Ecotourism
Peru and Bolivia

Peru (Skip to Bolivia)

Peru is the most extreme country in the world. It boasts the world's highest tropical mountains, the world's driest desert, the world's most biologically diverse rain forest, the world's richest fishery, and the world's most extraordinary cultural and archaeological diversity. All other New World nations combined do not harbor as many spectacular archaeological sites as Peru. The most extraordinary ancient stone architecture in the world is in Peru. The most extensive pre-Columbian empire in the New World revolved around the imperial capital of Cusco in southern Peru. The richest royal tomb discovered in the New World is on the north coast of Peru. The deepest valleys in the world are in the southern Andes of Peru. The world's greatest varieties of cultivars and cuisine are found in Peru. Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, chocolate, hot peppers, peanuts, pumpkins, squashes, beans, quinoa, amaranthus, and dozens of other tubers, grains, and fruits are native to, and were first domesticated in, Peru. Colombia and Peru each have 1730 bird species-more than any other country in the world---but the number of species unique to Peru is 114, nearly twice the figure for Colombia. In one day of walking and paddling in the Manu lowlands of southeastern Peru, birders saw and heard 331 species of birds--a world record. More species of trees (300) are found in 2.5 acres (one hectare) of rain forest in northeastern Peru than in any other place on Earth. Six square miles of virgin rain forest around the spectacular "Pongo de Mainique" Canyon on the Urubamba River contain more species of life than any other similar-sized area on Earth.

No other country in the world packs such excess into a total land surface area that is only 3.1 times the size of California. In one day you can drive from the cool, stark deserts of the Pacific coast up to snow-covered Andean passes and then back down to steamy Amazon rain forest.

In a ten day visit to Peru, you can see the incomparable Inca sites of Cusco and Machu Picchu, the finest Amazon habitats at the Pongo de Mainique or Manu, and the finest coastal scenery and wildlife at Paracas.

Because of this incredible scenic, natural, and cultural diversity, Peru quite likely is the most rewarding tourist destination in the world.

For persons from the monotonous, overdeveloped countries of the North, Peru is literally a riot-a riot of nature, geology, and culture. Foreign scientists such as myself often visit Peru to research specific topics, but then fall under the magic spell of Peru and stay forever. Not even the renowned shamans of the north coast can cure this spell, and I, for one, am hooked.

In 1998 tourism trailed only mining and fisheries as a producer of foreign exchange. With better air service, roads, and hotels, tourism could become Peru's top economic activity. As one foreign scientist exclaimed at the end of his twelfth visit, "Peru is like the national park of the world". Tourism produces more jobs per dollar invested than either mining or fishing and so could help solve Peru's chronic unemployment and poverty. If, as currently is happening at the Pongo de Mainique, local communities become real stakeholders in tourism, then the future will be bright for Peru's amazing wildlands. I hope you will join me in this celebration of the great places and cultures of Peru.

Bolivia

Bolivia has 424,165 square miles of ancient culture, indigenous people, snow-capped mountains, savannas, the Pantanal, which is one of the two largest wetlands in the world, semi-desert and of course, the magnificent rainforests in the northeastern part of the country.

Landlocked Bolivia sits with Peru and Chile to the west, Argentina and Paraguay to the south, and Brazil to the east and north. The highlands, or "Altiplano", run the whole length of western Bolivia north
to south, at an average elevation of 12,000 feet, between two ranges of the Andes Mountains that soar more than 21,000 feet high. This plateau is approximately 80 miles wide and is the highest inhabited area in the world and the most densely populated area in Bolivia. The highest point is Mount Sajama at 21,391 feet.

The first inhabitants of the plateau were people who traveled south through the Americas, reaching the area before 1400 B.C. The Tiahuanaco civilization was established on the plateau sometime between 500 and 800 A.D. Its best-known settlers, the Incas, came from the Cusco Valley in Peru, around 1400 A.D.

Although not the official capital, La Paz reigns from the plateau as the center of government, while the real capital of Sucre lies to the south at a much lower elevation. The government of Bolivia is much like
the United States with a President, a Congress and a Judiciary. Their Supreme Court is located in Sucre.

The "Yungas" on the eastern slopes of the Andes, are the deep valleys and high ridges. This area contains 40 percent of the cultivated land in Bolivia, and 30 percent of the population. The lowlands make up three-fifths of Bolivia and are the most sparsely populated area in the country.

The seasons in Bolivia, and the rest of the Southern Hemisphere of course, are the reverse of the United States, with their summer--November through February--seeing the most rain. The eastern slopes below 6,000 feet are tropical, with an average rainfall of 30 to 50 inches. The Yungas has a spring-like season year-round, while the Altiplano is always cool. During the day when the sun is out it can be pleasant, but when the sun goes down the temperature follows, and it's time for a good warm sweater.

There are three official languages in Bolivia: Quechua, Aymara, and Spanish. It is estimated that as few as 40% of the population speak or write Spanish. There are many more languages throughout Bolivia that are spoken by as few as a thousand people, which is the case in the Mosetenes community of Covendo, located 255 km northeast of La Paz.

The Bolivian population consists of three major groups: the Mestizos, with mixed native and Spanish blood, and those who claim to have pure Spanish blood; the Quechua and the Aymara, the two largest native groups which comprise the other 60% of the population.

Coca is a traditional native crop still grown in the Andes and is a staple of life to many. It is made into a tea that helps alleviate altitude sickness. The leaves of this shrub are chewed as a mild narcotic to help soothe cold, pains and hunger. While it may have medicinal uses, it is not legal today to put any more land under coca cultivation.

Tropical Nature Travel has several trips available for you to visit Bolivia for yourself. Macaws that you can expect to see include the Bolivian Military, Green-Winged, Blue and Yellow, Scarlet, Severe, Red-Fronted, Blue-Throated ...