Peru

Visited: May 1997, December 2002, several times between 2000 and 2004, July 2019

Duration of visit: 95 days

Capital city: Lima

Population: 34 million (2022)

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

• The capital city Lima: spanning from the prestige areas of Miraflores to historical Plaza de Armas and the impoverished pueblos jovenes.
• A 50-kilometers hike at altitudes reaching 4,000 meters along the Inca Trail to reach the hidden city of Machu Picchu.
• Magic in the air: condors flying over Colca Canyon.
• Navigating to Uros Islands made of totora reeds on Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world.
• Driving a car from Quito to Lima and back, stopping in Huaraz and Chiclayo.
• Exploring Northern Peru on a family trip in 2019: Máncora, Lord of Sipan Museum, Catarata la Chinata.
• Navigating Amazon River from Yurimaguas through Iquitos to Las Tres fronteras.

The third largest country in South America is known in primarily as the successor to the magnificent Inca civilization, the natural beauty of Colca Canyon, vast rainforest of Amazon River, the world’s highest navigable Lake Titicaca, Nazca lines, many other natural beauties and some great museums in the capital Lima.

Those who fail to experience the magic of Peru might be better of avoiding travel to other Latin American countries and instead consider doing something else in life.

I visited Peru on many occasions for different purposes:

1. In 1997, Peru was part of my American Big Tour, which started in New York City and ended in Buenos Aires 15 months later. I spent over a month travelling from the northern border, through Lima, Islas Ballestas, Nazca, Ica, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco and Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca.
2. Overland trip by my own car from Quito to Lima in 2003, when I lived in the capital of Ecuador was focused on the northern area of Peru: Chiclayo, Trujillo, Huaraz, Cajamarca.
3. Business trips between 2000 and 2004 and later in 2012, focused on business meetings with local companies exclusively in Lima. Instead of backpacking I was staying in luxury hotels and savoring delicious food in prestige restaurants.
4. Family trip to the northern part of Peru in 2019: Máncora, Tarapoto, navigating Amazon River and Iquitos.

From Amazon forest to the Andes, from backpacker’s heaven to the top hotels in luxury Miraflores. The legacy of the most advanced pre-Columbian nation in South America in the area of Cusco amazed me with the architectural wonders, famous Peruvian cuisine recognized worldwide and archeological sites such as Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman or Chan Chan.

One of my favorites museums in general is dedicated to the tomb of extremely powerful men in ancient Peru. Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum represents one of many fantastic archaeological discoveries in Peruvian history.

What about Peruvian cuisine? From corn to potato, pisco sour to Inca Cola, seafood or fruits. Flavors and combinations of Peruvian food have conquest the world.

Peru, in combination with neighboring Bolivia, stands as my primary destination in Latin America, following Mexico.

There are so many reasons to return to Peru again and explore new places, taste delicious food and meet fantastic people.