Peru is one of those experiences that you play on repeat in your head!
It was a strange home away from home. It was a place where I did not feel like an outsider, but a place where new friendships were made and my passion for water was kindled. Of course I did not just stick to the itinerary of the program I had to explore the beautiful city, eat the delicious food, and dance the night away!
Here are some of my recommendations if you ever want to visit Peru!
Need a guide? Meet Juan!
Peru was beautiful, but a man named Juan Cornejo painted Peru in my memories. Juan was our guide but he was no ordinary guide. We asked him one day how many years he had been doing this and how many trips he had completed to Machu Picchu, his answer shocked us "Tengo como 20 años guiando y tengo muchos viajes a Machu Picchu, como unos 1000 viajes, pero uno nunca deja de aprender." 20 years and over 1000 trips to Machu Picchu what a life! Peru became sacred in my heart because of the passion and love Juan has for all its customs and history. I am now lucky to call him my friend, and I would love for you all to meet Juan! If you ever plan to take a trip to Peru and want a trip of a lifetime contact Juan at juancornejo76@hotmail.com and tell him I sent you!
Anyone that knows me, knows I absolutely love chocolate! Lucky for me just a few minutes from our hotel was TIKA. They offer an assortment of chocolate products; bars, cocoa nibs, liqueur, cocoa tea, and more! TIKA makes all of its products of cacao 100% cusqueño. They started off making chocolate products for other companies but in 2017 they decided to expand with their own company. Lucky for us! TIKA's mission is to honor the cusqueño culture and use natural native flavors such as maca, aguaymanto, la muña. They also include other items such as Pisco that is significant in their culture.
This shop was on our way to Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola our host university. So you better believe every time we saw our friends outside handing free samples, we would stop by to learn more about this unique chocolate shop. My favorite items purchased and gifted upon my arrival included passion fruit flavored Pisco, cocoa tea, and travel sized chocolates infused with local flavors (ají chili, passion fruit, etc.)
If you have a sweet tooth for ice cream, Qucharitas is one of the most unique places to get a few scoops! What is great about his local shop is they offer food, smoothies, deserts, and freshly baked goods! It is a perfect place to stop for a quick bite or to enjoy something delicioso y dulce! The first time I visited Qucharitas I did not know what flavor to pick. What makes this place so unique is its use of local flavors. In the end I decided on a chocolate ice cream with lucuma and palta, it was amazing! Lucuma is a native fruit to Peru and it has the texture of sweet potato. It was commonly used as a sweetener and flavoring agent for ice cream, it is also said to have many health benefits. So not only was it delicious but it was full of vitamins, fiber, and protein, if I lived in Cusco I would definitely visit often.
Local Flavors:
Lucuma
Passion Fruit
Andes Mint
Palta (Avocado)
Rose water
Tamarind
Ube
Peru is known for its gastronomic cuisine! Last Supper is nestled in the center of Cusco, but do not let the humble exterior fool you. It is home to an array of traditional courses but with a flare that can be seen on the plates! The owner of the restaurant is extremely kind he even arranged for us to listen to live music.
La cocina peruana es el resultado de la fusión inicial de la tradición culinaria del antiguo Perú, uniendo a Culturas Inca y Pre Inca, todas ellas con sus propias técnicas y potajes. También influenciada por la cocina española que a su vez fue fuertemente influenciada por la cocina Morisca. Posteriormente, este mestizaje se vio influenciado por la migración de la cocina Francesa, Italiana, Europea, China y Japonesa; incluyendo el aporte de las costumbres culinarias de esclavos traídos de la costa Atlántica del África.
Last Supper Restaurant, está hecho para los amantes de la gastronomía peruana, rememorando la cocina tradicional cusqueña para complacer paladares del mundo, con una variedad de platos deliciosos de innovación diaria y descubriendo diversos sabores que traerán una explosión suculenta a tu paladar.
¡Descubre todos nuestros infinitos sabores! (Last Supper Restaurant)
Peruvian Causa Rellena is a traditional dish tied to the history of Peru. It is said that la causa was handed down form the Incas, and the word causa is derived from the Quechua word for potato kausaq. Kausaq means the sustenance of life, a great meaning for this dish made of potato, Peru only has 3,000 varieties of potato. This is what makes this dish so unique and beautiful, no matter who prepares it, it is never the same and can be made in a multitude of ways. Juan even used to great us using the words "Que pasa Causa?"
Meat options in Peru may be peculiar to some, for example they eat Cuy commonly known as guinea pig. This is often eaten for special occasions and can be found in multiple restaurants all around Cusco. Another common dish is alpaca! As you can see in the image below, it looks very similar to steak. This dish was served with potatoes and quinoa another Peruvian staple. When you are in exploring food in Peru I highly recommend trying traditional cuisine, but do not let the word traditional trick you. Like the chefs at Last Supper many have taken traditional recipes and made them extraordinary!
Salsa is the dance to know in Peru, personally one of my favorite styles to dance. If you enjoy music, having fun, dancing with friends, and trying on a new pair of dancing shoes. Mama Africa Salsa nights are for you! Salsa is a very high tempo style of dance and there are 4 basic steps to learn before you can go whirling around the dance floor. Lucky for us they have amazing instructors who teach anyone who is willing. No need to be shy because everyone is there to have fun and learn to be a better dancer. If salsa is not your style they play a variety of dance music. The atmosphere of Mama Africa is so intoxicating we could not but help dancing. For your viewing pleasure my friend Andy having the time of his life.
Zip lining was one of those things that seemed like a piece of cake. I am not afraid of heights I love hiking and I love riding rollercoasters but this still was a little scary. Especially when they made is zip line upside down! What made this all the more special was the group of guides who we got to zip line with. They made it extra fun and made sure we all felt safe and secure. This one location offers 5 lines, a rope bridge, and a waterfall climb. You do have to hike up to each platform but the hike is beautiful and the waterfall is in the perfect location to cool off right before your final zip across the canyon. Shout out to Kevin Yuan for these videos! I will definitely go zip lining again!
If you have never been inside artist's studio, this is a great place to start. Seminario has been a sculptor for over 35 years and has pieces in the Cusco Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (MAP) and the Chicago Field Museum. Pablo Seminario has created a workshop for the artists in Urubamba. He honors the culture of the Incas in his work and has a deep passion to help the community grow through art. A very humble man with a great sense of humor and a heart full of fire to create these beautiful sculptures and change in his community.
It is a place that to this day continues to grow and reach out to the youth, infusing art and culture to create masterpieces.
I plan to go back to Peru, it is full of culture, beautiful people, amazing food, and experiences that last forever. I want to thank The Green Program for giving us the opportunity to visit all these places, the people who helped me fundraise to get there, my new friends from Peru, and my Greenies!! Here is to the next adventure!
