IFA Members We are pleased to announce that the IFA will be heading to South America in 2017. We will be in Lima, Peru for the tournament on March 13 & 14, 2017. Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as Ciudad de los Reyes, City of the Kings. Strongly influenced by European, Andean, African and Asian culture, Lima is now a melting pot of cultures due to colonization, immigration, and indigenous influences. The Historic Centre of Lima was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is located in the central coastal part of the country, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and forms a long and populous urban area. Due to its proximity to the beaches and the lack of rain, the weather in Lima is mild and fresh throughout the year. Lima is a modern city, full of places to be discovered. It has exquisite cuisine, an excellent infrastructure with large entertainment centers that have made this place the principal political, cultural and financial center of the country. With more than 8 million inhabitants, Lima is the 5th most populated city in Latin America and in the Caribbean and, the 30th city with the highest quantity of citizens in the world. We will be having the event at the Doubletree El Pardo, located in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima. The Spanish town of Miraflores was established in the 16th century. However it was merged into the Lima Metropolitan Area as the city expanded during the early 20th century. El Pardo Doubletree Rates: Single/Double Occupancy: $179 Triple Occupancy: $199 Quadruple Occupancy: $219 The rooms with 3 or 4 people will have 2 queen beds. The rate includes breakfast and complimentary wi-fi in the hotel. Currently, we have rooms held from March 9-March 18. If you need rooms outside of this time frame, please reach out to Jill Kraatz at: Jill.Kraatz@experientselect.com The deadline to book rooms is January 31, 2017. Please note that we have a limited number of rooms available and while this is the last day to book rooms at our group rate, the rooms may fill up before that deadline so please be sure to book your rooms early. Lima is located in the Central Time Zone, so there will be very little adjustment needed to get onto local time when you arrive. Most flights from the U.S. to Lima will take between 7-8 hours. Non-stops are available from many airports, including New York, LA, Houston, Dallas & Miami. LATAM is a South American airline and does many of the non-stop flights. You can also find non-stops on American and United Airlines. There are endless things to do in Peru. Here are just a few suggestions:
Huaca Pucllana Within walking distance from the hotel, The Huaca Pucllana is a great adobe and clay pyramid located in the Miraflores district of central Lima, Peru, built from seven staggered platforms. It served as an important ceremonial and administrative center for the advancement of the Lima Culture, a society which developed in the Peruvian Central Coast between the years of 200 AD and 700 AD. El Malecón El Malecón is the city's picturesque seafront strip with its pristine parks and modern sculptures. A sedate stroll along El Malecón provides plenty of spectacular sea views. Alternatively, hire a bicycle or a pair of rollerblades and cruise along the coastal cycle paths. Adventure-seekers can paraglide off the cliffs.
Choco Museo Just around the corner for the hotel is the ChocoMuseo, "La Casa del Chocolate", a museum dedicated to cacao and chocolate. While the main aim is introducing the visitors to the secret of this addicting treat including the history of cacao and the production process, the museum also offers workshops where you can make your own chocolate products. Metropolitan Museum of Lima In December 2011 the new high tech marvel of Lima's museum scene opened its doors to the public. The Museo Metropolitano de Lima (Metropolitan Museum of Lima) is the first completely virtual museum of the country. Using movies, 2D, 3D and even 4D as well as holograms, projections and other technical finesses you are lead through 10,000 years of Lima's history and even get a glimpse of Peru's capital in 2050.
The Bridge of Sighs Head south along the coast from Miraflores and you'll end up in the small district of Barranco. This is Lima's bohemian quarter, a place for poets, artists and exceptional nightlife. A daytime stroll will take you past stylish cafes, colorful restaurants and some fine examples of 18th century architecture. Don't miss El Puente de Los Suspiros (The Bridge of Sighs), a quaint wooden bridge located at the top of the stone steps that wind down to the beaches below Barranco. There are well over 100 museums that highlight the culture and history of Peruvians. Here are just a few: Archeological Museum Rafael Larco Herrera - Founded in 1926, the Larco Museum showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-columbian history. The museum features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and a famous erotic archaeological collection. National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History - MNAAHPis Peru's oldest state museum. On display is a wide range of perfectly preserved pre-hispanic ceramics, textiles, metals, organic materials and lithic's. Furthermore objects of historic-artistic value are exhibited. The documentary, photographic and bibliographic collections tell the story of Peru in the Colonial and Republican time. Museum in the Convent of San Francisco - The Church and Convent of San Francisco is besides the Cathedral of Lima probably the most significant religious complex in Lima and the most successful and impressive monument of Colonial architecture in whole Latin America. One of the "must-do's" in Lima is a highly recommended tour through the monastery. It gives an impressive inside on how religious life was during Spanish colonial times. National Afroperuvian Museum - The museum explains the history of Afro-Americans in Peru and the contribution their culture made to the country. Main subjects are slavery and the beginnings of the trade of African slaves in Latin America including the characteristics of this phenomenon, social groups, life of slaves in Peru. Museum of the Peruvian Gastronomy - It s the first museum in Peru dedicated exclusively to the Peruvian cuisine which plays such an important role not only in the culture of the country but as well in
everyday life. The Gastronomy Museum leads you through more than 2000 years of culinary richness in Peru. Lima is a modern city with many historical influences. We look forward to sharing with you all this city has to offer for IFA 2017!