You want to travel through Peru? I was on a round trip in the land of the Inca and tell you how guinea pigs taste and what you must see.
It is now already 1.5 years ago. But I still remember my Peru trip very clearly. In the frosty and foggy November we went from Munich directly to Lima, the capital of Peru. With a small travel group and my brother - if you have siblings, you should definitely travel together. :)
I spent ten days in Peru. A country full of contrasts and bright colors. I give you a little insight into Peru.
This is what you need for your Peru adventure:
Here I can only speak for the travel season in which I was on the road - early November.
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Backpack
You should always have your camera, tissues, money and band-aids for sore feet at hand. The best way to do this is in a backpack.
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Water and wind resistant clothing and an umbrella
If you travel to Peru in October/November like I do, you can't do without an umbrella. In Peru there are only two seasons: The wet and the dry. At the beginning of October the wet season starts. It starts raining suddenly and stops after 15 minutes.
Even better than an umbrella is a water-repellent jacket. Because it can be windy in Peru. -
A camera and a spare battery for the smartphone
It pays to take a good camera with you on your travels. Especially because the battery usually lasts longer than a smartphone. If you prefer to take photos with your cell phone, don't forget to bring a spare battery. You won't be able to get out of taking photos.
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One jacket
Especially in the evening it cools down properly. No wonder. Peru is a country with a very high altitude. So do not do without a warm jacket.
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Good shoes
Comfortable, water-repellent and warm - these three criteria should be met by your shoes. Don't be surprised if you have cold toes and Peruvians are still walking without socks and with open shoes. They are really hardened.
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Sunscreen
Even if it's raining and cool in the evening - be sure to pack a sunscreen. If the sun peeks out from between the clouds, it gets quite warm very quickly. Most of the Peru trip is at over 2500 meters above sea level. Sunburn is guaranteed.
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Curiosity
Be sure to try local food and drinks. Coca tea should be at the top of your list. But don't expect too much. Pure coca leaves won't get you high, no matter how many you chew. Also try chicha - a corn beer that tastes quite sour and grilled guinea pig :)
For whom is this adventure suitable?
For those who want to see something new and are open to new cultures. If you want to go to Peru, you should definitely plan 2 weeks.
Table of contents
Peru - beautiful and worth a trip
Equipped with a backpack, the route took me to Yacay, into the jungle, to Machu Picchu and to Cuzco. I was traveling with a group of 15 people, but I saw many Europeans on the way who were backpacking through the land of the Incas.
Does high altitude air really make you sick?
First of all, the most important question. We Europeans are usually not used to the altitude. So how is it really with the altitude air - does it make you sick? Yes! But fortunately not me. :) But some of my travel group had to struggle a lot. Headaches, stomach aches and fatigue were the most common symptoms.
You notice that something is different with the air as soon as you take your first step out of the plane. How do you notice that? It's simple: You have to catch your breath much more often because you don't get the amount of oxygen you're used to.
Climbing stairs is really exhausting. After just a few stairs, you'll be panting like a walrus. The Peruvians are used to it. Our guide takes the 150 steps to the end of the ruins of Ollantaytambo with ease. You have to know that we are now at 2800 meters above sea level. The city of Cuzco is even at 3400 meters.
And Peru is not stingy with altitude either.
My Tip: Walk slowly and take breaks every now and then. Coca candies provide an energy boost :) Photo breaks prevent people from seeing how knocked out you are ;)
Cuzco - deep breath at 3400 meters
By plane you get to one of the most beautiful cities in Peru. Here you will find many Inca ruins, eucalyptus forests and a lot of people.
If you have the opportunity, you should definitely go for a horseback ride. We rode a horse through the Peruvian eucalyptus forests. An experience that I will not forget so quickly. Over stick and stone it went past flowers, trees, stones but unfortunately also a lot of garbage.
Very fascinating I found the sun place, from where you have a beautiful view of Cuzco. Stone layered on stone, there are no gaps - not even a sheet of paper has space between the boulders.
One, by the way, weighs up to 120 tons. Somehow hard to imagine how this temple was built.
While you're here, be sure to stop by the fresh produce market near the main square. What you must not take with you are disgust and shyness. The place is teeming with dead animals - without refrigeration, but with lots of mosquitoes. You can imagine the smell in the 25 degree warm hall. Fortunately, there are also plenty of fruits and vegetables. You must try passion fruit and pineapple. They have little in common with the fruits you can buy here. They taste much sweeter and simply heavenly.
However, it is not possible to stand still and look for a long time. Once you're in the crowd, you're pushed along and have to hope that you don't end up with the meat again.
Guinea pig from the grill
You find that disgusting? Then you should stop here :)
I had two guinea pigs myself as a child. But I could not deny myself. If you are already on the spot, you must finally taste. Near Yucay at Dona Margarita there is the best guinea pig far and wide. At least that's what they say.
But first, a quick word about Yucay. It is located in the middle of the Urabamba Valley, which is also called the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley is 300 kilometers long. To the right and left, the Andes stretch out at an imposing height.
A road leads through the valley. To the right and left of it are houses. Dona Margarita's is one of them. In front of her house she has a self-made grill made of bricks. Over the wooden embers she turns the little pigs, which are filled with herbs and garlic.
How does guinea pig taste? Good and quite different than expected! But there is not much to such a small pig anyway. The most flavor is brought by the herbs and with that the guinea pigs are very well filled. A little salt and the dish is ready. The meat is very tender and reminds a little of rabbit.
My Tip: Do not look the piggies in the eye ;)
Machu Picchu - worth a trip even in rainy weather
The number 1 attraction is Machu Picchu. The ancient Inca city is located in the middle of the jungle and worth the trip!
Our journey begins with the train that takes us into the jungle. Be sure to find a window seat. The plants you see during the trip are pure madness. Orchids, lianas and beautiful flowering trees are everywhere. The air is warm and very humid.
We change to a bus. Just when you think you're at the end of the world here: It continues to climb very steeply for a good bit. Then, as if out of nowhere, the first imposing walls lie before us.
My tip: If you want to go to Machu Picchu, you have to book the bus and train at least half a year in advance. The number of visitors is strictly limited. The entrance fee and the trip cost about 200 dollars. But it is worth it!
Unfortunately, it starts to rain when we take the first steps. But that does not matter. We are equipped :)
Visiting María in Maras
You may know Maras in southern Peru from television. The city is best known for its salt flats. Hot salty water flows from the mountains, which the Incas used to collect in basins. After the water evaporates, salt remains.
Even today, these salt works are still in operation. By the way, hardly anyone knows exactly where the salty water comes from. Because the sea is very far away. Maras is the highest salt farm in the world. The salt is also known as "The white gold of the Incas".
A little further on, Dona María has her house. Made of bricks shaped by hand, the 80-year-old awaits us in her little house, which consists of two rooms. Upon entering, you have to lift your feet. The 30 cm high elevation is to prevent the 25 guinea pigs from escaping.
On the clay floor of their living room guinea pigs run freely. You have to be careful not to trample any or climb on fresh grass, which is the food of the piggies.
There is a small wood stove in the corner - their only source of heating. It smells a little strong of guinea pig and burnt wood.
She explains to us that she does not keep the guinea pigs as pets, but that they are her most important source of food, next to corn. And invites us for a glass of chicha. A homemade corn beer. The taste is reminiscent of vinegar. Absolutely nothing for my stomach. But we taste it anyway. :)
My conclusion:
Pack your bags and let's go! Peru is worth a trip. A little Spanish is an advantage - especially in the countryside, Peruvians hardly speak English.
There is so much to see. You definitely need good shoes and should taste everything possible. Thumbs up for the land of the Incas and a trip with my brother. :)
Another travelogue about my Peru adventure can be found here: Inca, alpaca and guinea pig: Off to Peru!
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