Nature and Folklore in Peru.

Surrounded by majestic mountains where the Incas left their trail, the lush landscape of Cusco’s Sacred Valley is enchanting and welcoming. During the time of the Incas, the valley was an important agricultural site. Now it is the perfect haven to acclimate to the altitude of the highlands and rest before taking off to Cusco’s many outdoor activities. With amazing landscapes to see, picturesque towns to visit, adventure sports to try and several archaeological sites to discover, the Sacred Valley of Cusco is a place you cannot miss.

Machu Picchu,Peru

Machu Picchu & Choquequirao-Peru’s gift to the world.

The citadel of Machu Picchu and its network of Ican trails, recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is by far the most visited destination in Peru. There are theories that Machu Picchu was a religious sanctuary and citadel for the Inca ruler Pachacútec. Built with dry-stone walls, its construction is surrounded by mystery. It is still unknown how the Incas were capable of building this great fortress at such heights. The high-altitude trails arriving at Machu Picchu challenge and awe hundreds of trekkers every year. We welcome you to explore Machu Picchu.

Sun Adventure Tours experienced tour guide and tour coordinator will ensure you have a trip of a lifetime.

Half Moon Bay,Jamaica is located 45 minutes west of Montego Bay,15 minutes east of Negril.There is a restaurant & bar located there, operated by Andrew Marr,a fifth generation Jamaican,educated in Michigan.It is a beautiful location for a wedding,day at the beach,laid back real nice Jamaican feel to the place.Wonderful sunsets and excellent food,grilled lobster tails are one of the favorites with his repeat clientele.

Sun Adventure Tours recommends this place as one of its hidden gems in Jamaica and will take care of all details for that perfect wedding day,as well as a romantic place to come back to and rekindle those loving feelings with that special someone in your life.

The weather is the main reason Sun Adventure Tours travels to the Andes Mountains between April thru October; we want to avoid the heavy rains and wash outs of the roads between December and the end of March. The weather is very pleasant in September and October in Machu Picchu and Choquequirao and a great time to visit.

Peru is a country with a great variety of climates. Its geography, specially the imponent “Cordillera de los Andes” makes it possible to find very extreme and varied climates. In Perú seasons are opposite to those of Europe.

Summer starts in December and runs through till April. Winter runs from June to September. In the coast we can find temperatures that range from 12°C during winter up to 24°C during summer. November through May are the warmest months, with the rest of the year cooler. From May through November Lima becomes cloudy and foggy, with very slight precipitations of rain called "garúa ". If you are going to travel by the coast during the summer, light clothing is recommended. During the winter the best options are jumpers and coats, since in the winter the temperature is generally cool.

In the HIGHLANDS, temperature varies between 10°C and 16°C. In the seasons of strong rains (December to March), it is better not to travel by land because of the danger of the "huaycos" mud slides, precipitations of water and mud that can devastate whole towns. In the MOUNTAINS, temperature varies extremely from day to night. The climate in this region is usually dry. In order to travel in the MOUNTAINS it is recommended to bring light clothing for the day and warm clothing for cold nights.

In the JUNGLE we find that the climate is more uniform with temperatures that vary from 22°C to 26°C. and heavy rains are characteristic of this region throughout the year. The climate is generally is humid and warm. In order to travel in this area, very light and impermeable clothing, for heavy rains are recommended.

By María Helena Tord, El Comercio
Adapted from Spanish by Diana Schwalb

Cusco is not a destination that we generally include amongst the family trip plans. There are many factors that come to mind, such as problems with the altitude or the fact that children frequently prefer to go to the beach or a theme park.

Now is the time to start considering Cusco an option for a family vacation. The charm of Cusco that attract adults so much is also appealing, believe it or not, to children. It is just a matter of taking a look at trip attractions and planning according to the younger ones. The options abound.

http://www.livinginperu.com/travel-1570-cusco-how-vacation-with-kids-cusco-peru

three windows at Machu Picchu

“Machu Picchu is a trip to the serenity of the soul, to the eternal fusion with the cosmos; where we feel our fragility. It is one of the greatest marvels of South America. A resting place of butterflies in the epicentre of the great circle of life. One more miracle.” – Pablo Neruda, The Heights of Machu Picchu.

Located 120 km northwest of Cusco, the Inca city of Machu Picchu lay hidden from the world in dense jungle covered mountains until 1911. This ‘Lost City’ is one of the world’s archaeological jewels and is one of South America’s major travel destinations.

The well preserved ruins of Machu Picchu seem to almost cling to the steep hillside, surrounded by towering green mountains overlooking the Vilcanota River Valley. Even after having seen the classic photos of Machu Picchu in guide books, web sites and postcards you still cannot fail but to be impressed by the awe-inspiring location of the ruins.

When you read about its discovery and the unsolved mystery of its purpose and how it came to become ‘lost to the world’ you will realize why so many people make the pilgrimage to visit this fascinating and spiritual site.

With the right information, getting to Machu Picchu shouldn’t be as much a mystery as the place itself.Allow Sun Adventure Tours to take care of all the details of booking accomadations,take you to the best places to sample the Peruvian cuisine,train reservations,tickets to all the sites,and all your ground transportation in Peru so you can ensure you have a trip of a lifetime.Our team in Peru has nearly 30 years of combined experience leading groups of visitors to all the hidden gems in the Andes Mountain.However as Machu Picchu becomes more and more of a popular destination it is important to try and make your arrangements as far in advance as you can.

Come explore the sacred ceremonial sites with Sun Adventure Tours Peru team,join Ken MacDougall,Tour Coordinator,five years living in the Andean Mountain Range,Agripino Monge Leon,tour guide,24 years experience guiding expeditions around the many sites,towns and villages in Peru.

Often referred to as the ‘Archaeological Capital of the Americas’ Cusco is a beautiful city riddled with contrasts between the indigenous styles and the modern western world. It is these contrasts that have given Cusco its rare beauty.

Most visitors are keen to get to Machu Picchu, either by trekking for 4 days along the Inca Trail, or by 4 hours in the train, but Cusco itself has a lot to offer the visitor and most travellers usually end up seduced with this vibrant city and stay longer than first planned.

The first thing that hits the newly arrived visitor to Cusco are the Inca walls; enormous granite blocks carved to fit together perfectly without the aid of mortar beds. Many of the walls were simply built upon during the construction of a new Spanish city. Its a tribute to the Incas that their anti seismic design has survived the test of time while the Spanish colonial architecture has been rebuilt several times following a wave of earthquakes that have hit the city.

Located at an altitude of 3,360m above sea level, Cusco was referred to as the ‘Navel of the World’.

The city has a long and interesting history dating back to 1200AD and linked to the first Inca ruler Manco Capac. However the city saw its expansion in the 15th century under the rule of the greatest Inca Pachacutec, who led a drive that spread the boundaries of the Inca empire as far south as Chile and Argentina, and north to include Ecuador and Columbia. This rapid expansion abruptly came to an end on the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro who, following the murder of the Inca Atahaulpa in Cajamarca, marched into Cusco in 1534 and added it definitively to the realms of King Charles V. This invasion opened the gates to a cultural mix that has left its imprint on every aspect of Peruvian culture, especially in the ancient Andean capital of Cusco.

When arriving in Cusco from the coast you’ll immediately notice the thin clear mountain air, a result of the City’s high altitude. The first day in particular should be spent quietly relaxing and taking things easy as you gently acclimatize. Plan to spend at least 3 days in and around Cusco before starting any serious trekking such as the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This is an ideal opportunity to see the highlights Cusco has to offer such as a tour of the City, the nearby Inca Ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Pucapucara and Tambomahay an, of course, a day trip out to the Sacred Valley of the Incas including a visit to the traditional Indian market at Pisac, the beautiful village of Ollantaytambo and the small village of Chinchero located high up in the mountains.

Readers of the leading U.S. travel industry magazine Travel Weekly cast their votes in 58 categories to vote Jamaica “Best Caribbean Destination” in its 7th Readers Choice Awards.The award,which nominated the most outstanding travel product and services in the past 12 months,was announced at a gala dinner at New York City’s Plaza Hotel in December 2009.”This award represents the views of travel industry insiders.”said Arnie Weissmann,Travel Weekly’s Vice President and Editor in Chief.”Travel Weekly’s readership understand what it takes to impress even the most discerning traveler.To be voted a winner in any category is comfirmation that the American travel agents and their customers view your travel product as one of ‘the best’ in the industry.”

This hotel is our base in Montego Bay,Jamaica for Sun Aventure Tours,located on the MoBay Hip Strip,just a 150 yards west of Drs Cave Beach Hotel is located the Jamaica Bobsled Cafe.

The famous Jamaican Bobsled Team’s presence on the world’s sports stage inspired the concept of this particular Montego Bay restaurant. Established in 2005,the popular haunt offers its clientele a unique open cafe setting,similiar to the ones in Paris or New York,while adding the flair of Montego Bay and Jamaica to the mix.In addition to good casual fare and drinks,the Bobsled Cafe offers its visitors the opportunity to get their photos taken in a bona fide bobsled!!

Most Jamaicans love to cook,and the island has a number of traditional dishes prepared in a manner unique to the island,including the national dish Ackee & Saltfish,steamed fish with okra and crackers,callaloo with fried dumplings,plantains and green bananas or the customary rice & peas with jerked chicken or pork.You are guaranteed to come across some great Jamaican chefs at local restaurants and hotels and we encourage you to indulge in the local culinary delights. The island’s many wonderful eateries create international fare for all taste buds,offering you the best of both worlds.

When you tour with Sun Adventure Tours,I take everyone to the Seahorse Grill for dinner on Friday night,my treat.Renowned Montego Bay Chef Robert Joseph has embarked on another great culinary venture at the Montego Bay Yacht Club,where great food and unbeatable views compliment the relaxed,cozy atmosphere of the Seahorse Grill.Born and raised in Kingston,Chef Joseph grew up in the kitchen helping his Middle Eastern dad to cook for family and friends.A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America,Chef Joseph smiles when asked how long he has been in the business and answers “too long” but finally reveals that it has been around 35 years. From fresh,crunchy Cesar Salads to tempting Lobster Thermidor,the menu of seafood,pasta,burgers,salads and soups come highly recommended.Chef Joseph has introduced themed nights on Wednesday,Thursday and Fridays to entertain the Montego Bay crowd.