The month of May has been an eventful one for Latin America as Lima hosted the 5th EU-LAC Business Summit and Argentina hosted the International Women’s Forum. As world leaders converged on Lima, Peruvians proudly shared their rich cultural heritage of dance, music, art and gastronomy.

In this issue of our newsletter, we will cover some important developments in Peru and Argentina in both the world of politics and tourism. On a lighter note, we will continue to explore the rich culinary history of Peru as well as bring you the latest in some of the best beaches for surfing on this side of the Pacific!

Leah Li
Online Development Manager
Peru For Less
leah@peruforless.com

PERU SHINES IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AS HOST TO THE 5th EU-LAC SUMMIT Held once every two years, the 5th EU-LAC Business Summit was hosted by Peru on May 16, 2008 wherein attendees included some 60 heads of state or government from Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The event was aimed at tackling two areas of common interest: social inequality and climate change. The weekend was filled with excitement as Peru was given a chance to shine in the international spotlight. Read about Peru hosting the EU-LAC Summit»

Women Leaders around the World Convene in Argentina On May 7th, influential women from around the world gathered in Argentina for a seminar held by the International Women’s Forum (IWF). The theme was ‘Women in power: a new leadership’ with globalization and poverty eradication being the main topics as well as political instability and global trade perspectives. The seminar lasted two days and was attended by 500 high-ranking women leaders from across the globe and from all walks of life. Read about the convene of women leaders in Argentina»

Machu Picchu Train Line to be opened to New Operators For almost a decade, Peru’s national railway system has been privatized wherein Peru Rail has been the sole operator of service to and from Machu Picchu. However, a recent antitrust verdict by Indecopi, the national copyright and fair competition institute, has paved the way for new competitors to enter into the currently monopolized market. Later this year, one new company, and perhaps two, will break that barrier with first-class and economy class railcars on the track to Peru’s renowned tourist attraction. Read on the new operators for Machu Picchu Train Lines»

The Olive in Peruvian History and Cuisine Peruvian cuisine is internationally recognized for being among the best in the world. Combining the flavors of four continents, Peru derives its culinary success from Pre-Inca, African, Sino-Cantonese and Italian cuisine, just to name a few. Another key factor in the gastronomical diversity of Peru lies within its varied geography which is comprised of 84 of the 104 possible life zones in the world and supports a wide assortment of food sources. Read about the Olive’s influence on Peruvian Cuisine»

Peru’s Waves Make the News This month the New York Times featured Peru as “the new ‘it’ spot on the international surfing circuit”. The article unearths the many beaches and surfer towns along the 1,500 mile coastline as well as the turbulent history surrounding the trendy sport. Read about Peru, the new hot spot for surfing»