Why Peru: The Conclusion

After being in Peru for two months, I haven’t been everywhere by any means. Overall I spent one month in Lima, a bit too much but it was all worth it. I didn’t make it to the jungle, park Manu, the Nazca lines or Paracas and there are a lot of small villages I have yet to explore. However I am leaving Peru knowing why I came. If someone were to ask me, “why should I go to Peru?"I would now be able to fully answer that question of why Peru but it isn’t a simple answer.
You can literally find the whole world in Peru and there is something to suit everyone. The answer really depends on who you are talking to. Surfers should head to the north where there are endless beaches of perfect rolling waves. You can find Switzerland in the Cordillera Blanca with its snow capped mountains and aqua coloured lakes. There is the rich and mysterious Amazon jungle for the adventure seeker. Then there is Lima my home away from home. Lima is a massive city on the coast modern and bustling with life. My favourite neighbourhoods were Miraflores, Barranco and the Historic Centre. South of Lima was where I took up sand boarding in the Oasis of Huacachina with the most amazing desert I have ever seen. In the same region you can check out the Nazca lines, national park Paracas and the Ballestas islands. Indulge in some wine and Pisco tasting near Ica. You cannot forget the famous Machu Picchu, which is a must on every traveller’s list. If you an animal fan especially of the bird variety, park Manu is for you with its list of flora and fauna that includes 1,000 species of birds, more than 200 species of mammals, 13 species of monkey, a great variety of butterflies and 15,000 species of flowering plants. Have you always wanted to see the Grand Canyon? Well why not see one bigger in Peru, with hot springs, condors flying above and Oasis’s? Discover the highest lake in the world, Lake Titicaca with islands to hike on and floating reed islands to enjoy.
Peru isn’t just about the sights and tourist attractions though. I met a couple who told me they only wanted to spend two weeks in Peru. Two weeks?! I couldn’t believe it. They thought Peru was just a place to do treks. Obviously they hadn’t been to Peru yet. You need more time to learn about and take in the culture. The people of Peru and their story are amazing. I found Peruvians incredible friendly, warm and welcoming. They want to share everything with you and make sure you leave their country with a lasting positive impression.
If you have travelled Central America by the time you get to Peru you are probably sick and fed up of beans and rice. Don’t get me wrong I love Gallo Pinto but after 6 month of it you crave a change. The cuisine of Peru is up there with the best in the world. Peruvian food rivals with French and Japanese. Peru is actually the home of Ceviche and on a hot day sitting on one of Peru’s finest beaches there is nothing better than Ceviche and a beer. Tacu tacu is a fine Peruvian dish as well. I was lucky enough to stay with locals in Miraflores who wanted me to try every Peruvian dish possible. I always had a full happy belly in Lima. Not only can you find fantastic Peruvian food but in Lima there are some of the best chefs from around the world. You can eat fantastic Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, anything you heart desires Lima is serving only the finest.
Don’t let the Chileans misinform you, Pisco is the national drink of Peru and was invented there. There has been a long rival between the countries dating back before the Pacific wars. Chile also has a town called Pisco and claims it is theirs, but we know better. The liquor is very strong but when made into a Pisco Sour (pisco, lime, sugar, egg white and ice blended with bitters on top); it is a sweet, bitter little heavenly cloud in a cup that can get you very drunk.
You cannot forget my favourite soft drink, Inca Kola unique and original to Peru. The only company Coca cola could not beat out. Unfortunately when Coke lost the battle of sales with Inca Kola they bought them out. Inca Kola still stands to be a symbol of Peru.
I could literally go on forever about why you should go to Peru, the mountain climbing, rafting, rock climbing, ancient wonders, the music, the Afro Peruvian culture, the art, the markets and the people.
Come Peru for Machu Picchu but leave knowing so much more. My advice though is not just to read this. Don’t sit there and think wow that sounds amazing, I wish I could go. Come and explore and discover for yourself. The whole world awaits you in one country.

The Chocho Mystery: Huaraz, Peru

Every different place I visit holds new treats to be tested that are unique to the region. I am always eager to try out a new sweet, chocolate, drink or street food. In the beautiful mountain town of Huaraz set in the Cordillera Blanca with snow capped mountains, curiosity was getting the better of me when I saw signs for Chocho everywhere. What could Chocho possibly be? The bar beside my hotel had one such sign so it had me convinced that Chocho was an alcoholic beverage. Could it be a chocolate alcohol?
After days of pondering Chocho I finally had the chance to go out and try some. I was sitting in a restaurant when someone handed me a flyer for a party in a bar. Huaraz is in low season for tourism so I was alone but thought I would go to the bar anyway. I was also eavesdropping on the good looking guys at the next table who were going. When in the bar I introduced myself to said good looking guys who happened to be Peruvian university students doing research in a small village near Huaraz. They were quite funny and I had a good laugh chatting with them. When it came time to order a drink I said I wanted Chocho. They looked at me like I was crazy. They had no idea what I was talking about. Maybe I wasn’t saying it right. They thought this whole Chocho business was pretty funny and it became a running joke throughout the night. After many beers we were saying salud for Chocho. My nicknames became Tracy Crazy and Teresita Chocho. I wasn’t crazy there is such thing as Chocho! When we left the bar, I dragged Omar (one of the guys) to the bar beside my hotel, but the bar was closed and there was no sign for Chocho. How could it be gone? Maybe I was going mad.
The next morning I walked outside and there it was Chocho, where was Omar now? He came by my hotel later on and told me he was surprised to see the Chocho sign as well and thought I had made it and put it there. We decided to end the mystery and find out what it was. I walked in and straight up to the owner and asked what is Chocho. We found out it is like a bean or chick pea. People eat Chocho in the afternoon with beer. It’s a social thing to sit with a beer and chocho and talk. We then ordered Chocho and a beer on a Sunday afternoon.
The bar was actually quite cool but dated. Looked like it had its hay day back in the grunge era of the late 80’s early 90’s and looked like my dad decorated it, with pictures of Elvis and the Beatles, light fixtures made out of beer crates and wood beams everywhere. After having quite an interesting conversation about the bar and Peru with the owner we emerged into the daylight full from Chocho and beer. I haven’t gone mad just yet.