After every country we visit, Vikram writes about our overall experiences and highlights. Here’s his take on Peru!
As a result of the whole rabies thing, our experience in Peru was limited primarily to Arequipa, which is not the main reason people go to Peru. But we loved what we saw of the country and are eager to make it back to fully experience everything the country has to offer. Like Argentina, Peru is not a travel secret, but its reputation is entirely justified, and it’s well worth a visit.
Basics
Number of days: 17
Cities: 2 (Arequipa, Lima)
Number of bus rides: 1
Number of plane rides: 1
Finances
Average daily cost per person: $44 USD (includes intra-country buses and flights)
Exchange rate: $1 USD = $3.29 sol
Attractions
Favorite things we did:
- Ceviche in Lima
- The coastal walk in Miraflores
- Volcanic stone buildings and the Plaza de Armas in Arequipa
- Cooking class in Arequipa
- Chocolate-making class at Chaqchao in Arequipa
Better than expected:
- Peruvian food
- The Peruvian medical system
- Arequipa
- Beer, coffee, and chocolate at Chaqchao in Arequipa
Worse than expected:
- Peruvian chicken—it was pretty good, but about the same as at El Pollo Rico in Arlington
- The Lima walking tour—look up reviews but remember that guide quality can be wildly inconsistent. If you get a bad guide, don’t waste your afternoon, just dip out early
- Our Lima hostel, the only lodging where we encountered cockroaches in our room
Things you have to eat:
- Rocoto relleno (spicy stuffed peppers)
- Soltero de queso (chunky salad with cheese)
- Ceviche
Biggest challenges we faced: Again, that whole rabies thing.
What we would have done differently: Not petting a dog on the street, resulting in missing out on Machu Picchu.
Read More!
An Extensive Guide to Arequipa, Peru
Our Brush with the Peruvian Medical System
