Euro 0.71 - Argentina 3.85- Bolivia 7.04 - Brasil 1.88 - Chile 523,10 - Colombia 1.982,29 - México 13.02 - Paraguay 4.870 - Perú 2.80- Uruguay 19.30 - Venezuela 2.14

Embratur launched a web page called “Experts in Summer” which allows tourists who have visited the country to interact by sharing their experiences and pictures. With anecdotes, photographs and suggestions from people who have visited different tourist destinations, the web’s objective is to provide information to those interested in discovering Brasil through experiences from other travelers.

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, has been under restoration for the past two weeks and will take until June to complete. The Christ will remain accessible to the public; however it will be covered with a transparent canvas in order to guarantee the security of the visitors during this repair.

Last week, 4,005 tourists were rescued from Machupicchu Pueblo after the heavy rain made it impossible to continue with the train service or access by land.

The manager of the archeological park of Machupicchu ruled out any damages caused to the Inca citadel due to the heavy rains in Cusco during the last days.

Ferrocarril Trasandino, railway concessionaire, announced that the restoration of the railway would take about eight weeks due to the serious damaged taken place. The vice-minister of Tourism announced that since the Inca citadel was not affected, visits will resume once the access roads have been repaired.

In August the Huaca Rajada - Sipan Museum, located near Chiclayo, will exhibit archeological pieces and objects found in tomb 15, which belong to the young and noble warrior from the earliest occupation phase identified to date at the Sipan archeological complex. 

Beginning February 12, American Airlines will increase its frequencies between Miami and Lima to three daily flights.

Beginning July, LAN Peru will offer 4 flights per week from Lima to San Francisco, United States, offering connecting service to multiple destinations in South America, adding a new destination to LAN’s network in North America.  

Air Europa’s service from Madrid to Lima will begin on February 22 with 3 weekly frequencies, adding a fourth frequency in June. 

Between May and June QP Hotels & Resorts Worldwide hotel chain will open a boutique hotel in Arequipa, located three blocks from the Main Square. This Project, which is being built in a colonial manor house, is the chain’s second hotel in the country.

Aires presented “Airesmania”, the first airline ticket outlet in the country. This new service offered on the company’s website seeks to attract travelers through discounts, promotions and all of its destinations.

With a US$ 2 million economic investment and based on the Paisa culture, the restaurant chain will open its third franchise in Colombia. The opening would take place between July and September. 

Desires Hotels International hotel chain will open The Cliffs Ocean Resort, a new hotel which is located between Puerto Plata and Samana. This is Dominican Republic’s first LEED certified Project and it is planned to open in 2011. Services offered by this resort include areas and private terraces with ocean and mountain views. This property will have 102 rooms in its first development phase. The new facilities will include a luxury spa offering a wide array of Asian treatments. 

After reviewing a little the alternatives, we decided to take the route via Nasca and Abancay, and not to stop overnight in Nasca but past Puquio. So, not without some effort, we set off early in the morning. The idea was to get to Nasca at about 10:30 / 11:00 a.m., after travelling for about five hours, and have time to visit Cahuachi (located about 40 minutes from the city), and then, after lunch, leave for the hotel where we would stay that night. To our surprise the road signs for Cahuachi are still inefficient, so instead of taking the exit at kilometre 457, we took it at the first sign indicating the entrance to the archaeological site (km 453). Big mistake! The signposting outside the Panamericana Highway is non-existent at that point. Read more