"THE PISCO ROUTE" PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAVA TRAVEL PERU LAUNCHES “THE PISCO ROUTE”

New tour offers a dynamic alternative for those interested in learning more about Pisco

(Lima, Peru)- 11/1/2012. Mava Travel Peru is adding to its tour portfolio “The Pisco Route”, a full day tour that gives visitors a detailed overview of what the Peruvian distilled spirit is. The tour features important and well known locations such as Santiago Queirolo Vineyard & Distillery where a sommelier will guide the visit and participants will be part of Pisco tastings and learn about its production process;  the Bolivar Hotel, an emblematic and historical hotel located in downtown Lima that is known as one of the pioneers of the Pisco Sour, our most popular Pisco cocktail; and Gourmet Bar, the most important bartending school in Lima, that will end this Pisco adventure with a hands-on magisterial class where not only participants will be lectured on the history but also on how to make various Pisco cocktails.

The reason behind this new addition has to do with the significant increasing demand for our flagship spirit both in Peru and overseas. Pisco cocktails feature prominently on the menus of bars and restaurants in the United States, Europe and Asia. Over the last few years, Peruvian gastronomy has become popular worldwide for its unique ingredients and flavorful dishes. In the past year, increasing attention has been paid to the pairing of cocktails with Peruvian dishes. These cocktails have one ingredient in common: the country’s national spirit, Pisco. Mava Travel seeks to introduce global travelers to the history behind this fascinating beverage.

“In the past four years we have seen how more people are interested in our Pisco. Not only those who come to Peru and try it but also potential travelers that we meet in international trade shows, they all love our cocktails and seem interested to learn about it” says Alicia Huarca CEO of Mava Travel Peru “This is why we created this tour, it’s specifically targeted to those who want to embark on an educational and entertaining adventure.” Lissette Monje, Communications Director of Gourmet Bar, adds “The idea is not to only do Pisco tastings but to also learn the essence of it, its production process, history, how to make mixed drinks based on Pisco. We accepted to be partners with Mava Travel for this tour because we thought it was a very innovative tour. We believe that visitors will return to their countries and spread the word about our flagship spirit, which we are so proud of.”

                                             

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For more information please contact:
Vanessa Ponce
marketing@mavatravel.com
Phone: +51-1-720-7929
Cellphone: 01- 914-310-7636

INCA TRAIL TREKKING REGULATIONS 2012

INCA TRAIL TREKKING REGULATIONS 2012

Five years ago the Peruvian Government proposed many changes to the administration of the Inca Trail in a bid to protect its fragile eco-structure from over-use. Most of these proposals have been aimed at reducing the number of trekkers on the trail, improving the quality of the tour operators and offering a reservation system whereby trekkers will be forced to make their reservations many weeks (even months) in advance.

Some of the proposals were introduced slowly throughout 2001 and 2002 but the Government started to enforce the majority of the regulations more strictly in 2003. Further regulations have been introduced at the beginning of 2004 with the main aim of eliminating poor quality operators. All trekking companies that operate the Inca Trail must have an operating license which is issued every year at the end of February.

In 2005, the main changes made the booking process even more restrictive. Now, the entrance permits have to be totally paid at the moment of the purchase. This forced the travel agencies to start the booking once all the payment has been made.

SUMMARY:

We recommend you to make the Inca Trail reservation (which means paying for the program) far in advance. In the low season (Oct - Mar). We advise you to make a reservation at least 5 weeks in advance. In May and September, we recommend you to make a reservation 6 weeks in advance and for the peak months of June, July and August we highly recommend a minimum of 6-8 weeks to make a booking. If the entrance permit has been bought, and then you want to change the date, the only means for making such change is to buy the permit again.

A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE INCA TRAIL REGULATIONS CAN BE FOUND BELOW:

Inca Trail Park Regulations

The Inca Trail is part of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, a protected area managed by the Peru National Institute of Natural Resources, INRENA.

All visitors must obey park regulations prohibiting littering, cutting or damaging trees, removing or damaging stones of ruins and the Trail, removing plants, killing animals, lighting open fires or camping in the archeological sites (only authorized campsites can be used).

The following procedures must be followed:

1. Payment of entrance fees:

a. The only valid document granting the right to walk the Inca Trails Network - the Machupicchu Historical Sanctuary Network RED or SHM - is the ticket issued by the Instituto Nacional the Cultura (INC). This ticket is personal, non-transferable and includes the entrance fee to Machu Picchu.

b. Payment for the right to use the RED can only be made in the city of Cusco, and has a cost of S/.246.00  (USD 87.00 approximately) usually included in the quote an authorized agency provides.

c. Under no circumstances, payment for the use of the RED will be accepted at its registry and entry control points.

d. Payment for the right to use the RED must be made a minimum of thirty (30) days before beginning the trip and the acquisition must be made under your name.

e. The reimbursement of payment for the right to use the RED is not possible under any circumstance.

2. Reservations

a. Reservations will be made in the offices of the Departmental Headquarters of the Instituto Nacional de Cultura in Cusco, receiving confirmation with corresponding reservation code.

Note: Reservations will be subject to the daily capacity emitted by the UGM (500 people, including guides, porters, helpers and visitors), therefore we recommend you to reserve your place far in advance.

b. The entrance permits can be bought even 360 days before the trip begins.

c. To buy the entrance permits, the Tour Operator must pay 100% and provide full names, passport numbers, ages, nationalities and passport photocopies of all those going on the trip, to the relevant authorities. The traveler must send this information and documents to us from his or her home country.

d. Wrong information on travelers will result in the non-acceptance of their entrance permits, and no reimbursement of fees will be made in this case.

e. Only people under 28 years old with valid International Student Identification will be considered as a student, entitling them to a discount on the RED entrance fee.

IBERIA REAFIRMA INTERÉS DE OPERAR 2 VUELOS DIARIOS ENTRE MADRID Y LIMA

La aerolínea Iberia manifestó al Mincetur su deseo de ampliar los vuelos en la ruta Madrid – Lima y operar en el corto plazo 14 frecuencias semanales, es decir, dos vuelos diarios entre ambas ciudades. Así lo señaló el ministro José Luis Silva luego de su reunión en Madrid con importantes ejecutivos de la compañía aérea, en el marco de Feria Internacional de Turismo – FITUR 2012. Como se sabe, actualmente Iberia tiene diez frecuencias semanales entre Madrid y Lima, con dos vuelos diarios los días miércoles, jueves y sábado. Esta semana otra aerolínea española que vuela entre Madrid y Lima, Air Europa, anunció que a partir de abril podría ampliar sus vuelos en dicha ruta de cuatro a siete frecuencias semanales.