PERU TRAVEL
by Dan Clark
Peru is a country with a rich and varied cultural and
architectural heritage. Facing the Pacific, it enjoys
spectacular and varied scenery, including Lake Titicaca,
the world's highest navigable lake, and has a strong Inca
and pre-Inca heritage, which includes the famous Lake
Titicaca area, the Nazca Lines, and the ancient Inca capital
of Cuzco, with its Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu.
It's a fantastic place for a holiday and in this article, we'll be
looking at some hints and tips to make sure you can get
the most out of your holiday in Peru!
PERU LANGUAGE
The primary language in Peru is Spanish. This is almost
identical to the Castilian Spanish of Madrid, albeit with
slightly different pronunciation and a few vocabulary
changes. In the high Andes, particularly around Cuzco and
Puno, many people still speak Aymara or Quechua (the
language of the Incas) as a first language, although
almost all will also speak Spanish. Some English is often
spoken in areas popular with holiday-makers and in staff
of services that deal with international customers (eg:
airports, banks, etc.) will invariably speak some English.
People of Peru
Peruvians are renowned even in South America for their
friendliness and they are always keen to engage you in
conversation. Even if they are hoping to sell you something
they are still often curious to find out something about you
and where you come from. The British are quite popular in
Peru, although we still have something of a ‘Victorian’
reputation; we are usually seen as very polite and efficient
but somewhat lacking in passion and, of course, quite
unable to dance! The Peruvian expression for being on
time is ‘A la hora ingles’ (English time) and if you try and
explain about the current situation on British railways you
are usually met with polite disbelief and an assumption
that you are just being kind…
PERU REGIONS
Peru is split into 3 separate climatic zones: costa, sierra
and selva (the coast, the mountains and the jungle). The
character and culture of the three areas is remarkably
distinct and can give your Peru holiday real variation
although nowadays the country is inter-connected by a
good road network, some amazing railway lines and
excellent air services.
The coast mainly consists of a small fertile strip along the
Pacific which merges slowly into the desert at the foothills
of the Andes. In the very north and south of the country it is
not unknown for it not to rain for years at a time but
complex irrigation systems (some of which date back to
Inca times) keep areas like the Pisco valley surprisingly
fertile. The Panamerican highway travels the length of the
coast, making travel within the coastal region both
comfortable and speedy.
PERU ANDES MOUNTAINS
The Andes range covers the entire central region of Peru,
from north to south. They offer some of the most
spectacular views and some of the most interesting
cultural experiences in the world. As mentioned above, in
many areas you can still hear Quechua – the language of
the Incas – spoken as a first language and the spiritual
ideals of Inca culture remain strong. Today cities like
Cusco combine stunning Inca and colonial architecture
with thoroughly modern services but just a short distance
away from the major urban areas, life carries on in a way
which would be instantly recognisable to the Incas. The
Andean areas are where most travellers spend the
majority of their time while on holiday in Peru.
PERU JUNGLE
The Peruvian jungle is some of the most unspoilt
rainforest in South America and much of it is protected
under international law. The only access to large sections
of the jungle (including the few cities) is by boat or plane
and so it feels very different to the rest of the country – you
get a real sense of arriving somewhere! The rainforest is
home to a bewildering and spectacular array of wildlife,
with more unique species being discovered every year!
PERU CUISINE
Peruvian cuisine is excellent and a real highlight of any
Peru holiday, with all the regions having different
specialities. Coastal dishes owe a lot to African and
Spanish influences, tending to be quite rich and often
reasonably spicy. Seafood is, unsurprisingly, excellent and
anything with chicken is usually a good bet. The coast is
also the birthplace of the national dish: ceviche. This is a
selection of fish pieces marinated in lime juice and is
absolutely stunning – we urge you to try it even if you’re not
usually too keen on fish! Good chicken dishes include aji
de gallina – chicken in a spicy, creamy sauce.
Highland dishes tend to be more simple than coastal (and
especially Limeño) cuisine, concentrating on the
excellence of the ingredients, but is just as delicious!
Particular favourites include rocoto relleno (stuffed Andean
peppers). These are the size and shape of the peppers we
eat in England but have a rather spicy edge to them. They
are usually stuffed with small pieces of beef and
vegetables, although most places will do them with just
vegetables on request. We’d also suggest that you try an
alpaca steak at least once during your holiday in Peru: it’s
a kind of heavenly mix between pork and beef and has to
be tasted to be believed. Of course, for the adventurous
then nothing will do but the Arequipa speciality of cuy –
roasted guinea pig! It’s surprisingly good so long as you
can deal with the guilt…
Rainforest cuisine features a great deal of fresh fruit – both
on its own and as part of main dishes. An unusual one to
try is chirimoya (which you can also find in fruit juices and
milkshakes outside the jungle). It looks a bit like an apple
but tastes like strawberries and cream! Chicken dishes
are popular in the jungle, as they are elsewhere in Peru
but tend to be served with yucca (a kind of manioc) rather
than the usual rice or chips.
PERU BEERS
Of course, if you're on holiday in Peru then you may well be
wanting a couple of beers to unwind! Peru has several
excellent national beers, probably the best of which is
Cuzqueña. All the beers are lagers but you can often get
cerveza malta – a kind of dark, hoppy lager which is similar
to an English Brown Ale. Peru is starting to make some
good wines, particularly reds but is not as far down the
road as Chile or Argentina in this respect. The country
does, however, produce one of the great world brandies:
Pisco. This is also the source for what must be one of the
world’s best cocktails: the Pisco Sour. Made from Pisco
brandy, egg-white, cane sugar syrup and limes it is a great
aperitif, although you may find yourself drinking more than
just one…
Also worth a mention is the fact that Peru is one of the only
countries in the world where the local soft drink outsells
Coke! The local ‘Inka-Cola’ is bright green and very sweet
but is very refreshing and 100% Real Peru! Apart from fizzy
drinks, Peruvians love milkshakes (often known as
yoghurt) and all kinds of fruit juices and these can often hit
the spot when you fancy a break in a shady café.
I hope all this information has given you some tips for your
holiday in Peru, so why not find out some more at http:
//www.therealperu.co.uk and enjoy some really buenas
vacaciones!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Clarke is a founder of RealPeru (http://www.
therealperu.co.uk) - the UK's specialist for holidays in
Peru. He visits Peru every year to make sure their
information is totally up-to-date so you can be sure you're
getting the best tips for your Peru holiday!
by Dan Clark
Peru is a country with a rich and varied cultural and
architectural heritage. Facing the Pacific, it enjoys
spectacular and varied scenery, including Lake Titicaca,
the world's highest navigable lake, and has a strong Inca
and pre-Inca heritage, which includes the famous Lake
Titicaca area, the Nazca Lines, and the ancient Inca capital
of Cuzco, with its Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu.
It's a fantastic place for a holiday and in this article, we'll be
looking at some hints and tips to make sure you can get
the most out of your holiday in Peru!
PERU LANGUAGE
The primary language in Peru is Spanish. This is almost
identical to the Castilian Spanish of Madrid, albeit with
slightly different pronunciation and a few vocabulary
changes. In the high Andes, particularly around Cuzco and
Puno, many people still speak Aymara or Quechua (the
language of the Incas) as a first language, although
almost all will also speak Spanish. Some English is often
spoken in areas popular with holiday-makers and in staff
of services that deal with international customers (eg:
airports, banks, etc.) will invariably speak some English.
People of Peru
Peruvians are renowned even in South America for their
friendliness and they are always keen to engage you in
conversation. Even if they are hoping to sell you something
they are still often curious to find out something about you
and where you come from. The British are quite popular in
Peru, although we still have something of a ‘Victorian’
reputation; we are usually seen as very polite and efficient
but somewhat lacking in passion and, of course, quite
unable to dance! The Peruvian expression for being on
time is ‘A la hora ingles’ (English time) and if you try and
explain about the current situation on British railways you
are usually met with polite disbelief and an assumption
that you are just being kind…
PERU REGIONS
Peru is split into 3 separate climatic zones: costa, sierra
and selva (the coast, the mountains and the jungle). The
character and culture of the three areas is remarkably
distinct and can give your Peru holiday real variation
although nowadays the country is inter-connected by a
good road network, some amazing railway lines and
excellent air services.
The coast mainly consists of a small fertile strip along the
Pacific which merges slowly into the desert at the foothills
of the Andes. In the very north and south of the country it is
not unknown for it not to rain for years at a time but
complex irrigation systems (some of which date back to
Inca times) keep areas like the Pisco valley surprisingly
fertile. The Panamerican highway travels the length of the
coast, making travel within the coastal region both
comfortable and speedy.
PERU ANDES MOUNTAINS
The Andes range covers the entire central region of Peru,
from north to south. They offer some of the most
spectacular views and some of the most interesting
cultural experiences in the world. As mentioned above, in
many areas you can still hear Quechua – the language of
the Incas – spoken as a first language and the spiritual
ideals of Inca culture remain strong. Today cities like
Cusco combine stunning Inca and colonial architecture
with thoroughly modern services but just a short distance
away from the major urban areas, life carries on in a way
which would be instantly recognisable to the Incas. The
Andean areas are where most travellers spend the
majority of their time while on holiday in Peru.
PERU JUNGLE
The Peruvian jungle is some of the most unspoilt
rainforest in South America and much of it is protected
under international law. The only access to large sections
of the jungle (including the few cities) is by boat or plane
and so it feels very different to the rest of the country – you
get a real sense of arriving somewhere! The rainforest is
home to a bewildering and spectacular array of wildlife,
with more unique species being discovered every year!
PERU CUISINE
Peruvian cuisine is excellent and a real highlight of any
Peru holiday, with all the regions having different
specialities. Coastal dishes owe a lot to African and
Spanish influences, tending to be quite rich and often
reasonably spicy. Seafood is, unsurprisingly, excellent and
anything with chicken is usually a good bet. The coast is
also the birthplace of the national dish: ceviche. This is a
selection of fish pieces marinated in lime juice and is
absolutely stunning – we urge you to try it even if you’re not
usually too keen on fish! Good chicken dishes include aji
de gallina – chicken in a spicy, creamy sauce.
Highland dishes tend to be more simple than coastal (and
especially Limeño) cuisine, concentrating on the
excellence of the ingredients, but is just as delicious!
Particular favourites include rocoto relleno (stuffed Andean
peppers). These are the size and shape of the peppers we
eat in England but have a rather spicy edge to them. They
are usually stuffed with small pieces of beef and
vegetables, although most places will do them with just
vegetables on request. We’d also suggest that you try an
alpaca steak at least once during your holiday in Peru: it’s
a kind of heavenly mix between pork and beef and has to
be tasted to be believed. Of course, for the adventurous
then nothing will do but the Arequipa speciality of cuy –
roasted guinea pig! It’s surprisingly good so long as you
can deal with the guilt…
Rainforest cuisine features a great deal of fresh fruit – both
on its own and as part of main dishes. An unusual one to
try is chirimoya (which you can also find in fruit juices and
milkshakes outside the jungle). It looks a bit like an apple
but tastes like strawberries and cream! Chicken dishes
are popular in the jungle, as they are elsewhere in Peru
but tend to be served with yucca (a kind of manioc) rather
than the usual rice or chips.
PERU BEERS
Of course, if you're on holiday in Peru then you may well be
wanting a couple of beers to unwind! Peru has several
excellent national beers, probably the best of which is
Cuzqueña. All the beers are lagers but you can often get
cerveza malta – a kind of dark, hoppy lager which is similar
to an English Brown Ale. Peru is starting to make some
good wines, particularly reds but is not as far down the
road as Chile or Argentina in this respect. The country
does, however, produce one of the great world brandies:
Pisco. This is also the source for what must be one of the
world’s best cocktails: the Pisco Sour. Made from Pisco
brandy, egg-white, cane sugar syrup and limes it is a great
aperitif, although you may find yourself drinking more than
just one…
Also worth a mention is the fact that Peru is one of the only
countries in the world where the local soft drink outsells
Coke! The local ‘Inka-Cola’ is bright green and very sweet
but is very refreshing and 100% Real Peru! Apart from fizzy
drinks, Peruvians love milkshakes (often known as
yoghurt) and all kinds of fruit juices and these can often hit
the spot when you fancy a break in a shady café.
I hope all this information has given you some tips for your
holiday in Peru, so why not find out some more at http:
//www.therealperu.co.uk and enjoy some really buenas
vacaciones!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Clarke is a founder of RealPeru (http://www.
therealperu.co.uk) - the UK's specialist for holidays in
Peru. He visits Peru every year to make sure their
information is totally up-to-date so you can be sure you're
getting the best tips for your Peru holiday!
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