We have five new interesting articles about Peru for you this month. In additon, just as a reminder, we ask you to please remember to vote for Machu Picchu at the New7Wonders website. Our beloved Machu Picchu is at risk of not making the final cut and not becoming one of the new seven wonders of the world that will be announced on July 7.

Lola Whitmer
Online Development Manager
Peru For Less
lola@peruforless.com

Extremely rare species of owl spotted in Peru The long-whiskered owlet was recently spotted in the northeastern jungle of Peru after 30 years of not being seen in the wild. Scientists consider the sighting a holy grail of South American ornithology due to the rarity of the species. The owlet is also one of the smallest owls in the world. Read about the rare owl found in Peru

Thousands dance to save the Andean sacred site of Q’oyllur Riti More than 2,000 Quechuan marchers and dancers flooded the streets of Cuzco on March 5th in an effort to protect the sacred site of Q’oyllur Riti from mining activities. During the Q’oyllur Riti festival, one of the most important indigenous festivals in Peru, thousands make a pilgrimage to the snow-capped mountain of Q’oyllur Riti, or “snow-star,” to honor the spirit of the mountain. Read about the Q’oyllur Riti festival in Peru

Smugglers steal Peru’s antique treasures Peru is rich in fossils and archeological antiquities from pre-Colombian cultures, from the Inca Empire, and from Spanish colonial times. It’s also the country worst hit with thefts of ancient objects in the region, as smugglers deplete its heritage, stealing statues, gold finery, and other treasures. Read about antique treasure thefts in Peru

Researchers Measure Mite Fossils to Shed Light on Inca Empire Researchers from the Universite de Montpelier in France have found a new way to trace the rise and fall in population of the Inca civilization. The unique method involves measuring and dating numbers of mite fossils in soil samples, which are then correlated to population numbers. Read what mite fossils reveal about the Inca Empire

Exports of Peruvian Surf Boards Increase Substantially Many international surf shops are interested in Peruvian boards, exports of which have increased an incredible 43% during the first quarter of the year. The surf scene in Peru is also gaining many new followers as a result of the recent international successes of Peruvian professional surfers. Read how Peru exports of surf boards significantly increase