A Love Note to Peru (and Why You Should Visit!)

I waited too long to visit Peru. I have no good reason why I didn’t go there sooner. The country had been on my “must visit” list for years, but there was always a reason I couldn’t go. “Wrong season,” “I don’t want to go alone,” “Not a good time,” yada, yada, yada. I always had excuses, when in truth, if I really wanted to, I would have gone.

But last November, I finally bit the bullet and left. It was now or never, I told myself. Yes, it was hiking season; yes, I still didn’t feel in the mood to walk on high ground; and yes, it wasn’t as much time there as I wanted.

But as I always say, there is no perfect time to visit, only the time that is right for you.

And let me tell you: Peru lives up to all expectations.

From the moment I arrived, I knew that Peru and I were about to start a lifelong love affair. There are certain places whose cosmic vibes match yours, like two perfectly connected locks. They come to you and say, “Okay, you’re home now.”

Peru was that for me. I spent more than two weeks eating the gastronomic capital of Lima, seeing the famous Nazca Lines, the colonial city of Arequipa and its beautiful architecture, hiking Machu Picchu, and falling deeply in love with the city of Cusco and its art, museums , and food.

First, there was food. I knew Peru was a 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 has always raved about the local cuisine.

But still, I was shocked at how good the food was. Peruvian gastronomy is a mixture of cultures: Andean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and West African. You get an incredible amount of fresh produce, seafood, and meat. There is a new cuisine that mixes all cultures and respects not only quality but presentation.

From Lima’s high-end restaurants to the hole-in-the-wall I’ve found, the food has always been tasty, well-portioned, and just downright delicious (the only bad food I’ve ever had was at a hostel). Heck, I don’t usually make dessert, and I was ordering chocolate left and right. It turned out to be too good to pass up. (Here’s a list of some of my favorite places.)

Second, people were unbelievable. People make destinations worthwhile, and while there are friendly people everywhere, some cultures are friendlier and more hospitable than others. I found Peruvians to be unwelcoming. Whether it’s through social media or on my travels​​​​​​​​​​​​ or just everyday interactions, everyone has been really amazing.

For example, in Arequipa, I ran across a breakfast place that had just opened (Isidro – go there, the food is great!). The owners had worked in restaurants in NYC, so we spent a lot of time connecting with that.

Third, the location! From the barren desert to the Amazon rainforest to lush jungles to canyons that made me feel like I was in Arizona to mountains that reminded me of New Zealand, the diversity was beyond my expectations. I knew from planning my trip and photos that there was a variety of places, but when I finally started to explore the country and see for myself, I was very surprised at all the microclimates.

Peru is an amazing country. (And that hike, although it’s really hard if you’re not used to heights, wasn’t as bad as I thought!)

I have never had a problem finding a place since I went traveling in Mexico at the end of 2020. Peru really lives up to my friends’ expectations and research.

I know I’m late to the party and I’m not saying something that people don’t know. But I thought of one more voice in the chorus, echoing the conventional wisdom that Peru is a special place. Don’t make my mistake and procrastinate. Get there as fast as you can.

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