Entradas
Dr Latitude: Incan city will leave you gobsmacked
5:00AM Saturday August 30, 2008
We are considering climbing Machu Picchu next year, and have mileage points with United Airlines/Star Alliance. How can we best use these? Alison Woodcock
The Qantas/Lan One World alliance is a popular combination for flights to South America, but travel agents should know the best combination of Star Alliance partners, which include Air New Zealand and United Airlines.
A visit to the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu has to be the highlight of any trip to Peru. The awe-inspiring site was never revealed to the Spaniards, and remained undiscovered until the early 20th century. Mystery still surrounds the site, but the quality of the stonework and ornamentation suggests the Incan citadel was an important ceremonial centre, abandoned during the Spanish conquest. For heaps of practical and historical information, visit www.machupicchu-inca.com.
The peak tourist season at Machu Picchu is late May to early September, and the ruins are open from dawn to dusk. The site is busiest from 10am to 2pm.
Sunday is probably the quietest day. Entry tickets ($57) must be bought in advance in either Aguas Calientes or Cuzco. There is no official visitor centre at Machu Picchu, as most visitors come as part of an organised tour or guided trek, but guides can be hired at the site for about $25.
Many visitors walk to Machu Picchu via the 33km Inca Trail, which winds its way from the Sacred Valley over three high Andean passes. The incredibly scenic three to four-day hike can be done only as part of an organised trek. The trail is closed in February. It's necessary to book several months ahead. A compromise could be a two-hour hike from Aguas Calientes. Alternatively, save energy by taking the bus up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes (20 minutes; return $8).
Other recommendations include the fishing port of Pisco, on the coast south of Lima; the wildlife haven of Islas Ballestas, known as Peru's Galapagos; Nazca, with its mysterious Nazca Lines, best seen on a 30-minute tourist flight; the colonial city of Arequipa; Cuzcos ruins and colonial architecture; the archaeological sites of Pisac and Ollantaytambo; high-altitude Lake Titicaca; Huaraz, high in the Andes in the Cordillera Blanca; and, the vibrant capital, Lima.
Before departing, read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) travel advisories for Peru at www.safetravel.govt.nz and www.smartraveller.gov.au respectively. There are some areas to avoid, while in others a high degree of caution is necessary.
Escaping English winter My husband and I will be in Britain during the northern winter. We aren't keen to spend the worst of the winter in England and wonder if you can suggest somewhere we could go during January and February. We are interested in perhaps Spain or Greece, and would like to rent a cottage by the coast, but not in a resort area. Anne Sherratt
Escaping the British winter is a national pastime with the cheap air fares and lure of the milder Mediterranean climate too appealing to resist. The Greek islands pretty much close for the winter, making Spain perhaps the better choice. While much of Spain suffers from the winter chill, the Mediterranean coast is usually a pleasant 12-20C during the winter months.
Valencia could be worth exploring. Spain's third largest city is home to paella and the Holy Grail. It's also blessed with great weather. As winter is the off season it will be much less expensive. You should be able to find a cottage suitable for two to four for about $750 a week. A few sites worth visiting for an idea of what's available are www.spain-holiday.com, www.holidaylets.net and www.holiday-rentals.co.uk.
One of Valencia's best attractions is the baroque Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas, with its extravagantly sculpted facade and equally outrageous interiors. The Museo de Bellas Artes ranks among the country's best museums, with works by artists such as El Greco, Goya and Velazquez.
To the north of Valencia, along the Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast), you'll find a string of low-key resorts and the historic site of Sagunato. Southward, along the Costa Blanco (White Coast), stretch some of Spain's finest beaches, while heading inland the mountains buckle and castles crown the hilltops. For more detailed information, visit www.turisvalencia.es.
As with the above inquiry, read the MFAT and DFAT travel advisories for Spain.
Hot little destination My husband and I will be in Europe next month and a friend has invited us to visit him in Syria. We know little about the country and wonder if it's safe. We would also appreciate information regarding places of interest and the likely cost of travel from Britain. We are experienced travellers but in the older age group.John Sandiford
You'll find Syria an absolutely fascinating destination. Its historic sites rival those of its Middle Eastern neighbours, and it claims to the oldest continuously occupied city (Damascus vies for the title with Aleppo), the spunkiest Crusader castle (Crac des Chevaliers) and the best preserved Roman theatre (in Bosra).
Read the travel advisories for Syria, published by MFAT and DFAT, for the latest on the safety situation. Travellers should be aware of the high threat of terrorist attack.
Autumn (September to November) is ideal for visiting Syria as visitors avoid the intense heat. If you're heading to Palmyra or the northeast, you'll need a hat, sunscreen and water bottle.
September coincides with Ramadan. Visitors need to do a little extra planning and avoid eating and drinking around those fasting for Ramadan.
Syria has international airports near Aleppo and 35km southeast of Damascus. Both have regular connections to Europe. You should be able to book a cheap return flight from London for about $920.
Top attractions include the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. It's among Islam's most magnificent buildings, second only to the holy mosques of Mecca and Medina. Next on the list is Qalaat Samaan, also known as the Basilica of St Simeon and one of the most atmospheric of Syria's archaeological sites.
The remarkably well preserved basilica commemorates St Simeon Stylites, one of Syria's most eccentric early Christians, who ended his days living on top of an 18m pillar.
sábado, 30 de agosto de 2008
domingo, 24 de agosto de 2008
Recomiendan viaje de cuatro dias en Inca Trail de Cusco
Four-day journey to Machu Picchu is a trek of a lifetime
On a four-day journey to Machu Picchu, one couple embraces the remarkable, centuries-old Incan ruins, the beauty of the rain forest, and the 'roughing it’ camps in a race to the Sun Gate
By JASON CRANE and KARI CRANE
jcrane@star-telegram.com
It’s just past sunrise on the final day of our four-day trek along the Inca Trail, and we’re standing at the Sun Gate, the entrance to the sweeping, wondrous city of Machu Picchu. We still must descend another 45 minutes to get there, but it’s this first view, one we’d been dreaming of seeing, that we’ll remember forever.
We’d just finished a grueling 26-mile hike through Peru’s Andes Mountains, ascending 7,000 feet and crossing a 13,750-foot pass to arrive at the Incan empire’s greatest creation. This is the only way to see Machu Picchu: centuries-old ruins along the way, the stone path crafted without modern-day tools, mountain views hidden miles from civilization.
Many of our friends told us we were a little crazy to make this trek. Can you really call something a vacation when you have to do so much work? But we love the adventure, the outdoors, and we knew that previous hikes around the U.S. would never measure up to this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We had seen the photos and heard stories from family members who had visited the famed Incan site 30 years before. It was time we saw Machu Picchu for ourselves.
But like so many things, it wasn’t just that we had finally arrived at the Lost City of the Incas; it was about the journey, too.
Day 1
It’s 6:30 in the morning, and our bus is headed to the checkpoint where we’ll begin our trek. We may be halfway around the world, but we can’t escape the latest Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson gossip. Turns out a couple from near Romo’s hometown in Wisconsin and another couple from Dallas will be making the trek with us.
Our two Peruvian guides and 18 chasquis (what they called the Incan messengers who once ran the trails of this empire) will bring our group of 10 U.S. tourists to Machu Picchu. The first day’s hike is relatively slow and easy, as much of the 8.5 miles wind through a valley. But it gives us our first taste of hiking in altitude, and we spend most of the frequent rest stops gasping for air and gulping down water.
During our first break, surrounded by sweeping views of snow-capped Mount Veronica and the Urubamba River, our guides explained just how lucky we were to be there: We were 10 of only 200 tourists who could enter the trail that day. Recently enacted government regulations limit trail entrance to 200 tourists and 300 workers each day. The regulations help preserve the trail and historic ruins, threatened by an influx of tourists. Working conditions have also improved. Only five years ago, the chasquis were fed poorly, slept without shelter and were forced to carry almost 100 pounds. Now, the law limits their packs to only 45 pounds, but there is no doubt that many of the workers are still underpaid for their backbreaking work.
We set out on this trek expecting to rough it. We’d sleep in tents, use the trees for our bathroom and sweat all day without a shower at night. But nothing about lunch that first day said "roughing it." The dried food and granola bars we usually bring on backpacking trips were replaced by fresh salads and vegetables, rice, chicken and other dishes made with local (some exotic to us) ingredients. All of it would have been delicious under any circumstances, but we were in the mountains, already hours from civilization. This was the first of nine truly gourmet meals: avocados stuffed with cheese and vegetables, pumpkin soup, eggs and pancakes, and potatoes stuffed, wrapped and grilled any way you can imagine.
Day 2
The longest, hardest day on the trail began better than we could have hoped, with a hot glass of coca tea delivered to our tent. The locals swear by the coca leaf’s ability to cure altitude sickness, and today we would be hiking to the highest point of the four-day trek — Dead Woman’s Pass, at 13,775 feet.
It was a long, slow hike to the top; about every 30 feet we had to stop and humor our lungs, which were constantly screaming for more of the oxygen-depleted air. But the reward was worth it — clear views for miles and the satisfaction that we had made it up the toughest pass of the trip. The feeling didn’t last long. We would now be descending, fast, 2,624 feet over about 1 1/4 miles, with a 12,955-foot pass to cross after lunch.
We had a lucky distraction on the way back up, a spectacled bear (named for the rings around their eyes). These large, shy, herbivorous animals are a rare site: Our guide had been working on the trail for 13 years, and it was only the second time he had seen one. We weren’t lucky enough (or some would say we were lucky) to see a puma, another elusive resident of these forests. But white-tailed deer, foxes and plenty of llamas and alpacas were spotted by members of our group.
Day 3
This was the first day we walked on original Incan stones; the original trail to this point was destroyed as the Incas were fleeing the Spanish in the 1530s. We were also treated to another Incan specialty: steep, unforgiving stairs. More than 2,000 of them this morning.
Despite the hard descent, we were constantly reminded why we wanted to hike rather than take the train to Machu Picchu. The path took us through the rain forest, where we were treated to exotic orchids, bomarea, eucalyptus and dozens of other flowers and plants. One minute, we were walking along a ridge with incredible views of the valley below. Then, the ridge gave way to a colossal, 8-meter Incan tunnel carved from the mountainside. One minute we were seemingly deep in the forest, and the next, a city rose before us. It was these archeological marvels hidden in the mountains that really tell the story of Machu Picchu.
We were treated to two amazing such places on the third day. First was Phuyupatamarca, roughly translated as "city in the clouds." And indeed we were in the clouds, although they moved quickly, giving us some spectacular views. It was here that we caught our first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain. The end was in sight.
The day’s second Incan site, Winay Wayna, is almost beyond words. An entire mountainside was cut into terraces, and the stonework throughout the area is extraordinary. The masonry, with a series of magnificent fountains where residents worshiped water, are signs of the location’s religious importance. This exquisitely preserved site, more than any of the 10 or so others we saw along the way, excited us for what was to come at Machu Picchu.
Just about everyone spends the last night at the same campsite because it’s as close as you can get to Machu Picchu along the trail. Thanks to the Trekkers’ Hotel, this overcrowded site is somewhat of a bruise in the beautiful forest: dorms with concrete walls, buildings with tin roofs, and power lines running through the trees. But we weren’t complaining. Amid the ugliness, there was a shower and a bar. Cold beers in hand, we were able to relax with our group, celebrating how far we’d come and what we’d see in the morning.
Day 4
Our wake-up call came at 4 a.m., but with only about four miles between us and Machu Picchu, we were happy to put an early end to a sleepless night. We lined up at the trail’s last checkpoint, which opens at 5:30 a.m., to begin the mad dash to the Sun Gate. It’s still dark, and for the first time in four days we feel the trail is overrun with tourists. Dark quickly turned to dawn, and dawn to day, and the race began in earnest. The goal is to get to the Sun Gate, where hikers get their first glimpse of Machu Picchu as the sun peeks over the mountains.
Since the moment we landed in Peru, there was something we’d been wondering. This was a trip we’d been planning for months and dreaming of for years. Could anything live up to the expectations we’d placed upon Machu Picchu? But as we stood at the Sun Gate, breathless, we got our answer. Machu Picchu was bigger and more stunning than we ever could have imagined. Finally, this 600-year-old city, covered by jungle for so long and only reintroduced to the world a century ago, was within our reach.
Link: http://www.star-telegram.com/408/story/851130.html
On a four-day journey to Machu Picchu, one couple embraces the remarkable, centuries-old Incan ruins, the beauty of the rain forest, and the 'roughing it’ camps in a race to the Sun Gate
By JASON CRANE and KARI CRANE
jcrane@star-telegram.com
It’s just past sunrise on the final day of our four-day trek along the Inca Trail, and we’re standing at the Sun Gate, the entrance to the sweeping, wondrous city of Machu Picchu. We still must descend another 45 minutes to get there, but it’s this first view, one we’d been dreaming of seeing, that we’ll remember forever.
We’d just finished a grueling 26-mile hike through Peru’s Andes Mountains, ascending 7,000 feet and crossing a 13,750-foot pass to arrive at the Incan empire’s greatest creation. This is the only way to see Machu Picchu: centuries-old ruins along the way, the stone path crafted without modern-day tools, mountain views hidden miles from civilization.
Many of our friends told us we were a little crazy to make this trek. Can you really call something a vacation when you have to do so much work? But we love the adventure, the outdoors, and we knew that previous hikes around the U.S. would never measure up to this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We had seen the photos and heard stories from family members who had visited the famed Incan site 30 years before. It was time we saw Machu Picchu for ourselves.
But like so many things, it wasn’t just that we had finally arrived at the Lost City of the Incas; it was about the journey, too.
Day 1
It’s 6:30 in the morning, and our bus is headed to the checkpoint where we’ll begin our trek. We may be halfway around the world, but we can’t escape the latest Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson gossip. Turns out a couple from near Romo’s hometown in Wisconsin and another couple from Dallas will be making the trek with us.
Our two Peruvian guides and 18 chasquis (what they called the Incan messengers who once ran the trails of this empire) will bring our group of 10 U.S. tourists to Machu Picchu. The first day’s hike is relatively slow and easy, as much of the 8.5 miles wind through a valley. But it gives us our first taste of hiking in altitude, and we spend most of the frequent rest stops gasping for air and gulping down water.
During our first break, surrounded by sweeping views of snow-capped Mount Veronica and the Urubamba River, our guides explained just how lucky we were to be there: We were 10 of only 200 tourists who could enter the trail that day. Recently enacted government regulations limit trail entrance to 200 tourists and 300 workers each day. The regulations help preserve the trail and historic ruins, threatened by an influx of tourists. Working conditions have also improved. Only five years ago, the chasquis were fed poorly, slept without shelter and were forced to carry almost 100 pounds. Now, the law limits their packs to only 45 pounds, but there is no doubt that many of the workers are still underpaid for their backbreaking work.
We set out on this trek expecting to rough it. We’d sleep in tents, use the trees for our bathroom and sweat all day without a shower at night. But nothing about lunch that first day said "roughing it." The dried food and granola bars we usually bring on backpacking trips were replaced by fresh salads and vegetables, rice, chicken and other dishes made with local (some exotic to us) ingredients. All of it would have been delicious under any circumstances, but we were in the mountains, already hours from civilization. This was the first of nine truly gourmet meals: avocados stuffed with cheese and vegetables, pumpkin soup, eggs and pancakes, and potatoes stuffed, wrapped and grilled any way you can imagine.
Day 2
The longest, hardest day on the trail began better than we could have hoped, with a hot glass of coca tea delivered to our tent. The locals swear by the coca leaf’s ability to cure altitude sickness, and today we would be hiking to the highest point of the four-day trek — Dead Woman’s Pass, at 13,775 feet.
It was a long, slow hike to the top; about every 30 feet we had to stop and humor our lungs, which were constantly screaming for more of the oxygen-depleted air. But the reward was worth it — clear views for miles and the satisfaction that we had made it up the toughest pass of the trip. The feeling didn’t last long. We would now be descending, fast, 2,624 feet over about 1 1/4 miles, with a 12,955-foot pass to cross after lunch.
We had a lucky distraction on the way back up, a spectacled bear (named for the rings around their eyes). These large, shy, herbivorous animals are a rare site: Our guide had been working on the trail for 13 years, and it was only the second time he had seen one. We weren’t lucky enough (or some would say we were lucky) to see a puma, another elusive resident of these forests. But white-tailed deer, foxes and plenty of llamas and alpacas were spotted by members of our group.
Day 3
This was the first day we walked on original Incan stones; the original trail to this point was destroyed as the Incas were fleeing the Spanish in the 1530s. We were also treated to another Incan specialty: steep, unforgiving stairs. More than 2,000 of them this morning.
Despite the hard descent, we were constantly reminded why we wanted to hike rather than take the train to Machu Picchu. The path took us through the rain forest, where we were treated to exotic orchids, bomarea, eucalyptus and dozens of other flowers and plants. One minute, we were walking along a ridge with incredible views of the valley below. Then, the ridge gave way to a colossal, 8-meter Incan tunnel carved from the mountainside. One minute we were seemingly deep in the forest, and the next, a city rose before us. It was these archeological marvels hidden in the mountains that really tell the story of Machu Picchu.
We were treated to two amazing such places on the third day. First was Phuyupatamarca, roughly translated as "city in the clouds." And indeed we were in the clouds, although they moved quickly, giving us some spectacular views. It was here that we caught our first glimpse of Machu Picchu Mountain. The end was in sight.
The day’s second Incan site, Winay Wayna, is almost beyond words. An entire mountainside was cut into terraces, and the stonework throughout the area is extraordinary. The masonry, with a series of magnificent fountains where residents worshiped water, are signs of the location’s religious importance. This exquisitely preserved site, more than any of the 10 or so others we saw along the way, excited us for what was to come at Machu Picchu.
Just about everyone spends the last night at the same campsite because it’s as close as you can get to Machu Picchu along the trail. Thanks to the Trekkers’ Hotel, this overcrowded site is somewhat of a bruise in the beautiful forest: dorms with concrete walls, buildings with tin roofs, and power lines running through the trees. But we weren’t complaining. Amid the ugliness, there was a shower and a bar. Cold beers in hand, we were able to relax with our group, celebrating how far we’d come and what we’d see in the morning.
Day 4
Our wake-up call came at 4 a.m., but with only about four miles between us and Machu Picchu, we were happy to put an early end to a sleepless night. We lined up at the trail’s last checkpoint, which opens at 5:30 a.m., to begin the mad dash to the Sun Gate. It’s still dark, and for the first time in four days we feel the trail is overrun with tourists. Dark quickly turned to dawn, and dawn to day, and the race began in earnest. The goal is to get to the Sun Gate, where hikers get their first glimpse of Machu Picchu as the sun peeks over the mountains.
Since the moment we landed in Peru, there was something we’d been wondering. This was a trip we’d been planning for months and dreaming of for years. Could anything live up to the expectations we’d placed upon Machu Picchu? But as we stood at the Sun Gate, breathless, we got our answer. Machu Picchu was bigger and more stunning than we ever could have imagined. Finally, this 600-year-old city, covered by jungle for so long and only reintroduced to the world a century ago, was within our reach.
Link: http://www.star-telegram.com/408/story/851130.html
Juego "Art of Murder" los trae hasta Peru y Selva.
Art of Murder: FBI Confidential GC 2008 Screens and Trailer
20:12 August 23rd, 2008
A new trailer in mpg format and a few screens in our gallery
City Interactive has released more screenshots and a trailer from Art of Murder: FBI Confidential, a point & click adventure game in which the player takes on the role of an FBI agent, whose task is to solve a series of macabre murders of wealthy, well-to-do citizens. The victims are killed with an unknown device, and the murderer removes their hearts afterwards. The adventure begins in New York, but the clues will lead the player to, among others, the Peruvian city of Cusco, the ancient capitol of the Inca empire, and the verge of the Amazon jungle.
Link: http://www.gamershell.com/download_31424.shtml
20:12 August 23rd, 2008
A new trailer in mpg format and a few screens in our gallery
City Interactive has released more screenshots and a trailer from Art of Murder: FBI Confidential, a point & click adventure game in which the player takes on the role of an FBI agent, whose task is to solve a series of macabre murders of wealthy, well-to-do citizens. The victims are killed with an unknown device, and the murderer removes their hearts afterwards. The adventure begins in New York, but the clues will lead the player to, among others, the Peruvian city of Cusco, the ancient capitol of the Inca empire, and the verge of the Amazon jungle.
Link: http://www.gamershell.com/download_31424.shtml
viernes, 22 de agosto de 2008
Eco Turismo en Peru
Adventures in ecotourism
Published August 21st, 2008 in Earth, Human World and Science.
I try so hard to be friendly to the environment. So I know that one of the first big no-no’s of being eco-friendly is to get on a plane. But that’s exactly what I did in order to get to Cusco, Peru for my two weeks of vacation. (It was that or two weeks spent at the local botanical gardens, and I think I made a good choice.) Four flights and many tons of carbon emissions later, I landed in the beautiful center of the ancient Incan empire.
With an incredible diversity of ecosystems, and thousands of species of interesting-looking plants and animals, Peru thrives on what’s called ecotourism. Ecotourism has a glut of definitions, but it’s generally understood to mean a more responsible way of traveling that benefits the environment and the local people. But on top of my hypocritical airplane travel (couldn’t I have gone to the botanical gardens for two weeks instead?), I had to wonder if it’s possible for ecotourism to be eco-friendly.
Even though I was surrounded by natural beauty, I was constantly polluting by default. The fuels used in Peru are far less clean than those in America - something I experienced during a biking trip when I became engulfed in a cloud of noxious fumes and dust every time a car, truck, or “Ecological tourism” bus passed. 8 - 12 hours each way in a jungle-bound van added to my carbon footprint and my fear of death, as the road clung to steep mountain edges. There was limited recycling. In certain towns, there were cans labeled “Organic” and “Inorganic”, nothing marked what that meant. In the mountain towns, banks of small streams were littered with plastic, and everywhere, sewage emptied directly into the river.
Our guide in the Manu jungle was a former park ranger who had an excellent eye and knowledge about Manu’s flora and fauna, and gave small speeches about global warming. But I couldn’t help but feel that I was exacerbating the problem. And how did I know that my activities were benefiting the local environment and community, asides from providing jobs and foreign income?
It would be great if infrastructure improvements were made and attributed to Peru’s ecotourism industry - better roads, treatment facilities, more recycling, and cleaner fuels - things that would both benefit local communities and enhance tourism.
Traveling in Peru is cheap, and I often wondered how anyone made a profit, much less provided environmental and social benefits. A new study from the environmental group Oceana found that one group of ecotourists, scuba divers, would be willing to pay on average, $55.35 to see healthy coral reefs, $39.36 for healthy sharks, and $29.63 for healthy sea turtles.
The survey shows that sharks are cooler than turtles. It also shows that people are willing to pay more to benefit what they enjoy. Certainly, my eco-guilt wouldn’t be quite so great if I knew that somehow, my visit had helped Peru.
Link: http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/0821166/adventures-in-ecotourism/
Published August 21st, 2008 in Earth, Human World and Science.
I try so hard to be friendly to the environment. So I know that one of the first big no-no’s of being eco-friendly is to get on a plane. But that’s exactly what I did in order to get to Cusco, Peru for my two weeks of vacation. (It was that or two weeks spent at the local botanical gardens, and I think I made a good choice.) Four flights and many tons of carbon emissions later, I landed in the beautiful center of the ancient Incan empire.
With an incredible diversity of ecosystems, and thousands of species of interesting-looking plants and animals, Peru thrives on what’s called ecotourism. Ecotourism has a glut of definitions, but it’s generally understood to mean a more responsible way of traveling that benefits the environment and the local people. But on top of my hypocritical airplane travel (couldn’t I have gone to the botanical gardens for two weeks instead?), I had to wonder if it’s possible for ecotourism to be eco-friendly.
Even though I was surrounded by natural beauty, I was constantly polluting by default. The fuels used in Peru are far less clean than those in America - something I experienced during a biking trip when I became engulfed in a cloud of noxious fumes and dust every time a car, truck, or “Ecological tourism” bus passed. 8 - 12 hours each way in a jungle-bound van added to my carbon footprint and my fear of death, as the road clung to steep mountain edges. There was limited recycling. In certain towns, there were cans labeled “Organic” and “Inorganic”, nothing marked what that meant. In the mountain towns, banks of small streams were littered with plastic, and everywhere, sewage emptied directly into the river.
Our guide in the Manu jungle was a former park ranger who had an excellent eye and knowledge about Manu’s flora and fauna, and gave small speeches about global warming. But I couldn’t help but feel that I was exacerbating the problem. And how did I know that my activities were benefiting the local environment and community, asides from providing jobs and foreign income?
It would be great if infrastructure improvements were made and attributed to Peru’s ecotourism industry - better roads, treatment facilities, more recycling, and cleaner fuels - things that would both benefit local communities and enhance tourism.
Traveling in Peru is cheap, and I often wondered how anyone made a profit, much less provided environmental and social benefits. A new study from the environmental group Oceana found that one group of ecotourists, scuba divers, would be willing to pay on average, $55.35 to see healthy coral reefs, $39.36 for healthy sharks, and $29.63 for healthy sea turtles.
The survey shows that sharks are cooler than turtles. It also shows that people are willing to pay more to benefit what they enjoy. Certainly, my eco-guilt wouldn’t be quite so great if I knew that somehow, my visit had helped Peru.
Link: http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/0821166/adventures-in-ecotourism/
jueves, 21 de agosto de 2008
Duplican exportaciones de fibra de vicuña Peruana
Peru fuels boom in alpaca, llama fleece fashion
By Victoria Bekiempis
Associated Press Writer / August 19, 2008
AREQUIPA, Peru—In this Andean nation far from glamorous runways, some of the most fashionable residents have four legs: vicunas, alpacas and llamas.
Exports of the animals' fleecy coats have nearly doubled to more than $43 million in the past four years, as models strut catwalks from Paris to New York wearing fur from the long-necked animals in the form of pricey ponchos, pants and pea coats.
Fleece shorn from the three species -- known collectively as camelids -- is "really soft and luxurious," said New York-based designer Rachel Comey, who says she sold about $200,000 worth of alpaca knitwear last year, including hats, gloves and alpaca-lined boots.
Vicuna is the costliest, trimmed once every two years from the rarest of the three breeds, which roams the plateaued border region between Bolivia and Peru. A yard of the fabric sells for at least $3,000, while a basic stole starts at about $950 at the factory store.
A similar stole made of alpaca -- which is farm-raised and makes up 99 percent of camelid exports -- sells for about $47, while llama fleece is rarely commercially sold.
The warm, dyeable fibers, long used for sportswear fleece, are being recast as a sexier luxury thread, spun into casual clothes and evening wear to appeal to deep-pocketed young professionals. Demand is partly driven by the fleece's popularity with environmentally conscious designers, who want the softness of fur without the guilt, said Laird Borelli, a senior features editor at Style.com.
"If you have a fabric that can get as close to fur as that, it's an amazing thing," said New-York based designer Daryl Kerrigan, who has used alpaca to make coats.
The Incas once wore alpaca, carefully breeding the doe-eyed animals and weaving their fleece on delicate hand looms into soft cloth that local royalty draped as robes. But Spanish conquistadors replaced those techniques, spinning raw fibers into coarse thread with a more mechanical wheel.
Those rougher methods ensured alpaca was considered a sportsman's textile for much of the 20th century: warm but scratchy, it was relegated to rough sweaters bought in bulk by tourists, senior citizens and campers.
Yet designers and textile producers are finding ways to recreate Incan precision on a larger scale, and now use the fleece to weave softer fabrics that remind some of the world's finest furs, said Lima-based designer Jose Miguel Valdivia.
Peru's government is also boosting efforts to promote the fibers, sending local designers to Europe to lobby fashionistas. Nine traveled to Paris' famed ready-to-wear show last January on behalf of state-run trade group PromPeru, showing alpaca-made slacks, coats, dresses and jackets to journalists and potential buyers.
"I try to use what we're strong in ... (and) in Peru, what we're strong in is alpaca, cotton and silver," said Claudia Bertolero, one of the designers who brought her alpaca trapeze dresses, fringed ponchos and vests to Paris.
Andean breeders in still-poor parts of rural Peru are seeing an income boost, providing steady supply of top-grade fleece.
Breeders and textile companies are trying to improve their techniques for separating coarser, cheaper fibers, shorn from alpacas' necks and hoof-areas, from longer, more delicate flank hair.
They're looking for a scientific way to boost fleece quality, too.
In 1995, Michell & CIA S.A. -- the world's largest alpaca fleece producer -- opened a breeding center in Peru's southern Puno province to isolate traits responsible for finer fleece. Now, its scientists breed alpaca, teaching their methods to small farmers who independently raise most of Peru's stock and sell the fleece to big weavers. Michell's competitor Grupo Inca does the same.
The idea is simple: the finer the fleece, the lighter, more sought-after and expensive it is.
But rising popularity has brought a familiar problem -- counterfeiting -- which threatens to dissuade buyers. Peru's government has failed to regulate the fleece with quality controls, so many popular alpaca scarves, for example, are in fact made from synthetic fibers, said Edita Vilcapoma, a researcher with the Lima-based Association of Peruvian Consumers and Users.
Still, exports are booming. About 3,863 tons of alpaca, vicuna and llama fleece were sold in 2006, the last year for which figures were available -- mostly to Italy, the U.K. and China, as ready-made clothing and yarn.
The fleece still fills a tiny niche in an already-small luxury fiber market. About 46 percent of textiles sold worldwide last year were polyester, 39 percent were cotton and 2 percent wool -- leaving little room for other fibers.
For now, that gives alpaca an advantage, insulating it from big-time competition and giving smaller breeders, weavers and designers time to grow, said Jeffrey Silberman, chair of the textile and marketing department at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology.
Back in Lima, the decision to start stitching a hometown fiber into high-fashion has been easy.
"It's a great romance," designer Valdivia said of his work. "I really think it's more like alpaca chose me."
Link: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/articles/2008/08/19/peru_fuels_boom_in_alpaca_llama_fleece_fashion/
By Victoria Bekiempis
Associated Press Writer / August 19, 2008
AREQUIPA, Peru—In this Andean nation far from glamorous runways, some of the most fashionable residents have four legs: vicunas, alpacas and llamas.
Exports of the animals' fleecy coats have nearly doubled to more than $43 million in the past four years, as models strut catwalks from Paris to New York wearing fur from the long-necked animals in the form of pricey ponchos, pants and pea coats.
Fleece shorn from the three species -- known collectively as camelids -- is "really soft and luxurious," said New York-based designer Rachel Comey, who says she sold about $200,000 worth of alpaca knitwear last year, including hats, gloves and alpaca-lined boots.
Vicuna is the costliest, trimmed once every two years from the rarest of the three breeds, which roams the plateaued border region between Bolivia and Peru. A yard of the fabric sells for at least $3,000, while a basic stole starts at about $950 at the factory store.
A similar stole made of alpaca -- which is farm-raised and makes up 99 percent of camelid exports -- sells for about $47, while llama fleece is rarely commercially sold.
The warm, dyeable fibers, long used for sportswear fleece, are being recast as a sexier luxury thread, spun into casual clothes and evening wear to appeal to deep-pocketed young professionals. Demand is partly driven by the fleece's popularity with environmentally conscious designers, who want the softness of fur without the guilt, said Laird Borelli, a senior features editor at Style.com.
"If you have a fabric that can get as close to fur as that, it's an amazing thing," said New-York based designer Daryl Kerrigan, who has used alpaca to make coats.
The Incas once wore alpaca, carefully breeding the doe-eyed animals and weaving their fleece on delicate hand looms into soft cloth that local royalty draped as robes. But Spanish conquistadors replaced those techniques, spinning raw fibers into coarse thread with a more mechanical wheel.
Those rougher methods ensured alpaca was considered a sportsman's textile for much of the 20th century: warm but scratchy, it was relegated to rough sweaters bought in bulk by tourists, senior citizens and campers.
Yet designers and textile producers are finding ways to recreate Incan precision on a larger scale, and now use the fleece to weave softer fabrics that remind some of the world's finest furs, said Lima-based designer Jose Miguel Valdivia.
Peru's government is also boosting efforts to promote the fibers, sending local designers to Europe to lobby fashionistas. Nine traveled to Paris' famed ready-to-wear show last January on behalf of state-run trade group PromPeru, showing alpaca-made slacks, coats, dresses and jackets to journalists and potential buyers.
"I try to use what we're strong in ... (and) in Peru, what we're strong in is alpaca, cotton and silver," said Claudia Bertolero, one of the designers who brought her alpaca trapeze dresses, fringed ponchos and vests to Paris.
Andean breeders in still-poor parts of rural Peru are seeing an income boost, providing steady supply of top-grade fleece.
Breeders and textile companies are trying to improve their techniques for separating coarser, cheaper fibers, shorn from alpacas' necks and hoof-areas, from longer, more delicate flank hair.
They're looking for a scientific way to boost fleece quality, too.
In 1995, Michell & CIA S.A. -- the world's largest alpaca fleece producer -- opened a breeding center in Peru's southern Puno province to isolate traits responsible for finer fleece. Now, its scientists breed alpaca, teaching their methods to small farmers who independently raise most of Peru's stock and sell the fleece to big weavers. Michell's competitor Grupo Inca does the same.
The idea is simple: the finer the fleece, the lighter, more sought-after and expensive it is.
But rising popularity has brought a familiar problem -- counterfeiting -- which threatens to dissuade buyers. Peru's government has failed to regulate the fleece with quality controls, so many popular alpaca scarves, for example, are in fact made from synthetic fibers, said Edita Vilcapoma, a researcher with the Lima-based Association of Peruvian Consumers and Users.
Still, exports are booming. About 3,863 tons of alpaca, vicuna and llama fleece were sold in 2006, the last year for which figures were available -- mostly to Italy, the U.K. and China, as ready-made clothing and yarn.
The fleece still fills a tiny niche in an already-small luxury fiber market. About 46 percent of textiles sold worldwide last year were polyester, 39 percent were cotton and 2 percent wool -- leaving little room for other fibers.
For now, that gives alpaca an advantage, insulating it from big-time competition and giving smaller breeders, weavers and designers time to grow, said Jeffrey Silberman, chair of the textile and marketing department at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology.
Back in Lima, the decision to start stitching a hometown fiber into high-fashion has been easy.
"It's a great romance," designer Valdivia said of his work. "I really think it's more like alpaca chose me."
Link: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/articles/2008/08/19/peru_fuels_boom_in_alpaca_llama_fleece_fashion/
miércoles, 20 de agosto de 2008
Viaje en el Rio Amazonas
Down the Amazon and into another world
By KARL SICKAFUS, Special to the Local News
08/17/2008
Well, you get a week full of experiences, images and memories that could never be adequately put in words.Two companies -- Overseas Adventure Travel (www.oattravel.com) of Cambridge, Mass., and Jungle Expeditions (www.junglex.com) of Iquitos, Peru -- teamed up to expedite our week in the Amazon basin.We boarded our boat in Iquitos. Most of us knew nothing of the Amazon basin other than what Hollywood movies we had seen. Our tour companies provided us with a guide and a naturalist, both from the local region. They tried to find villages to explore that had never before been visited by their boat.Our guides reminded us many times they would not be able to tell us what we would see or experience, as every voyage is different. They spot different wildlife with every group they take down the river. They also encouraged us to be flexible, as schedules could change at a moment's notice.It will rain. You must be willing to get up early and stay up late to enjoy the various excursions. You will get bitten by mosquitoes. Bring malaria pills. Cameras stop working from the heat and humidity. You may get sick -- as about a third of our group did. Don't drink the water.Our first landing introduced us to San Fernando, a small village of nearly 30 people. The children at the school were quite entertained by these strange pelacara ("face peelers") from the States. They had never before seen a bald person. One gentleman in our group, sporting a gray beard and gray hair, was thought to be Santa Claus. Back in Iquitos, we purchased school supplies and other items to give to the villages we would visit.After sharing the supplies with the children of San Fernando, our guide presented a gift to the village elder. In the Amazon rain forests, the machete is the most important item anyone can own. The machete that the village elder was using had no handle, as it had long ago broken away, along with much of the blade. Many tears were shed as we exchanged machetes.When our boat turned west and headed up the Rio Maranon, we prepared for our first jungle hike. Preparing means donning snake gaiters, long clothing and mosquito repellent. Snake gaiters are the equivalent of wrapping a tall piece of leather around your ankle and shin. A few weeks prior to our visit, our guides had hired two local families to bushwhack a trail into the rain forest. Our small excursion boat pulled up to a spot on the edge of the river. There, two men stood next to a log staircase they had just finished building. The staircase led up the muddy bank to the beginning of the trail.This walk took us deep into the rain forest. We found the fer-de-lance snake, the most dangerous snake of Central and South America. Our digital cameras captured the dead leaf-mimic frog, bullet ants, wolf spiders, cane toads, silk spiders, 6-inch centipedes, and a three-toed sloth with its baby.We boarded our small excursion boat and headed up the Cano Creek, near Nauta. This was a special excursion for the hearty birdwatchers in our group. By the end of the week, this small group had logged more than 120 bird species.Later that afternoon, we visited a shaman. Many of the villages along the Amazon have a local shaman, or medicine person. He or she practices medicine through the use of herbs, roots, concoctions and conjuring up spirits.The shaman we saw had a young apprentice who was training to become an herbalist so she could help the people of her village. The shaman and assistant performed a short spiritual ritual for the benefit of our health.The next day's jungle walk allowed us to see not only the beauty of the Amazon basin, but also the ugliness. We rounded a corner to be shocked by the scene before us. Stretching for what seemed like a mile was an area that had recently been illegally cleared by a foreign company's bulldozers. All of the lumber had been stripped away, and nothing was left but an ugly scar.We learned that the log poachers were caught in the act, their equipment was seized and the loggers were jailed. But the damage is done. Our tour company tries to symbolically help the local villagers revitalize this area by having each tour group plant some trees. We participated, but it seemed like too little, too late.Our next experience was to cross a canopy rope bridge. This was actually a series of rope bridges, totaling nearly a half-mile. The bridges were strung from tree to tree, more than 100 feet off the jungle floor at their highest point. It was not for those with a fear of heights. But it netted another slew of bird species for those keeping count.That afternoon, we tied up our excursion boat at the village of Monte Alegre. There, we split into two smaller groups and headed off to have lunch with two host families in their homes. We spent a good bit of time talking with them through our interpreter.They were astonished to see bald heads and facial hair. They asked if we had oil refineries in our towns. We talked politics and asked how they vote for their leaders. We then assisted our hosts in preparing for the meal. We laid fresh-cut banana leaves on the floor as others arranged the dishes and food on the leaves. We all sat on the floor, accompanied by our hosts, and shared one of the most memorable meals of a lifetime.We had patarasch (Tiger Catfish), yuca cocida (boiled tapioca root), maduro asado (grilled plantain), sajino asado (roasted peccary) and macambo tostada (roasted macambo seed). We drank te de hierva luisa (lemon grass tea) and cocona juice (yellow tomato juice). After our meal, we went to another village very close to Monte Alegre. There, our guides had arranged for more than 20 villagers to bring their boats and dugout canoes to the edge of the river. The villagers allowed us to paddle away in their canoes to enjoy a small tributary called San Regis Creek.Late that evening, we boarded our excursion craft, accompanied by some high-powered spotlights, and headed off into the night. We went up the Pucate River to find nocturnal wildlife. We saw large fishing bats, an Amazon tree boa and a young caiman, which our naturalist brought on board for a closer look before releasing it. Early the next morning, we packed a picnic breakfast and toured the Rio Yanayacu de Pucate. We were looking for the fresh-water river dolphin. We found a nice shady place along the bank to have breakfast while watching the dolphins playing in the river.On our way back to the main boat, we stopped to participate in piranha fishing. Each member of our party had a stick with a string, hook and raw chicken.As soon as the chicken hit the water, piranha by the dozens took the bait. Catching them required no skill, as you basically snag them.Eating them is another story. For those of you who enjoy picking at blue crab for an hour, only to harvest a thimble full of meat, you should enjoy piranha.After lunching on our fried piranha, we went back out to the middle of the river and jumped in for a nice swim. Yes, we were somewhat anxious. Some of us felt fish -- or something -- touching our ankles and toes. Later that afternoon, we sent a party of ambassadors from our boat into a small village and invited them to visit. They brought back two families who were somewhat anxious to board the big boat. We gave them a tour and then sat with them in a large circle of chairs.The custom when introducing yourself to a stranger is to give your name, age, and then how many children you have. As each member of our group introduced themselves, it was clear that our visitors could not believe the number of people who did not have any children. They thought we might have medical problems.As our guide was translating an exchange between one of the village men, he suddenly buried his bright red face in his hands, saying he didn't know how to interpret the last statement. The man, genuinely concerned about our lack of children, indicated his village had a local tea to help men father children. He was more than happy to bring us some. When we asked what they called this concoction, our guide said, "Well, loosely translated, it means underwear ripper."On our last full day on the boat, we visited the city of Nauta. This city has a large outdoor market where many Riberenos ("river people") come to sell their harvests and wares.Live turtles were turned over on their shells to prevent escape as they were sold. Piles of fish innards littered the ground as vultures and dogs scavenged for the morsels. We found a man who had a pet rhinoceros beetle, one of the largest beetles in the world. There were tables piled high with fresh chicken sitting out in the heat and humidity. Stacks of beautiful brown eggs were piled high.We found a dark and dusty bar with a dirt floor, where we enjoyed a nice local beer.Yes, we brought home some trinkets, but we also brought back memories that will last forever.
By KARL SICKAFUS, Special to the Local News
08/17/2008
Well, you get a week full of experiences, images and memories that could never be adequately put in words.Two companies -- Overseas Adventure Travel (www.oattravel.com) of Cambridge, Mass., and Jungle Expeditions (www.junglex.com) of Iquitos, Peru -- teamed up to expedite our week in the Amazon basin.We boarded our boat in Iquitos. Most of us knew nothing of the Amazon basin other than what Hollywood movies we had seen. Our tour companies provided us with a guide and a naturalist, both from the local region. They tried to find villages to explore that had never before been visited by their boat.Our guides reminded us many times they would not be able to tell us what we would see or experience, as every voyage is different. They spot different wildlife with every group they take down the river. They also encouraged us to be flexible, as schedules could change at a moment's notice.It will rain. You must be willing to get up early and stay up late to enjoy the various excursions. You will get bitten by mosquitoes. Bring malaria pills. Cameras stop working from the heat and humidity. You may get sick -- as about a third of our group did. Don't drink the water.Our first landing introduced us to San Fernando, a small village of nearly 30 people. The children at the school were quite entertained by these strange pelacara ("face peelers") from the States. They had never before seen a bald person. One gentleman in our group, sporting a gray beard and gray hair, was thought to be Santa Claus. Back in Iquitos, we purchased school supplies and other items to give to the villages we would visit.After sharing the supplies with the children of San Fernando, our guide presented a gift to the village elder. In the Amazon rain forests, the machete is the most important item anyone can own. The machete that the village elder was using had no handle, as it had long ago broken away, along with much of the blade. Many tears were shed as we exchanged machetes.When our boat turned west and headed up the Rio Maranon, we prepared for our first jungle hike. Preparing means donning snake gaiters, long clothing and mosquito repellent. Snake gaiters are the equivalent of wrapping a tall piece of leather around your ankle and shin. A few weeks prior to our visit, our guides had hired two local families to bushwhack a trail into the rain forest. Our small excursion boat pulled up to a spot on the edge of the river. There, two men stood next to a log staircase they had just finished building. The staircase led up the muddy bank to the beginning of the trail.This walk took us deep into the rain forest. We found the fer-de-lance snake, the most dangerous snake of Central and South America. Our digital cameras captured the dead leaf-mimic frog, bullet ants, wolf spiders, cane toads, silk spiders, 6-inch centipedes, and a three-toed sloth with its baby.We boarded our small excursion boat and headed up the Cano Creek, near Nauta. This was a special excursion for the hearty birdwatchers in our group. By the end of the week, this small group had logged more than 120 bird species.Later that afternoon, we visited a shaman. Many of the villages along the Amazon have a local shaman, or medicine person. He or she practices medicine through the use of herbs, roots, concoctions and conjuring up spirits.The shaman we saw had a young apprentice who was training to become an herbalist so she could help the people of her village. The shaman and assistant performed a short spiritual ritual for the benefit of our health.The next day's jungle walk allowed us to see not only the beauty of the Amazon basin, but also the ugliness. We rounded a corner to be shocked by the scene before us. Stretching for what seemed like a mile was an area that had recently been illegally cleared by a foreign company's bulldozers. All of the lumber had been stripped away, and nothing was left but an ugly scar.We learned that the log poachers were caught in the act, their equipment was seized and the loggers were jailed. But the damage is done. Our tour company tries to symbolically help the local villagers revitalize this area by having each tour group plant some trees. We participated, but it seemed like too little, too late.Our next experience was to cross a canopy rope bridge. This was actually a series of rope bridges, totaling nearly a half-mile. The bridges were strung from tree to tree, more than 100 feet off the jungle floor at their highest point. It was not for those with a fear of heights. But it netted another slew of bird species for those keeping count.That afternoon, we tied up our excursion boat at the village of Monte Alegre. There, we split into two smaller groups and headed off to have lunch with two host families in their homes. We spent a good bit of time talking with them through our interpreter.They were astonished to see bald heads and facial hair. They asked if we had oil refineries in our towns. We talked politics and asked how they vote for their leaders. We then assisted our hosts in preparing for the meal. We laid fresh-cut banana leaves on the floor as others arranged the dishes and food on the leaves. We all sat on the floor, accompanied by our hosts, and shared one of the most memorable meals of a lifetime.We had patarasch (Tiger Catfish), yuca cocida (boiled tapioca root), maduro asado (grilled plantain), sajino asado (roasted peccary) and macambo tostada (roasted macambo seed). We drank te de hierva luisa (lemon grass tea) and cocona juice (yellow tomato juice). After our meal, we went to another village very close to Monte Alegre. There, our guides had arranged for more than 20 villagers to bring their boats and dugout canoes to the edge of the river. The villagers allowed us to paddle away in their canoes to enjoy a small tributary called San Regis Creek.Late that evening, we boarded our excursion craft, accompanied by some high-powered spotlights, and headed off into the night. We went up the Pucate River to find nocturnal wildlife. We saw large fishing bats, an Amazon tree boa and a young caiman, which our naturalist brought on board for a closer look before releasing it. Early the next morning, we packed a picnic breakfast and toured the Rio Yanayacu de Pucate. We were looking for the fresh-water river dolphin. We found a nice shady place along the bank to have breakfast while watching the dolphins playing in the river.On our way back to the main boat, we stopped to participate in piranha fishing. Each member of our party had a stick with a string, hook and raw chicken.As soon as the chicken hit the water, piranha by the dozens took the bait. Catching them required no skill, as you basically snag them.Eating them is another story. For those of you who enjoy picking at blue crab for an hour, only to harvest a thimble full of meat, you should enjoy piranha.After lunching on our fried piranha, we went back out to the middle of the river and jumped in for a nice swim. Yes, we were somewhat anxious. Some of us felt fish -- or something -- touching our ankles and toes. Later that afternoon, we sent a party of ambassadors from our boat into a small village and invited them to visit. They brought back two families who were somewhat anxious to board the big boat. We gave them a tour and then sat with them in a large circle of chairs.The custom when introducing yourself to a stranger is to give your name, age, and then how many children you have. As each member of our group introduced themselves, it was clear that our visitors could not believe the number of people who did not have any children. They thought we might have medical problems.As our guide was translating an exchange between one of the village men, he suddenly buried his bright red face in his hands, saying he didn't know how to interpret the last statement. The man, genuinely concerned about our lack of children, indicated his village had a local tea to help men father children. He was more than happy to bring us some. When we asked what they called this concoction, our guide said, "Well, loosely translated, it means underwear ripper."On our last full day on the boat, we visited the city of Nauta. This city has a large outdoor market where many Riberenos ("river people") come to sell their harvests and wares.Live turtles were turned over on their shells to prevent escape as they were sold. Piles of fish innards littered the ground as vultures and dogs scavenged for the morsels. We found a man who had a pet rhinoceros beetle, one of the largest beetles in the world. There were tables piled high with fresh chicken sitting out in the heat and humidity. Stacks of beautiful brown eggs were piled high.We found a dark and dusty bar with a dirt floor, where we enjoyed a nice local beer.Yes, we brought home some trinkets, but we also brought back memories that will last forever.
Peru quiere saber si alli se acunaron monedas encontradas en barco hundido
Peru wants to know origin of shipwrecked treasure
By CHRISTINE ARMARIO – 5 hours ago
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Peru's government wants to know if 17 tons of silver coins recovered from a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean last year were made there, complicating the legal quest to determine who rightfully owns the multimillion-dollar treasure.
Peru filed a claim Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tampa to determine where the coins originated, entering the fray over the $500 million loot found on a sunken ship by Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration. Odyssey has been fighting the Spanish government for ownership of the ship and its contents.
Peruvian consumer rights advocates contend the coins were made with Peruvian metals and minted in Lima. When Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes y las Animas sank west of Portugal with more than 200 people on board in 1804, Peru was still a Spanish colony.
"Probably every colonial Spanish shipwreck that has ever been discovered has had coins that originated in Peru," Greg Stemm, Odyssey Marine Exploration's chief executive officer, wrote in an e-mail. "So it will be interesting to see how successful they are in getting other governments and shipwreck explorers to recognize their interest."
Peru's claim states that it is entitled to any property that originated there and was produced by its people. An official at the Peruvian embassy in Washington, D.C., declined to comment.
Charles M. Davis, a maritime lawyer and author in Washington, said he couldn't recall another salvage case involving a former colony. Because technology such as submersible robots used by deep-sea explorers to find treasure is still new, he said, "There's a surprising dearth of law on high seas salvage." The case has been closely watched because similar disputes could become more common as more treasures are found on the ocean floor.
Odyssey officials have argued they're entitled to the booty because they found it. Spain has argued it technically never abandoned any of its ships lost at sea. Officials there want any artifacts returned because of their historical and cultural significance, and some in Spain have portrayed Odyssey as 21st-century pirates.
A message left with an attorney representing Spain was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.
Peru is not the only country seeking ownership of its antiquities. Greece is trying to reclaim illegally exported antiquities from museums and art dealers as part of an effort to recover the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum in London.
By CHRISTINE ARMARIO – 5 hours ago
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Peru's government wants to know if 17 tons of silver coins recovered from a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean last year were made there, complicating the legal quest to determine who rightfully owns the multimillion-dollar treasure.
Peru filed a claim Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tampa to determine where the coins originated, entering the fray over the $500 million loot found on a sunken ship by Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration. Odyssey has been fighting the Spanish government for ownership of the ship and its contents.
Peruvian consumer rights advocates contend the coins were made with Peruvian metals and minted in Lima. When Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes y las Animas sank west of Portugal with more than 200 people on board in 1804, Peru was still a Spanish colony.
"Probably every colonial Spanish shipwreck that has ever been discovered has had coins that originated in Peru," Greg Stemm, Odyssey Marine Exploration's chief executive officer, wrote in an e-mail. "So it will be interesting to see how successful they are in getting other governments and shipwreck explorers to recognize their interest."
Peru's claim states that it is entitled to any property that originated there and was produced by its people. An official at the Peruvian embassy in Washington, D.C., declined to comment.
Charles M. Davis, a maritime lawyer and author in Washington, said he couldn't recall another salvage case involving a former colony. Because technology such as submersible robots used by deep-sea explorers to find treasure is still new, he said, "There's a surprising dearth of law on high seas salvage." The case has been closely watched because similar disputes could become more common as more treasures are found on the ocean floor.
Odyssey officials have argued they're entitled to the booty because they found it. Spain has argued it technically never abandoned any of its ships lost at sea. Officials there want any artifacts returned because of their historical and cultural significance, and some in Spain have portrayed Odyssey as 21st-century pirates.
A message left with an attorney representing Spain was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.
Peru is not the only country seeking ownership of its antiquities. Greece is trying to reclaim illegally exported antiquities from museums and art dealers as part of an effort to recover the Parthenon sculptures from the British Museum in London.
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