By a landslide vote estimated at around 65%, the people of Ecuador approved a new constitution yesterday that gives President Rafael Correa more power in his quest to end corruption and erase poverty in this Andean nation. The new constitution guarantees worker rights and allows Correa to run for two more terms, meaning he could still be in office as late as 2017. It is unclear if the constitution will affect tourism, one of Ecuador’s most important industries.

Evidently Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez reads my blog, because this morning he echoed my recent post and declared that Peru is the “Culinary Capital of the New World.” He based this assertion on the many cultural influences present in Peruvian food and the overall quality of food in his nation. Far be it from me, a lowly blogger, to contradict a president, but perhaps Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Cuba, or the guy in Buenos Aires who cooked me those awesome steaks last time I was there may want to comment?

Obviously, a nation with miles and mles of coastline will have good seafood. But Peruvian food does not stop with fish and lobsters: in fact, most of the traditional favorites come from the highlands, where the descendents of the inca have lived for centuries. Immigrants, from Europe as well as Asia, have also added their own flavors to what is rapidly becoming known as a top international foodie destination. Want to know more? Check out V!VA’s Guide to Food and Drink in Peru.

On October 8-26, Guanajuato, Mexico will host its annual Cervantes festival, which honors the famous sixteenth century Spanish writer. The festival features quality highbrow entertainment such as dance, theater and music, as well as concerts by popular artists such as Ely Guerra. Check out the home page here: http://festivalcervantino.gob.mx/fic08/.

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales met yesterday with provincial governors, ministers, the leaders of Bolivia’s Congress and Senate and even a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. The purpose of the meeting was to try and defuse the growing conflict between Morales’ administration and breakaway eastern provinces who oppose his plans to redistribute wealth and land. Under the plan, wealthy eastern provinces would relinquish oil and natural gas profits and fallow land. The money and land would be given to the poorest Bolivians, most of whom are indigenous and concentrated in the western highlands. The situation had escalated recently, as supporters of both sides fought in the streets, resulting in a number of deaths. The meeting shows that both sides want to avoid further bloodshed and hope to end the crisis, but they are still a long way from a compromise that will be acceptable to all parties.

In recurring news that is starting to get a little old, INGALA, the Ecuadorian institution that regulates the Galapagos National Park, has announced that the already steep park entry fee for foreigners will double in 2009. Currently, non-Ecuadorian park visitors must pay $100 per person upon arrival in Galapagos. This money is used for park services such as rangers and control of introduced species. Beginning in 2009, this fee will double to $200. Combined with the new $100 tax on those taking cruise tours (as opposed to land-based ones) and the $10 Transit Control Card, most visitors will pay $310 per person simply for the privilege of setting foot on Galapagos. INGALA figures that 2009, which is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, will see a huge influx of visitors to the islands. Pessimists will note that despite hundreds of thousands of tourists paying park taxes, preventable problems such as introduced animals and illegal shark fishing continue to be as rampant as ever, while optimists can hope that doubling park resources may finally make a dent in these troubles.

Lima is the palce to be in October, as the city celebrates its biggest festival, El Señor de los Milagros. Thousands flood into the city from all over Peru and all corners of the world to celebrate El Señor, a painting of a dark-skinned christ painted by an anonymous Angolan slave sometime around 1650. The wall upon which the Christ was painted survived an earthquake in 1655: it was the only wall to do so in the region. Since then, the painting has taken on a mystical, miraculous aura and Limeños celebrate it annually. The big date is October 28, when the image is carried around the city for 24 hours by thousands of purple-robed devotees. The festival is known for other processions, bullfights, parties and more. The festival lasts on and off until October 28. If you want to attend, better make reservations now!

Anywhere near Barranquilla, Colombia? If you are, you’ll want to be sure to head over sometime between September 10 and 14, when the 12th annual Barranquijazz Festival rocks the streets. Headlined by the Buena Vista Social Club and Arturo Sandoval, this year’s Barranquijazz Festival is bigger and better than ever. You can learn more about Barranquilla at V!VA Travel Guides, or check out the official festival site.

Hurricane Ike, the latest in a hurricane season that looks like it’s going to be a whopper, has finally left Cuba after days of slowly moving across the island, unleashing devastating rains and causing serious wind, water and flood damage. Most affected was the city of Havana, whose elegant but fragile centuries-old architecture suffered severe damage.  Cuba had already been hit by Hurrican Gustav on August 30. Ike had already dealt a glancing blow to Haiti, which has still been smarting from Tropical Storm Hannah last week. Ike’s curent trajectory has it heading to Texas or Northern Mexico within the next few days.

Conalcam (La Coordinadora Nacional para el Cambio), a Bolivian political institution in league with president Evo Morales, has announced that beginning on Monday, September 15, it will block all roads into and out of Santa Cruz province. Last Year, Morales announced that revenues from oil in the Santa Cruz would be divided among the rest of the country and large farms would be broken up and land given away to poor farmers. Santa Cruz has led the fight against Morales, voting recently for a form of autonomy in which it would keep its revenues and farms. Conalcam, which cites the “unpatriotic” attitude of Santa Cruz, is calling on poor farmers in neighboring states to enforce the blockade. The date was selected to prevent attendance at Expocruz 2008, the department’s annual business convention. Travelers to the convention and Santa Cruz province are encouraged to get the latest information before traveling, especially as the situation is escalating and the scene at the borders may get ugly.