Inca Trail Trek Alternatives

Read our blog entry on some alternative treks to Machu Picchu, sometimes there just isnt space on the Classic Inca Trail....

http://peru-tour-packages.com/peru-trekking/

Weekend Antics - High Altitude Fishing

What we got up to this weekend.....

http://escapedtolatinamerica.com/blog/?p=33

Very interesting blog by Robert on the Ice Festival

http://escapedtolatinamerica.com/blog/

New Peruvian Banknotes

New designs of Peruvian bank notes have hit the streets, we enclose the new and the old so that when you have them both in your hands, dont panic, they are both legal tender. Here we are showing the 10 and 20 sol notes, new version above the old one.

Paucartambo Festival Videos on our YouTube page!

Videos from the Paucartambo festival this weekend, Gary, Malka, Seppe and Robert went to visit, and Saby from operations was actually dancing;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=Adb5YwG3Jq4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=h5Ow9KwEFhw

Annual Construction of the Qeswachaka Inca Rope Bridge

Robert from the Cusco sales team recently went to see the unique annual Inca rope bridge construction near Cusco and shares his experiences and photos with you. Check out the link below:

http://www.escapedtoperu.com/english/qeswachaka-inca-rope-bridge.html

Escaped to Peru sponsors Peru´s most successful cricket team

 

The Cusco-based Tour Operator Escaped to Peru, part of Escaped to Latin America, is proud to be a sponsor of the Peruvian national cricket team as they enjoy their best ever result in international competition in Costa Rica.

The Peruvian national cricket team has enjoyed its best ever tournament in Costa Rica and the Tour Operator Escaped to Peru is proud to have been a sponsor and is a constant supporter of the development of this sport within Peru.

The recent ICC Americas Division III tournament was held in San Jose, Costa Rica between the 14th and 18th of March and featured 6 Latin American teams seeking promotion to the second division. Peru competed against teams from Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Falkland Islands and on pitches that were slow with huge boundaries all the teams battled with the local conditions and struggled to score runs. The Peruvian team played extremely well to beat every team except the eventual group winners, Belize.

Gary Sargent, the Managing Director of Escaped to Peru, is normally a member of the squad but missed this tournament due to work commitments. He explains "The current team is made up of mainly ex-pats like myself who have been nationalized". Gary goes on to say "We are actively promoting the development of cricket amongst Peruvian born young men and women and we are sure that within a few short years we will be able to field a complete team of native Peruvians". Until that happens the nationalized members in the side will continue to represent Peru in a sport that is not yet fully recognized by the Peruvian authorities despite being supported by the ICC, the world governing body.

Some of the private bi-lingual schools in Lima such as Markham and Hiram Bingham are running cricket coaching for their kids, both male and female, and recent junior tournaments bode well for the future. Anyone who is interested in finding out more about cricket in Peru can contact Gary via his office.

Ten Things To Expect On The Inca Trail

If you want to take a Peru vacation, you’re probably thinking of visiting the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu. The most famous and popular way to get to Machu Picchu is on the Inca Trail, over 30 kilometres of winding paved path that is more than 500 years old.

So if you’re thinking about Inca Trail tours, what should you expect? Here are ten important things.

1) A waiting list
The Inca trail is so popular that most people must book 3 months in advance. If you’re thinking about booking, it’s also worth remembering that the trail is closed in February for maintenance.

2) Obligatory guides
Since 2000 the Peruvian Government has made it an official requirement to trek the Inca Trail with a guide. This means the only option is to do the trek as part of a tour.

3) Poor service for low prices
When choosing your tour operator for the Inca Trail, avoid the temptation to go as cheap as possible. You’ll find yourself in large groups of twenty people or more and there’s a high chance that the tour operator will treat their Peruvian staff badly.

4) Tipping porters and guides
Even if you choose a company that treats its workers well, cooks, guides and porters will still be relying on tips to get paid a decent wage for their work. Generally accepted rates are as follows:

If you are part of a group, each group member should allow:
• US$5 per person for the porters (ratio is 1 client: 1 porter)
• US$10 per person to the cook
• US$10 per person to the guide

However, if you are part of a very small group, you may consider increasing these amounts.
If you are on a privately escorted trip, you should allow:
• US$25 for the porters
• US$10 for the cook
• US$50 for the guide

5) Difficulty with Altitude
Coming straight up from Lima and getting stuck into the Inca Trail will leave even the fittest hiker gasping for air. With the 4200m “Dead Woman’s Pass” waiting for you on day two of the four day hike, try to allow for a couple of days in nearby Cusco to acclimatise to the altitude before setting off.

6) Crowds
Guides do their best to keep distance between groups on hiking days, but expect to see crowds in campsites. Inca Trail regulations permit 500 people on the trail per day (most of whom are expedition porters and staff) so if you wanted to be alone in the wilderness, there are probably better routes to choose from in Peru.

7) Lots of rules
Want to light a camp fire? Nope. Any chance of camping outside designated sites? Nope. Walking off the trail? Nope.

Expect a set of strict rules when walking the Inca trail - if you get frustrated try to remember that a lot of people use the Inca Trail and for good upkeep a strong set of rules are necessary. If you want a more flexible trek, there are plenty of options for hikes in the same region.

8) Steps
Up, down, up down...don’t expect an easy, flat road. Inca engineers took their climbs and drops pretty seriously, so trekkers will have the benefit of kilometer after kilometer of stone steps to negotiate the mountains.

9) Early mornings
If you’re not a morning person, don’t opt for the Inca Trail. Particularly on the last day for the approach to Machu Picchu; your guide will be trying to get your group a good position amongst the others for entry into the site which will result in a cheery 5.30am wake-up call.

10) Incredible views and the trip of a lifetime
Despite all the problems and challenges, you’ll be set for a wonderful experience which keeps trekkers coming back to the Inca trail, year after year. It’ll be a decision that you’ll never regret!

Have you trekked the Inca Trail? What were your experiences?

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

How To Haggle Like A Pro In Any Latin American Market

Roll your sleeves up, it’s time to make some purchases on your Latin American vacation! It could be a market stall, back-street shop or wandering vendor. Whatever the custom in your country, you are practically expected to haggle for prices or pay much more than you should. Here are some tips to help you have fun and get a good price.

Getting your haggling head on

First of all, expect prices to be flexible and don’t feel worried about asking for a discount.

• Vendors will try their luck and ask for a much higher price than normal, so you should try your luck and ask for a much lower one!
• Remember that negotiating is not arguing; you’re not aiming to get into a screaming match, but trying to find a fair price for the item that is acceptable to both parties.
• Don't be embarrassed about asking for money off! Being price savvy is not being cheap.

Preparation

As with any good negotiation, you shouldn’t walk into things cold.

• Work out how much you want to spend; haggling is the process of getting the best possible value for that amount of money.
• Research the product you want to buy - typically Latin America markets and shops are full of the same items, so you can do a price survey in a couple of other locations.
• If you can, bring someone with you who speaks the language.
• If not, bring a calculator to show numbers (the universal language) and do conversions if you are not totally familiar with the local currency
• Dress down and don’t give the impression of someone with a lot of money to spend.

Beginning the negotiation

A much as you may want to discuss price, never jump straight into it...

• Build rapport with vendor, and show an interest in their business, life and country whilst remaining polite and positive.
• If you notice something you like, never show interest. During the haggling process never appear needy and be prepared to walk away empty handed (sometimes this even helps as part of the negotiation).
• Price-wise, what is good for one is good for all - out of respect for the vendor negotiate quietly so no-one else can hear and don’t shoot off at the mouth about the deal that you just got.
• Allow the vendor to sell their product - this will relax them.
• Make sure the vendor makes the first offer, no matter how much they ask you for the opening price!

Getting down to business

OK, the first move has been made. Now comes the fun part!

• Establish their baseline price - go as low as possible in your counter-offer! Expect a dramatic response, as it’s all part of the haggling game...
• At no point in the negotiation should you mention your budget!
• Have an excuse to walk away if the haggling gets too intense - maybe you’ve got to meet friends or your tour group is waiting.
• Don’t say anything after your counter-offer until the vendor replies - silence is awkward, but golden.
• Check the quality of the product - if you can see any flaws, angle for an extra discount!

Closing the deal

It’s all agreed - counter-offers have gone back and forth and you’re both finally set

• At this point you should really commit to purchasing to honor your verbal contract. Many Latin America vendors are poor and it is unfair to commit to a price without purchasing.
• However, when the final price is fixed, there’s no reason not to try and go for low-value extras or accessories to throw in with your purchase. You should try to do some research into these before you begin your negotiation as well.

Do you have any other tips for haggling in Latin America? What are some of your haggling experiences?

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

 

10 Reasons You Need A Latin American Vacation Right Now

If you’re reading this, you are struggling with a decision. You want a vacation, probably to Latin America, but there seem to be a hundred reasons not to go. Maybe you are worried that there’s not enough money in the bank, or you are concerned about losing your job in the current economic climate if you “slack off”.

At a time like this, you need a motivator! Instead of focusing on reasons not to travel, turn things on their head. Lets look at ten great reasons to book your Latin American vacation and start getting excited!

1) For starters...having something to look forward to
It’s good to be excited in anticipation of something. Preparations, speculating what will happen, the impending freedom and escape...it will make the last couple of weeks as work so much easier!

2) Be able to step back and look at the bigger picture
A vacation is a break - a pause from routine, a chance to get away from regular life. If you leave on vacation with a problem or decision that has been bothering you for ages, you won’t have the distractions that normally prevent you from getting some head-space. With time for yourself, the decision or solution to your problem will come much easier.

3) Get the health benefits
Countless studies have proved that people who use their vacation time enjoy the benefits; reduced chances of heart attack, depression, mental fatigue...the list goes on. Think of it as a more pleasant alternative to a grinding gym routine or chewing salad for the rest of your life.

4) Come back from your vacation a different person
On vacation you’ll be exposed to countless new experiences, places and people. If you open yourself up to Latin America, it has the potential to change your world perspective. From spiritual retreats in the Sacred Valley of Peru to fireside discussions with indigenous Guatemalans, you’ll see a side of life you’d never get close to in an office cubicle.

5) Challenge yourself and become tougher for it
Travel is hard. Well, as hard as you want it to be. Everyone has their own comfort level, and travel helps you push that - maybe you never knew you could dance the tango, or could do a four day trek. You’ll come back from vacation a stronger person for the challenges that you’ve faced.

6) Put your Spanish lessons to good use
Been struggling with Spanish for a while? There’s no better motivation to practice than using your language skills in a conversation with someone who doesn’t speak English...

7) Be the envy of your friends
Don’t deny it; there’s always a kick of satisfaction when people ask you about your vacation...and you have some incredible stories to tell them. It also helps that while you were away exploring Latin America, not a great deal changed at home!

8) Get closer to the friends or family that you travel with
Real life sometimes takes away the time that we’d otherwise spend with friends and family. If you decide to travel with other people, it’ll be a wonderful opportunity to re-establish a bond. The relationship will grow from your shared experiences.

9) Discover the beauty, ridiculousness, surprise and variety of the world
Be inspired, get creative, laugh at the craziness of Latino life that you’ll encounter. Things certainly won’t be the same as your home country...

10) Return to everyday life refreshed
With all the things that your vacation has to offer, you’ll be going back to life at home feeling refreshed, energized, ready to take on the coming months - quite different from the person who left a few weeks previously!

Are you struggling with the idea of cutting loose and booking a vacation? What are your concers? What other benefits have you got from vacations in the past?

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

 

 

 

5 Latin America Visa Nightmares And How To Avoid Them

 

 

There’s nothing like a pile of paperwork to take the joy out of a dream Latin American vacation.  

No, correction - there’s nothing like realizing that you haven’t completed a pile of paperwork, too late on to do anything about it.  No-one likes having to do it, but you need to make sure that you’ve got your visas covered.  Take heed of the 5 nightmare scenarios below to make sure you don’t get caught out at the airport before your Latin American vacation has even started.

Wait, what’s a visa?
A visa, if you’re not sure, is a stamp that goes in your passport (yes, you’ll need a passport...) which allows you to visit a country for a specific duration with a specific purpose.  Like tourism, for example.

Nightmare scenario number 1
You’re an American that wants to visit Brazil.  Surprise!  The Brazilian Government doesn’t like you...speaking in paperwork terms.

How to avoid the nightmare: Some countries will make you jump through flaming hoops in order to be able to get a simple tourist visa, whilst others will just let you show up at the airport.  The rules are changing all the time, so your only option is to check out requirements for your specific vacation destination on your government’s website.  It is also worth getting in touch with the embassy of your vacation country to check the latest requirements.  A call or email should do it.

Nightmare scenario number 2
You’re leaving in a week - your tickets are booked and everything is arranged.  That should be enough time to sort out your visa, right?  Oh.  It isn’t.  And you can’t get a refund on those tickets, or re-book your holiday...

How to avoid the nightmare: Check the requirements for your destination country before you book anything!  Time-frames vary for applications, and with thousands of people applying each week in some cases, your application could be delayed in a paper-storm.  Avoid the stress, and simply apply for the visa in good time.

Nightmare scenario number 3
You’re at the airport with a nice fresh visa pasted into your passport.  But they won’t let you board the aircraft because your passport is about to expire...in a few months?!

How to avoid the nightmare: Believe it or not, you need to make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of return from your trip. If the expiry date is too close to your vacation date, apply for a new passport.  Make sure that you allow a few weeks for that application as well.

Nightmare scenario number 4
Ok, all set for that Brazil vacation again.  You’ve got the visa, a good passport...and the accompanying paperwork?  Sorry Sir/Madam, for a one-way flight you need some other proof that you’ll leave the country.  We’re going to have to keep you in custody until you can produce it.

How to avoid the nightmare: Some countries go beyond needing a visa. Check requirements for all accompanying paperwork with the relevant foreign embassy.  Hot topics to affect your entry could include:

• requiring an onward flight ticket from the country you are entering
• stamps from previous visits abroad affecting travel to new countries
• medical conditions and taking medicines into a country
• previous criminal convictions affecting entry eligibility
• travelling with children of whom you are not the legal guardians

Nightmare scenario number 5
What a great vacation!  Until you return to the airport...and a very large fee for an expired visa.

How to avoid the nightmare: Get the absolute maximum duration for your visa to avoid any problems - you can check this maximum with the relevant foreign embassy before applying.  Make sure that the visa fits with your dates of travel!

Do you have any nightmare visa stories?  Does any visa advice for Latin American vacationers come to mind?

Author: Jon Clarke - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

How Your Latin American Vacation Could Change Your Life

With the global economy forcing us all to cut back on spending, it’s often vacations that are the first thing on the chopping block.  This is a huge shame - travel is a life changing experience, recognized as one of the best ways to spend your time.  Especially if you are escaping from the doom and gloom of home!  

If you need a little nudge to be convinced that booking that next Latin American vacation is a worthy investment, check out the following stories of some previous clients that I’ve arranged trips for.

Realizing what is really possible
David was a nervous person, but in a moment of madness his friends persuaded him to book a mountain biking tour on Bolivia’s infamous ‘Death Road’, a couple of thousand meters descent around narrow perilous switchbacks overlooking sheer drops.  

Egged on by his speedy companions and the reassurance of his bike guide, David actually ended up really pushing himself even though he was trembling like a leaf from the adrenaline.  By the end of the ride he realized that the only thing holding him back was his own attitude.  

I received an email from David after his return home, telling me that his trip had finally given him the boost he needed to quit his job and start a business - inspiring stuff!

Getting in touch with your spirituality
Sandra and Mark had both been struggling with their lives since their kids left home, and decided to book onto a  spiritual retreat in the Sacred Valley near Cusco.  The retreat was a challenging 10 day experience in an isolated setting, and both of them confronted tough personal issues as a result of the process.  

However, it turned out to be worth the effort - they left the meditation centre with a much clearer idea of what they wanted from the next stage of their lives.

A journey that you finish as a different person
Pilgrimage has been around as a religious journey of self-discovery for thousands of years, but you don’t have to commit to a religion to get the benefits.  

Carlos and three of his friends booked a cycle tour around the vineyards of Argentina.  They had a great time travelling between some of the best vineyards in South America, but also got to know much more about themselves as a result of reflective thinking time on the road.  

Friends and family were quick to notice the difference when the guys got back, and the group has since booked onto another cycle tour to allow for time away in reflection every year.

Seeing another side of life
The favelas of Rio De Janiero are known as some of the worst areas of poverty in Latin America.  Julie was determined to give her time and effort to help out some of the families in the slum areas, and I arranged for her to volunteer as an English teacher as part of her vacation to Brazil.  

“It was incredible,” she told me afterwards, “They were living in the worst conditions I’ve ever seen, and had nothing, but they were so happy and contented with life.”  

The experience changed her perspective dramatically.  “Even though it was a challenging experience for me, it made me think hard about what is important to me in life, and to be more grateful for what I have.”

What do you think is the common factor for life changing vacations?  Do you remember a vacation that changed your life, and what happened?

 

 Author: Jon Clarke - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

How to Get The Most From Your Luggage Allowance and Avoid Sneaky Charges

Ever been left fuming when the smarmy check-in assistant at the airport slaps you with an excess baggage charge?  You’re not alone.  According to research, one in five travellers get caught out on vacation with their luggage.  However, all is not lost - not only can you easily avoid paying top dollar for your cases, you can play the system at its own game.   Here’s how.

1) Find out the luggage allowance rules
This will take a little bit of preparation on your part.  Each airline has its own unique and frequently-changing set of rules.  If you have any hope of avoiding a nasty surprise at the check-in desk, you’ll have to go to the airline’s website and find out what they are.

• Check weight and size limits for check-in baggage and carry-on items.
• Find out which items are prohibited and in what quantities (for example, 50ml of specific liquids).
• Some airlines also permit you to check extra bags for a relatively low fixed fee.  Find out restrictions and costs for this

2) Break the luggage allowance rules!
Ok, you’re up to speed with the airline restrictions and all the cunning ways that they will try and squeeze you for money.  Have you considered any of the following hacks to get around the charges?

• Pick some of your biggest and heaviest clothes, and put them all on.  If you’ve got a jacket with lots of pockets, fill them to bursting; you don’t even have to wear it!
• Family outing?  Everyone has a baggage allowance, and if you check with the airline you’ll see that parents can normally combine luggage allowances with their kids.
• Check in people are not always unbending - if you are a little over the weight limit, and know you are, a nice smile and an apology often gets you checked in charge free!
• Some items of specialist sports equipment can enjoy free check-in (for example, golf clubs on a couple of airlines), so try stuffing other items into the equipment cases.  If there are no equipment exceptions with your airline, it’s probably best to pay up-front as showing up to the airport unannounced with your specialist kit could result in some much larger fees.
• Most airlines allow you a “personal item”, which can include a briefcase, camera, handbag/purse, laptop (in carry bag) or a multitude of other items.  Instead of stuffing a bulky SLR camera into your case, why not just carry it on-board?

3) Avoid the luggage allowance rules
If the airline has been too cunning in planning out its rules, you’ll just have to avoid them. Preparation is key here, so take a little time to run through the following steps.

• Weigh your bags to check if you are within limits.  Use electric scales as manual scales can be a little inaccurate.
• Avoid the whole debacle by sending your luggage ahead by courier to your destination.
• Don’t pack anything that you can buy at your destination - toothpaste does exist in other parts of the world...
• Leave out non-essential items by checking the weather where you are headed - maybe you don’t need that ski-jacket after all.
• Prepare for the return journey - you’ll inevitably want to bring some things back from your vacation, so make some space!  Pack your bags and then take out 5 items that, on brutal reflection, you really don’t need.  If you need help, get someone else to pack with you and ask if you really need each item that you’re trying to cram into your suitcase.

Have you ever been caught out by luggage charges?  Do you have any other advice or tips for air-travellers?

 

Author: Jon Clarke - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

7 Tips And Tricks To Make The Most Of Your Money On A Latin America Vacation

The last thing you want after returning from a relaxing Latin American vacation is to feel the veins throbbing on your forehead when you see your bank statement.

Hidden travel costs and charges are around every corner waiting to slap you, but with a bit of preparation you can breathe a sigh of relief when you check your post-vacation account balance.

Here are 7 easy to implement money-wise tips that will save you hundreds on your next vacation.

1) Credit and Debit Cards - your plastic best friends
Credit cards are widely accepted to make payments in larger hotels, better restaurants, souvenir shops and stores, and to obtain cash advances. They are also acceptable as ‘proof of funds’ at borders. There’s also an ever-growing network of ATM machines that make it very easy to withdraw cash in local currency.

Visa is the most widely accepted for both purchases and cash advances, followed by MasterCard. American Express is not as widely accepted but also a good option.

Advances are increasingly available using ATMs (cajeros electronicos), for which Cirrus, Maestro, Plus and Delta cards may also be used, plus you can walk into many banks and arrange a higher cash advance in certain countries (Peru and Colombia for example). The rate of exchange is often the most favorable, and long bank queues can be avoided.

2) Check to see if your bank is sneaky
Before leaving you should check with your bank or credit card company whether they impose any handling charges. Make sure you have a separate note of the number and validity of your cards, as well as the phone numbers to call should they be lost or stolen.

It may also be worthwhile advising your bank that you intend to use your card abroad (and in which countries). Some banks, if they detect an irregular spending pattern, assume the card to be stolen and suspend the account. Barclays in the UK have very tight controls on its cards for example, Barclays customers beware!

Check your account carefully on return from Latin America to ascertain that payments for the card are legitimate.

3) Get the right ‘balance’ of local currency vs US dollars
It is not advisable to try to acquire Latin American currency before travelling. If a currency is
available in High Street banks or foreign exchange outlets the exchange rate is usually very
poor (nor will they be interested in buying any Latin American currency back when you return).
Strikes notwithstanding, you should be able to change dollars and / or travelers checks at the
airport or border upon arrival but try to avoid changing in the actual airport itself as the rate will be very poor. A good option would be to take a small amount of local currency from the airport ATM.

In Latin America, small denominations of US $ cash are often as readily accepted as the local currency, so keep a bundle of small bills as backup. If travelling between neighboring countries in Latin America any surplus local currencies can usually be exchanged into the next local currency, but normally only at border posts, the next big town across the border or airports, and nearly always at a loss.

To avoid getting scammed on your currency exchanges, check the Internet for the latest update on rates and write down how much to expect back in the new currency when you hand your money over.

4) Travelers Checks? Nope.
Traveler´s checks are increasingly less favored by travelers who find their use cumbersome in
comparison with bank cards. Traveler´s checks are becoming harder to cash and the charges are creeping higher.

There are a lots of alternatives, so if you you want to be smart with your money, this probably is not your best option.

5) Eat, sleep and travel local
Even though the cost of living in Latin America differs enormously between countries and can fluctuate wildly over time within a single country or region, services directed at tourists (e.g. hotels and restaurants) are more expensive.

The price of restaurant meals in Latin America varies as much as it does in Europe. At the bottom end of the scale, cheap, filling and often none-too hygienic meals can be obtained in markets, often for just a couple of dollars. This is usually the best source of regional food, but be aware of the high risk of stomach upsets. Modern snack bars, often of the fast-food variety, are much safer and cheaper, if uninspiring. A bit more up-market, you will find restaurants with pleasant decor, uniformed waiters, and menus offering both international and local dishes, but you will pay accordingly. Ask your tour operator for their suggestions.

6) Tipping - A little goes a long way (but sometimes too far)
It is impossible to give firm guidelines regarding how much to tip a provider of services in Latin
America, as the cost of living varies widely from country to country. However, it’s extremely uncomfortable to be caught out in a situation where you should or shouldn’t be tipping, especially as it is the major source of income in some jobs. But you don’t want to be taken for a ride by a crafty local - there’s nothing worse than getting scammed.

Be sure to get some advice on tipping situations in your destination - your travel agent / tour operator or a good guide book will provide you with suggestions for situations in which tipping is expected, and how much.

Whatever the amounts and situations, be sure to have to have small-denomination coins in local currency. You’re not likely to get change from tipping a large note, and foreign currency won’t be much use to the majority of people.

7) Bargaining - fight for your discount
Bargaining is normal procedure in most street and indoor markets, though no fair generalization can be made about the amount by which the price can be reduced. Shed any inhibitions you had about a pricing debate, and enjoy the negotiation!

Tourists can usually expect to have to pay more than locals. In Peru, the asking price is often 50% more than the vendor is prepared to accept, while the Otavalo Indians in Ecuador and street traders in Bolivia rarely come down more than 10%. In Guatemala, some traders will reduce their prices by 30% and others hardly at all.

Many street vendors are extremely poor, so respectfully bear this in mind when relentlessly hammering down prices.

Have you got any money-saving tips for travelling in Latin America? Do you remember when you ended up spending way too much money, or you avoided spending anything?

Author: Jon Clarke - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

6 Options For Contacting Home When Travelling Latin America - For eGeniuses And Technophobes Alike

So, the Latin America vacation plans are set. Tickets are booked, packing is done, dog has been left with the neighbours. All the vaccinations have been injected (ouch), visas are arranged and there’s no sign of political unrest on the television. What have you forgotten?

Oh, that’s right - you’re leaving Mum behind, and she’s worried that you’ll never come back. And all your friends keep asking you to let them know about your adventures. How are you going to keep everyone updated?

You may be escaping the country for a well-earned Latin America vacation, but you’ll probably still need to send word back home. Here are 6 options for keeping in contact when travelling, no matter if you’re a iWhiz or you have trouble finding the on-switch on a computer.

Low-tech options for staying in contact while travelling
Get confused working a microwave? These are for you...

1) Postcards
Ahhh, postcards; the classic option. Who really needs more than a couple of sentences to say that you’re still alive and wishing that the recipient was there? You should be able to find postcards all over the place on your travels, but you can always take some with you just in case. If you’re really organized, you can even pre-fill the addresses.

Another option is to get a couple of your travel photos printed as a postcard alternative - try taking the memory card of your digital camera to a printing shop, and then scribble a message and a sending address on the back with a postage stamp!

Remember that in most places it costs more to send something in an envelope; postcards are your cheapest option.

2) Pay phones/Call centres
A long time ago in a galaxy far away, people used landlines to talk to each other. Believe it or not, this still happens and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a payphone.

To get the best possible deal with land line calls, you should probably buy an international calling-card. Post offices, call centres or even your hotel will sell cards that give you a better rate when phoning home.

Medium-tech options for staying in contact while travelling
You’re not afraid of a couple of gadgets. Bring it on!

3) Cell phones
Most of us know how to work a cell phone these days, and probably have our own. You’ve got a couple of options for using it abroad; get an international talk plan from your current network provider, or pick up a SIM card in your destination country.

If you go down the talk-plan route, be wary of excessive call fees, and find out if you can get a tariff that allows you to call a limited selection of numbers for cheap. Also check out other network providers - now might be a good time to switch for a better deal.

To get a calling plan in your destination country, you’ll have much cheaper options for calls within the country that you’re visiting, and quite possibly when calling home. You can even use your current cell phone in some cases, but most likely you’ll need to get it unblocked. Ask your tour operator for advice on this, or any local vacation friends that you make.

Either way, text messaging will cost you a lot less than calls, so get those thumbs warmed up and practise communicating in 140 characters!

4) Email
If you don’t have an email account already, it’s easy and free to open one with companies like Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail; a Google search will give you the link to get started.

Gather email addresses from friends and family to get your mailing list ready and send them all a test message before you leave to check that all the addresses work.

If you really want to make life easier for yourself, try making a group on your email program to avoid typing all the addresses in every time; the program help files should provide instructions on how to do this.

High-tech options for staying in contact while travelling
You’re reading this on the internet after running a search for it - these options should be no problem!

5) Blogging
Blogging is an alternative to email. Instead of sending a message to someone, you post stories, photos and videos on a unique page on the internet and your friends and family can visit it to see what you’re up to.

Here are the simplest options to get a travel blog set up. All these options are free. If you’d like to be handed a travel blogging program on a plate, try websites like Matador.com or Travelblog.org.

If you’d rather choose a more personal looking blog but don’t feel like writing an essay every time you post, Tumblr is an attractive, simple option for short posting. If you’d like the whole shebang for longer posting in an easy to setup format, try Blogger.

6) Skype
You want to make free calls to anyone anywhere in the world. So what’s stopping you?

Skype is a revolutionary program that allows users to make calls over the internet completely free between computers, or very cheaply to landlines or cell phones internationally. You’ll find the program installed in most computers in Internet cafes around the globe.

You can register for a free account on the website www.skype.com but to be able to make completely free calls the person that you want to contact must have a computer with the program installed as well. Clear, simple instructions are on Skype’s website to help get you started.

What do you think is the best way to stay in touch with friends and family from abroad? What are your experiences with these options? Are there any options missing from this list?

Author: Steve Mellor - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

5 Quirky Traditions To Watch Out For On Your Peru Vacation

Random. Surprising. Frustrating. Strange.

If you've ever taken a Peru Vacation, one or all of these of these words will float into your mind sooner or later. If you were expecting to encounter life in the same form as back home, you'll be in for a shock. Why is Peru so different?

It could be thousands of years of civilizations steam-rollering over each other, each leaving their own mark on the population and its behaviours. Peru today is an anthropological melting pot with modern and colonial Spanish influence in towns and cities while in the countryside Inca and pre-Inca cultures dominate day-to-day life.

As a result of this cultural mega-mix you'll bear witness to some quirky, and often disturbing, practices on a Peru vacation. Here are 5 common ones to watch out for.

1. Two Bulls, a ladder and a cross on the roof
Something that is very common in the highlands is the placing of two ceramic bulls on the roof of the house. The roofs of traditional houses are covered with red clay tiles and as you wander the streets of cities like Cusco, Pisaq and Ollantaytambo look up and you will see many pairs of bulls sitting side by side.

The most traditional bulls come from Pukara on the altiplano between Cusco and Puno and two bulls side by side (male and female) are said to signify various things; they keep the house safe with a blessing to the “Apus” (the Inca mountain gods) and ensure wealth, health and unity of the occupants. The bulls may be combined with a ladder and a cross allowing an easy passage to heaven when the time comes. This is a curious mixture of Inca and Catholic symbology, but one that is typical of many things Peruvian.

2. Red plastic bags on sticks
As you drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas near Cusco you will see lots of red plastic bags on the end a very long bamboo sticks projecting from houses. These are signs! They say, "We sell Chicha," a maize or corn based alcoholic drink which is very (and in some cases, a little too) popular in the countryside.

On Sundays you will not only see the red signs but the effects on the people drinking Chicha as they stagger around small towns and villages mumbling and being overly friendly or abusive to tourists depending on what sort of week they have had.

It is said that, as yeast is expensive, people spit into the brew to make it ferment. To add to the fun, it is said that in some parts of Peru and Bolivia a severed dead baby´s hand is thrown in too for good measure. Make mine a double...

3. Babies shoes hanging inside or underneath the car
When you are taking a taxi, public bus or even some private cars in Peru you may notice a small shoe hanging by its laces. This is mostly done within the car, which makes sense (who wouldn't want a memento of their kid when on the job?), but sometimes logic is stretched when people hang the shoes underneath the car. This shoe is from the first born in the family and is said to bring wealth and luck to the family and aid family unity (a recurring theme it seems!).

4. Chewing Coca leaves
This is a very common habit in the countryside but you will see it in town markets too when country people come in to sell their goods. It is an Inca tradition where people build up a ball of Coca leaves in one of their cheeks and allow the resultant liquid to seep into the blood stream. The alkaloid ingredients of the Coca plant, containing around 1% actual cocaine, allow the fanatical chewers to fight fatigue, hunger and cold more easily and therefore work harder in the fields.

Many people will chew the leaves when they are not working hard, maybe when they are just sitting around chatting, and while it is not necessarily an addiction many people will go through 300 to 400 grams a week. Is that bulge in your cheek coca leaves, or are you just pleased to see me?

5. Decorating graves
When you are traveling by road you will inevitably see graveyards in nearby fields and often there are shrines at the side of the road where people have died in traffic accidents. Around special public holidays such as Todo Santos these graves are decorated by family members with many articles that the deceased used to enjoy. This ritual often happens on the birthday of the deceased person too. Things are placed on and around the grave like football related objects, model cars or dolls, photos, beer or rum bottles, favorite clothing, families may play favorite music etc.

Have you seen any of these traditions on your Peru vacation? Are there any others that you can think of? Just send us your comments in the form below:

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

Four Incredible Peru Travel Experiences

There are innumerable travel experiences that one can have visiting Peru from the dry coastal regions to the towering Andes containing Machu Picchu, all offering a unique, unforgettable vacation. This article will describe four fantastic travel experiences that you can have in Peru.

Exploring the legacy of the Incas
Your first experience is a tour of the heart of Inca territory. It starts in the city of Cusco, which is considered an impressive city with its mix of Spanish colonial and Inca architecture. It was once the center of the Inca Empire that covered what is now Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia and the southern part of Colombia. You take a tour of this city before heading to the depths of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. While in the Sacred Valley, you will ascend the ruins of the military outpost of Ollantaytambo and meander through the market of Pisac. Once done exploring the Sacred Valley, the next stop is Aguas Calientas and the wonders of Machu Picchu. Due to its almost impossible location, Machu Picchu was protected from Spanish conquest. It remains as one of the best-preserved and impressive reflections of the Inca Empire.

Riding high in the Mountain ranges Of Peru
A trip to the Peruvian Andes has many awe-inspiring and magical sites. This trip starts in Arequipa, known as “the White City” and then travels to Colca Canyon to enjoy the hot springs and witness the flying condors and incredible panoramas. Then it is off to Puno to tour the wonderful and magnificent Lake Titicaca, a sacred place for the Inca civilization; Incan mythology tell us that Manco Capac, the first Incan king, was born here. According to Incan legend, this is the place from which the world was created, when the god Viracocha came out of the lake and created the sun, the stars and the first people. You will have many places to discover on the shores of Lake Titicaca, as well as on the islands that lie within the lake.

Jungle boogie
The Peruvian Amazon is also a place not to miss. The Amazon is a beautiful rainforest displaying an intricate balance of life with a lush ecosystem. When you visit the Amazon, you will encounter some of the thousands of species of flora and fauna that live there.

Ancient culture and impressive wildlife; the coast of Peru
Another incredible tour is to visit the Nazca Lines, Paracas National Park and the Ballestas Islands. Starting from Paracas, it is one of the best marine reserves in the world with the highest concentration of marine birds. This is followed by a motorboat excursion to the Ballestas Islands which have numerous arches and caves created by erosion that provide shelter for thousands of seabirds and sea lions. The islands have been called the “Galapagos of Peru”. Once you have visited the islands, you can travel by air over the famous Nazca lines, huge parallel and geometric line figures, as well as designs such as an enormous monkey, a dog, a bird with a wing span of over 100 meters, a spider and a tree cut into the stony desert. It is thought that these lines are representative of a vast astronomical pre-Inca calendar.

Between Cusco, Mach Picchu, the Andes, the Amazon, the Nazca lines and the Ballestas Islands, you will have found some incredible Peruvian travel experiences that will be long remembered.

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

Inti Raymi - Inca Festival of the Sun, Cusco, Peru

The Inti Raymi festival is the second largest festival in South America and occurs each winter solstice in Cuzco, Peru. Tens of thousands of people come to Cuzco from other parts of Peru and South America for a celebration that lasts an entire week and marks the beginning of a new year; the Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun.

There are many events and activities in the Inti Raymi festival, including street fairs, and parades featuring traditional costumes and dancing in the streets. During the evenings, there are free concerts in the Plaza de Armas with music from the best of Peruvian musical groups.

June 24, the actual day of Inti Raymi, is when the celebrations begin. An actor is chosen to represent the Sapa Inca, or Inca Emperor, and his wife Mama Occla. He performs a ceremony first at Qorikancha behind which stands the Santo Domingo church which is located on top of the ruins of the ancient Temple of the Sun. Qoricancha or the Temple of the Sun was the most important temple in the Inca Empire dedicated to Inti, the sun god.

Blessings from the sun are invoked by the Sapa Inca. After the invocation, a golden throne carries the Sapa Inca in a magnificent parade to Sacsayhuamán, an ancient fortification which lies in the hills above the city of Cuzco. The high priests join the Sapa Inca, followed by officials of the court, nobles and others, all in elaborate costumes designed according to their rank, with gold and silver ornaments. The streets are decorated with flowers and the parade moves along to music and dancing. Large crowds wait at the ancient fortress of Sacsayhuamán for the arrival of the procession and the Sapa Inca.

After everyone has gathered at the main square of the fortress, the Sapa Inca, along with the priests and representatives of the Suyos perform a number of ceremonies. The Suyos comprise the Snake to represent the underworld, the Puma for life on earth and the Condor for the upper world of the gods.

Next follows a mock sacrifice of a white llama whose bloody heart is held aloft in honor of Pachamama, the earth mother. Originally the sacrifice was real. This sacrifice is done is to ensure that the earth will be fertile and in combination with the sun’s light and warmth will provide a bountiful crop. The blood stains are then read by the priests to determine the future for the Incas.

At sunset, stacks of straw are set on fire and danced around to honor Tawantinsuty or the Empire of the Four Wind Directions. A parade back to the town of Cuzco ends the ceremony of Inti Raymi. Sitting on their thrones, the Sapa Inca and Mama Occla return to town whilst the representatives and priests of the Supas give various blessings to the accompanying crowds. The beginning of a new year has been declared.

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

Peru Support Group visit - by John

An old friend, Gaby, recently visited us in Cusco. Gaby works for the NGO Peru Support Group (PSG) and she has written our blog this week to tell you all about what she was up to whilst here in Peru.

I spent five years working for a British travel company as a tour leader. As most of my time was spent in South America, I became increasingly interested in regional politics. This spurred me to go back to Uni and get a Master’s in Globalisation and Latin American Development.

I now work as coordinator of the PSG, a small UK-based non-governmental organisation. I visit Peru every year to maintain face-to-face contact with local organisations who work tirelessly to improve the human rights situation and development prospects of Peruvians.

As many visitors to the country know, Peru lived through a 20-year internal armed conflict (1980-2000) fuelled by the terrorist activities of the Shining Path. However, the various governments that tried to fight this extremist element often did so with equally violent results. One of those governments was led by a young Alan García, also Peru’s current President. Another former president, Alberto Fujimori, was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this year for human rights violations that occurred during his presidency.

During my visit this summer, I met with many human rights organisations concerned about the recent violence that broke out in the Peruvian Amazon. The reasons for the conflict centre around the government’s policy of basing the development of the country on foreign investment, companies interested in taking advantage of Peru’s natural resources such as gold, copper, oil and gas. Many indigenous groups are also angry at controversial government legislation introduced last year which they feel give preference to the foreign companies whilst ignoring their rights to be consulted on issues affecting the land they are living on.

Steve Mellor, General Manager of http://www.escapedtoperu.com/ explained “This sort of violence can and does occur sporadically in certain areas of the country. We do of course keep an eye on these issues to make sure that our clients are kept safe. The areas of the Amazon where we send clients for a Rainforest experience are a long way from Bagua where this occurred, and so has not affected tourists or tourism in any way. Thankfully tourism is seen as having a positive effect, by feeding money into local economies”.

The Peru Support Group was established in 1983 as an independent membership organisation without any party or political affiliation to campaign for and strengthen the rights of Peruvian people - particularly those from the poorest sectors - to become effective actors in the development of their country. The PSG raises awareness in the UK through research and policy analysis, public education and advocacy. http://www.perusupportgroup.org.uk/