Rachel Williams | 22 February 2015
Our friends at Prom Peru have come up with this list of fantastic recommendations for Travel to Peru. We agree completely and so through we would share this with you.
1 . VISIT AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
Peru is rich in history, tradition and cultural diversity and the popularity of rural, community and ecotourism has risen over the years due to the demand of visitors seeking unique experiences enabling them to connect with the local people. These tourism practices in turn allow the local communities to further benefit from tourism in a sustainable way.
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Homestays on the Titicaca Islands (Taquile, Amantaní, Suasi and Anapia) are managed by local inhabitants and allow the visitor to gain first-hand experiences of the local culture. In the Amazon eco-tourism experiences showcase the relationship between communities and nature whilst also giving the visitor the chance to get closer to a world rich in flora and fauna.
Indigenous communities in Peru
2. SAMPLE PERU'S AWARD WINNING CUISINE
Over the last few years Peru has enjoyed a gastronomic boom, recently named in the World Travel Awards as leading culinary destination. Peruvian cuisine is a celebration of Peru, blending centuries of tradition and recipes with new and exciting influences and techniques.
Peru is increasingly recognised for its culinary tours, food safaris, cooking schools and foodie festivals.
Experiences not to be missed:
• Try as many of Peru's 300+ national dishes
• Eat in Peru's world-famous fusion restaurants, local homes and roadside stands
• Shop at local food markets in Lima and Cusco
• Learn to prepare Peru's national drink: the 'Pisco Sour'
• Attend Mistura Food Festival in September, Latin America's largest food fare
Peruvian Cuisine
3. TAKE A TRAIN TRIP
Train travel is one of the most spectacular ways of experiencing Peru's geographically diverse landscape. Take a journey through some of the world's most captivating scenery. The following rail journeys provide a unique onboard experience and perspective of the vast mountainous backdrops of the Andes.
Cusco to Machu Picchu return:
Travel to the lost city of the Incas. Thanks to the glass-domed rooftops, huge panoramic windows and comfortable leather seats, PeruRail's Vistadome train brings travellers closer to the dramatic mountains and incredible views of the Andes as they head towards the lost city of the Incas.
Andean Explorer: Cusco to Lake Titicaca
A rewarding day-long rail journey, the Andean Explorer by Orient-Express takes travellers from Cusco into the highlands and onto Puno, almost 4,000 metres above sea level. Enjoy the refined style of the great Pullman trains of the 1920s as this trip takes travellers through captivating Andean scenery.
Train ride in Peru
4. EXPLORE THE AMAZON
The Amazon in Peru is home to a diversity of life that is unparalleled anywhere on Earth, this unique biodiversity is a paradise for nature lovers.
Tambopata National Reserve offers brilliant opportunities for wildlife spotting with many accommodation lodges close to the river port hub of Puerto Maldonado facilitating ease of access to this incredible part of the Amazon. Lodges also include local communities as part of the jungle experience for travellers to really experience the jungle.
Manu Biosphere Reserve in the southern Amazon, protects one of the most pristine swaths of Peruvian Amazon and is widely considered one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must see on any Amazonian adventure.
The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve was created in 1982 and has a surface area over two million hectares becoming the largest reserve in Peru where a wide range of birds, primates, and mammals can be seen.
Amazon Jungle, Peru
5. ATTEND A LOCAL FESTIVAL
Every year Peru celebrates around 3,000 festivals, many of these being traditional rituals and ancient ways of celebrating culture that remain from pre-Columbian time. From traditional clothing to popular folk art expressions, Peru is full of customs that maintain the legacy of its ancient cultures. Here are our top picks:
Marinera Festival in Trujillo - January
Every year the northern city of Trujillo is filled with rhythm and colour through marinera music as thousands of couples from all over the country come to the Mansiche Coliseum to dance in the National Marinera Contest.
Virgen de la Candelaria in Puno - February
Puno, perhaps the epicentre of Peruvian folklore, imbues its festivals with a unique vibrancy. Candlemas (or Virgen de la Candelaria), which is spread over two weeks, is one of the greatest folk religious festivals in South America, with an explosion of music, dance and some of the most fantastic costumes and masks seen anywhere.
Inti Raymi in Cusco - June
The Festival of the Sun, one of the greatest pageants in South America, celebrates the winter solstice and honours the Inca sun god with a bounty of colourful Andean parades, music, and dance. It takes over Cusco and transforms the Sacsayhuamán ruins overlooking the city into a majestic stage.
Inti Raymi Festival
6. DUNE BUGGY RIDE IN HUACACHINA, NEAR ICA
Located five hours south of Lima, the oasis Huacachina is home to an extraordinary adventure tour called "the dune buggy and sandboarding tour". This tour is both thrilling and beautiful, transporting you at high speeds deep into the desert to see the huge sand dunes on the coast. These mountains of sand are beautiful and surreal. Adventurous travellers are also welcome to try sandboarding down the dunes!
There is much more to do here including:winery tours, flights over the world-famous Nazca Lines, and boat tours to see Humboldt penguins and sea lions.
Huacachina Sand Buggie rides
7. EXPERIENCE BOHEMIAN LIMA
Central Lima and Miraflores garner the most attention in travel guidebooks, but Barranco is one of the most charming of all in Lima. This bohemian district holds many treasures for visitors: independent cafes, art galleries, funky bars and a charming walkway that wanders from the central square all the way down to the ocean. Barranco has a long-standing reputation for inspiring Peruvian artists and musicians.
Things to do in Barranco:
• MATE: cultural centre opened by international fashion photographer Mario Testino
• Visit Lucia de La Puente Art Gallery: the gallery where every up-and-coming Peruvian artist wants an exhibition.
• Dedalo: a shop dedicated to Peruvian art, fashion, and jewellery
• Ayahusca bar: chic and atmospheric art-filled barl
Bohemian Lima
So why not add one more more of these great experiences to your Peru tour? Our team of Peru Travel experts can help personalise an itinerary that is just perfect for you.
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