Happy Monday, travelers! This week’s focus is on a destination that I haven’t yet been to: Peru! It’s a destination that is hot on everyone’s radar these days. Go for ancient history, incredible foods, craft cocktails, and Amazon adventures.
Destinations: Peru
This stunning west coast South American country was featured at the last Virtuoso Travel Week in a lot of capacities. I learned about hiking in the Andes and hidden secrets in the Sacred Valley. But I also learned about the Amazon side, which most people skip over.
What to do in Peru
Most travellers head straight for Cusco and the famous Machu Picchu. My goal for this week is to share more about this amazing country and why you should look further afield. In addition to the mountains, Peru also has a rich and vast Amazon region and a rugged coastal region that runs the length of the country. In fact, it has some incredible surfing!
And while archaeological ruins and natural highlights certainly steal the spotlight in Peru, I’d be amiss if I didn’t at least mention the phenomenal cultural highlights. With a very strong Spanish Colonial influence, cities like Lima and Cusco are an architecture lover’s dream. The country is predominantly Christian, so holidays like Corpus Christi and Christmas are often celebrated with vibrant festivals. These festivals incorporate elements from the Spanish, the African, and the indigenous cultures in Peru.
Culture in Peru
Music here draws heavily from indigenous tribes like the Quechua and Amayra as well as the Spanish influence. Food too draws from the Spanish and indigenous cultures. However, the arrival of Chinese and African immigrants in the 1800s resulted in a variety of cuisines, especially in Lima.
Over the next week, I’ll share with you some various destinations across the country, from the cosmopolitan city of Lima to the vast and remote Valle Sagrado. Whether you’ve been to Peru once and are keen to go again or if hiking the Inca trail is on your bucket list, check out the links below to learn about this exciting place.
Lima || Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu || Arequipa || Peruvian Amazon
