Peru Vacation Packages to See the Best Festivals

Nothing gives you a taste of what a country is really like than being a witness or participant to local festivals, and this is definitely true for Peru vacation packages. There is Peru guided tours that can help you take advantage of one of the many festivals held every year.

Do tourists come from thousands of miles around to see the festivals in your home town? If they do, you may wonder why they travel so far to see something you’re so used to experiencing. What you may not realize is that the festival or event in your area is unique and something those visitors haven’t seen before. Peru vacation packages that show you the wonders of this South American country can do the same for you when you plan to visit one of the traditional festivals.

Get a look at the country in a way that regular Peru guided tours just can’t show you. Experience Peru firsthand by attending a few festivals you may not have heard of prior to going on Peru vacation packages.

• The Wine Festival

Held in the second week of March every year, the Wine Festival (Festival de la Vendimia) in the Ica region celebrates the continued harvests of local vineyards from what was once barren desert. There is more than just wine tasting at this festival, though you will indeed have the opportunity to taste local wines. Fairs, competitions, musical festivals, parties and the Queen of the Wine Festival beauty pageant. Booking Peru vacation packages around this festival is well worth it for many.

• Nightly Dancing on Amantaní Island

If you stay overnight with a local family on Amantaní Island in Lake Titicaca as a part of your Peru vacation packages, you will be invited to dress in traditional garb and join in a nightly traditional dance show. Get to know a few locals and experience a Peruvian tradition firsthand with guidance from your hosts during this opportunity during Peru vacation packages. This happens all year round, just be sure to bring a gift for your hosts, such as food staples (except for sugar) or school supplies for children. You can also take advantage of Peru guided tours of Lake Titicaca during your stay.

• Festival of Joy

Carnivals for the Festival of Joy are held all over Peru during February, but the biggest celebrations are held in Puno and Cajamarca so consider finding Peru guided tours to take you there to take full advantage of the celebration. Each region celebrates its own version of the festival, but each in the highland chain includes the ritual of the yunza. The Yunza involves planting a tree trunk filled with gifts, and guests dance around it, chopping at it as they go. The couple that makes the final chop is in charge of arranging next year’s yunza. Be careful of flying water though -- Peruvians often fling buckets of water at each other during this celebration.

• International Spring Festival

Peru guided tours can help you see the exciting International Spring Festival during your stay in the last week of September in Triujillo. Thought to be the festival with the greatest splendor that the country has to offer, the week-long festival fills the streets with decorations, floats and parades. The entourage of the beauty queen is itself a sight to see. There are also various tournaments and demonstrations you can enjoy on Peru guided tours during this festival.

Visiting Peru during one of the 3,000 festivals that are held every year will give you a unique look into local culture and a more fulfilling travel experience.

To learn more about Peru vacation packages and what Peru guided tours that are available, email info@bestperutours.com.

Best Peru Tours is a U.S.-based, licensed and insured tour operator dedicated to providing all-inclusive and customizable Peru vacation packages that include the Peru guided tours you want.

Peru Tour Tips to Visiting Lake Titicaca

One of the most relaxing spots to visit on a Peru tour is Lake Titicaca, which is why many Peru tour packages include it as an option. Aside from being a picturesque location, there are many opportunities to enjoy local culture and native wildlife you can’t find anywhere else.

Lake Titicaca is one of the top destinations for Peru tour packages for a reason: the pristine waters are the perfect backdrop for a relaxing stay on your Peru tour, whether you spend one or several days soaking in the view. The experience is easy to enjoy, but taking note of a few tips before you can make it even better. To make the most of your visit, check out the do’s and don’ts of visiting Lake Titicaca:

• Do bring sunscreen. Even if you don’t normally burn, the water reflects sunlight, intensifying the amount of rays you’ll take in. While rain is a common part of the landscape you’ll see on a Peru tour, you are closer to the sun than many other parts of the world. Especially if you have fair skin, sunscreen is a must.

• Do have small denominations of cash on your person. This is generally a good idea when travelling on Peru tour packages anyway, but especially when you are visiting the small villages near Lake Titicaca. Some locals will ask for a little money if you want to take pictures of them or their homes, so having a little cash can get you the pictures you want and the small souvenirs you’d like to take home with you after your Peru tour is over.

• Do visit the Uros Islands. Made up of about 40 manmade islands, they are made of floating reeds that are abundant in shallower parts of the lake. The islands have a small population, and they were originally built to provide defense to the area.

• Do bring small gifts if you visit Amantaní Island on your Peru tour. Food staples except for sugar are welcome gifts, as are school supplies for local children. Some of the families on this island welcome tourists to stay with them overnight and encourage them to participate in traditional dances nightly.

• Don’t join a tour group if you feel the guide isn’t trustworthy. Once you head out on the lake, it can be difficult to get back if you feel uncomfortable or that this Peru tour was falsely advertised. If you can, talk to others who have already taken a tour of Lake Titicaca to discover trustworthy guides.

• Don’t rush your stay. Peru tour packages are sometimes jam packed with all sorts of destinations and activities, but Lake Titicaca is best when you take the time to appreciate it.

• Don’t underestimate the chilly nights. The days may be warm, but be sure you can stay warm at night. Pack warm pajamas before heading on Peru tour packages.
  
• Don’t skip a visit of Puno. It’s considered the Folkloric Capital of Peru and is home to some of the most fabulous festivals that a Peru tour can offer! Talk to your tour operator to learn about events that may be happening during the dates of your Peru tour packages.

Lake Titicaca is one of the many wonders that Peru has to offer travelers. Take the time to appreciate the mesmerizing view of the highest elevation navigable lake in the world and it won’t feel like wasted time. After all, you should be able to relax during your travel abroad, and Lake Titicaca is the perfect place for that. Besides, Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail will still be there when you’re done.

To learn more Peru tour packages and tours of Lake Titicaca, email info@bestperutours.com.

Machu Picchu Tours - What Your Peru Tour Operator Won’t Tell You

Everybody who visits Peru wants to go on Machu Picchu tours and for good reason, but there are a few things that tour guides don’t want you to know before you go. Find out what your Peru tour operator hasn’t been telling you!

Who doesn’t want to visit the Lost City of the Incas on a trip to Peru? This ancient wonder from a past civilization is both majestic and mysterious, which is why Machu Picchu tours are one of the most sought after tours with any Peru tour operator. But when you’re booking Machu Picchu tours, there are few things that your Peru tour operator and the local tour guides won’t tell you during your visit.

Find out a few facts about Machu Picchu before you go to know the whole story, save some money and be prepared for whatever the day out to its remote location may have in store for you:

1      Machu Picchu isn’t the “real” Lost City of the Incas. Machu Picchu was discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham III, but he was actually searching for a different city thought to be the hidden capital of the Incas called Vilcabamba. Three families were still living in Machu Picchu when Bingham first arrived, so it’s not even clear whether this city was considered to be lost. The city he had actually been in search of is now thought to be about 50 miles west.

2      Food and drinks are in short supply when you head out to Machu Picchu, and they are very expensive if you purchase them there. Pack your own lunch, a few snacks and plenty of water to save some money and have the food and water available when you need it most.

3      Signage throughout Machu Picchu tours are either nonexistent or poor, but there is a small museum nearby that you can visit on your own. Called Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón, the museum has displays in both English and Spanish and can provide you with information that the tour guides and the signage didn’t. The museum is located at the end of a dirt road that is near the base of the city.

4      There is a second peak you can climb. Often called Machu Picchu Mountain, this is the peak that sits opposite of Huayna Peak. It’s twice as tall and gives a spectacular view of the surrounding area, including a view of the Urubamba River that Huayna Peak just can’t provide from its location and elevation. Plus, there aren’t restrictions on how many can go up Machu Picchu Mountain per day, so you don’t need to book ahead with your Peru tour operator.

5      Weather is unpredictable. Your Peru tour operator may tell you that you’ll be visiting during the low-water season, but light rains are still common, especially in this area. Pack a rain jacket or umbrella before you get on the bus for Machu Picchu tours just in case.

6      The names of most areas you’ll see on Machu Picchu tours often have no relation to their actual purpose. Like the Great Cavern and the Temple of the Moon, the actual purpose of these areas is unknown so the names are arbitrary, or guesses at the best.

Machu Picchu offers as much mystery as it does beauty, and these six facts that your Peru tour operator won’t tell you doesn’t take away from the experience of visiting this location. On the contrary, it can enhance your appreciation of the history and splendor of this Inca city.

To learn more about Machu Picchu tours and what a Peru tour operator can do for you, email info@bestperutours.com.

Best Peru Tours is a U.S.-based, licensed and insured Peru tour operator dedicated to provide all-inclusive and customizable tour packages that can include Machu Picchu tours and much more.