Peru
Peru is one of the most beautiful countries in South America. That’s why Rebecca Adventure Travel offers mind-blowing Peru tours. You will explore Peru’s highlights with English-speaking guides while experiencing the magnificent country by yourself.
You may be wondering why Peru is a popular tourist destination? Well, Peru is one of the top 10 countries with the greatest biodiversity and natural resources in the world. For instance, in its territory there are:
- 200 protected natural areas.
- 84 of the planet’s 117 life zones.
- 14 national parks.
- 15 national reserves.
- 9 national sanctuaries.
- 11 reserved areas.
Moreover, Peru is home to more than 180 species of birds. From that total, 10% of them are reptile, mammal, and fish species. Also, it has 3.500 varieties of orchids.
Why is Peru the best country to visit?
Peru is a great destination for family and friends tours. You can explore the ancient Machu Picchu citadel, discover the mysterious Nazca Lines, admire Lake Titicaca, and eat delicious food!
Even so, Peru is a paradise for adventure lovers and a must on your South America bucket list. It offers outdoor activities for curious, beginners, amateurs, and experts. Choose Peru tours that include:
- Trekking.
- Climbing.
- Mountain biking.
- Surfing.
- Paragliding.
- Hang gliding.
- Camping.
- Canoeing.
- Kayaking.
Vinicunca, Peru
What is Peru famous for?
Peru is a geographically and culturally diverse country with Spanish, indigenous, African, and Asian influences. It has been a cultural settlement site for ancient cultures, way before the Spanish and even the Inca empire. Nowadays, its diverse architectural vestiges can be found throughout the Peruvian territory, from tombs, fortresses, ceramics, and even metalwork.
Worldwide, Peru is famous for being home to Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines, and its international-recognized food. Nonetheless, the country has an interesting culture that surprises tourists.
Peruvian culture
With every Peru tour, you’ll discover its culture. It is a fusion of very varied languages, ethnicities, lifestyles, values, and attitudes. Nonetheless, Peruvians are well known as very hospitable to foreigners.
Like every Latin American country, contemporary Peru has its roots in its history. Nowadays, Peruvians identify with numerous ethnic categories, reflected in indigenous traditions as well as migration, especially from Japan and China.
Peruvian culture
Is Peru friendly to tourists?
Peru is a friendly country to tourists. In general terms, Peruvians are warm, welcoming, and hospitable. Over the past years, the country has received over 4 million tourists. It’s a paradise for adventure lovers, foodies, and culture-seekers.
Check out more information about Peru, that you might find helpful:
- Peru is a Spanish-speaking country. However, the official languages of Peru are Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. Also, there are 47 indigenous languages spoken.
- The country covers 1.28 million km2 (0.5 million mi2). It’s the 19th largest country in the world.
- The country has a population of 32 million people. Lima is the capital and the largest city. 60,2% of the population define as mestizo (mixed white and indigenous), 25,8% indigenous, 5,9% white, 3,6% black, and others.
- It’s composed of three regions: Coast, Highlands, and the Amazon.
- The majority of Peruvians identify themselves as Christians, however, Catholicism is the most popular religion.
Where is Peru located?
Peru is the third-largest country in South America. It’s a multicultural nation, situated in the western part of South America. It shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile.
What’s Peru’s currency?
The Sol (S/) is the official currency in Peru. US dollars are accepted in stores, restaurants, hotels, and service stations. However, you should take into account that Peruvians have an informal way of doing business, so you must have soles in order to buy things on the streets.
Tourists can exchange money in banks or exchange offices. Further, you can also find street cambistas, or informal exchangers on the streets, but the government doesn’t guarantee that transaction.
Peruvian food
Peruvian food is one of the best reasons to visit the country. Its variety of landscapes provides a wide range of fresh ingredients that make Peru a top gastronomic destination. The country has:
- 500 different types of dishes
- 3.800 varieties of potatoes
- 2.000 different soups
- 300 varieties of chili peppers
Even so, Peru’s food is worldwide known for its diverse gastronomy, based on fusion, tradition, and change. The ancient flavors and ingredients make the best dishes in the world. For instance, chefs have fused pre-Colonial, Inca, and international cuisines that make Lima the gastronomic capital of Latin America. Moreover, two of the top 50 restaurants in the world can be found in Lima.
Peruvian food
Traditional Peru food is very diverse, with foods such as corn, potatoes, tubers, legumes, and more. After the Spanish conquest, Peruvian food included rice, wheat, and meats (beef, pork, and chicken). In the past years, Peruvian chefs have worked towards reinventing Novo-Andean food, re-establishing their pre-Hispanic cultural heritage. For instance, one of the best places to indulge on indigenous Peru food is Cusco city.
When you plan your Peru tour, you’ll be able to try many delicious dishes. What are the top 5 Peruvian dishes you need to try during your trip?
1. Ceviche
Peruvian fresh ceviche is a seafood dish made from cubed raw fish marinated in lime juice. Ceviche is the top jewel of Peruvian food and the country’s national dish. To try a ceviche is a must on every Peru tour!
Peruvian Ceviche
Ceviche (pronounced “seh-vee-chech”) has large amounts of citrus juice, either lime, lemon, orange, or a mixture of all three. The citrus juice “cooks” the raw fish, eliminating the bacteria. The fresh ingredients make this dish very simple, but powerfully delicious.
This dish is popular along the Pacific coastal region of South America. Its neighbor country, Ecuador has similar dishes, so if you have tried Ecuadorian gastronomy you might also like Peruvian cuisine.
Ceviche can also be found in Ecuador and Chile. However, despite being close and having similar dishes, Ecuadorian cuisine and Chilean dishes have their own twist. For instance, Peruvian ceviche is also spiced with aji (hot chili peppers), sliced onions, salt, and peppers. Also, they can be eaten as appetizers, or accompanied by corn, sweet potato, lettuce, maize, and avocados.
Peruvian chefs recommend tasting a ceviche along with Pisco (Peruvian brandy). Pisco is obtained from the distillation of fermented Peruvian grapes and juices. It can taste like Grappa, while others relate it to Tequila.
Pisco
2. Tiradito
Tiradito is a Japanese-Peruvian fusion, resulting from the Japanese migration to Peru in the 19th century. The dish combines elements from ceviche and sashimi. The raw fish is sliced very thin, even flattened, and “cooked” in citrus juices. It can look like an Italian carpaccio.
Tiradito
The classic tiradito sauce has lime juice and purée made from hot peppers that gives them a deliciously spicy kick.
3. Causa limeña
Causa limeña is a potato layered casserole originally from Lima. The stuffed causa is a Quechua dish that can be found all over Peru. It’s a cake roll with bright colors made from traditional Peruvian ingredients.
Causa limeña
The mashed potatoes are combined with oil, lime, and hot chili peppers with sauce, served along with avocado, and chicken, tuna, or salmon. Causas are served cold.
4. Guinea pig with sauce
Why do Peruvians eat guinea pigs? Cuy, or guinea pig, is one of the most popular sources of protein in the Andes. It’s a delicacy dish served with potatoes and sauce that has been served since the Inca empire throughout the continent.
Many tourists find it curious that people in South America like to eat guinea pigs because they are small and sweet. However, they have never seen rodents as pets. Even so, they are cooked whole, even with the head, teeth, eyes, and ears.
Guinea Pig, or ”Cuy“ in Spanish
Moreover, Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Bolivians, and Colombians, have eaten guinea pigs since ancient times. Its dark meat tastes like wood smoke and beneath they have a crispy golden skin.
Traditionally, the dish is stuffed with local herbs and slow-roasted over an open wood fire. Also, it’s supposed to be eaten with the hands, in order to experience its fusion of salt and sweet flavors.
5. Anticuchos
Anticuchos are cow’s heart skewers. They are served with potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. They are one of the best Peruvian street foods that can be found in any market throughout the country. The beef is cooked slowly over burning coals.
Anticuchos
They can be found in anticucheria, or anticucho restaurants in the evenings. They are seasoned with garlic, vinegar, cumin, and chili peppers. Even though the traditional dish is made of cow’s heart, chicken and steak anticuchos are also popular.
What are the best months to visit Peru?
The climate in Peru is diverse. The country has a combination of tropical latitudes, mountain ranges, topography variations, and two ocean currents (Humboldt and El Niño). Moreover, Peru has 4 seasons:
- Summer: December 22 to March 21 (it’s the rainy season in the Highlands and the Amazon).
- Autumn: March 22 to June 21.
- Winter: June 22 to September 22.
- Spring: September 23 to December 21.
The Coastal region has moderate temperatures, low precipitation, and high humidity. Further, the mountainous region has frequent rain and low temperatures, especially at high altitudes in the frozen peaks of the Andes. On the other hand, the Amazon has heavy rainfall and high temperatures.
What are the travel requirements to visit Peru?
As with any South American country, Peru is an astonishing place. Tourists marble their astonishing culture, vast landscapes, amazing fusion food, and millenary history. If you’re planning your Peru tour, here is important information for your trip:
Visa
Peru is an open-borders country. Depending on where you’re from, you should check the travel requirements in order to confirm if you need a tourist visa to enter Peru. Citizens from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, and Chile are able to enter the country just by showing their national ID cards.
Moreover, for tourists from the United States, European Union, and Canada passports, you don’t require a visa to enter. The maximum length to stay in Peru is 183 days. Also, foreigners need to present a valid passport with a validity of six months from the date they entered the country.
Medication and Healthcare
There are no compulsory vaccinations for entering the country. However, the Ministry of Health recommends that if you’re going to visit the Amazon region, you should get vaccinated against yellow fever. You can find more information about vaccinations on the Ministry of Health’s official web page.
Why is Peru a popular tourist destination?
Peru is certainly one of the most captivating countries in South America. It’s a paradise for nature lovers, culture-seekers, and curious travelers. The country offers delightful Peruvian food, colorful textiles, and history. Therefore, when you plan your next Peru tour, check out Rebecca Adventure Travel’s amazing options that include mind-blowing destinations!
Machu Picchu
Amazon
The Amazon Basin in Peru occupies more than three-fifths of the country’s area. In Spanish, the Amazon is known as the selva or jungle. The Peruvian Amazon borders Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest, after Brazil. It covers more than 60% of Peruvian territory. However, only 5% of the population lives in the area.
Peruvian Amazon
Did you know that the Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and river system? Also, it’s the most biologically diverse place on Earth! The Amazon is the refuge for jaguars, harpy eagles, pink dolphins, black spider monkeys, and poison dart frogs, among others. Moreover, it contains one in 10 known species on Earth. This makes it a fascinating place, full of interesting facts and unique wildlife.
In Peru, tourists will be amazed by wildlife. You’ll be fascinated by mammals, birds, and reptiles. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see:
- Red Howler Monkey
- Pink River Dolphin
- Amazonian Tapir
- Sloth
- Capybara
- Macaw
- Toucan
- Black Caiman
- Green Anaconda
- Poison Dart Frog
Cusco
Cusco is located in the southeastern part of Peru, at 3,400 meters above sea level (11,200 ft). Is considered the Historical Capital of Peru because of its cultural importance to the country. Moreover, it was the capital of the Tawantinsuyu Inca Empire between the 15th and 16th centuries. And, in 1983, the city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Cusco
The city amazes tourists because it is a mystical city. Cusco is so wonderful because it has kept its ancestral and magical living history. For instance, the colonial and republican houses, monasteries, and churches are intact. Also, you can admire the impressive construction techniques used by the Incas.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu was discovered in 1911 by an American archeologist. Historians think the Inca citadel could have been a retreat for Inca leaders. Nowadays, more than 1 million people visit Machu Picchu annually. In 1983, UNESCO declared Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site. and, in 2007, it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Machu Picchu
A tour to Machu Picchu with Rebecca Adventure Travel is like stepping into a thrilling dream. You’d be dazzled by the electric blue skies and spectacular Incan architecture.
8 Day Machu Picchu & Galapagos Classic
Build your own trip
Rebecca Adventure Travel offers tours from 4 to 21 days around Peru, so you can discover this enigmatic country!
You can also contact us to create your own customized trip. If you have any special requests, like a private tour, a honeymoon, a family trip, or a very short tour, our destination experts will be happy to help you!
