Peru 2011 - Part 1

http://blog.paradizo.com/ultimate-experiences-tours/book-a-peru-culinary-tour-and-private-tour-from-ancient-summit/

Missing In Action

Dear Friends,

Please don't give up on us.  We are so busy doing what we do best and being in Peru and taking care of our visitors that we have not time to post anything of merit.

Please come back from time to time to see what's new.

Welcome Back to Machu Picchu - The Ancient Summit and Hidden (not lost) City of the Incas

Well my friends, the time has come and we are all so grateful to be able to experience the majestic site.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I truly felt that Machu Picchu was greatful to enjoy a well deserved rest.  We pound on it 365 days a year since it's re-discovery by Hiram Bingham oh so many years ago.  On one of my last visits, when I was with Leesa, the producer of the documentary, I told her I felt that the energy of the place had changed and it was feeling really abused.  I know this may sound weird to some of you but.....I have been there many times over the past 27 years and well, you know, you can tell the difference in the mood of someone and something or someplace.  I don't mean to wax "new age" here or anything out of the ordinary.  It was just what I felt and still feel.  The rest was well deserved and since it has opened, people are entering once again by the masses to have that special experience that beign their can give you. 

If all goes well, I plan to be back (home) in Peru sometime in May and look forward to touching my feet on that Sacred Ground. 

Just wanted to pop in and say how glad I am that the Citadel of Machu Picchu, the Ancient Summit, got a rest and now welcomes all with open arms.

We are waiting for you!

A Bit of Info about the Classic Inca Trail

The Incas built a vast network of roads to communicate with the four regions of their vast empire. The network was called Qapaq Ñan (the sovereign's highway) or Inca Road, and was made up of stone paths suitable for two or three people with trains of llamas as their beasts of burden. Rivers were crossed by hanging bridges and the steep slopes were mastered with steps and ramps.

There are remains of the Qhapaq Ñan throughout Peru that are still used today by local villagers and farmers. One of the best preserved roads is the trail that links Cuzco and the Lost City of the Incas - Machu Picchu. Today, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu allows the visitor to step back in time and walk through a large variety of eco-systems and dazzling scenery. The length of this famous Classic Inca Trail is 39 kilometers (24 miles) and includes unforgettable views, archaeological remains; 400 different species of orchids and begonias, exotic trees like the pisonay, the queñual and innumerable species of fauna in their natural habitat, such as the cock-of the- rocks (Peruvian national bird), llamas and vicuñas, the white-tailed deer, the vizcacha (Andean chinchilla) and, if visitors are lucky, the endangered and vegetarian spectacled bear. The Inca Trail is one of the world's leading trekking and camping routes. You can hike this trail by permit only (we can help) and it takes 4 days and 3 nights camping.

Altitude:  Minimum: 2,600 masl - 8,528 ft;  Maximum: 4,200 masl - -13,776 ft.

Machu Picchu - Soon

So let's hope the weather holds up and the rails continue to be repaired.  I knew Peru would do it and I kept the faith.  It's an amazing place, a strong place. 

Machu Picchu will still get its well deserved rest.  Sorry to those of you who planned to make it there but....you can always come back.  I know I did.  Again and again and again.  And I still do.  The visitors who decided to come in spite of the fact that they could not see Machu Picchu itself, are having very special visits.  My team is doing a great job to make sure you see all the other sides of Machu Picchu.  The southeast has many.  Peru has many.  It is definitely a country you can visit over and over again.

4 Mar 2010 - Peru Rail announces that railway to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) may be reopened as early as 29 March 2010.

Ancient Summit has just received the following Press Release –

Cusco, 4 March 2010-PERURAIL S.A. operator of the railways in the South and Southeast of Peru wishes to advise Travel Agents, independent travelers and the public in general that this morning Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. (FTSA) has announced that the railway line on the route Piscacucho (km.82) - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town)-km.110) may be reopened as early as Monday March 29th if weather conditions in Cusco remain favorable and progress can continue at the present rate. Until today, FTSA and PeruRail reported the opening of this rail section would be April 1st. Progress in the rehabilitation of the railway works developed by FTSA’s engineers have allowed the possibility of this earlier date in a commendable effort to allow tourism to be restored to Machu Picchu. PERURAIL is developing a plan of operations for the restoration of their services based on parameters of operational security that will be made public during the next few days. PERURAIL highlights the efforts of the team of engineers and workers from FTSA that allow hope to thousands of travelers who are eager to visit Machu Picchu.