A love letter to Peru (and why you must visit!)

I waited too long to visit Peru. I don't have a good reason why I didn't go there sooner. This country has been on my “must visit” list for years, but there was always a reason I couldn’t go. “It’s the wrong season”, “I don’t want to go alone”, “This is not a good time”, ya, ya, ya. I always had excuses, but the truth is, I could have left if I really wanted to.

But last November, I finally bit the bullet and went. Don’t miss this opportunity, it will never come back, I said to myself. Yes, it's off-season for hiking; yes, I'm still feeling sick from hiking at high altitude; and yes, I don't spend as much time there as I'd like.

But as I always say, There is no perfect time to visitonly the time that works best for you.

Let me tell you: Peru lives up to the hype.

From the moment I landed, I knew Peru was about to begin a lifelong love affair. There are places where the cosmic vibe matches your vibe, like two perfectly connected locks. They will reach out to you and say, “It’s okay, you’re home now.”

Peru is like that to me. I spent over two weeks exploring the gastronomic capital of Lima, visiting the famous Nazca Lines, the colonial city of Arequipa and its beautiful architecture, hiking Machu Picchu, and falling in love with the city of Cusco, its art, museums, and food.

First is the food. I knew Peru was a great food destination, so I had high expectations. Many of the world's top restaurants are located in Lima, and everyone I know who has been there speaks highly of the local cuisine.

But even so, I was shocked at how delicious the food was. Peruvian cuisine is a fusion of many cultures: Andean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and West African. You can get an incredible amount of fresh produce, seafood, and meat. The innovative cuisine here is a fusion of all cultures, focusing not only on quality but also on presentation.

From the high-end restaurants that Lima is known for to the hole-in-the-wall restaurants I found, the food was always delicious, portions were plentiful, and very tasty (the only bad meal I had the entire time was in a hotel). Heck, normally I don't do dessert, I ordered chocolate left and right. It's too good to miss. (Here is a list of some of my favorite places.)

Secondly, the people are incredible. People are what make a destination worthwhile, and while there are friendly people everywhere, some cultures are just more outgoing and hospitable than others. I found Peruvian people to be very welcoming. Whether it's through social media, hiking or just day-to-day interactions, everyone has been awesome.

For example, in Arequipa I stumbled upon a breakfast place that had just opened (Isidro – go there, the food is great!). The owner has worked in restaurants new york cityso we spent a lot of time connecting about that.

Third, the scenery! From arid deserts to Amazon jungles to cloud forests to canyons that make me feel like I'm in Arizona to mountains that remind me of New Zealandsheer variety was not what I expected. From planning my trips and taking photos, I knew there was a wide variety of geographical locations, but when I finally started exploring the country and seeing it firsthand, I was so surprised by all the microclimates.

Peru is just one country that stands out. (That hike, although definitely difficult If you're not used to the altitude, it's not as bad as I thought! )

I haven't been so obsessed with a destination since my wandering days Mexico End of 2020. Peru certainly lived up to the expectations set by my friends and institute.

I know I was late to the party and didn't say something that people didn't know. But consider that I am another voice in the choir, echoing the traditional view that Peru is a special place. Don't make my mistake and put it off. Get there as soon as possible.

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