Traveling Around Peru

If you are looking for a travel destination with beautiful and variant landscapes, mountains and old ruins, then you can’t go wrong with Peru. This former empire of the Incas offers a dizzying mix of natural beauty and cultural richness. In your travels, you can follow the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, meet the colorful people, sail on Lake Titicaca or discover the mystical Nazca lines. The diversity in Peru is enormous! Today, we are going to take a closer look at Peru as a travel destination, and see some of the things it has to offer.

Things to Do in Peru

Peru can be divided into three regions: the coast, the Andes Mountains, and the Amazon Rainforest. Each region has a unique character and many sights and tourist attractions. There are heaps of things to do in each region! Here are some of the activities you can do in Peru;

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is perhaps Peru's most famous landmark. The Inca City is on many postcards and is the image you see when you think of Peru. The Machu Picchu is an ancient ruin of an Inca city. The city had been abandoned for a long time and in the year 1866 it was rediscovered. The great thing is that the city is still so well preserved despite all the earthquakes and weather conditions in the area.

It is located in the Cusco region. Under the guidance of a guide you can get to Machu Picchu through the Inca Path. That's a hefty hike. It is also called the Inca Trail. There is a limited number of visitors who are allowed to walk the path per day. You also have to buy an entrance ticket to visit it. If you want to be sure that you can visit the attraction, it is smart to buy your entrance ticket well in advance.

The Nazca Lines

The Nazca Lines can be found in the city of Nazca. This is one of the most popular and special attractions in the country. The lines have come about in a mysterious way. It is still unknown how the lines are made, or who made them. Geometric drawings are visible in the desert. Because of the size of the drawings, they are better viewed from a certain height. Some of the drawings have a circumference of up to 300 meters.

These are drawings of different figures, some are just made in a geometric shape and other drawings represent animals or birds. The drawings are clearly visible from the air. There are special plane tours that take you over the Nazca Lines for a better view.

The Rainbow Mountains

Another special place in Peru that is worth visiting are the Rainbow Mountains. Also known as Vinicunca, the place is located in the Andes Mountains of the country. The mountain is 5200 meters high, and has a wide variety of colors. That's why they are called the Rainbow Mountains. The colors are caused by the type of rock, in combination with iron oxide, sulfur and copper sulphate.

You can reach the Rainbow Mountains from the city of Cuzco. Some tourists opt to hike there, which can take several days. It is also possible to reach the mountains by horse. Along the way, there is a good chance that you will encounter alpacas.

The desert of Huacachina

From the mountains of Peru, we go to the desert of Huacachina. Within this desert, there is a small oasis and palm trees, which is surrounded by a small village. Taking a buggy ride around the desert area and seeing the sunset is a sight to behold. You can also go sandboarding, which is basically like snowboarding, but instead you do it on the sand.

Foods to Try in Peru

Peru not only has beautiful nature and cultur, but also more than 30 different microclimates, which ensures that Peruvian cuisine is very diverse, and tasty! Fresh fish, vegetables and exotic fruits are the staple food of Peru. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular dishes;

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  Ceviche: Fresh fish cooked in lime juice, usually served with sweet potato, corn and red onion. The best Ceviche can be found on the coast, where the fish is very fresh.
• Lomo Saltado: Strips of steak, onion and bell pepper are stir-fried in a sauce of vinegar, soy sauce and various spices. It is served with rice and fries.
  
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  Causa Rellena: A small layered tower of different ingredients, often eaten as an appetizer. The first layer is made of potatoes and dried peppers. The second layer often consists of avocado and chicken or tuna.
• Ají de Gallina: A Peruvian chicken stew. The main ingredients are, of course, chicken, spices and yellow chili peppers. The aji amarillo pepper is used for this. This small pepper is sweet, but also has a mild spicy flavor and is used in many Peruvian dishes
  

Peru Travel Tips

• Moving between regions in Peru is often done by bus or airplane. Plan your route well in advance, and book your tickets accordingly.
• Make sure to have enough cash money on hand. Many areas will have cash-only services, and finding an ATM machine might prove difficult.
• Peru has a very diverse climate, which changes from region to region. Make sure to pack clothing suitable for each region.