Travel & Lifestyle

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

I waited too long to go to 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; yes, I don’t spend as much time there as I’d like.

But as I always say, there is no perfect time to visit, only 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 visiting the gastronomic capital of Lima, visiting the famous Nazca Lines, the colonial city of Arequipa and its beautiful architecture, hiking Machu Picchu, and fell in love The city of Cusco and its art, museums, and food.

A huge flag flutters in the breeze with historical buildings nearby on a sunny day in PeruA huge flag flutters in the breeze with historical buildings nearby on a sunny day in Peru

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 Lima’s famous fine dining restaurants 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’s 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 daily interactions, everyone is awesome.

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

Third, the scenery! From arid deserts to Amazon jungles to cloud forests to canyons that made me feel like I was in Arizona to mountains that reminded me of New Zealand, sheer diversity was not what I expected. From planning my travels 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.

Nomadic Matt poses for photos while hiking in Peruvian mountainsNomadic Matt poses for photos while hiking in Peruvian mountains

Peru is just one country that stands out. (The hike can definitely be difficult if you’re not used to the altitude, but it’s not as bad as I thought!)

***

Not since I roamed Mexico in late 2020 have I been so enamored with a destination.

I know I was late to the party and didn’t say something that people didn’t know. But consider me 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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Booking a trip to Peru: Logistical tips and tricks

Book a flight
Find cheap flights with Skyscanner. They are my favorite search engine because they crawl websites and airlines all over the world, so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book accommodation
You can book hostels through Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory and the best prices. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hotel, use Booking.com as they always have the cheapest prices for guesthouses and budget hotels.

Don’t forget travel insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It provides complete protection in case any issues arise. I wouldn’t travel without it as I have used it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Looking for the cheapest company?
Check out my resources page to learn about the best companies to use when traveling. I’ve listed all the ways I use to save money while traveling. They also save you money when you travel.

Want to learn more about Peru?
Be sure to visit my powerful Peru destination guide for more planning tips!



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