Journal Peru

Ask anyone who’s had to learn or teach a second language, and they’ll be quick to say that it’s all about immersion. You can learn all the grammar and spelling rules, and even read literature in that language, but if you don’t pit yourself against native speakers, not much of it will stick.

That’s why South America, and especially Peru, is a popular destination for aspiring Spanish speakers. As a former Spanish colony, Peru has ties with the Spanish on more than the linguistic level. In a Peruvian school, you’ll learn more than just the words—you’ll also learn the stories behind these words, and gain a new appreciation for the culture.

Peruvian Spanish schools can be found all over the country, but are more common in touristy areas like Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa. They range from large institutions, sometimes affiliated with national universities, to small private outfits. Teachers can be language professionals, writers, or journalists, or people from unrelated fields who are simply doing it for fun. An intensive full-time course usually involves two or more mentors, allowing you to get used to different accents.

Courses can be designed for absolute beginners, meaning your Spanish is limited to sí, no, and buenos dias, if even that. If you already speak it a little, there are intermediate and low intermediate courses. Advanced courses are for those who are already quite conversational and would like to work on their accents, refine their grammar, or widen their vocabulary. Doing all these levels can take up to a year, after which a typical student can usually get around on his own.

What’s great about learning Spanish in Peru, besides the immersion factor, is that you get to meet people from all over the world as well. Language learners in Peru can come from all walks of life—professionals looking to further their career in Latin America, new immigrants, or tourists learning for the fun of it. If you don’t have a common language and are forced to speak in Spanish all the time, you’ll pick it up even faster.

If you have the time and budget, consider signing up for a cultural Spanish course—a program that teaches you not just the language, but Peruvian culture and history as well. It’s a great way to use your newfound skills beyond introducing yourself and talking to hotel clerks, and you’ll have more than just a new vocabulary to bring home with you.

Having a plan for your holiday is the best way to ensure that you will get the most out of your money especially when it comes to booking and paying for flights.  Both international and domestic flights can be expensive so booking ahead of time can save you significant amounts of money.  For people who are looking to take a holiday in Peru and want the most affordable flights then Air Peru or Peruvian Airlines may be the airline that can provide you with the best choice when it comes to affordable air fares.

Peruvian Airlines or Air Peru is one of the major domestic airlines which provides competitive prices on many routes to the major centres of Peru such as Lima, Cuzco, Piura, Tacna and Arequipa.  This air line is relatively small in comparison with carriers in other countries such as Australia however the fleet services most areas of Peru.

Travellers to Peru who wish to fly domestically can book flights with Peruvian Airlines over the internet,  telephone and through travel agents.  Booking over the internet is the preferred way to book as travellers can easily compare prices with other domestic airlines operating in Peru to ensure that they are getting the best and most affordable price for the tickets before purchasing.

Tourists who are looking to travel around within Peru to major cities such as Lima or to tourist areas such as the Inca Trail there are suitable airline routes to get you in and out of these areas.  Prices for domestic air line tickets are generally affordable with cheaper tickets on sale during the times of the year that are off peak for tourists.

If you want to make the most of your visit to South America, a continental airpass will allow you to venture outside of Peru and see neighboring countries at a discount. A South America airpass can be valid for one or two countries, or cover most of them within a fixed number of miles. The mileage-based pricing makes them significantly cheaper than buying individual tickets. Passes are usually offered by airlines or by a specific region’s tourism sector, and prices range from around $400 to $2,000.

As with most travel packages, the offerings are seasonal so it’s best to look things up a few months before your trip. Confirm prices and destinations before buying a pass to make sure they are as advertised, as prices can change abruptly. Your travel agent can help you find the best package and plan your itinerary, or you can simply get one when you arrive. The latter may end up being cheaper since it’s all in the same territory. Some of the most popular South America airpasses include:

All America Air Pass: Covers most flights within South America, as well as Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of the United States. It’s accepted by a wide range of airlines, but is only available as a package with a return trip to your country of origin.

LAN South America Air Pass: Available for travelers coming from outside South America (except Brazil) arriving on LAN (a South American alliance airline) and other selected flights.  It includes travel within Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina; and between these countries and Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Venezuela. The package is offered through coupons (you can buy a maximum of 16) and mileage fares can vary from country to country.

One World Visit South America Air Pass: Covers LAN, American Airlines, and British Airways flights, and allows travel within Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Destinations are divided into zones, which determine the prices. Coupons range from $120 to $360. A minimum of three flights is required, with the first and last flights on a One World Alliance airline.

TAM South America Air Pass: Offered by TAM, Brazil’s main airline and the largest airline in South America. It includes flights for two to five countries, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela. Prices range from $339 to $1,236, depending on mileage, and passengers must fly a minimum of 1,000 miles.

Many people who travel to South America generally include a visit to Peru in their trip.  Tourists who visit Peru enjoy a vibrant city that has everything you need for a great holiday.  People visiting Peru can enjoy things such as the unique architecture, traditional Peruvian influences, the stretch of beaches in the Miraflores district and the great night life that this city has.  Some tourists also use this city as the start or base for tours on the Inca Trail and visits to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and the many glaciers and mountains that surround the city of Peru.

For many tourists and travellers one of the most important parts of organising a trip is booking suitable accommodation which is cheap, clean and has everything that you are going to be needing.  For many travellers bed and breakfast accommodation is often chosen over hotels or hostels as they have more facilities and are a more private option.  The following are some of the best rated B&B hotels in and around Peru.

One of the best B&B hotels, The Green House is located in Peru and is regularly voted as the best by travellers who choose to stay there.  This B&B has breathtaking views, beautiful gardens and comfortable and cosy rooms which are perfect for travellers who are looking to spend a few days relaxing.  The Green House has everything that you would expect from a bed and breakfast and is highly recommended by anyone who has stayed there.

Another B&B hotel, the Casa Bella, is located in Lima and is conveniently situated within walking distance of restaurants and tourist attractions.  The Casa Bella is a mansion style bed and breakfast with only 14 rooms which gives this place an intimate feel.  For golf lovers the prestigious Country Club Hotel and the Lima Golf Club are just one block down from Casa Bella.

For travellers who wish to stay in the Miraflores district, the Bed and Breakfast Tradiciones is a great choice.  This B&B is in a great location as it only takes 8 minutes to walk to the main centre of Miraflores where you can enjoy shopping and dining at some of the great cafes and restaurants in this district.

If you are planning on visiting Peru and are looking for great B&B hotels then you will be in luck as Peru has many top rated bed and breakfast hotels to suit any budget.

Peruvian cuisine is unique in that it reflects the country’s diverse immigrant influences, from Chinese and Japanese to Spanish, Italian, and West African. And while a visitor’s first stop might be a seaside restaurant for a taste of ceviche—arguably the star of Peruvian cuisine—Peruvian desserts are not to be brushed aside, either.

The intercontinental flair makes Peruvian desserts particularly interesting, combining regional ingredients like rice, wheat, and maize with local fruit and dairy. As a result, Peruvian desserts tend to be filling, and are consumed as midday snacks as often as after meals. And like other cuisines, they reflect the people’s early way of life and how they made do with what their native land had to offer.

Many Peruvian desserts are actually variations on Spanish cuisine. A popular example is alfajores, a honey-and-almond confection traditionally popular in almost all former Spanish colonies. In Peru, the original recipe is modified to suit the availability of ingredients: a typical alfajor contains key lime rind and powdered sugar, with a filling of molasses or a milk-and-sugar cream called manjar blanco. Turrones, similar to nougat, is tweaked in Peruvian kitchens by using anise and honey instead of rose water and almonds. This version is commonly known as Turrón de Doña Pepa.

A fruit called lùcuma also figures prominently in Peruvian desserts. Known as eggfruit in English because of its thick, yolk-like interior, it grows almost exclusively in the Andes region and is used as a natural sweetener. In Peru, it is made into juice, shakes, ice cream, and a powdered flavoring for candy and other snacks. Ice cream also comes in a number of native, exotic flavors, such as prickly pear (a kind of cactus), guaraná, and camu camu, a highly acidic fruit.

One dish that often catches the eye of foreigners is mazamorra morada. Its main ingredient is purple maize, a variety that grows only in Peru, which gives it its distinct color. Mazamorra is made by boiling the corn in water with cinnamon cloves. The purple-tainted water is often made into a drink called chicha morada by adding key lime, sugar, and chopped fruits.

For a quick snack, try some picarones—ring-shaped pumpkin fritters designed after the Spanish buñuelos, which were made instead with egg custard and lemon rind. Native picarones are sweetened with a type of raw cane sugar known as chancaca, which contrasts nicely with the pumpkin. They’re good warm or cold, but freshly made ones are the best as the flavor tends to fade when the fritters cool.