Monthly Archives: September 2009

Chimu Adventures and the local community

At Chimu Adventures we really pride ourselves on working with the local community. As a small company we are extremely flexible and work with communities in many different ways. This is highlighted by some of the travel industries most respected names working with us – names such as responsibletravel.com, infohub.com to the South American explorers club. We were also finalists in the Telstra Business Awards 2008 (a leading Australian award for businesses) due to our sustainable operations and commitment to the local communities in which we operate. A tour with Chimu adventures will give back, and you will make a difference! See our website for more information on our tours.

Chimu and the Environment

We really work hard to keep all our operations green! We are attempting to run all our worldwide offices currently on green energy (we are working towards 100%) from hydro electric, wind to solar power. The remainder of our company emissions are offset so that our operations are completely carbon neutral. Being web based, we are close to becoming a paperless environment, brochure prints are at a minimum (and printed on a requirement basis) and all pre departure information is emailed. We use energy saving bulbs in our work centres, and recycle all our waste. Staff are encouraged to ride a bike or take public transport to work, and Chimu Adventures pays for half of the cost of a bicycle purchase for staff.

Recently we have also started an initiave to plant a tree in Peru and Bolivia for each and every client travelling to these wonderful countries. So booking with is like your making your very own contribution to the environment!
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Best time to trek the Inca trail

A common question we here at Chimu Adventures is often “When is the best time to trek the Inca trail to Machu Picchu?”.

In short, We really dont believe there is a “best” time. Sure May through to September is “peak season”. This is technically the dry season, with very little rain and clear blue skies. Sure, you wont get wet! – but at this time of year the trail does become very crowded. This is also due to the fact that Europeans and North Americans have their summer vacations in July and August, and hence add to the crowd on the trail!. In peak seaon the Inca trail does fill up to 6 months in advance, due to the permit regulations (currently 500 people per day). So early booking is required.

The shoulder season (April and September/October) is a good time to visit. There are less people on the trek, and if trekking in April after the “wet season” finishes in March then you will see the mountains at their magestic and vibrant best. The Inca trail is stunning this time of year. The Rich lush cloud forest comes to life, and Machu Picchu has its mistique with periodic cloud cover.. A must for photographers! You still need to book 4 months or so in advance for this period.
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Cricket in Peru?

The official website of the Peruvian Cricket Association is coming closer to launch! http://www.perucricket.com/

Cricket has been played in Peru for 150 years, at the splendid Lima Cricket & Football Club and is now undergoing a resurgence as a recently-admitted Affiliate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Proudly supported by Chimu Adventures cricket in Peru is moving from strength to strength. Cricket in Peru has:

  • A long-established outdoor season running from January to April which includes:
    • A thriving domestic Twenty20 Competition.
    • Numerous ‘friendly’ matches, ideal for the occasional cricketer to hone his skills.
    • Visits by touring teams, keen to enjoy Lima’s hospitality and Peru’s tourist attractions.
  • An indoor season from September to December culminating in the:
    • Annual Chimu Adventures Cricket Veloz Trophy
  • Schools Cricket:
    • Both boys and girls from age 9 upwards.
    • A new cricket facility at Cambridge School, Chorrillos.
  • International Cricket:
    • Annual ICC Americas Division III Championship: the 2009 Championship is to be held in Santiago, Chile in October.
    • Bi-annual South American Championship: in April 2009, this was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil and featured teams from Brazil, Chile and Argentina.

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Booking the Inca trail in Peru

Peru is, beyond a doubt, one of the greatest adventure travel destinationson the planet. It offers an amazing list of things to see and do, perfectly blending culture with both mountain, coastal as well as  jungle settings, along with ancient artifacts and ruins that rival those found in Egypt and the other ancient lands. Of course, the most spectacular and famous of those ruins is the lost city of Machu Picchu, located at 8000 feet above sea level, in the Andes Mountains, close to the Inca capital of Cusco.

Machu Picchu is the number one tourist attraction in a country full of tourist attractions, and there are multiple ways of getting there. Most take a train to the site, preferring to enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains. But one of the other ways of reaching the “Lost City of the Incas” is hiking the Inca Trail, an option that has grown in popularity over the past few years. The Inca trail is a very popular trek or the alternative Lares trek both end at Machu Picchu. Please click on the previou links for more trip details or read on below..
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No new hotels for Torres del Paine

Fantastic news for conservation recently. Torres del Paine national park in Southern Chilean Patagonia will have no new construction of hotels, which will only assist in reducing visitor numbers to the park and having less impact on local ecosystems. Here at Chimu Adventures we applaude the foresight of the Chilean Forestry Corporation. See article below..

.. The National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) has rejected six petitions to build luxury hotels within far southern Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park.

CONAF refused the requests saying there are no appropriate locations for the facilities. The government body worries that constructing the hotels would disrupt the ecological equilibrium in the park.

Torres del Paine spans 600 acres in Region XII and is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Its popularity is also growing. In 2008, 141,000 visitors came to the park to enjoy its natural beauty. Authorities predict that in 2010, 160,000 people will visit the zone.
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Cheap thrills for Latin Lovers

Hot off the press is Chimu Adventures latest mention in the Australian travel press. Read how South America is hotting up, and becoming a significant destination for Australian travelers!. Visit Chimu Adventures for details of our tours.

.. Hola, amigos! It’s time to learn a few words of Spanish if you want to discover the travel destination of the moment.

South America is enjoying a surge of Australian travellers despite the economic downturn, with bookings up at least 15 per cent for most operators.
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Tourism in Antarctica and the importance of environmental responsibility

Antarctica is a pristine wilderness. However the growth of tourism to the region has increased dramatically over the past few years. In this article we look at the impacts of tourism and the dangers of companies that do not follow Antarctic protocol set down by the IAATO (Treaty of Antarctic tour operators) – All Chimu Adventures cruises to Antarctica follow these strict rules, and all our fleet are ice strengthened and built for the harsh conditions. visit Chimu Adventures for more details on our policies and trips in the region.

.. More than anywhere else on Earth, the polar regions are most affected by global warming. Yet it is exactly this threat to their existence that is attracting more tourists to the region than before.
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Quick Cusco Visit

It’s a quick fly in, fly out trip. It’s been a year or so since Chimu Adventures has checked hotels in Cusco and this time the task has fallen to me. I have 24 hours to review about 20 hotels so it’s a tight schedule. The flight into Cusco is spectacular. Flying over the Andes is impressive at any time but when you get to fly right on top of snow capped peaks as we decent into Cusco is something special .

The city is just as I remember it. Even though Cusco now has many more visitors than the first time I came here it’s still managed to keep its village charm. The tacky tourist shops are there sure but it’s soul has somehow been preserved.

I wanted to knock off a few hotels in the evening so I get started. I figure I can do around 10 at a push. The first few are fine but as I push on I remember that I’ve only had a matter of hours to adjust to the altitude and at the third of forth hotel it all of a sudden seems a monstrous task just to walk the stairs to the second floor!

Realising my limit’s I decide to retire for the evening. I’ve picked one of my favorite hotel’s in Cusco for the night: Casa Andina San Blas. It’s has a beautiful old colonial courtyard and is a short walk from the Plaza de Armas. It’s also kept in immaculate condition and the crisp linen is a treat after a long day.

I can’t help but stop into my favorite Peruvian eating hole on the way home: Bembos. Everyone else at Chimu Adventures shakes their head at my penchant for a Bembo’s burger. Don’t get me wrong: I love ceviche, lomo saltado and aji de gallina but somehow the Peruvian version of McDonald’s is sill my favorite. The upsized meals don’t just come with upsized chips and drinks but also an upsized burger!

I’m looking forward to tomorrow hopefully being a little less active!

Have a look at www.chimuadventures.com.au , www.chimuadventures.co.uk or www.chimuadventures.com for more details on Chimu Adventures Cusco tours or any other destination in South America

Antarctica – there is no time like the present!

Antarctica is one of those destinations… The destination the bloke in the corner of the pub is blagging about to his friends, the place that as a 6 year old you dreamed of visiting, far away at the bottom of the globe eternally covered in ice.

Lets face it, a trip to Antarctica is a trip of a lifetime – you may think its a place you will never see, but with Chimu Adventures it is possible!

Chimu Adventures is Australia’s leading tour company to Antarctica and has a range of different tours to suit all  budgets. Our website is home to long expeditions, short cruises to Antarctica and even overflights! take a look at http://www.chimuadventures.com/australia/?dest=2 for more details!
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Galapagos

My trip to Galapagos Islands was in November 2007. I didn’t know exactly what to expect at Galapagos. All I knew was that Galapagos Islands are situated right on the equator, officially belong to Ecuador and there are volcanic islands with giant turtles and other wildlife. Continue reading →