- Peru A Museum in the Open.
PENCILED IN AS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES WITH THE WORLD’S LARGEST MINERAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY, PERU DELIVERS BREATHTAKING NATURAL SCENERIES
Traced by mysterious lines somewhere between ancient mountains and lost cities, the former birthplace of the mightiest empire of pre-Hispanic Americas -the Incas- stands tall. Blessed with history, culture and stunning natural beauties, Peru is no doubt a must-see. As a matter of fact, this museum in the open is by and large one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the South Cone.
Millions of tourists arrive each year in this Andean country to either visit or revisit the Americas’ Archeological Capital: Cusco; the larger-than-life Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the modern world; or just to feast eyes on the celebrated Nazca lines, the geoglyphs that for years have spurned out countless theories about their origin. However, Peru has a whole lot more to offer. Its miles upon miles of square miles treasure extraordinary natural and architectural sites, dregs from the past and modern creations.
Lima
Museums, art galleries, restaurants and traditional celebrations in the former City of the Kings are part of the travelers’ itinerary. The historic center deserves special attention for its architectural legacy. The Basilica and the Convent of St. Francis, the Main Square, the Lima Cathedral and the Tagle Tower Palace are good cases in point. The capital’s nightlife also takes part of the tourists’ time. How can you resist the splendor of the nightclubs, lounges, bars, discos and trendy hotels?.
Arequipa
Arequipa, the so-called White City, is also famous for its historic core, declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Its colonial architecture, marked by white hues, is expressed in the form of mansions, churches, shrines and monasteries. Just another standout in this city is its assorted gastronomy. In fact, Arequipa shows off the largest cuisine diversity as stacked up against other Peruvian regions. Do you know that, according to traditions, most of the local restaurants offer a specific dish for each day of the week? If you pay a visit to the White City on Monday, you could order chaque, the delicious mutton soup. But if you arrive on Friday, then you could have a tasty shrimp chupe.
Cusco
But if it’s cities we want to talk about, this one can’t be ruled out. The former capital of the Inca empire takes more than just a simple mention. Cusco is one of those places that must be on your bucket list. Its great amount of monuments has granted the burg lots of honorary titles, including the Archeological Capital of the Americas. The pre-Hispanic buildings, squares and streets take travelers back to the times of the people used to eat and drink in golden pots. The San Blas neighborhood, the Hatun Rumiyoc Street, the Cathedral and the Arms Square are some of the major landmarks no one should pass up. Have you ever heard of the puzzling Stone of the Twelve Angles? It’s one of the pieces that make up the wall of Inca Roca’s former palace, the region’s monarch. It’s nestled in Hatun Rumiyoc and the way the walls were built depicts a precise manufacture.
The Waters Route
As one of the countries with more mineral resources and biodiversity in the world, Peru gives away breathtaking natural sceneries. The Titicaca is no doubt one of them. The landscapes that surround the world’s highest navigable lake on the face of the earth are an invitation to embark on adventure tourism. And so do the islands, like Amantani, Taquile and the manmade archipelago of the Uros, a local ethnic group. The lake waters are clean and not so brackish, and as the legend goes, there are lost cities under them.
Peru is also home to the world’s longest and most plentiful river, the Amazon. For a genuine chance to wallow in the local flora and wildlife this large watercourse has to offer, the best starting point is Iquitos, the largest metropolis of the Peruvian Amazon. From there visitors can reach national reserves and travel destinations good enough to traipse around and watch from a boat, trips that unravel part of the Amazon jungle where colors and scents move to a different dimension.
But if visitors prefer sceneries in which water is the name of the game, then Gocta, a spectacular 771-meter-high waterfall, is a mandatory stop along the way. To visit La Chorrera -as locals call it- tourists start the tour from the city of Chachapoyas and then cross the town of Cacachimba. According to those who have made the tour before, the beauty of the valley landscapes is peerless, and so is the number of endemic species. What’s more, the journey lets visitors take a look at 22 other waterfalls that embellish the vast scenery.
World Gastronomy Ambassador
Never mind what Peruvian region you might visit, there’ll be a companion with you every step of the way. It’s the traditional food of this Andean nation, known worldwide as one of the finest under the sun. Boasting a fusion of ancestral cooking traditions and the cuisine from Spain, France, China, Japan, Italia and Sub-Saharan Africa, Peru’s gastronomy has over 500 typical dishes. One of the highlights -considered part of the country’s cultural heritage- is ceviche, and each and every region has a recipe of its own.
As far as beverages are concerned, the pisco sour is no doubt the national cocktail, a delicious blend of pisco and lemon juice that, according to several historians, popped up in Lima before 1920 at the Morris’ Bar on 847 Boza Street. The first Saturday of February is this enchanting cocktail’s national day. Do you want to join the celebration?
Traveling is one of the world’s greatest pleasures. Learning about histories and cultures other than yours always do good to your spirit. It makes it stronger and mightier. However, a lifetime is not enough to visit all the incredible places that deserve to be unraveled. Therefore, that reasoning calls for a bucket list and Peru should really be on top of it. Once you see it, you’ll feel as if you would have been bound to visit the country a long time ago. And make no mistakes about it; you’ll long to be a repeat visitor.
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