These expert Peru travel tips were given by our Peruvian Expedition Leader, Jorge Salas-Guevara. Expedition Leader Jorge is a favorite among International Expeditions guests, having led expeditions to the Amazon, Orinoco, Antarctica, Trinidad, West Africa, Patagonia and Papua New Guinea. Jorge’s “expertise” on all things Peruvian is beyond refute — his research and photography has been published in history books, and he has worked extensively with the Smithsonian, World Wildlife Fund and National Wildlife Federation.

1. When visiting Cusco, Peru, find free time to stroll through the streets of the San Blas District. This is where the artisans have made their homes, which have mostly been turned into workshops, classrooms and shops. Here, the older generation of artists share their knowledge and teach their children and grandchildren the handicrafts of Cusco in order to keep the traditions of their art alive. Treasures abound and one can always find that special handicraft that will truly remind them of their magical journey through the land of the Inca.
2. Don’t Miss: T’anta Restaurant in Lima, Peru. Located in the San Isidro district, T’anta is one of Peruvian culinary star Gaston Acurio’s moderately priced, café offerings. With delicious, freshly juiced drinks and inventive soups, pastas and a variety of options from a New Andean cooking style, Tanta’s sidewalk cafe is a great lunch spot in this trendy Lima neighborhood. (Editor’s Note: I recommend sticking to the appetizers so you can leave plenty of room for dessert!)
3. Lima is recognized as the culinary capital of South America and is full of really great restaurants. Add a few days in Lima to your next visit to enjoy some of them. Don’t miss ceviche at La Mar Restaurant, a chita a la sal at Costanera 700 Restaurant and a pulpo a la oliva in any seafood restaurants. For dinners you can’t go wrong with Rafael, Central, Fusion and Astrid y Gaston.
4. When visiting Peru is almost mandatory to enjoy a Pisco Sour, the national cocktail made with pisco, a local brandy. One of the best experiences while in Lima is to enjoy one at La Huaca Restaurant located right in front of a pre-Inca temple. Enjoy a 45-minute tour of the archeological remain and crown it with the local beverage at the restaurant overlooking the remains just when it is illuminated after sunset. (Get traditional Pisco Sour recipe here.)
5. Shopping in Peru is very good and the main products to look for include alpaca, pima cotton, Andean textiles, silver, pottery, music, coffee and chocolates. While in Lima, there are two places where you can find these products. Both are located in the Miraflores district. The first is the handicraft or Indian Market, an outdoor market with vendors from the whole country. The prices are fair and the offer is wide, but double-check the quality as it is variable. Bargaining is expected here and credit cards are not widely accepted. The second is Larco Mar, a mall that overlooking the bay of Lima, with good restaurants and cafes. Here you will find top-quality stores, all of which accept the main credit cards and where bargaining is not expected but superb quality is guaranteed. As a note, Larco Mar is the second most visited destination in the country, after Machu Picchu.

And one last tip from Kim Guth, our Peru Custom Travel Planner.

1. A bit of France in Machu Picchu — who knew! Indio Feliz Bistro in Aguas Calientes came recommended to me as the best restaurant in town… although from the outside it seemed just like another basic place with bland food. Talk about not judging a book by its cover: this place was amazing!  Each of the eight tables downstairs was immaculately set with crisp linens, attractive dinnerware and a vase of lilies, hibiscus and other beautiful flowers.  In one corner was a working fireplace. Everything I sampled would not be out of place in a fine Paris restaurant — minus the prices and attitude.  The meal was a dream. The fresh bread and red wine from Chile rounded out the experience.

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For many first-time travelers to Egypt, dealing with aggressive vendors can be a daunting task. Long-time Wings Over the Nile leader & Product Development Director Bill Robison shares his tips for shopping on your Egypt vacation.

Bargaining is expected. While bargaining and aggressive sales tactics can put guests on edge, they are the norm in Egypt. Very heavy competition and years of experience have made some local vendors quite aggressive and tricky. Some of them rely on you getting nervous and scared, so show them you are in charge and you’ll get a much better deal.

ALWAYS negotiate the price in advance, do not pay in advance, and assume nothing. I’ve seen guests offered a “$5 donkey ride” for which they pay in advance, only to find out that it’s an additional $5 to stop the donkey from moving so they could get off.

If you want a better price, you must be able to walk away. Items are always cheaper as you are going back to the coach rather than coming off it.

Telling a vendor “no” does not mean “no.” “No” is a bargaining tool and means you don’t like the price. If you keep responding by saying no, the vendor still has your attention. The only infallible way to get rid of a vendor in Egypt is to say absolutely nothing.

When it doubt, your Expedition Leader and Egyptologist are there to assist you. Call on them for their local expertise. And don’t forget, many vendors are personable and honest, and a true joy to meet

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Even small changes can make a big difference for our earth. The staff at International Expeditions offers five quick and easy tips to make every day Earth Day!

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb! Start small by replacing just the bulbs in your lamps and fixtures that stay on the longest — like the family room or kitchen — to realize the greatest energy savings.

• Have office paper that is just printed on one side? Before you recycle it, use a clipboard to hold the paper so it can be used as a “scratch” pad. (That’s an actual photo of Creative Service Editor Emily’s scratch pad to the right.)

• Before you throw out used shoes, bikes or household items, see if they can be reused or re-purposed! In addition to international charities you may be familiar with — like Soles 4 Souls and Bike Aid for Africa — local education centers can benefit from household items and even use computers and parts for job training.

• Unplug your wall chargers! Even when not in use, the charger for your digital camera, phone and other gadgets can draw as much as 5 watts per hour each. Try plugging all of your chargers into one power strip to charge needed items overnight. Then turn the power strip off when you wake up.

• When life gives you lemons…Clean! Cut a fresh lemon in half. One half can go down the garbage disposal to deodorize. Microwave the other half for one minute. Then use a sponge or cloth to wipe down the inside of your microwave oven.

Have other tips for greener living? Leave a comment below.

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Expedition Leader Jorge Salas is a star among IE guests, having led expeditions to the Amazon, Orinoco, Antarctica, Patagonia and Papua New Guinea. With his contagious enthusiasm and knowledge of wildlife, history, photography and tribal customs, you are bound to have fun and learn any time you travel with Jorge!

Q1: If you could be any animal, what would you be?

A harpy eagle.

Q1.5: So you can terrorize sloths?

Harpy eagles can see everything from above, and live without the fear of other predators. If you can choose to be anything, you want to be a harpy. Plus, there are lots of sloths, so I wouldn’t ever be hungry.

Q2: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?

Hard to say, but Papua New Guinea stands out as the most interesting and impressive place I’ve been because of its intricate culture and unique natural history. Patagonia is the most naturally beautiful place, but the Amazon is where I love to go the most.

Q3: What book are you reading right now?

Two actually, The Mapmaker’s Wife and Collapse (for the third time).

Q4: Is there a past vacation or place you’ve visited that got you “hooked” on travel?

That is too hard to narrow down. Maybe seeing the condors at Colca Canyon? Next question!

Q5: Where to next?

This year I hope to make it to Uganda. South Georgia Island is at the top of my list and Ethiopia is also getting closer to reality.

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Big adventure; big fun; big value — it’s all part of our small-ship journey to the Galapagos Islands! Register for our free presentation, and discover why our privileged access to Genovesa (Tower) Island and intimate ship, the 32-guest Evolution, are just two of many highlights on this 10-day voyage to Darwin’s “Enchanted Isles.”

Join Expedition Leader Boli Sanchez to experience first-hand the wonders of Galapagos. You’ll learn why IE’s’ Galapagos Voyage visits nine islands and includes activities and extras not included on other itineraries — making our voyage the best value for your travel dollar. Be sure to join IE for this fun and FREE look at our Galapagos tour.

REGISTER NOW

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

8 p.m. Eastern

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Not sure where to eat in Guayaquil? Need suggestions for the best bug spray to take to the Amazon?

After 30 years of leading nature-focused tours around the world, IE’s staff and naturalists have a wealth of information to share! Recently, Amazon cruise Expedition Leader Jorge Salas addressed a question on finding good binoculars.

Q: “Can anyone recommend a good pair of binoculars that are compact in size and lightweight?” – IE Facebook fan Helen

A: I believe that the ideal binoculars to bring to the Amazon are 10×42 (But 8×42 and 12×42 will work well too.) There are many options in the market for these sizes of binoculars, and so are the price ranges. (You can even get them with stabilization!)… The most expensive (and better ones) are Swarovski, Leica and Zeiss.

Canon offers the most popular ones with stabilization. Much more affordable, and still very good options, are Nikon and Bushnell

Probably the most popular wildlife spotting and birding binoculars today are the Nikon (Model: Monarch 7432) and the Bushnell (Model: NatureView) because of their price, weight, optics quality (in relation with the price), versatility and because they are water and fog proof, making them perfect for the Amazon and for almost every other weather conditions.

Currently I carry a Nikon Monarch 7432… But I dream of a Swarowski 12×42!

Hope to see you in one of our expeditions soon!

If you have a question about travel or helpful hint regarding our destinations, feel free to post your questions on the IE Facebook page, e-mail us at nature@ietravel.com or add your question to the comments box below.

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Tis the season to be green, but between running errands all over town and wrapping gifts, it may seem impossible to keep the holidays environmentally friendly. While it’s not easy being green, these tips from the International Expeditions staff can help make your holiday a little greener.

• Chop the tree up and use it for firewood
• Re-gift something you don’t use
• Shop online to save gas
• If you shop, shop locally and buy locally-made products
• Plan ahead! Make a list of shops you need to visit and plan your route to save time and gas
• Paper grocery sacks make great wrapping paper, and you can pair them with a rustic piece of trimming from a tree or several leaves for a natural looking gift

Have your own eco-friendly holiday tips? Be sure to let us know by commenting here or posting them on the IE facebook page!

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Steve Cox, our Executive Director and one of IE’s founders, was profiled by respected travel blogger Everett Potter.

“International Expeditions has long been the go-to company for nature travel. They’ve been in the forefront of environmentally responsible expeditions to places like Tikal, Brazil’s Pantanal, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Machu Picchu, Papua New Guinea and Patagonia. They offer small ship voyages to the Amazon and Galapagos Island. And they were named one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies in the World by National Geographic Adventure in 2008 and 2009. I spoke with Steve Cox, IE’s executive director, to learn more about them.”

Read Steve’s Complete Interview on the Everett Potter Travel Report.

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A quick survey of our Travel Planners has uncovered the most popular question they get about our Amazon tour: When is the best time to go?

In truth, though it may sound cliché, there really is no bad time to visit the Amazon River; however, your personal preferences and activities will play a big part in choosing which time of the year you should take an Amazon cruise.

High Water Season (December-May)

As the name implies, during this time of year the river is at its highest. Forests in the vast Amazon Basin are flooded, so you can go deeper into the forest on excursions boats and get into smaller tributaries. This allows you to see some of the wildlife that may shun the main course of the river.

Low Water Season (June-November)

As water recedes from the forest, animals that have been widely dispersed in tributaries and streams — like fish and pink dolphins — are more greatly concentrated. Since the water is draining from the wetlands, that also allows for more walks that go deeper into the rainforest.

Have other questions? Expedition Leader Jorge Salas’ recent online presentation included an extensive question and answer session with other travelers. Just click this link to watch!

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Who’s on the other side of the phone when you call IE? Some of the most passionate travelers on Earth!

Tales from Patagonia by Travel Planner Charlie Weaver:

As an avid backpacker, Torres del Paine National Park had always seemed to be an unreachable dream of mine. Through some good fortune (and my wonderful employer), I was sent on assignment to the end of the world to assist with our Patagonia tour and Post Extension to Torres del Paine National Park.  Upon arrival in Santiago, I quickly felt as if I was in Europe with many first generation Spaniards whom I share bloodlines with.  The friendliness of the locals and their passion for fine cuisine and wines had made me into an honorary Chilean by default.

Friendships were created by the incredible experiences shared on this trip and my Chilean friends have returned to my home in Alabama for some cultural awakenings.  Gazing on the Paine Massif in Torres del Paine for the first time will always be a moment and feeling which rivaled stepping up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon for the first time or seeing Denali on a clear day after climbing out of a tent.  Not only were the landscapes unbelievable in Patagonia, but wildlife abounds around every corner.  The large out of place Austral Parakeets were a strange sight in a primordial mountain setting.  The constant soaring of the condors overhead were reminders of the power of Mother Nature and her ability to create the unimaginable.  And always knowing that the herds of guanacos were nervously awaiting a pouncing cougar made for an unpredictable day in the park!

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