Peru should be considered an obligatory destination for all travelers in the world.
Its wide cultural offer: Cathedrals, historical buildings and museums. The mysticism of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The traditions and crafts of the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca. Experiencing nature on a Salkantay trek, exploring the Amazon or enjoying the internationally renowned Peruvian gastronomy are some of the best experiences to do on a trip to Peru.
But, as in any other trip, it is necessary to be informed beforehand with a series of tips and recommendations. We have elaborated a list of 6 travel tips that you should know before your first trip to Peru.
Don´t drink the water
Although Peru is a developed country, and a world tourist power, unfortunately, the public drinking water in the country has not reached the level of the tourist industry in terms of modernity, so it is important to avoid drinking drinking water directly from the tap.
You have to take into account a number of precautions not to have problems on the trip such as brushing your teeth with bottled water, or make sure that the ice in the drinks is not water from the tap.
Get ready for altitude sickness
If you’ve never been to an altitude of more than 11,000 feet before, you probably don’t know how that altitude can affect you until you feel like floating when you get off the plane in Cusco. Take a few pills to fight altitude sickness – known as siroche – and avoid unnecessary headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
A good advice is to drink mate de coca and rest for a couple of hours in the hotel until our body gets used to the altitude.
Peruvian food
One of the greatest pleasures on a trip to Peru is to taste one of the most traditional and tasty cuisines in the world. Its gastronomy has fish dishes, like the famous ceviche, meat, like the sautéed loin and influences of Chinese and Japanese cuisine.
Don’t be afraid if they tell you that all Peruvians only eat meat and fish. Restaurants offer a wide variety of dishes for vegetarians and vegans.
A very recommendable option is to try some of the most typical street food dishes of Peru.
Bring cash to buy handicrafts in the markets
Peru is known all over the world for its handicrafts, chullo the famous Andean hat, Peruvian altarpieces, alpaca t-shirts, and much more. In the main tourist sites are markets where you can buy souvenirs.
It is best to carry cash because in many places you can not pay by card and there are no ATMs nearby.
You can find out more about the best souvenirs you can buy in Peru and learn more about your trip to the Andean country.
Don’t come back without trying pisco
Pisco is the most popular drink in Peru. It is usually taken in the form of a cocktail. This means that other ingredients largely hide their nuances, which can be good for beginners who are not accustomed to strong drinks.
The most famous cocktail is the Pisco Sour, which consists of lemon juice, natural syrup, egg white, ice cream and bitter angostura. There are several variants, such as sour coke for those who think that sour pisco requires more bitterness.
There are different brands and prices. We recommend that you be careful if you venture to drink more than two piscos in a row.
Learn some words in Spanish
When organizing a trip is always very beneficial and welcoming if you know something of the local language but if you do not know how to say anything in Spanish do not worry that you will be able to manage easily with only English.
Peru is a country visited by many international tourists and there are many people who speak English. A tip, learn to say a word in Spanish that seems like you are trying to be part of the culture, is a detail that you will be thanked.