Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
welcome to
Peru
Peru is as complex as its most intricate weavings. Festivals mix
ancient pageantry with stomping brass bands. The urban van-
guard beams with artistry and innovation. Trails mark the way
from dense jungle to glacial peaks.
All Things Ancient
A visit to South America isn't complete without a pilgrimage to the glorious Inca citadel of
Machu Picchu, but, the truth is, this feted site is just a flash in a 5000-year history of
peoples. Walk through the dusted remnants of a vast ancient city at Chan Chan, the largest
pre-Columbian ruins in all the Americas. Fly over the puzzling geoglyphs etched into the
arid earth at Nazca. Or venture into the rugged wilds that hem the stalwart fortress of
Kuelap. Lima's great museums, with priceless ceramics, gold and some of the finest tex-
tiles in the world, reveal in full detail the sophistication, skill and passion of these lost civil-
izations. Visit remote communities and see how old ways live on. Immerse yourself, and
you will leave Peru a little closer to the past.
Pleasure & the Palate
Some cultures are haunted by the existential. For many Peruvians, the question that gnaws
at them daily would seem simple: what to eat? Ceviche with slivers of fiery chili and corn,
stews simmered for hours in beer and cilantro, velvety Amazonian chocolate. In the capital
of Latin cooking, so many choices can be perplexing. Great geographic and cultural di-
versity has brought ingredients - ranging from highland tubers to tropical jungle fruits - to
a cuisine created with the complex history of Spanish, indigenous, African and Asian influ-
ence. The truth is, fusion existed here long before it came with airs. Treat your taste buds
with missions to the chaotic markets. Sample grilled
anticuchos
(beef skewers) on the
street corners and splurge a little on exquisite
novoandina
(Peruvian
nouvelle
) cuisine. Be-
cause going hungry was never an option.
