10 Reasons Why Peru is One of The World's Top... (2023)

Cultural diversity

The mix of flavors in Peruvian cuisine reflects the mix of cultures that have arrived in Peru over the last 500 years. It began with pre-Hispanic cuisine that gave us dishes and cooking methods like pachamanca and cuy chactado. Then, when Spanish colonization began in the 16th century, Moorish influenced dishes were introduced to the menu; the onions, spices and honey desserts are now fundamental to every meal. When Chinese immigrants arrived in the 19th century, their cuisine seamlessly melded with Peruvian traditional dishes and created the super-popular Chifa. Other big gastronomical influences are African, Italian and Japanese cuisines.

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Costa, sierra y selva

Coast, mountains and jungle. Each of these three geographical regions offer their own traditional dishes cooked with local ingredients. Such is the case of quinoa, which is found in the mountainous areas, while limes and grapes are cultivated by the coast, and yuca roots and fish like Paiche (the biggest fish in the Amazon river) are found in the jungle. If you’re traveling around Perú, you will see how the biodiversity of each of the country’s 24 states is proudly represented in each region’s gastronomy.

The power of reinvention

Although Peruvian cuisine is a product of cultural fusion, ingredients and cooking methods, the adaptation of traditional dishes to modern cuisine is a result of the gastronomical boom in recent years. Peruvian’s continue to mix everything: from the popular street food Combinado consisting of cebiche, chifa and papa a la huancaina (potatoes covered with ají and cheese sauce), to vanguard cuisine that introduce new textures and flavors, often served in Lima’s fanciest restaurants like Astrid & Gaston.

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World’s 5 best restaurants are in Peru

Central is Chef Virgilio Martinez’s restaurant in Lima and it’s currently placed fourth in the world by Restaurant magazine. Other restaurants winning the magazine’s recognition are Maidos and Astrid & Gastón (of Peruvian gastronomy driving force Gastón Acurio fame). In Lima alone, you will find 9 of the best restaurants in the continent, according to Restaurant magazine. Click here to learn about other excellent Peruvian restaurants in the city.

The best Pisco is in Peru

This brandy-like liquor served as a Pisco sour is an excellent appetizer to precede lunch or dinner. Pisco is distilled in southern regions of the country like Moquegua, Arequipa, Tacna and Ica. In fact, in this last region there’s a town called Pisco. There’s an array of varieties that vary in aroma and taste: pisco acholado, italia, mosto verde and quebranta. You can visit some of the best pisco distilleries if you care to leave Lima for a day or two.

A hot sauce called Ají

Spanish-Peruvian Inca Garcilaso de la Vega wrote in his Comentarios Reales de los Incas (1609) that Peruvians had a long tradition (and obsession) of putting “uchu” (hot sauce), on almost everything they ate. Most Peruvian dishes are currently prepared or eaten with ají. There are five types of cultivated solanum (ají) and they are known by different names like rocoto (pepper), panca y pipi de mono. The preparation of the ají sauce differs according to the region and the ingredients mixed with it.

2692 varieties of native potatoes

Potatoes are tubers native to Peru. Out of the 5,000 varieties that exist in the world, you will find 2,694 in Peru. These potatoes come in all shapes, colors and textures. Peruvians eat potatoes with almost every other dish and their devotion to the vegetable is so strong they even have their own national day: May 30.

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Healthy eating

Ancient Peruvians discovered healthy eating way before colonization began, they knew the nutritious advantages of eating quinoa, potatoes, corn and other superfoods (they wouldn’t have been able to build Machu Picchu or other wonders otherwise). While visiting Peru you can also discover other healthy organic products not too well known outside of the country like camu camu (containing more vitamin C than lemon) or the energy-giving maca and yacon.

Mistura

Celebrated every September, Mistura is Peru’s greatest gastronomical festival, showcasing the best of Peruvian cuisine. Anyone foodies visiting Peru, should experience at least one day at Mistura: restaurants from all over the country reserve a spot at this important food festival, with its fantastic prestige and exposure.

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meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

See Our Culture Trips

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.