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Local Traditions Cusco
11 Reviews There are little ceramic bulls on all the rooftops in the Sacred Valley. They are supposed to bring good luck, and fertility, to the household. Many roofs had a cross between the bulls. Some roofs...
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Information / Sources Machu Picchu
12 Reviews You probably have read this again and again in the Peru travel guides, but it's true --- Burping publicly is considered very offensive, disrespectful and rude when in Peru. Here in USA, one of my...
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Local Food Cusco
7 Reviews We had to try some and it did taste like a cross between chicken and pork. It's a delicacy and is usually the most expensive thing on the menu. Even though it tasted rgood especially the crispy...
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Llamas Machu Picchu
7 Reviews There are 16 llamas in Machu Picchu, with colorful pompoms on their ear tags—I think they serve as lawn mowers on the terraces. They limit the llamas to 16—if a baby is born, the oldest or sickest one...
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Local Drinks Cusco
9 Reviews A Pisco Sour is a cocktail containing pisco (8 parts), lemon or lime juice (4 parts), egg whites 1, simple syrup (3 parts), and bitters 1 dash. All but the bitters are shaken vigorously and the...
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Local Culture Cusco
7 Reviews The woman in this picture is selling garbage bags fill of coca. The thoght of that was at first strange but then I unamericanized my feelings a bit and it was more normal. Coca is lardly made to make...
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Local Festivities: Others Cusco
4 Reviews Christmas is essentially a religious celebration in Cusco. But for the visitor, there are some special traditions that make this a magical time to visit the ancient city. You won´t see the massive...
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Local Festivities: Inti Raimi Cusco
1 Review In Cusco several big celebrations take place, as well christian festivities as also festivities based on Inca traditions. One important christian celebration is the christ holiday "Feast of Corpus...
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Coca tea really helps to get used to the altitude. It's perfectly legal in Peru (as is chewing the leaves)The people in the andes chew a lot of leaves. You can try it. Just chew it don't swallow it, it's heavy on the stumac. The locals had a good laugh when i said I swallowed it in the beginning.Remember that coca tea and coca leaves isn't cocaine. Cocaine is very illegal, don't do it you might get in serious trouble.
Recent posts in the forums prompt me to write this tip. The question was simple, what can I wear to blend in as a Peruvian? I have posted my reply below in hopes that it may help others better understand what it means to be Peruvian.One of the things that impressed me the most from Peru was its population. You mentioned you where half-Hispanic. I'm actually 100% Hispanic, born and raised in Mexico (hence, fluent in Spanish)... most of my ancestors came from Europe so I’m all white. The population in Peru though is more indigenous and less of a mix then you and I... so I’m afraid that as far as skin goes you will more then likely be tagged as a "gringo" (term used to denote a tourist, not just a person from the US). You can dress like a local (either wearing the cool tourist stuff or the more contemporary clothing), but in the end the color of your skin will give you off as a tourist....
In Peru the Guinea Pig is eaten , unlike the UK where it is often a pet, Roasted with herbs known, localy as Cuy its a tasty dish not unlike rabbit its low in fat and high in protienIn churches in Lima and Cuzco Indians depictions of the last supper with Jesus eating Guinea pig are still common
You'll see lots of very cute kids in their native costumes posing for photos.If you take a photo give them a sweet or 1 Sol in exchange. If you forget they will kindly remind you by holding out their hands - they are not backward in coming forward.With the poor standard of living in Peru it's the least you can do!
This was in a village near the Colca Canyon.Purely for the locals and not put on for tourists, this was a hotly contested weaving competion.Each competitor had a number on her hat, there was much deliberation about the rules, much inspection from the adjudicators and bets taking place amongst the locals.They saw us looking out of our bus and invited us over, they were very friendly.We didn't have time to see who won but everyone seemed to be having a good time
Its not only the kids that dress up in local costumes .This was at 6oc on a Saturday morning at the colca canyon where the whole village turned out in costume for dancing for us Gringos. It was absolutely enchanting!
Maca is a root that grows in the high mountains of Peru. Rich in nutritional content (potassium, and higher levels of calcium than in milk), maca is a natural hormonal balancer which provides great health benefits for both, men and women.The best way to get maca is inside liquer. Mixed with pisco and some other incredients maca liquer gives its extraordinary taste and effects, and hope for life going still strong!
But there are other languages spoken in Peru. Most of the people from Cuzco and north Titicaca speak QUECHUA, a language spoken by incas. If you go south of Lake Titicaca they speak AYMARA, and in the jungle the different tribes have different dialects.
In Peru they speak mainly spanish, though there are words and expressions we don't use back in Spain. In general you could understand all, is just that some words sound funny or inusual, but you get soon used to them.Knowing a few words of spanish is so very useful, specially if you have to ask for a street, find where a bus takes you and so on...
Every ethnic group has its own distinctive hat. When I was in Pisaq Market I counted up to 4 different types of hat, all in women with traditional dressing. In the pic you can see the most colourful one, with "flowers in their hair", like the hippies of the 60s :-))
7 Reviews and 251 Opinions We did not stay here, but it was pointed out to us as the hotel used for some of the VIPs that came...
Hostal Rumi Punku Cusco
7 Reviews and 486 Opinions Very nice hotel including all amenities, even wi-fi. Recommend the tours booked via Sergio at the...
Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel Machu Picchu
303 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Peru attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Peru sightseeing.
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Q: We will be traveling in Dec. can only spend about 6 days in Peru. Would appreciate any suggestions on how to best use our time. ...
A: Firstly, if you stay on the coast, be prepared for heat and humidity. If you go inland, be prepared for altitude. I imagine you will be arriving first off in Lima? Six...
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