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Posts Tagged Food tours in Peru

Is Ceviche South America’s Best Dish?

Nov 12

Posted by dillon in South American Tours | No Comments

If you had to eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be? It’s easy to think about your favorite foods, but what about the best dishes around the world? You can travel and roam all the cities of the earth and spend your whole life filling your stomach to its fullest desires.

Ceviche: Peru's most famous dish

Ceviche: Peru's most famous dish

There has been many debate about what is the best dish in each continent in the world. For example in North America is it the all American Burger and Fries or is it the tacos of Mexico? In Europe is it the Pizza of Italy or the Schnitzel of Germany. In Australia you basically have the choice of Damper or Pavlova which doesn’t inspire the groumet foodie.

But what about in South America? Here below are a few of our favourites:

Peruvian Ceviche: A lot of travelers like to call Peru the International Culinary Capital of Latin America. With such a big title, it’s almost too easy to decide that Peruvian Ceviche is one of the most delicious foods on the continent. The popular seafood dish is made from fresh raw dish marinated in citrus juices and spiced with chilli peppers and other condiments. Not only is it a traditional dish, but it is also popular in neighboring countries like Ecuador and Chile.

Argentinean Asado: You havn’t experienced a real barbeque until you have experienced the pure meat heaven that is an Argentinean Asado.  Asado is a technique for cooking cuts of meat, usually consisting of beef  alongside various other meats, which are cooked on a grill (parrilla) or open fire. Don’t expect too much in the way of salads but if they are served, they usually contain meat!

Lomo Saltado Peru: Lomo saltado is a Peruvian entree that has Asian influences (chifa) consisting of strips of sirloin marinated in vinegar, soy sauce and spices, then stir fried with red onions, parsley and tomatoes. Served traditionally over white rice with homemade french fries.

These are just a few of our South American favourites, to find out more about South American cuisine – visit Chimuadventures.

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Full reopening of railway between Cusco and Machu Picchu

Jun 29

Posted by dillon in Inca Trail Tours, South American Tours | No Comments

28th June 2010, London: Ferrocarril Transandino has announced the full re-opening of the railway from Cusco to Machu Picchu on schedule for the peak season.

Ferrocarril Transandino has announced that as of the 25th June the complete railway line from Cusco to Machu Picchu has opened, with all tourist train services returning to a normal service from 1st July.  PeruRail is commencing all operations on its tourist trains including a refurbished Vistadome, an upgraded backpacker service which is now named Expedition and the luxury Hiram Bingham train. The only restriction will be on the speed limit of the trains from the stations of Cusco, Poroy and Ollantaytambo.

The complete re-opening follows months of intense work on the route, after many parts of the track were severely

Machu Picchu - One of the seven wonders of the world

Machu Picchu - One of the seven wonders of the world

damaged during flooding at the end of January 2010.  Visitors have been able to reach Machu Picchu since the end of March from a temporary station in Piscacucho at km 82 (a station beyond Ollantaytambo).

Machu Picchu is one of South America’s major tourist attractions and was given the title of one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.   2011 will mark 100 years since the rediscovery of Machu Picchu when the American explorer and politician, Hiram Bingham rediscovered the lost city of the Incas in 1911 and brought its attention to the rest of the world.

Chimu Adventures offers many tours to Machu Picchu including the Inca trail, highlights of Peru and South America Circle tours. Visit our website for more details.

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Huancayo – The Lesser Known Side of Peru

Apr 8

Posted by dillon in South American Tours | No Comments

Huancayo is located in the central highlands of Peru, in the gorgeous Mantaro valley. It’s not a touristy place and I’ve already been there, so why going back? Well, I wanted to ride the second highest train in the world, a journey with amazing landscapes and the feeling you are on top of the world. Also I wanted to explore the city and surroundings and discovered it is a must on a tour of Peru.

Main Plaza of Huancayo

Main Plaza of Huancayo

We left at seven in the morning, going east and then up to the mountains. The air was getting drier, which indicated we were getting higher. The landscape was changing too, taller mountains, beautiful blue sky and different vegetation. At the beginning some bushes and trees, later fields (corn, artichokes, among others) and at the highest point just the ichu (the only plant that can survive that high), but while going down to the valley lovely flowers were welcoming the visitors. Along the way there were 69 tunnels, 58 bridges and six zig-zags. Almost seven hours after departure, we reached the highest point: 4,800 meters! It was cold and hard to breathe. After that point, it was down the whole way to Huancayo, which is at 3,200 meters. It was almost 7:30 p.m. when we finally arrived on our first stop for  a highlights of Peru Tour.

Huancayo has grown a lot the past decades. In the 1980s it had 200,000 inhabitants — now the population is more than 450,000 and the first building I saw was a modern mall!

The first night was about settling down and taking things easy, because of the altitude. It was raining and a bit cold but that didn’t stop me. I walked to the main square Plaza Constitución, which was a lit up with yellow and warm lights that made me forget about how cold it was. Next stop was a recommended restaurant. This restaurant was one of the most expensive in town, but not expensive at all compared to the ones in Lima. I had a cup of warm coca leaf tea, so helpful for the headache caused by the altitude sickness and used everywhere in Peru, especially those heading to Cusco for a Machu Picchu Tour. It was Friday night and the streets were crowded with young people. I was impressed with the traffic, several minibuses and many taxis. All the taxis have a flat rate, so you don’t need to bargain like in Lima.

The next day started early with a good breakfast at a nice café, where prices are half of  what you would pay in Lima. The first stop was a hill outside the city Cerrito La Libertad, where you can get a nice view of the whole city and the lovely valley. Another recommended site was Torre Torre an impressive sandstone formation, just a 10-minute walk from the hill. This visit was about seeing charming adobe houses, small fields of potatoes, some dogs running and local residents enjoying a quiet day.

There was still plenty of time, so I went to Jauja, a small town nearby with some ruins and a lake with a famous trout farm. Jauja is pretty, therefore the Spanish chose it as the first capital of Peru. I didn’t climb all the way to the ruins. It was getting cloudier at the top of the mountain. Nevertheless, I walked for a while along the path. I saw a couple of farmers and their families working. The scenery was gorgeous. It was really peaceful there.

Back in Huancayo, I decided to explore the city itself. The main square definitely looked different during daytime. I think I preferred it at night. I also visited the Parque de la Identidad Huanca, a relatively new park, built in honor of local Huanca people. I even had time to go to the handicraft market. A tip: be ready to bargain. At night, I went to listen to some live music and see traditional dances. It was time to go back to the hotel. I wanted to wake up early next morning and visit the market. One of the things I recently learned is that visiting an open market is the best way to get to know a place better. The market is a place where you can really interact with the local people.

It was Sunday, the best day for visiting the market. On my way I could see street vendors offering all kind of food: sweets, salty snacks, quail eggs, soup, pork sandwiches etc.

Finally, I arrived at the central building. Since there are not many tourists visiting the market, taking pictures is

Markets

Markets

welcomed, but be careful with your camera. It was an eclectic mix of colorful flowers, fruits, vegetables, tongues, hearts and tripe. I like to watch people and this was the right place to do it. All the people were friendly.

Well, it was time to go to the bus station. The bus was cheaper than the train and the trip takes five hours less. Huancayo is not far away from Lima, therefore it’s a good choice for a weekend getaway on a Lima city tour and to leave behind the busy city and go somewhere peaceful in the Andes. There are two beautiful towns really close: Tarma and Jauja, plus the lovely valley. My advice is to go there by train, yes it’s more expensive, but worth it. As somebody said: “Life is a journey and not a destination.”

Chimu Adventures offers custom tours to Huancayo and a highlights of Peru tour, visit our website for more details.

The second highest train in the world took me to Huancayo, Peru.

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The Inca Trail – The Authentic Way to Reach Machu Picchu

Oct 25

Posted by dillon in Inca Trail Tours | No Comments

Our Inca trail group!

Our Inca trail group!

Alot has been written and said about the Inca trail in recent years but the only real way to see what the hype is all about is to experience it yourself first hand. It can be a little bit challenging and sometimes you will wish you had taken the train like thousands of other people to reach Machu Picchu. For me however, the experience and the reward at the end more than made up for the difficulties on the classic four day trek.

Day 1: Cusco and a Relatively Easy Warm-Up Day

Early in the morning the guide collected us from the hotel in Cusco and transported us to Km 82 where it was time for everyone in the group to meet and have the picture taken under the famous ´Camino Inca´ sign. Then it was time to take the first steps of the Inca trail on the path to Machu Picchu. The first day’s walk was quite easy and the views were spectacular including the the snow-peaked Veronica Mountain and the bustling Vilcanota River.

After a hearty lunch (a common theme of the trek as the food was excellent) we made it to the first Inca ruins of Patallacta where the guide began to delve into the fascinating Inca culture.

After re-energising, we began the steady climb to Huayllabamba, where our friendly team of porters had our tents already set up and a cup of tea and popcorn waiting, just what the doctor ordered!

Day 2: The Hardest Day on the Inca Trail

After a great omlette breakfast and our introduction to the team of portsers, the hardest part of the trail was to begin. I had heard about this day and was a little bit worries about the altitude but was also very excited by the challenge.

The trek started with a steady climb up to the first meeting point about an hour away. The sun was shining which made for amazing views and scenerary but not the greatest of trekking conditions. After the first stop, things got a little more interesting as the trail became steeper and steeper. The sweat and toil was pouring out of every trekker on the trail as we all yearned to reach Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass), at some 4200m (13,800ft) above sea level. The trail just seemed to keep going and goig however and there was no end in sight as the muscles in my legs began to feel the impact of every step harder and harder.

Finally after struggling up another steep hill I could see the top of the pass and the target was in my sights. I was re-vitalised and began to power on towards the top getting closer and closer. As I reached the top I, and many others were greeted with the applause and cheers of those trekkers who had already made it. There was a great sense of comradery and achievement from all groups doing the Inca Trail for reaching this milestone. Just to cap it off, the incredible, panoramic views of the mountains and landscape were more than worth it.

After a deserved rest it was time to descend with to our camp where the porters had again already set up our home for the night and it was time to relax and reflect on the most challenging but rewarding days of the Inca trail.

Day 3: Onward to Machu Picchu

After yesterdays exhausting day I thought this day would be a little easier but little did I know the trail started straight away with an ascent will begin to the second highest pass on the Trail, at more than 3900m above sea level. The views along the way were, once again, unbelievable and certainly makes any pain felt in the muscles very worth while. On the way up, we enjoy a guided visit to the Archaeological Complex of Runkurukay and, on the way down, the Inca Citadel of Sayacmarca before reaching our last camp where a deserved hot shower and beer was waiting. Never had a beer tasted so good! It was time for one last dinner in the camp and to thank the porters for the job they have done before getting to bed early in anticipation of tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu!

Day 4: Machu Picchu – Cusco

After a very early breakfast, we started the sacred walk through high rainforest to Inti Punku (Gateway of the Sun), the well-known entrance to Machu Picchu, with its unparallelled panoramic view of the Inca Citadel. Unfortunately for us the weather was not our friend this day and we could not see a thing through the thick mist. However, this made the first views of Machu Picchu very mystical with the fog lifting to make some great photo opportunities.

Machu Picchu itself also didn’t disappoint, in fact its hard to see how anyone could not be impressed by this famous Inca city. I was in awe at the sheer size of the ruins and the pristine condition it is in, which given the climate, is a miracle in itself. We then had a fascinating guided tour of the ruins and monuments, such as the Main Square, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Solar Clock. After free time it was then time to go to the town of Aguas Calientes to have lunch and a dip in the hot springs. Then we said goodbye to our wonderful tour guide and took the train back to Cusco after quite a journey.

Overall the Inca Trail is one of the must-do adventures in South America and even the world. The amazing views, fascinating history, pristine ruins and the physical challenge make it four days you will certainly remember for a long long time.

To find out more about the Inca Trail click here for further information.

Or alternatively to find out about the alternative trails or the train trip to Machu Picchu .

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The Food of Limenos

Oct 11

Posted by dillon in South American Tours | No Comments

The Food of Limenos

I have heard a few good things about the culinary delights in Lima but my expectations were completely blown out of the water. The food in Lima is fresh, very reasonably priced and bursting at the seams with flavor. The most famous dish has to be cerviche which I never thought would appeal to me but after one bite I was hooked. It was a mix of seafood such as fish, squid, prawns and muscles all marinated in lemon juice with plenty of other fresh herbs and spices. The seafood isn´t actually cooked at all but only by the acidity of the lemon juice which makes it taste so fresh you would think it was only caught in the ocean a matter of hours ago.  In the summertime cervicheria´s are over flowing with people out enjoying a beer and plate of this famous dish.

Another popular dish is Lomo Saltado. This is a beef inspired stir-fry type of dish which has obvious influences from Eastern Asia. The beef is sliced thinly and fried with a mix of fresh vegetables in a rich and tasty gravy. It is usually served with rice and chips as to ensure that every last drop of the sauce is mopped up.

Of course these meals wouldn´t be complete without a glass of the national cocktail – Pisco Sour as you enjoy Lima´s many fine restaurants and bars.

Overall a trip to Peru or South America just isn´t complete without a stop in one of the finest culinary capitals in the Continent. Whether your on the way to Cusco to hike the Inca Trail or to Lake Titicaca this is an absolute must for seafood lovers.

To find out more about our Lima or Peru tours click HERE.

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