My Peru travel summary:
Visited: May 1997, December 2002, several times between 2000 and 2004, July 2019
Duration of visit: 95 days (1997 – 57 days; 2019 – 17 days, others – 21 days)
Capital city: Lima
Population: 34 million (2022)
Peru travel blog reading time: 2 minutes
Attractions and places I visited in Peru:
- Exploring Lima: from upscale Miraflores to poor pueblos jóvenes.
- Walking the Inca Trail to the hidden city of Machu Picchu.
- Magic in the air: condors flying over Colca Canyon.
- Navigating 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 in 2019: Máncora, Lord of Sipan Museum, Catarata la Chinata.
- Navigating the Amazon River from Yurimaguas to Las Tres Fronteras.
The third-largest country in South America is known as the successor to the Inca civilization and for its natural wonders. Some of these include Colca Canyon, the Amazon rainforest, Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines, and museums in Lima.
Peru is such a special country that it is a must-visit for people who admire Latin America.
I visited Peru on many occasions for different purposes:
- 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.
- I made an overland trip in my own car from Quito to Lima in 2003 while living in Ecuador’s capital. The journey focused on northern Peru, including Chiclayo, Trujillo, Huaraz, and Cajamarca.
- Business trips between 2000 and 2004 and later in 2012 involved meetings with local companies exclusively in Lima. Instead of backpacking, I stayed in luxury hotels and enjoyed fine dining in prestigious restaurants.
- Family trip to the northern part of Peru in 2019: Máncora, Tarapoto, navigating Amazon River and Iquitos.
Reflections on my visit to Peru
From the Amazon forest to the Andes, and from backpacker’s paradise to luxury hotels in Miraflores. The legacy of the most advanced pre-Columbian civilization amazed me with its architectural wonders, world-famous Peruvian cuisine, and archaeological sites such as Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán, and Chan Chan.
One of my favorite museums is dedicated to the tomb of extremely powerful men in ancient Peru. The Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum presents one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries in Peruvian history.
What about Peruvian cuisine? From corn to potatoes, pisco sour to Inca Kola, seafood, and fruits. Peruvian food with rich variety of flavors and unique taste has conquered the world.
Peru, in combination with neighboring Bolivia, stands as my primary destination in Latin America, following Mexico.
I have many reasons to keep returning to Peru to explore new places, taste delicious food, and meet fantastic people.
My Peru travel adventures
