Planning your holiday in Peru
Peru has a lot of different kinds of cultural and architectural history. Faced by the Pacific Ocean, it has beautiful and varied scenery, including Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. It also has a strong Inca and pre-Inca heritage, including the famous Lake Titicaca area, the Nazca Lines, and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, which has the Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu. It's a great place to go on vacation, and in this article, we'll look at some tips to help you get the most out of your trip to Peru!
Transportation and Geography
Peru is split into 3 separate climatic zones: costa, sierra, and selva (the coast, the mountains, and the jungle). The people and cultures of the three areas are very different, which can give your trip to Peru a lot of variety. However, the country is now connected by a good road network, some amazing train lines, and great air services, so getting from one place to another is easy.
Most of the coast is a small, fertile strip along the Pacific Ocean that slowly turns into a desert at the base of the Andes. In the very north and south of the country, it often doesn't rain for years at a time. However, areas like the Pisco valley are surprisingly fertile thanks to complex irrigation systems, some of which date back to the time of the Incas. The Panamerican highway goes all the way along the coast. This makes travel along the coast easy and quick.
The Andes mountain range runs through the middle of Peru, from north to south. Some of the most beautiful views and most interesting cultural experiences in the world can be found there. As was said above, Quechua, the language of the Incas, is still spoken as a first language in many places, and the spiritual ideas of Inca culture are still strong. Cities like Cusco have beautiful Inca and colonial architecture and very modern services, but just a short distance away, life goes on in a way that the Incas would have recognized right away. When on vacation in Peru, most people spend most of their time in the Andean regions.
Most of the Peruvian jungle is protected by international law because it is some of the most untouched rainforests in South America. Large parts of the jungle, including the few cities, can only be reached by boat or plane. This makes it feel very different from the rest of the country like you've really arrived somewhere. There are so many different kinds of animals in the rainforest that it's hard to keep track of them all. Every year, more and more unique species are found.
Language
Spanish is the main language in Peru. This is almost the same as the Castilian Spanish spoken in Madrid, though the pronunciation is a little different and a few words have been changed. Many people still speak Aymara or Quechua, the language of the Incas, as their first language in the high Andes, especially around Cuzco and Puno, but almost everyone also speaks Spanish. Some English is usually spoken in touristy areas, and people who work in places like airports, banks, and hotels that serve people from all over the world will always speak some English.
People in Peru
Peruvians are known all over South America for how friendly they are, and they are always eager to talk to you. Even if they want to sell you something, people are often still interested in learning more about you and where you come from. The British are well-liked in Peru, but we still have a bit of a "Victorian" reputation. We are often seen as very polite and efficient, but not very passionate or good at dancing. "A la hora ingles" means "on time" in Peruvian, and if you try to explain what's going on with British trains, you're usually met with polite disbelief and the assumption that you're just being nice...
What to Eat and Drink
The food in Peru is delicious and a real highlight of any trip there. Each region has its own specialties. A lot of African and Spanish influences can be found in coastal dishes, which are often very rich and spicy. Unsurprisingly, seafood is good, and anything with chicken is usually a safe bet. Ceviche, which is the national dish, was first made on the coast. This is a mix of fish pieces that have been marinated in lime juice. It's absolutely delicious, and you should try it even if you don't usually like fish. aji de gallina, which is chicken in a spicy, creamy sauce, is a good chicken dish.
Highland dishes are usually more simple than coastal dishes, especially Limeno dishes because they focus on the quality of the ingredients. However, they are just as tasty. Particular favorites include rocoto relleno (stuffed Andean peppers). These are about the same size and shape as the peppers we eat in England, but they are spicier. Most of the time, they are filled with small pieces of beef and vegetables, but most places will make them with just vegetables if you ask. During your trip to Peru, you should also try an alpaca steak at least once. It tastes like a mix between pork and beef and has to be tried to be believed. Guy, which is a roasted guinea pig and an Arequipa specialty, is the only choice for those who like to try new things. As long as you can deal with the guilt, it's surprisingly good...
There is a lot of fresh fruit in rainforest food, both as a side dish and as a main dish. Chirimoya is a unique one to try (which you can also find in fruit juices and milkshakes outside the jungle). It looks a little bit like an apple but tastes like strawberries and cream. Chicken dishes are popular in the jungle, just like they are in the rest of Peru. However, they are usually served with yucca, which is a type of manioc, instead of rice or chips.
Obviously, if you're on vacation in Peru, you might want a couple of beers to relax. Peru has a lot of great national beers, but Cuzquena is probably the best of them all. All of the beers are lagers, but you can often get Cerveza malta, a dark, hoppy lager that is similar to an English Brown Ale. Peru is starting to make some good wines, especially reds, but it is not as far along as Chile or Argentina. The country does, however, make Pisco, which is one of the best brandies in the world. This is also where the Pisco Sour, which has to be one of the best cocktails in the world, comes from. This great aperitif is made with Pisco brandy, egg white, cane sugar syrup, and limes. You may find yourself drinking more than one...
Peru is also one of the few places in the world where the local soft drink is more popular than Coke. The local "Inka-Cola" is bright green and very sweet, but it is very refreshing and 100% Real Peru! Aside from soda, Peruvians love milkshakes, which they often call "yogurt," and all kinds of fruit juices, which are often just what you need when you want to take a break in a cool cafe.
