The Santa Chilenita

Just a few kilometres south of Tumbes, Peru’s northern most region, is a colorful little chapel that grabs the attention of passers-by. It is here that dozens of believers stop off to renew their faith in the Chilenita, a mysterious figure apparently from the country’s opposite border in the south.

March 13, 2010 | Tumbes Guide

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Fur seals leave Galapagos and head for Peru

A colony of fur seals has moved 1,500km away from the Galapagos Islands, a Peru-based organisation which monitors the aquatic mammals has said. Average sea temperatures off northern Peru have risen by 6C in past 10 years.

February 8, 2010 | Nature, News

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What’s the difference between Peruvian Cebiche and others?

So, what’s the difference between the ceviche of Peru and the international dishes that share its name? To Javier Wong, perhaps Peru’s biggest ceviche expert and internationally renowned ceviche chef, the answer is simple: There is no other ceviche in the world.

December 4, 2009 | Peruvian Food

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Gastronomy is the new driving force for economic development

With the growing economic benefits Peru is enjoying thanks to its cuisine, as demonstrated by a second very successful gastronomic fair hosted in the capital of Lima not long ago, it is little surprise that a recent study by Arellano Marketing has produced figures that back up what is plain to see.

November 22, 2009 | News, Peruvian Food

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Twelve Cañaris tombs discovered in Lambayeque

Félix López Reyes has spent a large part of his life guarding the 35 hectares that he owns half way up El Gallo in the mountainous border region between Lambayeque and Piura, 2500 metres above sea level and 8 hours walk from El Sauce in the district of Cañaris in the province of Ferreñafe. However, it wasn’t until very recently that he realised that on his property was something more valuable to guard than his coffee beans and cows. Here a discovery has been made that may help us learn more about the Cañaris people.

October 23, 2009 | Archaeology, News

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The Chaski

Chaskis (Chasquis) were the famous Inca messengers, highly athletic runners who were capable of running great distances along the Inca’s extensive network of roads called the Qhapaq Ñam – the royal roads.

June 14, 2008 | Culture & History, Opinion

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Ecuador: Vilcabamba’s Rumi Wilco Eco-Lodge

It all started as home. After 16 years mostly as a naturalist in the Galápagos islands (one year in the Amazon, two and a half years in the USA studying zoology), Orlando came to Vilcabamba in southern Ecuador, fell in love with the valley, and found his perfect land by the stream.

June 7, 2007 | Beyond Peru, Nature

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Ecuador: Vilcabamba

The small town of Vilcabamba is 40 minutes south of Loja by colectivo or 1 hour away by bus. It is nestled between green forested hills in what was once an Inca sacred valley.

Vilcabamba was made famous in the 1960s when doctors announced that it was home to one of the oldest living populations in the world. It was said that people here often lived to well over 100 years old, some as old as 135. It was then that an embarrassing discovery was made – the researchers had been working with the parish records of the patients parents.

June 7, 2007 | Beyond Peru

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Ecuador: Loja

The city of Loja is Ecuador’s most southern major city and base from which to explore the country’s green mountains and cloud forests, in villages such as Vilcabamba.

June 7, 2007 | Beyond Peru

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Peru and Ecuador: Border Conflicts

The northern Peruvian border has long been a problem for both countries – from as far back as 1828 when land disputes sparked a war between with what was then Gran Colombia and Peru.

June 5, 2007 | Culture & History

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Ecuador: Macará

The border town has a strangely painted red and yellow cathedral that looks as if it could be a children’s toy model. Crossing into Ecuador, the mountains became more green.

June 5, 2007 | Beyond Peru

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Macará border crossing

I’ve crossed the Peruvian/Ecuadorian border twice at Tumbes (1,2) at it was not a very pleasurable experience. Macará is said to be very different, so when having to cross into Ecuador last week, I decided to try that route.

June 5, 2007 | Beyond Peru

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