Lima’s beaches attract more tourists and surf fans

Lima’s beaches, considered among the best in South America, are poised to attract more tourists and surf fans from all around the world after successfully hosting the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games, also known as the Olympics of Surfing.

“Peru is an ideal destination for adventure travellers, and surfers from countries like Australia or the U.S. consider it a surfer’s paradise, for having some of the longest and most deserted left-hand point breaks in the world," stated Rafael Noriega, representative of Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (Promperu).

"We are very pleased that ISA selected Peru to host this competition, confirming once again that Peru is a ‘must visit’ destination for surfers," he was quoted as saying by etravelblackboard.com.

The Billabong ISA Surfing Games saw over 30 countries and more than 200 surfers competing in the Open Men, Open Women, and Longboard divisions at Punta Hermosa, 43 km (26 miles) south of Lima. The waves chosen were the left and right-hand pointbreaks of Señoritas and Caballeros.

Few people are aware of the fact that it was in ancient Peru that the first evidence of men riding the waves was found. Discovered on pottery and textiles that date back to pre-Hispanic civilizations, this tradition is still alive on the north coast where the fishermen ride their ancient reeds boats, which were actually the first surf boards in the history.

Peru has over 1400 miles of coastline, with increasingly popular areas for surfers. The Lima region, where Punta Hermosa is located, is well known for having the largest waves in South America.

Other popular surfing destinations include Talara and Mancora in the Northern Coast, and Centinela, Huanchaco, Chicama and Pacasmayo in the Central Coast. Whilst the north has tropical beaches with year round sunny weather and fast hollow tubes, the central coast features the longest left on Earth at Pacasmayo, and constant waves during the Peruvian winter.

New developments are also adding charm to traditionally idyllic refugees, such as the Buen Abrigo Hotels and Spa in Chicama, first resort dedicated to surfers with all the comforts they deserve.

The recently opened lodge offers a boat which takes surfers to the “point” without the need to walk long stretches of rocks bare feet, and has store and renting space for surf boards and equipment, as well as surfing lessons for young and adults.

“Many Australian travellers are now interested in adding different and unique experiences such as surfing to the traditional visit to Machu Picchu whilst in Peru”, added Rafael Noriega.

Surf Camps are also a good alternative for a surfing adventure in Peru, with “Surf Peñascal” and “My Surf Camp Peru” as the most popular camps for international travellers.

Surf Peñascal is located at the Peñascal Point in San Bartolo, 35 minutes from Lima. They offer affordable rooms and apartments with ocean views, and classes to suit every level, and daily guided surf tours to local surf breaks in the South Area, including Punta Hermosa, Punta Rocas, La Isla, Señoritas, and Arica.

My Surf Camp is located in Punta Hermosa, just one hour south of Lima. It offers comfortable accommodation just 200 m from the beach, with daily transport to local waves )17 within 10 Km), and day trips to other nearby surfing areas.. The camp includes three Peruvian meals per day and BBQs on the weekends, as well as “Surfaris” all along the coast and optional Spanish lessons. (Andina)

Thousands of devotees join fourth Lord of Miracles procession in Lima

Peru’s Lord of the Miracles is carrying out today its fourth and penultimate procession of the year in the capital.

As it is a tradition, Archbishop of Lima Juan Luis Cipriani celebrated a mass in honor of the Purple Christ outside the Sanctuary of the Nazarenas at 06:30 hours (11:30 GMT).

The mass was attended by Michel Camdessus, former managing director of the International Monetary Fund and economic adviser of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace.

The sacred “andas” or moving altar of the Lord of Miracles is scheduled to be taken in procession through Tacna avenue, Plaza Dos de Mayo and Alfonso Ugarte avenue

Like every year, the “Black Christ” is visiting the Arzobispo Loaiza Hospital, where it will be paid homage, in order to bless its workers and patients.

The Lord of Miracles -also known as the Christ of Pachacamilla- is Peru's most heavily attended religious festivity and is celebrated by all strata of society in homage to the image of the Crucified Christ.

Editora Peru workers pay homage to Pachacamilla Christ

 

Personnel of the Editora Peru company- which gathers the news agency Andina, the official gazette El Peruano and Segraf- paid homage to the Lord of the Miracles during the procession that took place at the Alfonso Ugarte Avenue.

Surrounded by songs, applauses and balloons, Editora Peru’s chair of the board, Ana Patricia Arevalo, led the ceremony in representation of the workers. (Andina)

Ancient Inca tomb found in Kuelap

A large tomb dating from ancient Inca times was found in the southern sector of Pueblo Alto of Kuelap fortress, located in the department of Amazonas, director of restoration and conservation Alfredo Narvaez announced.

He told Andina that in the vicinity of the tomb, of which excavation ended on Monday, fine ceramic offerings from the Tahuantinsuyo (Inca Empire) were also found, which apparently were taken there from Cusco.

“This tomb has an unusual dimension and was sealed by a thick stuffing. As we were cleaning, we run into materials that we had never found before in other structures of Kuelap”.

According to him, in previous tombs, only evidences of household activities such as mortars were found. “This one is particularly unusual for the work that we’ve carried out so far.”

Narvaez pointed out that between Monday and Tuesday next week more details on what the tomb really houses and whether it is about an important figure, as suspected, will be known. (Andina)

Peru to achieve highest growth in the region this year

Peru will experience the lowest inflation rates among major Latin American countries this year and 2011 as well as the highest economic growth in 2010, according to data from Latin American Consensus Forecast, which is the result of a survey that polls international specialists and investment bankers.

According to an international survey, conducted in October, the investment bank projected that Peru's inflation rates for this year and 2011 would average 2.8 and 2.5 percent, respectively, within the target range set by the Central Bank (BCR) ranging between one and three percent.

Inflation forecasts for this and next year would be the lowest among major countries of Latin America, followed by Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.

These same investment banks say Peru will register the highest gross domestic product growth in the region this year with 7.8 percent, which would be identical to that expected for Argentina.

According to the survey, this growth would be followed by Brazil (7.5 percent) and Uruguay (7.1 percent).

Peru's economic growth is expected to stand at 5.7 percent next year, the second highest rate in the region, only surpassed by the growth in Chile (5.9 percent). (Andina)

Culture minister seeks support from Vargas Llosa for Machu Picchu artifacts return

Peruvian Culture Minister Juan Ossio said he will ask Nobel literature laureate Mario Vargas Llosa to support the Peruvian government's efforts to retrieve the artifacts taken nearly a century ago from the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu by Yale University.

Minister Ossio said that, although the famed novelist has a very busy schedule, he will speak with him to gain his support for this campaign.

"I do not want to put pressure on him because he is very busy after winning the Nobel Prize, but I will talk to him at some point and maybe he can write an article or make a statement on the matter," Ossio told Andina.

The minister said he will first inform the world-renowned writer of the ongoing efforts done by the Peruvian government to bring the ancient relics back to the country.

The Peruvian government will initiate legal proceedings including the possibility of filing a criminal complaint against US Yale University for not returning the pieces taken from Machu Picchu, Peru’s Prime Minister Jose Antonio Chang announced Saturday.

According to Chang, the Chancellery and the Justice Ministry are evaluating appropriate actions and discussing the people against whom formal complaints are likely to be filed.(Andina)

Peru to initiate legal proceedings against Yale University

Peruvian government will initiate legal proceedings including the possibility of filing a criminal complaint against US Yale University for not returning the pieces taken from Machu Picchu, Peru’s Prime Minister Jose Antonio Chang announced.

According to Chang, the Chancellery and the Justice Ministry are evaluating appropriate actions and discussing the people against whom formal complaints are likely to be filed.

In that sense, if Yale insists on withholding the relics, Peru will launch an aggressive media campaign to recover the aforemetioned Incan artifacts.

The Andean nation, through the National Institute of Culture, has hold diplomatic talks with authorities at Yale university, but no agreement emerged.

“There’s a decision on behalf of the Cabinet, the Council of Ministers, and I’m sure they are now evaluating in which instance the complaint will come up.” (Andina)

St. Elias report confirms Tesoro in Peru as solid gold exploration target

St. Elias Mines said Thursday it has completed an NI 43-101 technical report on its Tesoro gold project in southwestern Peru, that concludes the property is a "solid gold exploration target" that warrants further exploration drilling.

In June, the company commissioned consultants to update the report on the Tesoro property, to include the results from exploration work conducted from February 2008 to date, including the stage 1 and stage 2 Titan 24 Geophysical Surveys.

The updated report states that the property warrants a "systemic and phased series of mineral exploration programs to adequately appraise the project's economic potential".

The Titan 24 Surveys outlined high priority geophysical targets, both near surface and to depth.

As such, the author of the report recommends these targets warrant follow-up systematic exploration through trenching, particularly on the newly discovered North Corridor, and diamond drilling totalling approximately 10,000 metres, the company said.

The exploration work will also be designed to conduct "on the ground follow-up" and surface sampling of all high-priority geophysical anomalies, as well as outcrop mapping of the entire property.

St. Elias said that the report outlined a proposed budget of $2.5 million for the entire exploration campaign.  It is expected that the programs will give the company enough information to guide further mineral exploration and development programs on Tesoro.

The Tesoro project, which consists of nine mineral claims covering 17,436 acres, is located in the Department of Arequipa in the District of Acari.

The property lies within the well-known 300 km X 30 km Nazca-Ocoña gold belt, adjacent to and paralleling the Pacific coast of southwestern Peru.  More than 70 gold (± copper) deposits have been discovered and exploited since the 17th century on the belt, most of which are quartz-vein hosted gold deposits.

To date on the project, mesothermal-vein style gold mineralization has been identified superficially and to depths of over 100 metres, but the property has never been evaluated to depth or to its full strike potential. (Andina)

Peru-Korea FTA to take effect in the first quarter of 2011

The governments of Peru and the republic of Korea expressed confidence that their bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force in the first quarter of 2011, Trade Ministry official Carlos Posada said Monday.

The negotiating teams from both sides met on October 11-14 in Washington (U.S.) with the purpose of homogenize the language of the FTA, evaluate its accuracy, clarity, consistence and coherence with pre-existing agreements.

The legal review of the document was successfully completed.

In statements to Andina news agency, Mr. Posada noted that both parties agreed that the agreement will come into force in the first quarter of 2011.

The First meeting on the Peru-Korea FTA legal review took place from August 31 to September 3 this year.

The next step would be to initiate the proceedings required to incorporate the document into the legislation and begin its implementation. (Andina)

Peruvian president proposes new regional trade initiative

Peruvian President Alan Garcia on Monday presented a new idea for regional trade integration involving Panama and three South American countries.

President Garcia proposed the formation of an integration bloc comprised of Pacific Rim countries Panama, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

At a ceremony held at the Government Palace in Lima, the president asked Panamanian Agriculture Development Minister Emilio Kieswetter to deliver a letter to his counterpart Ricardo Martinelli explaining the 'deep integration' proposal presented by Peru.

The Peruvian leader said a similar letter will also be sent to Chilean leader Sebastian Piñera, Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos, and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa.

"We propose a deep integration, or an in-depth integration as it is called in diplomatic language between Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile, an integration that looks at the Pacific Ocean and unite us to improve our relationship with the other side of the Pacific," he said. (Andina)

Peru, Bolivia to relaunch bilateral relations

Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde said Sunday that Bolivian President Evo Morales’ visit to Peru this Tuesday will relaunch a "historic relationship" oriented to the future.

According to Garcia Belaunde, the Bolivian leader will visit the coastal city of Ilo in southern Peru to sign an agreement that "will revive the Boliviamar project," which gives Bolivia access to an export-import port zone.

"It's a state visit to be held in the city of Ilo on Tuesday (Oct. 19). A supplemental agreement regarding the Boliviamar project will be signed there," said the minister who added that such a project, offering Bolivia a special economic zone for 99 years at Ilo "has not been properly used."

The Peruvian minister said there are new "international circumstances" such as the Inter-Oceanic highway and Bolivia's growing mining industry, which will "make this project more attractive."

"I think it will mark the relaunch of bilateral relations between two brother countries with a view to the future," he told CPN radio this morning. (Andina)

Japan confident of reaching FTA with Peru in November

Japan is confident of concluding negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Peru by the end of November, as was previously predicted by the Peruvian government, Japanese ambassador to Lima Shuichiro Megata announced today.

“We are optimistic that the negotiation process will be completed as soon as possible. Both parties exert the necessary efforts to ensure the success,” he told Andina news agency.

Megata leads the Japanese delegation participating in the Third APEC Ocean-Related Ministerial Meeting (3AOMM) held in Paracas (Ica) and gathering 16 ministers of the bloc member economies.

He recalled that the APEC Leaders Meeting will be held on November 12, 2010, which is motivation to move forward at a faster pace and complete the process.

According to the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), President Garcia’s attendance to the summit should be used to announce such an achievement.

The sixth round of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan took place August 18-31 in Tokyo. (Andina)

Peru-EU trade agreement to be implemented next year

The head of the European Commission delegation in Peru, Hans Allden, said the Association Agreement between Peru and the European Union could be implemented from next year.

Ambassador Allden pointed out that despite the unstable situation being experienced by some European Union countries, the process of reviewing the chapters of the trade agreement with Peru neither stopped nor was affected.

"We are making progress in the evaluation of the agreement. This is a joint work between the Peruvian Government and the EU, which will take time," he said.

He explained that the review of very complex issues slows down the process, but this has nothing to do with the economic situation that some European countries are experiencing.

"There was a good progress in the review of language and the text itself," the diplomat added. (Andina)

BCR: Peru to experience extraordinary decade

Peru’s Central Reserve Bank (BCR) president Julio Velarde was himself convinced that the country would experience an extraordinary decade in the economic sphere, which shall not be affected by the political situation political situation ahead of the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for next year.

“I think Peru will experience an extraordinary decade if no problems arise,” said Velarde in statements to RPP.

In this regard, he believes that the elections could lead to some nervousness at any given moment of process.

“Markets are very sensitive to any news, thus adding to volatility. But I don’t think that (the elections) will affect the fundamentals (of Peruvian economy).”

He also said that there is a weak possibility that the United States will fall into recession again, after the one that began in 2007. (Andina)

Peruvian Writer Mario Vargas Llosa Wins Nobel Prize

Mario Vargas Llosa, the Peruvian writer whose work explores the political corruption and military dictatorships of Latin America, won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Vargas Llosa, 74, was chosen “for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual’s resistance, revolt and defeat,” the Swedish Academy said today in a statement published on its website.

His literary breakthrough came with the 1963 publication of “The Time of the Hero” (La ciudad y los perros), which drew from his experiences at military school and was burned publicly by officers in Peru’s military, the Academy said. Other novels include “The War of the End of the World,” “The Feast of the Goat,” and “Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter.”

Vargas Llosa became more than a commentator on Peruvian politics when he ran for the presidency in 1990 and lost to Alberto Fujimori, an experience he chronicled in his 1993 memoir “A Fish in the Water.” On a recent visit to Caracas for a forum on democracy and property, he said he had been warned by the Venezuelan authorities not to make any political comments.

At a press conference in New York, Vargas Llosa said he thought the early-morning phone call notifying him of the prize was a prank.

Latin American Literature

“I am very grateful to the Swedish Academy,” he said. “It is a real surprise.” Vargas Llosa said he thought the prize was being given not only to him but to the Spanish language, “a very energetic, creative language,” and to all of Latin American literature.

When people think of Latin America, he said, they think of dictators and revolutionaries.

“Now we know Latin America can also produce novelists,” he said.

Born in Arequipa, Peru, Vargas Llosa grew up with his mother in Bolivia after his parents divorced. The family later reunited in Peru. He graduated from Colegio Nacional San Miguel in Piura. From there he went on to study literature and law in London and Madrid, taught languages in Paris and worked as a journalist for Agence France Presse and for French television.

As a reporter and a soccer fan, he covered the 1982 World Cup for Peru, according to his U.K. publisher Faber & Faber, in a profile on the company’s website.

‘Aunt Julia’

“Aunt Julia” (1977) drew from his teenage love affair with his first wife, Julia Urquidi, who was his uncle’s sister- in-law and more than a decade older. “The Green House” (1966), his classic early novel, focuses on a brothel built on the outskirts of a Peruvian town, a world that unites the innocent and the corrupt.

“The War of the End of the World” (1981) is a fictional account of a 19th-century peasant insurgency in Brazil’s barren northeast. A charismatic figure preaching that the end of the world is near garners support from the poor and dispossessed. They build their own city in Canudos, and set up an alternative state, becoming the target of ever more violent attacks by the authorities.

“His deep commitment to free expression is frequently reflected in the politically charged nature of his books, which have aroused the anger of the right and the left wing alike,” Faber & Faber’s profile says.

“When I write literature, ideology is always secondary,” Vargas Llosa said today at his press conference. “Literature embraces a larger human experience.”

Challenging Chavez

Last year, Vargas Llosa challenged Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to a debate over the direction of his Bolivarian revolution.

In a column published Oct. 3 by Spain’s El Pais, he criticized the Venezuelan leader for trying to stamp out the country’s democratic institutions in recent congressional elections.

“I’m convinced that Latin America will only be truly democratic, without the possibility of turning back, when the vast majority of Latin Americans are vaccinated forever against the irrational, primitive idea, at odds with freedom, that only a superman can govern effectively,” he wrote.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia said the award was “a huge act of justice” which he had awaited since his youth.

“Vargas Llosa is an extraordinary creator of language and consistent for the last 50 years as a novelist, prose writer, dramatist,” Garcia said in an interview with Lima-based Radio Programas. “This is a great day for Peru.”

Vargas Llosa is currently teaching creative writing and a seminar on the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges at Princeton University.

Great Storyteller

The Peruvian novelist is “without a doubt the most important Latin American author,” Ruben Gallo, the director of the Latin American Studies program and a professor of Spanish- American literature, said by telephone from Princeton.

“He has influenced an entire generation, not only of writers,” said Gallo, who had not yet seen Vargas Llosa to congratulate him. “He’s one of the best storytellers I can think of. They’re not only page-turners, but also offer deep insight into politics and culture in Latin America.”

The last Latin American winner was Octavio Paz of Mexico, awarded the prize in 1990. Last year’s Nobel literature prize went to Romanian-born novelist Herta Mueller, who escaped Nicolae Ceausescu’s police state two years before the Berlin Wall fell and has become one of reunified Germany’s best-known writers. Winners in the last decade have included Turkish author Orhan Pamuk in 2006 and John M. Coetzee of South Africa in 2003.

The 10 million-krona ($1.5 million) Nobel literature prize was created in the will of Alfred Nobel and first awarded in 1901. Nobel, a Swede who invented dynamite, also set up awards for achievements in medicine, physics, chemistry and peace.

Bloomberg - Naomi Kresge

To contact the reporter on this story: Naomi Kresge in Berlin at nkresge@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Phil Serafino at pserafino@bloomberg.net; Mark Beech at mbeech@bloomberg.net

Chinese entrepreneurs visit Peru to explore fruit market

Peru’s Export and Tourism Promotion Board (Promperu) reported today that a group of entrepreneurs from China will visit Peru in November looking for grapes, mango and citrus fruits.

The Chinese delegation will visit companies and processing plants in Piura, Trujillo and Ica.

According to the Director of Exports Promotion at Peru's Tourism and Export Promotion Board (PromPeru), Jose Quiñones, visit aims to develop trade ties and assess the productive capacity of exporting companies.

Asian buyers begun to make their first contacts with Peruvian companies in the 2010 Asia Fruit Logistica from 8-10 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Organizers of the Peruvian pavilion -the German-Peruvian Chamber and the Association of Peruvian Producers and Agro Exporter's Guilds (AGAP)- had estimated that Peruvian companies would close deals worth $17.3 million in twelve months. (Andina)

Ten things about ISA World Surfing Games in Peru

In three weeks, one of the most prestigious surfing events today, the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games, will be underway at Punta Hermosa, Peru from October 19 until 27.

The best surfers from more than 30 countries will meet in the perfect waves of Señoritas and Caballeros to decide the winner of the World Team Gold medal, as well as the ISA World Champions in the Open Men, Open Women and Longboard divisions.

The 10 things you should know about the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games are:

1 - The Games will be held at Punta Hermosa, 35 miles south of Lima. The waves chosen are the perfect left and right-hand pointbreaks of Señoritas and Caballeros.

2 - Ancient Peruvians used to ride waves in reed boats known as "Caballitos de Totora," around 5000 years ago. Modern surfing in Peru started in the mid 1940s on the beaches of Lima´s region of Barranco. The sport expanded to the neighborhood of Miraflores, where surfing had its major growth during the 1960s with the creation of the Waikiki Surf Club, the foundation of the International Surfing Federation by Peruvian Eduardo Arena, and the 1965 World Championship won by Peruvian Felipe Pomar.

3 - The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games began in 1964 under the name ISF World Championships, and were run by the International Surfing Federation, the first surfing international organization in history. In 1976, the ISF gave way to the ISA. From their beginning and until today, the contestants in these championships traveled to compete as a team, to defend the colors of their countries.

In 1996, a year after the ISA was recognized by the International Olympic Committee, ISA President Fernando Aguerre proposed a name change to the World Surfing Games. He also created the Sands of the World Ceremony and Parade of the Nations to highlight the importance of the union of nations through surfing.

4 - The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games is one of the greatest surfing events in existence. It is undoubtedly the most cosmopolite, with around 200 athletes competing as members of their national surfing teams coming from over thirty countries.

5 - Since 1996, the nations that won the gold medal for their team positioning were the following:

1996 - Huntington Beach, USA: United States

1998 - Carcavelos, Portugal: Australia

2000 - Maracaípe, Brazil: Brazil

2002 - Durban, South Africa: South Africa

2004 - Salinas, Ecuador: Australia

2006 - Huntington Beach, USA: Australia

2008 - Costa de Caparica, Portugal: Australia

2009 - Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica: United States

2010 - Punta Hermosa, Peru: ?

6 - This is the second time in history that Peru will host the event. In 1965 the ISF World Championship was held at Punta Rocas, less than five miles south of this year's host town of Punta Hermosa. Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the event, the ISA decided to go back to Peru.

The host country has shown in past years an enormous growth, not only in their level of surfing, but also in their institutional infrastructure. This is why, among other reasons, Peru was chosen to host this year's Billabong ISA World Surfing Games.

7 - The World Champions of the previous edition of the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games that took place in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, August 2009 are:

Open Men: Jeremy Flores (FRA)

Open Women: Courtney Conlogue (USA)

Longboard: Antoine Delpero (FRA)

8 - The format of the event consists of three divisions, and teams will include eight athletes; four Open Men, two Open Women and two Longboarders. Additionally each team includes Managers, Coaches, other Technical Staff and Supporters.

9 - Following the efforts of the nations to win the Gold medal, the growing presence of the best athletes is once again confirmed. Surfers confirmed to participate include former ASP and ISA World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS) and the 1998 ISA World Champion and former ASP Word Tour runner up, Mick Campbell (AUS).

10 - All the information about the event, including the live webcast will be available at: www.billabongisaworldsurfinggames.com.

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 60 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karín Sierralta (Peru). (Andina)