On board a modern Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 executive class and 144 economy class seats, for a total capacity of 156 passengers, you can now fly with TAM from Sao Paulo to Lima and vice versa. Departure from Sao Paulo is scheduled for 8:25 hrs, landing in Lima at 10.35 hrs. For the return flight, the time scheduled is to leave from Lima at 11.45 hrs and arrive at 19.30 hrs. For further information, please enter the TAM Web site at www.tam.com.br.

In March 2009, a new river vessel for Amazon cruises will be launched, the ‘Delfin II’. Held in the same style as the famous ‘Delfin I’, picking up the design elements of the Amazon with wooden furniture and a fond decoration, it is more luxurious and with a beam of 9 m it offers more space than its predecessor. 28 passengers can be hosted in 14 large guest suites distributed on 2 decks with panoramic windows and every comfort. The third deck offers an ample hammock sundeck and a lounge with bar. The 3 and 4 day programs starting in Iquitos – Nauta offered by the cruise operator are the same for the Delfin II and the Delfin I. The boutique-like cruise however will be the first luxury vessel offering a extensive trip through the Pacaya Samiria Reserve itself, the biggest national park of Peru.

The Novotel Cusco will complete the refurbishment of all its “contemporary“ rooms by the end of September ‘08. The whole furniture of its premium “colonial” rooms was already changed in the first phase of refurbishment. A second Novotel property in Peru will be launched by mid of 2009 in the commercial area of San Isidro. The 4*hotel with 210 rooms, rates should be available by the end of September '08.

As we have previously informed all PeruRail frequencies to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu (except for two leaving from Cusco) currently depart from Ollanta station in the Sacred Valley. It is still uncertain if two additional railways companies will be allowed to enter the market next year. Consequently PeruRail has not launched yet prices and itineraries for 2009 and it is still unknown which frequencies will be assigned to PeruRail. Therefore trains to Machu Picchu are subject to Peru Rail’s availability and confirmation. Considering in addition how critical train availability to Machu Picchu has become in the last months we suggest our clients to book trips to the citadel well in advance.

In the last months confirmations for the flight over the Nazca lines have become very difficult. This is a result of the limited capacity of aircrafts (max. 3-5 passengers) whose flights are subject to weather conditions. Furthermore, in reaction to the plane accident in Nazca earlier this year, the procedure to determine the turn of each aircraft company to fly over the Nasca Lines has changed. This added to the high demand of flights in Nasca has led sometimes to an auction-like situation and a significant price rise on peak days. We therefore strongly recommend informing your clients about the current situation in Nasca. We will do our best effort to provide this service. Nevertheless flights over the Nasca Lines unfortunately cannot be 100% guaranteed under such circumstances.

From September 3rd LAN operates flights Lima-Tacna and vice versa, with a stopover in Cusco three days a week (Wed, Fri and Sun). This is for sure an interesting alternative for travelers visiting the cities of Arica and Tacna (in the Chilean/Peruvian border) and then continuing their trip to Peru.

Park authorities of the Argentinean side augmented the entrance fees to Iguazu Falls in the National Park USD 15 to USD 20 effective October 1st 2008.

Recently, a considerable finding was made in the archaeological site Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, Lima. Three 1300-year old mummies and the remains of one child from the pre-Inca Wari culture were found. One of them still very well preserved was found with textiles and ceramics. One of the mummies wears a funeral mask and therefore could be identified as female; archaeologists named her ‘The lady of the mask’. We offer different itineraries including Huaca Pucllana as part of Lima’s sightseeing tour. Such tours give the chance not only experience Lima’s colonial past and modern districts, but also the ancient heritage of pre-Inca cultures that ruled the region nearly 1500 years ago.