The Moche culture, which prospered from around AD 1 to 700, dominated several valleys on Peru’s northern coast long before the famous Inca empire appeared in the country. The Moche left an especially vivid artistic legacy, particularly in their pottery and metallurgy. A series of Moche centers dating from about AD 300 to 550 administered Peru’s […]
Quito is a common stopover point en route to the Galapagos Islands, but the city itself also has a lot to offer. When searching for a place to stay in Quito before or after your Galapagos adventure, there is no need to sacrifice luxury. The city has many incredible options ,but one of my favorites […]
I visited Cusco and its surrounding areas for the first time in November with my friend from college. Like many travelers, we immediately fell in love with the region, and as soon as we returned, our friends started prodding us, “What was your favorite part? Was Machu Picchu as spectacular as the photographs?” I can […]
Every January 6, Peruvians celebrate Bajada Reyes to conmemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men to the Nativity and the gifts they brought to the newborn baby Jesus from the East shortly after his birth. When Francisco Pizarro founded Lima, he baptized it with the name “City of Kings” because its founding coincided with the […]
Some countries have one or two New Year’s Eve traditions, but New Year’s in Peru has traditions a dime a dozen. The night before welcoming the New Year, Peruvians stock up on champagne, flowers, and…potatoes? All the traditions are meant to bring good fortune for the upcoming year. Here’s a list of our favorite New Years in […]
The days before Christmas in Cusco are filled with equal parts excitement, holiday cheer…and crafts projects! Santuranticuy Cusco Christmas Market, one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Peru, is a temporary Christmas market that takes place every year in the Plaza de Armas. Local Festivals in Peru: Santuranticuy Cusco Christmas Market In years prior the event […]
