On the Inca trail in Peru

Peru is one of the biggest trends in the travel industry of the last few years. Its diversity reaches from ancient Inca villages over pink dolphins in the Amazonas and piranha fishing in the rain forest.

Peru is a country of contrasts with the vibrant city life in Lima, historical sites such as the ruins of Machu Picchu, and endless rainforest landscapes that will transform your hiking experience into a mysterious wonderland.

It is the third-largest country in South America and borders the Pacific Ocean in the west, Brazil in the east, Ecuador, and Columbia in the north, and Bolivia and Chile in the south. The best way to reach Peru is to fly straight to Lima, the capital of the country.

If you are adventurous, you can also travel to Peru on the Pan-American Highway, which leads from the most northern point in Alaska through North, Middle, and South America down to the most southern part in Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. The Panamericana runs from north to south on the coast of Peru, so you might want to leave the highway every now and then to explore the region around.

Most tourists will start their adventure in Peru in the capital. Lima is a vibrant city with colonial architecture and breathtaking nightlife. A little hidden treasure is a Franciscan monastery. In the sacristy, you can find a painting of “The last supper”. This is painted by the Peruvian artist Diego de la Puente, but instead of the usual dishes on the table, you can find Peruvian delicacies, including guinea pig, chili, and potatoes on the table.

If you are traveling to Peru to experience the remains of the old Inca civilization, you need to head to Cusco in the south of the country. Cusco is one of the oldest cities of the Inca and the walls, that are surrounding the city are still intact. You can see as well the Iglesia de la Merced in the center of the city, which has been built over 500 years ago when the Spanish conquered South America.

Most excursions to Machu Picchu start in Cusco as well. It is one of the best-known ruins of the city of the Inca. It has been built on top of a mountain and has only been found in 1911 after being forgotten for centuries.

If you are traveling in Peru and want to get in touch with the locals, they will highly likely offer you traditional food. The food in Peru is different in every region. It is mostly dominated by potatoes, beans, and chili, but pumpkins, cacao, and avocados are native to the Peruvian kitchen as well.

If you are searching for it, you can still find some restaurants where you can eat guinea pigs, but it is not that common in most tourist places.

The national dish, which you definitely should try, is Ceviche. It is raw fish, that is marinated with lime and is an incredible refreshment on hot days.