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travel tips

Peru Private Tours: 7 fantastic reasons to take a Private Service

by Giardino Tours March 1, 2021

Peru Private Tours:

Our Government has already begun with the re-activation of the tourism sector. Since March 1, it is already allowed in some places to take sightseeing tours.

But there is always a concern about what is the safest way to travel now and without question, it is recommended to make these visits minimizing all risk and especially if we travel with our family.

And… What if we told you that you can enjoy a tailor-made tour in a private service?

Apart that some private tours may cost a bit higher than group tours (SIC), they offer other advantages full of unique experiences, with an original and different look at the destinations that you visit in an great and personalized style of “information-entertainment”.

Here are 7 reasons why is a great and fantastic option to take a private tour in Peru! 🙂

1.- Making according to your way of travel

Private tours offer the possibility to design and customize your experience. To choose a route and itinerary from a range of options that we can find, to determine the duration of the tour and to decide where to start and end according to what suits us best.

2. Keep it as a family / Friends

Group Tours SIC (Seat in Coach) offers the possibility of making new friends as many travelers come together in one transport.

However, we may also like a more intimate experience and explore a destination with your loved ones at your own time and space. On a private tour, the only participants are you and your friends and/or family, so you’ll surely take countless memories of this experience.

In addition, the private tour offers a personal guide dedicated to answering every question you have. Your guide will be ready to answer any questions and inform you about any topics you want to know better. You’ll receive a number of recommendations and tips according to your interests.

The goal of a designed Private Tours is to make YOUR visit as enjoyable as possible.

3.- Tailor-made routes, exclusive for you and family

If we have family and are planning to travel, we usually ask our travel agents if the “youngest” can participate in our tours.

A three-hour tour can be a nightmare for children, and uncomfortable for parents who have to take care of them. But on a private tour you can choose the duration and route that interests you, so that the little ones have a good time too, as well as add activities that are more interesting for the children and so the parents maximize their experience as well as pleasant and memorable.

Also in the case there is someone with mobility problems, whether with a wheelchair, baby stroller or crutches, on a private tour you will be free of worries.

By booking a private tour you can inform in advance to your travel operator of the specific needs of your group / family and your agent will make a route that perfectly suits these special needs and provide all extras that you requiere.

4. The perfect gift

The truth is that today there is no better gift than the gift of knowledge.

When you invite to another friend / family to join you for a Private Travel experience is that exactly what you are giving.

Why buy a thing, when you can enjoy a life experience?

5.- A Guaranteed of departures

Another huge advantage of the private tour is in the answer to the question;

When?
The answer is… anytime!

Private tours are a service exclusive for you. So it is possible to start the trip on any day, depending on your convenience or when your flights and hotels are available.

6.- Flexibility

With a private tour, you decide how you use your time and you can adjusted your schedule according to your needs.

If you see a spectacular place and would like to make a stop to take some pictures…NO PROBLEM!

7.- Security:

Maybe one of the major reasons to book a Private service.

Today one of the most important advantages that you can manage in a Private Tour is your safety during the trip. In a Private tour you are preventing that people you don’t know join your trip.

Your agent elaborate a tour that is 100% customized and todays you must be sure that they offer all the biosecurity measures against the coronavirus.

Also, If something doesn’t make you feel safe during the trip, you can communicate it to your travel agent and they will pay special attention to your concerns, adjusting the journey to your needs.It is important that at the time of booking a tour or trip to Peru, you take some time to make a review of the reputation of the Tour Operator with whom you decide to make the trip.

Serious and formal companies offer more guarantee of quality service, a 24/7 personal attention and efficient logistics and bio securities protocols in all fields. Only then will you have an unforgettable experience!

Giardino Tours – Blog

@GiardinoToursperu

#ITravelwithGiardino #OneTripManyExperiences

links of interest:

Tips for a Responsible Peru Travel Experience!

Peru Packing List: 5 Items You Need to bring1

Travel Tips

Colca canyon Travel Guide: 7 Questions about Colca Tours

by Giardino Tours February 17, 2021

Colca canyon Travel Guide: Find here the answers to frequently asked questions when you organize your trip to the Colca Canyon in Arequipa; Perú. Colca canyon information that You Really Need To Know.

1.- Will I see Condors?

The Colca canyon is the “best place” in South America to see the Andean Condor. In our Colca canyon tours we will visit different viewing points to increase the chances to experience them closely. If you get lucky they will fly just above your head! Remember that there is no guarantee that the condors will be seen, but in most cases it is possible to observe them at close range. 🙂

2.- Can I continue by land from Colca valley to Puno on Lake Titicaca?

Yes, this is possible! And it is the most recommended itinerary to save time, because you do not have to return to Arequipa city.

If you are traveling alone: The Buses depart from Chivay plaza every day between 12 to 13:30 PM (approximately). It is recommended that you buy your bus ticket one day in advance. You must be at the bus station at least 40 minutes before Bus departure.In our organized Colca canyon excursions: In our Colca Tours the last day (Second day or Third day depending on your type of tour) you will return to Chivay town about 12:00 PM where you will have time for your lunch before taking our Giardino Transport and keep driving to Puno city (With stops on the route for pictures).

This transfer to Puno could be organized also with a Tourist Bus Company that offers this service. The coordination and logistic will be in our hands, so you don’t need to be worry and only relax and enjoy the tour!

You will be arriving in Puno about 7:00 PM (19:00hrs) and the drop off will be in your hotel (If it is located in city center), if your hotel is located out side of city center an extra charge can be added for transfer to your hotel.

3.- Can I start the Colca canyon 2 days tour from Puno?

YES! This service is possible in our Colca Canyon exclusive private tours!

But in case you want to join a Group tour to Colca canyon and you are in Puno city; we can manage this provinding you with a transfer or Bus ticket from Puno to Chivay town; where you can join the Group Tour and keep the tour program until Arequipa city.

The transport or Bus will pick you up from your hotel between 6:00 to 6:15 am arriving at Chivay town approximately at noon, where you will join our Colca canyon Classic Tours and keep the program according to the itinerary.

The excursions will end in Arequipa city in your hotel.

4.- I do not want to take all of my luggage to the tour. Where can I leave my luggage?

For excursion to Colca canyon with return to Arequipa city, hotels and hostels will normally store luggage in their safety deposit for free until you check-in again in your return.

In case your trip keep forward to Puno city, please inform us at the time of the Tour reservation so we can organized you with a group with similar schedule and provide with a transport with enough luggage space.

5.- I am afraid about altitude sickness: Is it a problem?

Altitude sickness can catch many travelers and normally we recommend that clients stay at least one night in Arequipa city in order to help to get to altitude.

To drink Coca Tea the frist day that you arrive to Arequipa will be very helpful! Also it is important to avoid alcoholic drinks and try to drink a lot of water.

In our tours to the Colca canyon our transportation provides “oxygen” in case of need.

6.- I want to do a Trek into the Colca canyon but I am not traveling with any camping equipment.

If you travel solo: If you want to get down to the canyon it is only important that you have a very good physical condition and good orientation. In some villages as well as in the area near the Colca river are basic lodges where you can overnight. The lodges also offer dinner and lunch.

It is important that you get information about the route, take some maps or a GPS. Please keep on the marked routes and close to the villages. Don’t look for an adventure on unmarked routes. We strongly recommend taking a local guide.

If you take our Trekking Tours: For our organized tour only a good physical condition and a light personal backpack are required. Walking shoes and personal items.
The overnights during tour take place in basic rustic lodges at the bottom of the Canyon (provide bed, blankets and bathroom).

But it can get cold at nights and there is not heating, so it is important that you take with you warms clothes for the night and also light clothes for the day because can get very hot. – Very good Trekking shoes or boots is important.

7.- Family trips to Colca Canyon: Is right to travel with kids?

YES! It is great! The Colca Valley is ideal for families especially if you are traveling with children.

Most travelers focus on hiking or to observe the condors on the canyon walls. However, children can enjoy a lot exploring the traditional villas during the short walks, bathing in the hot springs pools, feeding animals, helping on the farms or sharing activities with locals.This is an extraordinary way to learn and share what the speed of the city has taken away from us; the harmony of nature and the ability to amaze us!
Activities such as feeding baby alpacas, horseback riding, hiking, artisanal textiles, games etc. are offered in family programs to the colca valley.

Ready to travel to one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Peru?

Colca Canyon Travel Guide_ Giardino Tours

@GiardinoToursPeru

#ITravelwithGiardino #OneTripManyExperiences

Travel Tips

Tips for a Responsible Peru Travel Experience!

by Giardino Tours February 16, 2021

Responsible Peru Travel experiences: Peru is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries of South America, help us to take care of it. Please organize and travel in a responsible form!.

RESPONSIBLE PERU TRAVEL TIPS:

1.- When are you planning your trip, choose those providers that offer guarantees of quality and respect for human rights and the environment.

2.- Also make sure that the companies that you hire during your trip are formal and established; because it means that they pay taxes and this support the growth and development of the country.

3.- Plan your route to minimize carbon emissions – travel by train or public bus where it is possible, minimize internal flights.

4.- Pack the right PPE gear. (Personal protective equipment). Bring Hand sanitizer and bring masks for you and your family.

BEFORE YOUR TRIP STARS

Read about our culture and learn a few words in spanish – traveling with respect earns you respect.
Remove all excess packaging – waste disposal is difficult in remote places like Valleys, rivers or traditional towns.
Take to your trip rechargeable batteries for camera or other electronic devices; if not, please return the old batteries to your country. In Peru battery recycling is difficult and in many places almost impossible; please do not forget that one battery can contaminate 40 liters of water.

If you dont know how to manage a old battery during your trip, please talk to us to inform you where and how is the best way to dispose them.

Take a Reusable Botle of Water and a cloth bag. – Check a Full Post about this topics here.
Take with you Solid Shampu (You can not imagine the amount of bottles of shampoo and soap that our travelers leave in hotels.)
Ask to Giardino Tour agent or your Travel agent for specific tips for responsible travel in your destination.

DURING YOUR TRIP

Buy local products and use local restaurants.
Take tours where you know that hire a local guide – you’ll discover more about local culture and lives, and they will earn an income.
Remeber that “cheap prices” does not means “quality and fair prices” in many cases you are supporting informality or abuse of employes and providers.
Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods, or ancient remains or artefacts.

Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places – if you have a doubt ask for advice or don’t visit.
Hire a bike or walk when convenient – its a great way to meet local people on their terms and reduce pollution and carbon emissions: Support the walking tours offered by your local tour Operators.
Use water sparingly – its very precious in many regions and tourists tend to use more than local people.
Try to minimize waste generation. They are a source of contamination.
If you walk in a natural area, make sure that the only trace that you left behind is your “footprint”.

If you are interested in taking part in some social support during your trip to Peru; Giardino Tour Operator works with and organizes different actions to support our communities and the enviroment. Please Check our website “Social Responsibility”.

Also Giardino Tour Operator works with the children’s house “Hogar de Cristo – Arequipa” a non-profit organization that help children who work on the streets and the organization of “Medicos Solidarios Arequipa” a group of professionals that work to reduce the contamination of health personnel during pandemic Covid-19.

Contact us to learn about the different ways and possibilities that you can help and participate in our social activities. 🙂

Remember that local people have different ways of thinking and concepts of time, this just makes them different, But is nothing wrong with that – cultivate the habit of asking questions. Be a curious and deep traveler, and take the advantages of this rich experience in Peru.
When you buy gifts and souvenirs look for products that are expressions of local culture. This promote the economy of the people and their cultural diversity.

Try to contribute during your trip with your presence to the development of responsible and sustainable tourism for a healthier planet and solidarity.

WHEN YOU GET BACK

Write to your tour operator or hotel with any comments or feedback about your holiday, and especially include any suggestions on reducing environmental impacts and increasing benefits to local communities.
Support good and Reliable Tour Operators using the Media like Trip advisor, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc…Positive comments motivate. Remember that is our goal that you get back home with great experiences and memories about our Country.
If you are no happy with a service, inform your agent immediately and ask for an explanation and more infos.
If you’ve promised to send pictures or gifts to local people remember to do so!

Giardino Tours Team.

Responsible Peru Travel Experiences@GiardinoToursPeru

#ItravelwithGiardino #OneTripManyExperiences

Culture & Traditions Travel Tips

Colca Sour: An unique Cactus cocktail

by Giardino Tours February 11, 2021

Do you know that an enjoyable drink called “Colca Sour” is the Colca Canyon version of the Pisco Sour? Yes right! ? And the big difference is that instead of lime juice the locals use the Sancayo juice.

Sancayo; also called sanky, is “the forgotten fruit of the Incas.” It is an incredibly sour local cactus fruit that was used by the Incas as a hunger suppressant, replenisher, and medicinal aid to reduce problems associated with the gastrointestinal tract.But today the “colca sour” has become the official drink of Caylloma province! You will have the opportunity to enjoy it on the second day of our excursion to the Colca valley.

Properties make the “Sancayo Cactus (sanky) attractive for every person, especially as its vitamin C levels are 10 times that of oranges.

Preparation of Colca Sour

If you want to know or learn how to prepare this unique drink “Colca Sour”; then you need to learn an easy “formula”: 1+1+3 … That means:

1 ounce fresh squeezed Sancayo juice.
1 ounce simple syrup
3 ounces pisco.

Add also:

1 egg white
Ice cubes

Mix up the pisco, syrup, sancoya juice and egg white.
Add ice and shake well.

An then.…. SALUD!

Description of fruit

Sanky cactus fruit is small to medium in size, averaging 10-12 centimeters in diameter, and is round to oval in shape. The rind is firm, green with some brown markings, and smooth at the surface with many thin, long spines that extend around the entire fruit. Underneath the rind, the juicy pulp is clear to white and contains many small black seeds. Sanky cactus fruit has a mucilaginous, crunchy texture and contains a low amount of sugar creating an acidic, tart, and slightly sour taste.

Seasons/Availability

Sanky cactus fruit is available in the summer through fall.

Current Facts

Sanky cactus fruit, botanically classified as Corryocactus brevistylus, grows on a fast-growing shrub with long stems that can reach over six meters in height and belongs to the Cactaceae family. Also known as Zanki, Quitahambre, Sankay, Lemon cactus fruit, and Guacalla, Sanky cactus fruit grows on the wild Sancayo cactus and can be found along the rocky mountain slopes of the Andes in Peru and Bolivia. Once used by the Incas, Sanky cactus fruit is an ancient fruit that is still consumed today in South America and is favored for fresh eating.

Todays is getting popular as official drink of the Colca valley as “Colca Sour”.

Nutritional Value

Sanky cactus fruit contains vitamin C, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and some electrolytes.We keep you curious… 🙂

Life is soooo interesting!

Giardino Team!@GiardinoToursperu

#ItravelwithGiardino #OneTripManyExperiences

Culture & Traditions Peru Great Destinations

Arequipa Tour: 2 surprising curiosities about this destination!

by Giardino Tours February 10, 2021

The famous “White City” of Arequipa enjoys Its own currency and special passport.

If you travel to Perú and you will visit the white city of Arequipa; you have to know that in “few cities of the world” there are people that love so much their land as the “Arequipeños”.

First you should know that those born in Arequipa are called “Characatos” and here we explain you why.

Characato is the name of one of the most popular and traditional districts of the city and is the origin of many customs and cultural expressions typical of the city. In Arequipa, it is considered that a “Characato” is a very hardworking person, who is always in a good mood and loyal to his traditions. Also this is a person that raises its voice to greet its friends and family or to welcome visitors and always offering, as an act of friendship, a glass of good Chicha (Typical Drink made of fermented corn).

Moreover, the characato is a person proud to have been born at the foot of not one, but three volcanoes: the Misti, the Chachani and the Pichu Pichu. “This is the reason why each characato (Arequipeño) is unique and special in the world” Then, you shouldn’t be surprised that the people born in Arequipa say that they don’t get angry, they, erupt as a volcano because in their veins flow “volcanic blood”

Another interesting detail is that the “Characato” is mainly manifested in the character of the “loncco”, a person that lives and work in the countryside of the city and speaks with a mixture of quechuismos (Quechua is the name of the Inca’s language) and barbarisms, which makes him a unique character in every sense.

Initially the expression “loncco” was used to point that work tools that had lost the edge of their edges. This word “Loncco” also began to be used to point out people who did not work well or were not so talented to work in the field. With the time that word “Loncco” became popular in Arequipa to point to the “chacarero” (Man who works in the field) a rude and tough man who lives in the countryside; a hardworking person that always speaks loudly.

Here some typical expressions of a “Loncco”

Alalau: Expression that means that it is very cold.
Acacau: when something burns or is very hot.
Atatau: Feeling that something produces disgust.
Calincha: A girl who behaves like a boy.
Chascoso(a): Someone who hasn’t combed his/her hair.

Seeing all these points doesn’t surprise too that Arequipa is the only city in Peru that has its own currency “the Golden Characato” and its own “Passport”. These two acts have no legal value in Peru but certainly allow us to understand the originality of the Arequipeños and this spirit to feel that they are unique.

The passport of the “Independent Republic of Arequipa” is one of the most requested souvenirs by national and international tourists and the “Characato de oro” permit us to enjoy a souvenir of a “currency” that “never devalues”.

The Arequipa Passport:

The Passport: The passport of the “Independent Republic of Arequipa” originated during the war Perú– Chile. At the time that Lima was occupied by the invading army, Arequipa city was declared capital of the Republic and immediately the passport was established as a security measure. But today the passport is a document without any legal value and is a souvenir where you can read inside of its pages funny and typical Arequipeño phrases. You can also custo

The “Characato de Oro”:

Details of the “golden characato”: The Golden Characato is a currency typical from Arequipa and was born as a sign of gratitude to all its visitors. It is printed with the figure of a “loncco” (Now you know what means “loncco”) and the Misti volcano. The “Golden Characato is so important for the locals that the first day that open to the market; the “Characatos” were sold out.
mize it by typing your name and personal data. They have become so famous and popular that it is already part of the local culture.As you see; Arequipa is not only a must-see destination in Perú for its beautiful colonial architecture, its incredible landscapes and its exquisite gastronomy; it offers an endless number of cultural traditions and the incomparable human warmth and hospitality of the characatos!

Ready to visit Arequipa?

We are waiting for you…. 🙂

@GiardinoToursPeru
#OneTripManyExperiences #TravelWithGiardino

Travel Tips

Peru Trip: Altitude mountain sickness and 6 easy tips to avoid it

by Giardino Tours February 4, 2021

Altitude Mountain sickness Called “Soroche” in Peru is the most common sickness that affects more than 50 percent of people who ascend higher than 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) in a relatively short time span. It’s caused by the lower levels of oxygen in the air at high elevations; your lungs can’t take in as much oxygen as they’re used to and your heart and lungs have to work harder to keep your blood oxygenated.

Symptoms of acute Altitude mountain sickness include:

Dizziness.
Headaches.
Dehydration.
Feeling tired.
Loss of appetite.
Sleep issues.
Nervousness.
Heavy breathing.
Increased cardiac rhythm.
Digestive issues.

How to prevent Altitude Mountain sickness:

Hydration is important. It is recommended to drink at least 2 or 3 liters of water a day to help your body acclimatize.
Eat healthy and consequently. You may experience loss of appetite but your body needs energy; carbohydrates such as pasta, bread, potatoes, fruits and flour based products will
help stabilize your energy levels.
Avoid alcohol, coffee, sodas, salt and unhealthy food.
Your body needs generally about 3 to 5 days to acclimatize above 2500 meters of altitude (8000 ft.).
Resting is important. Pillows to sleep at a 30 degrees angle is recommended.
Coca leaves, although illegal in the US, help a lot improving your condition in altitude. You can either chew it or drink it in a tea. A cup or two in the morning will already help a lot.

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