Many of us wonder how we can get the most of our trips. We read a lot about the destination, we even buy some books to be better prepared to understand the culture we will meet. However, if there’s any advice for you to enjoy, learn and use your time as best in Peru, this is to make your trip accompanied by a specialized travel guide.
Peru is a wonderful country with a rich history and an alive culture. Each region has different characteristics as the geography, the typical dishes, the festivities, the artistic manifestations, and so on. Exploring the country with a tour guide will allow you to immerse easily in the different cities you will visit and choose the best time to visit Peru.
LIMA
You might start your tour in Peru, Lima is the vibrant capital. Here your tour guide will introduce you to the colonial side of the city with its peculiar history. You will notice the difference between the modern and the traditional side in a city that house almost one-third of the population of the country. Here we have many businessman and women, a lot of traffic jams and open and lively people. Some people like and others don’t like Lima. However, what everybody likes, with no doubt, is the food. Your guide will show you where to try the incredibly rich and varied Peru typical food as ceviche, causa limeña, anticuchos, lomo saltado, ají de gallina and some sweets like arroz con leche, mazamorra morada, and suspiro a la limeña. He or she will also show you the best spots for being part of the nightlife. You will have fun! The capital is good for visiting during all the year, but if you want to enjoy sunny days you better visit the city between December and April (our summer time).
ICA
Nearby, in the warm city of Ica, there is a mysterious phenomenon that attracts many travelers each year: the Nazca Lines. Your tour guide will explain to you how they were discovered and what the hypothesis about their use and creation. You will fly over the lines and will discover the different animals that are drawn there. You can also try their typical dishes as Sopa Seca or Carapulcra. This area is also known for producing the best Pisco (the national beverage) and wine. Your guide will introduce you to the tasting of our grape drink. The story says that when the Spanish came, they planted their grapes in this area because it was always sunny, unlike Lima which is called “the grey”. Don’t lose the opportunity of learning more about the tasting of the Pisco and the understanding of the Nazca lines and book a tour with us. We will provide specialized guides!
CUSCO
After exploring the coast, you can visit the earth of the Incan Empire in the highlands: Cusco Region. Here, the help of your tour guide will be even more needed as this area is deeply rich and there are many things to learn. Cusco city, the Sacred Valley and of course, the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu are some of the places where your tour guide will lead you. You will visit the city, previously called Qosqo in Quechua, the original language. This was the ancient capital of the Incan empire. When the Spanish arrived they built many churches and squares so it stands as a proof of our legacy and how it developed in the time. Just one hour away you will find the Sacred Valley, whit a lower altitude and a warmer climate. There, many marvelous Incan constructions as Moray, Chincheros, Ollantaytambo and many others wait for you.
From here, in the Ollantaytambo train station, you can take a panoramic train towards Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu village. Your guide will explain the history of this unbelievable and magical place. You can visit it once or twice. It is a one in a lifetime experience!
When in Cusco, if you feel adventurous, your guide will show you how local people eat guinea pig, called “cuy” in Spanish. If not, there are plenty of Andean products that compose the local cuisine: quinua soup, adobo, lomo de alpaca, chairo soup, hundreds of varieties of potatoes, corn, maca, alpaca and others. You can even join some cooking lessons if you want to learn how to prepare them.
Although Cusco is visiting during all year round, it’s better to come skipping the rainy and the high season. So if you can plan your trip to April, November or December, it will be perfect.
So, you saw there are plenty places to visit in Peru and advantages in traveling with a guide. Whether you visit this or other areas of the country we will be happy to help you organize your tour and to get you the best-specialized guide to accompany you during this adventure. Contact us!