Journal Peru

For a fairly average-sized country—especially compared to its sprawling neighbor Brazil—Peru has a generous sprinkling of manmade and natural wonders. Even cooped up in a hotel room in Lima, one cannot help but spot at least a few of the country’s landmarks and be drawn to explore the city. Here are some things worth checking out around the country for those who live for the sights.

Museum of the Convent of San Francisco

The Convent of San Francisco was the capital’s cemetery until the 1800s. Although now a museum of religious art, it shows hints of its past identity—catacombs, underground tunnels, wells, and the remains of some 25,000 worshippers. Several other places of interest, including churches, museums, and historical centers, can be found within a few blocks, so it may be worth an entire day’s trip.

Plaza Mayor

Located at the center of Lima’s most historic neighbourhood, this town square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an unwitting tribute to the city’s architectural background. The buildings surrounding the area boast wooden balconies, ornate carvings, and palace sculptures, many of which date back to the mid-1600s and were reconstructed in the 1800s.

Larcomar

Larcomar is essentially a cliffside entertainment complex, built seemingly precariously on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. Once you get over the breathtaking view, you can head inland for a wide range of entertainment venues: arcades, restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlors, and dozens of stores selling everything from local handmade clothing to souvenirs.

Nazca Lines

All we know about the Nazca lines is that they were probably made by a tribe dating back to 300 BC. The drawings span over 50 square kilometers in the southern Nazca Desert. Some are seemingly random lines, while others clearly represent animals, trees, and flowers. Theories as to what they were range from alien landing strips (as some of the drawings can only be seen from over 1500 feet high) to solar eclipse predictors. Musings aside, the sight is definitely worth a couple of days’ travel out of the city.

Alpamayo

Once dubbed the most beautiful mountain in the world, the Alpamayo is a popular site for hikers because of the area’s calmness, good weather, and picturesque views. You don’t have to do the hike to appreciate its beauty—indeed, hikers warn that the path can be challenging—but its distinct shape can be seen from way off, making it one of the most striking landmarks of northern Peru.

Mystic tourism has a very New Age sound to it. One would imagine a group of hippies gathered round a shaman, caught up in a ritual straight out of a campy 90s thriller. But make no mistake about it: the term has been gaining credibility throughout South America, drawing not just the adventurous but the learned and the curious. And for many, there’s no better place to kick off this journey than Peru, where history and nature are connected almost spiritually in the thickness of the Amazon.

At the center of this practice is ayahuasca, an indigenous herb with an effect not unlike that of magic mushrooms. It’s a hallucinogen, but rather than distort your view of reality, it makes it clearer. One is said to have a heightened sense of awareness, all five senses taking in his surroundings. This gives the feeling that the traveler is one with nature, offering a form of relaxation that’s not quite like a day at the spa. It opens doors for meditation, reflection, mental healing, and all manner of possibilities.

The practice isn’t new; its main proponent outside South America is probably William Burroughs, who wrote about it in his book The Yagé Letters. Here he details his trip to the Amazon jungle to find the elusive herb, locally known as yagé, which he said would be his “final fix.” Curiosities were piqued, not to anyone’s great surprise, and locals were quick to rise to the occasion. They began singling out areas where ayahusca grew in abundance, and arranging trips to the most peaceful, scenic parts of the forest.

Ayahuasca has been used by American Indian healers as early as the 1770s, purportedly to find “lost souls and bodies.” The name translates to “the vine of souls.”  A typical tour takes you deep in the jungle, where nature lends itself well to quiet musings and meditation. People are encouraged, before taking the herb, to ask themselves a question about their career, future, or something equally important—and assured that at the end of the experience they would have an answer.

There’s no telling whether mystic tourism will catch on, or whether it will even push past scientific skeptics and become mainstream. For the moment it’s an exotic alternative to the usual route, drawing mostly people who want to take the road less traveled. One thing’s for sure: with locals eagerly offering it, more than a few curious souls will be waiting to give it a try.

Peru’s tourism is among the most varied in South America, thanks to a diverse climate and topography that has given way to a wealth of natural wonders. Most people come for the Machu Picchu and other ruins around Cusco, but there’s a lot more to see and do. Indeed, it takes more than one visit to really appreciate what the country has to offer. If you’ve already seen the ruins or just want to go off the beaten path, here are some alternative tourist attractions in Peru that may be worth your time.

Islas Ballestas: Nicknamed the “Peruvian Galápagos” (referring to the famous islands off neighboring Ecuador), this small cluster is home to rare sea lions, turtles, penguins, and a variety of wild, endangered seabirds. It forms the bulk of the Paracas Natural Reserve. From offshore, the bird droppings (guano) on top of the beautiful rock formations can be mistaken for polar ice caps.

Colca Valley: Travel guide Arthur Frommer calls this the best place to see giant condors in South America. Visitors are treated to scenic volcanoes capped with (real) snow, gorges cutting through verdant valleys, and vast patches of desert. The trip there takes you through a couple of nature reserves, where on a good day you may spot local wildlife like llamas and alpacas.

Manu National Park: If you’re up for a long drive, this biosphere reserve—the country’s second largest protected area—is well worth the trip. Because it’s so remote, it has one of the best-preserved flora and fauna in the continent, with habitats ranging from cloud forests to the Andes highlands to tropical rainforests. It also has the world’s highest level of plant, bird, and mammal diversity.

Huascarán National Park: Nature lovers and adventure-seekers will love the wild topography of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which runs almost the entire length of the Cordillera Blanca in the north. You’ll need the whole day and a good deal of stamina to explore its hundreds of glaciers and alpine lakes, and enjoy the unparalleled views from its peaks.

Llanganuco Lakes: Just a short distance from Huascarán, the Lagunas Llanganuco offer a quiet respite from the Cordilleras. The twin turquoise lakes are tucked away in a valley, fed by glaciers and always clear enough to reflect the mountains around it. Some 35 miles off, you’ll also find giant bromeliads called the Puya Raimondi, which rise up to 40 feet high and bloom just every hundred years.

If you are looking for cuisine that is both diverse and full of flavour then eating at a Peruvian restaurant is a good choice.  Cuisine from Peru has two main influences, the Spanish and also the traditional native Peruvians.  The Spanish influence can be seen in many of the dishes that have come to define Peru’s cuisine as well as the use of traditional Peruvian ingredients.  Many of the immigrants especially those from Spain modified traditional Spanish dishes to include Peruvian native ingredients as these were in more abundance than foods from Spain during this period of early settlement.

When dining at a Peruvian restaurant you will notice that many of the dishes contain the traditional staples of Peruvian cuisine corn, potatoes and beans.  Traditional Peruvian dishes also include staples that originated in Spain such as rice, wheat and meats such as beef and pork.  Peruvian food is also influenced by the region of Peru as well as the staple foods that are cultivated in different regions.

For people who are lucky enough to visit and stay in one or more of the cities in Peru, the choice of food at the many Peruvian restaurants is excellent.  Many people who visit Peru take this opportunity to try local cuisine especially the traditional dishes and foods they have not tried before.  One of the most popular dishes that is served in most Peruvian restaurants is ceviche which is the national dish of Peru and consists of seafood marinated in lemon, aji, coriander and garlic.  As you travel through the different regions you will experience changes in the dishes such as alpaca and other meat used in dishes eaten in the highland areas of Peru.  These dishes differ from the coastal cuisines which have rich sauces to cuisine served in these highland areas which are rich in spices.  The jungle regions of Peru also have some unique dishes with much of the focus on the unique fruits and vegetables that grow in these areas.

If you are travelling in Peru and you love to sample local foods and cuisine then you will not be disappointed when it comes to eating out in Peru.  Many restaurants will have traditional dishes you can try and many of these restaurants are also quite cheap in price.  For people who are travelling around the different regions of Peru it is a great opportunity to sample the different dishes that have made Peruvian food quite popular.

Culture, history, nature, and luxury come together in Hilton Head, a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The area boasts over 40 golf courses, hundreds of tennis courts, 50 miles of scenic trails, water sports, fishing, historic sites, theaters, and a beautiful stretch of coastline. No wonder it’s one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the state: with so much variety squeezed into less than 50 square miles, it’s the perfect getaway for anyone.

Of course, a great vacation starts with smart planning—and that’s where Island Getaway comes in. With links to a wide range of accommodations, it’s the best way to get the best deals on lodging and see as much of Hilton Head South Carolina as your time allows. Villas, condos, waterfront suites, budget hotels—there’s something here for every type of traveler. And if it’s your first time to visit, the site also offers ample information on the area’s history, culture, and local attractions.

Golf is one of the most popular activities on Hilton Head Island, with dozens of golf courses each boasting magnificent views and championship-level greens. The Heritage Golf Classic tournament takes place in spring every year and attracts thousands of players, from beginners to pros. Celebrity sightings aren’t uncommon here. Other popular golf sites include the Harbour Town Golf Links, the Robert Trent Jones course in Palmetto Dunes, and the Golf Club at Indigo Run.

Nature lovers will love Hilton Head’s diverse wildlife, which includes dolphins, alligators, various bird species, and the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle. If you have a few hours to spare, get on a bike and explore the island on two wheels—the hard-packed sandy beaches and generous cycling trails make it easy and particularly scenic. Make sure to check out the Hilton Head Island lighthouse at Harbor Town Marina, one of the busiest areas on the island.

No visit to Hilton Head is complete without swinging by the beach, of course. The town offers four public beaches: Alder Lane Beach, Coligny Circle, Driessen Beach Park, and Folly Field Beach Park. Activities range from swimming and sunbathing to diving, fishing, and parasailing. Each beach has its own safety rules and may ban certain activities according to weather conditions, so make sure to plan your activities ahead. Check Island Getaway’s informative guides and reserve your accommodations as early as possible—it’s the best way to ensure a great vacation!

Interestingly, Lima is not always a tourist attraction of Peru that people become fond of from the first sight. And there are several understandable reasons why. Even though the city is amazing in terms of what it has to offer, it has several characteristics that are likely to drive you mad when you first come to Peru. Firstly, the traffic. Secondly, it’s distant resemblance to anything traditional that you potentially expect from Peru – comparing it to the Andes and the Inca trails. Amazingly, Lima has a stunning selection of food and museums, architecture and other attractions to offer. If you think of Peru as a human body, then Lima is definitely its heart – vibrating, pulsing, pumping and energising. It has amazing combination of city, ocean and cliffs. If you would like to book a hotel before you get there, you can visit Lima hotels – Booked.net to look through the options.

Lima is a great place to socialise and find new friends and mingle with locals. If you are a surfer, then Lima’s world- famous Waikiki surfing club is for you. You can combine sport, exquisite dining on rare seafood, clubbing and indulge in one of the ice-cream places. If you are in a ‘mood for love’, there is a Park of Love which is something similar to the Barcelona Paradise of Gaudi with lots of fun mosaics and many kissing couples.

Moreover, Lima is famous for colonial tourist attractions such as the upper class areas of work (such as downtown) and Clun Nacional that was specifically for gentlemen only with no passes for women allowed except in the dinner section. There is plenty of art deco and historical buildings. The presidential palace is likely to catch your breath as it has strong Spanish influences and was founded by Spanish conquerors at the beginning of the 16^th century.

For those who favour more modern architecture, several years ago the Magical Circuit of Water opened in Lima which represents an art of combining different types of expressions – water, land, light, music. It has an amazing combination of more than ten fountains. The installation became part of the Guinness Records and is claimed to be better than the  singing fountains in Barcelona. What is special about Lima is the combination of the modern and historical sides and the atmospheres not found anywhere else in the world. This is definitely one of the most amazing attractions of Peru and should in no way be neglected by tourists who rush straight away to Machu Pichu or the Andes. You will be very pleasantly surprised by Lima.