists who arrived to Peru’s South Macro-Region recorded a growth of 10.8% at the end of 2012.

Article Source: andina.com.pe

Maniti Camp Expeditions Has A New Phone Number

We would like to inform everyone that we have a new phone number for our reservations department in Peru and our reservations department in the USA. Please contact us in Peru at +51-1-707-0441 or in the USA at +1-305-434-5020

Newly Inaugurated Natural Wonder of the World – Peru’s Amazon Rainforest

Iquitos, Peru – Last week the Amazon river and rainforest was officially inaugurated as one of the new seven wonders of nature in a festive ceremony that was broadcast live on giant screens around the Amazon region of Loreto in northeastern Peru.

Ivan Vasquez, president of the Loreto region, said the goal is to “make people throughout the region participate and get involved in this event, it’ll be a festive day,” he said.

“The activities will take place in the seven provincial capitals [of Loreto], with Iquitos being the central venue. Each capital will simultaneously hold various events, bringing together students and people in general,” he said.

Vasquez noted that activities include parades, ceremonies, festivals, as well as singing and poetry contests in honor of the Amazon River/Rainforest.

Promperu noted that the award represents the recognition of the bio-diverse richness that houses the Amazonia, making it one of the “lungs of the planet.”

The New 7 Wonders of Nature search began in 2007, drawing 440 entries from more than 220 countries. Millions voted for the top 77, which was further narrowed down to 28 finalists for the final phase, including the 6280 kilometer (3900 mile) long Amazon River, which originates in Peru and flows through Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean.

Last December, the organizers of the competition announced that the Amazon Rainforest made it to the list of winners.

The other six wonders of nature are: Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Philippines’ Puerto Princesa Underground River, Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo Island and South Africa’s Table Mountain.

The Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), though the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres), located within nine nations.

Quistococha, Iquitos’ White Sand Beach Resort

Quistococha (Public domain/Wikimedia Commons)

Located about 20 minutes from Iquitos, on the road to Nauta visitors will find Quistococha Resort (entrance fee: S/.3 for adults and S/.1 for children).

Once inside the park, you find yourself surrounded by jungle, a stage on which star several species of animals. At the start of your visit to the park, you will be received by watermelon-eating macaws and giant ant-eaters that tend to steal the attention of people visiting the Amazon for the first time. The park also takes you to an island of monkeys and jaguars in different cages, pumas, giant iguanas, huge lizards and rodents that are part of the zoo which houses over 150 species of fauna, all native to the Amazon.

As you continue down the path you will encounter one of the favorite spots for visitors: the laguna and its white sand beach, a fun and relaxing place also known as “Tunchi Beach”. This is where most guests go to swim in its warm waters, sunbathe, boat (boat rental costs S/.5 per hour) or use the paddleboats (S/.10 per hour).

Your visit to Quistococha would not be complete if you do not grab some of the delicious gastronomic offerings from the Amazon. A restaurant at the foot of the trees has panoramic views and offers meals off all kinds, but you should definitely try the juane, paiche, tacacho with cecina and patarashca, among other popular local dishes. They are accompanied by the juice from the camu camu and cocona fruits, native to the Amazon region.

At the exit, there is a shop that invites you to buy souvenirs (chains, bracelets, necklaces, brochures, hand-painted ornaments and more) to remember your visit. And outside the complex, a small food fair gives you a last chance to try suri, a worm that you can eat live or grilled. But that is another adventure in itself!

Maniti Camp Expeditions offer guided tours through Quistocoha Zoo upon request at no additional cost to your existing tour program. For a list of the amazon jungle tours peru that we offer please visit us at www.manitiexpeditions.com or call us at (+51) 1-705-8903.

New Marca Peru Campaign Will Boost Tourist Arrivals in Loreto by over 50%

Iquitos, Jul. 20 (ANDINA). Tourist arrivals into Loreto region in north-eastern Peru are expected to increase by 50% after the launch of Marca Peru’s second national advertising campaign on Thursday.

The second national advertising campaign was launched by Promperu on Thursday.

The new campaign includes a 15-minute documentary about a group of Peruvians arriving in the Italian town of Loreto, with the aim of promoting the culture, cuisine, and attractions of its namesake in the South American country.

Yvan Vasquez, president of the Loreto region, said that about 222,000 domestic and foreign tourists visited Loreto in 2011 and they had predicted a 35 percent rise for this year.

With the launch of this documentary we now expect a 50 percent increase in tourist arrivals,” he told Andina news agency. “The Amazon Rainforest’s status as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature will also contribute to this growth.

Vasquez said he hopes the ‘Loreto, Italia’ campaign will also have a positive impact in terms of investment, especially in river cruise ships, restaurants and hotels.

You can see the new “Loreto, Italia: Campaña Nacional de la Marca Perú 2012” below…

Peru Promotes Machu Pichu and the Amazon in India

Lima, Jul. 17 (ANDINA). Peru seeks to position itself as a tourist destination in India and organized an event titled “Increible Machu Picchu y el Amazonas” which was attended by Peru’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Jose Beraun Aranibar, who is on an official visit to said country.

In his welcoming address, Beraun said the similarities between Peru and India as both countries are cradles of civilization with over 5,000 years of history.

He also stressed that these nations have a great natural and historical wealth and two new wonders of the world.

Director of Ibex Expeditions, Mandip Singh Soin, during his presentation, showed some photos and films about the experience of his expedition to Machu Picchu, Camino Inca, the imperial city of Cusco and Tambopata national reserve and noted that it was “unforgettable.”

The event was attended by over 350 guests including India’s Minister of Culture, Kumari Selja, members of the Parliament and the Indian government, ambassadors, Peruvian community in India and general public, who enjoyed an exhibition of Peru and its many tourist attractions.

(END) NDP/EGZ/CCR/MOC

HEALTH INFORMATION FOR TRAVELERS TO PERU

Many travelers ask me “do I NEED to get vaccinated in order to take a tour with Maniti Expeditions”. Well, the answer is no, we do not require that you present paperwork providing that you have been vaccinated, but it is recommend. I guess that would be the same this as asking “do I NEED to wear my seat-belt?” Nobody is going to force you to wear your seat belt (unless the police catch you). When traveling to a foreign country our bodies are exposed to many new and different diseases and illnesses that immune systems are not normally exposed to, therefore leaving us vulnerable. This is not to say that every traveler that comes to the Amazon is going to contract yellow fever or malaria, but for the small amount of money that it costs to get vaccinated I would say its worth the money. Again going back to my earlier point, would you go downhill skiing and risk breaking your leg without having health insurance? 9 times out of 10 you wont get hurt, but  there is always that chance.

HEALTH INFORMATION FOR TRAVELERS TO PERU

Here is a little info about recommended vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases travelers might be at risk for during your trip to the Amazon. Please contact Maniti Camp Expeditions for all of your Amazon Rainforest Holidays, Iquitos Jungle  Tours, Amazon River Cruises, and more!

Amazon Interregional Council welcomes New7Wonders

Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, and Jean Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, celebrate with delegates at the recent Consejo Interregional Amazónico summit in Iquitos, Peru.

 

Representatives of New7Wonders attended a recent summit of the Amazon Interregional Council (Consejo Interregional Amazónico, or CIAM, for short) in Iquitos, Peru, chaired by Iván Vásquez Valera, president of the largest Peruvian Amazonian region, Loreto.

CIAM is comprised of the regional governments of Amazonas, Loreto, Madre de Dios, San Martin and Ucayali. It seeks to streamline initiatives to promote sustainable development of the Peruvian Amazon, and it views the election of the Amazon as one of the New7Wonders of Nature as having significant positive implications for the region. As a result, Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, and Jean Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, were warmly welcomed by the regional delegates at the meeting.

“Tourism combined with environmental protection can bring great economic benefits to Peruvian Amazon region since an unspoiled ecosystem is what 21st-century tourists are increasingly looking for,” said Bernard Weber, reflecting upon his visit to Peru. “New7Wonders looks forward to working with the governments of the countries that share the Amazon to ensure that eco-tourism, along with forestry and biodiversity conservation, is placed at the very heart of regional economic development.”

In alphabetical order, the provisional New7Wonders of Nature announced on 11 November 2011 are: Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River and Table Mountain. Both Jeju Island and Puerto Princesa Underground River have been confirmed on a preliminary basis. The remaining five provisional New7Wonders of Nature are currently undergoing the three steps of the verification process, namely the national voting validation, the global voting calculation confirmation by an independent audit firm, and the preparation and implementation of the Official Inauguration ceremonies.

Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, and Jean Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, celebrate with delegates at the recent Consejo Interregional Amazónico summit in Iquitos, Peru.

Maniti Expeditions Now Offers Trips to Private “Palo Alto” Mirador

Maniti Expeditions is proud to announce that we are now offering overnight trips to our private Mirador “Palo Alto” that is located very close the Maniti Lodge. This unique attraction is one-of-a-kind in Iquitos and gives travelers a birds eye view of the Peruvian Rainforest from 3 different levels: 10, 20, & 30 meters! For more info on Palo Alto or any of the services we offer please visit our website or write to reservations@manitiexpeditions.com

Six common misconceptions about the Amazon

Amazon River Near Iquitos, Peru (Photo: Karina Veramendi Reyes/Maniti Expeditions)

1. It’s easy to see animals in their natural environment: Many people travel to the Amazon with expectations of seeing jaguars, anacondas and giant otter swimming around their boat. The truth is that the Amazon is a habitat, not a zoo. Animals often disguise themselves for protection from predators. In order to spot wildlife, you need to be very quiet and use each of your senses. Listen to leaves rustling in the tress and you may just see a monkey. If you’re lucky you may see some colorful birds, such as Macaws eating clay along the bank of the river.
2. The Amazon is dangerous: While the Amazon is filled with amazing creatures such as jaguars, anacondas, and caiman, they have little interest in human contact. They prefer their natural diet. Most snakes and spiders in the Amazon are not venomous. They are afraid of humans so when they see them coming, they go in the opposite direction. Guests who visit the Amazon rarely encounter dangerous animals because they stay on well maintained trails.
3. The Amazon is unbearably uncomfortable: Some people think of the Amazon as deathly hot, humid and filled with mosquitoes. While the Amazon is indeed humid during the rain season, the dry season can offer a pleasurable climate. Yes, it’s hot in the sun, but the canopy provides a comfortable shade year-round. The majority of mosquito bites can be avoided by wearing tightly-woven long-sleeved clothing.
4. It is only for expeditionaries: Iquitos, Peru offers a variety of activities and experiences for people wanting to visit the Amazon. While some Jungle Lodges offer adventure tours, most have well-maintained trails for mild jungle walks. Many accommodations provide a hammock and have yoga classes and spa activities such as massages or facials. While some visitors prefer to climb trees, kayak or bush-wack through the forest, for others the Amazon can be a great place to relax and rejuvenate.
5. The natives are armed with bows and arrows: Some uncontacted tribes still exist in the Amazon. They are not aggressive and prefer to stay away from other civilizations. However most native people in the Amazon live much like you and me. The indigenous people around Iquitos have a strong appreciation for and dependence on the forest for their livelihood. While they recognize their ancestry and engage in traditional customs, they wear modern clothing, go to school and participate in business.
6. The Amazon is like any other rainforest: The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. It covers roughly 40% of the South American continent and is in part of eight countries. It is often referred to as the “capital of biodiversity” due to its incredible variety of plant and animal species. It is the ancestral home to around one million indigenous people who can be divided into around 400 tribes. The Amazon has an abundance of cultural traditions, natural properties, medicinal uses, and animal life than cannot be found anywhere else in the world.