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 day the Three Wise Men set out for Bethlehem, which he viewed as similar to the way he and his crew of conquistadors set out for the colonial capital. In present-day Lima, the holiday is usually celebrated with family and friends. But the highlight is at the Plaza de Armas, when three policemen from the Lima police department dress up like the Three Wise Men and ride horses to a Nativity scene located either at the side of the Plaza or in the balcony of the Palacio Municipal. The tradition has been going on for about 25 years, and at the end of the day, there is a small celebration in the Plaza as the Nativity scene is packed away. In the legend, the kings brought gifts like sweets, clothing, and coal, but now the "gifts" are mainly financial. The celebration of Bajada de Reyes is more spectacular in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. The traditional folk festival includes not only the people from the town of Ollantaytambo, but also the people in the surrounding highlands and the Patacancha Valley (and, of course, curious tourists passing through). The official procession begins as two effigies of town's children are given to the Baby Jesus of Maracocha, a serious affair that is liven up with music and traditional dancing. The festivities are filled with delicious frutillada, a delightful fruity drink, and huallata, an Ollantaytamban folk dance that is meant to resemble the mating ritual of the Andean
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…
Peruvian gift ideas If you’re living in or traveling to Peru for Christmas, these Peruvian gift ideas will make for a great way to bring back a little bit of the culture. Here are some hand-picked present suggestions from some of our favorite stores in Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley, that your family and friends will be sure to love. 1. Jams Peru has a diverse selection of tasty fruits. Spread your favorite on your Christmas pannetone by eating them in jams! Las Gabas mermeladas has an amazing selection of 100% natural jams that have no preservatives with Peruvian flavors, including mango with maracuyá and green pepper, aguaymanto with brandy, and mandarina with vino moscatel. You can get these tasty treats at Peru Pa’ Ti in Lima, which sells gourmet products and handicrafts from around the country. The shop also has a lovely sit-down space to enjoy other Peruvian culinary classics such as hot sandwiches, ceviches, tiraditos and anticuchos. Peru Pa’ Ti Av. Armendáriz 546, Miraflores, Lima Tel. 445-5099 Tuesday - Thursday: 8am-11pm, Friday - Saturday: 8am-12am, Sunday: 8am-8pm 2. Ornaments Now that the holiday season is upon us, it is time to visit Las Pallas’ Christmas collection of ornaments, nativity scenes and more. Starting in late November, their Christmas-themed room displays an enormous cactus covered with ornaments from all over Peru that are all for sale in the shop. Below the cactus are ‘mountains’ with various nativity scenes from around the country on display. Mari explained the different materials the figurines were made from and where in Peru they were made. Mari Solari’s shop is a must for those visitors to Lima looking for vintage pieces of folk art from throughout Peru. Las Pallas is located within Mari’s home, a lovely Barranco mansion. Las Pallas Calle Cajamarca 212, Barranco, Lima
Peruvian gift ideas If you’re living in or traveling to Peru for Christmas, these Peruvian gift ideas will make for a great way to bring back a little bit of the culture. Here are some hand-picked present suggestions from some of our favorite stores in Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley, that your…
Dream vacations can be derailed by unexpected illnesses. From questionable water to pesky mosquitoes, the new stresses of unfamiliar locations can leave even the fittest travellers sluggish or bedridden. No one wants to miss out on all the things their carefully crafted trips have to offer, so it is prudent to understand how to avoid or manage medical roadblocks. Here's Aracari's advice on how to manage altitude sickness in Peru. Preventing Altitude Sickness in Peru One of the most common afflictions in Andean areas is altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or Soroche. The thin oxygen at high elevations causes rapid breathing, which leads dehydration as more water is lost through exhaling than is gained through inhaling the dry mountain air. Different travelers have different levels of susceptibility to altitude sickness, but most symptoms begin occurring at altitudes around 6,000 ft. Travelling at altitude Some of Aracari’s most beautiful destinations sit at dizzyingly high altitudes, including Machu Picchu (2,430 m/8,000 ft), Cusco (3,400 m/11,500 ft), and La Paz (3,6000m/11,800 ft). Not all travelers suffer from altitude sickness, but it is better to be informed rather than allow the possibility deter you from traveling to these spectacular locales. Prepare yourself with our handy Q&A on properly detecting and handling altitude sickness, with information from Dr. Dante Valdivia of the Centro de Investigación de Medicina de Altitud (CIMA). What are the symptoms of altitude sickness in Peru? Generally, altitude sickness manifests itself in heart pounding shortness of breath, which can cause headache, nausea, and dizziness as dehydration progresses. Some travellers also report feelings of extreme tiredness, insomnia, or loss of appetite. How do I deal with altitude sickness in Peru? There are a number of measures that can be taken to combat the perils of altitude sickness. BEFORE ARRIVAL: Plan your
Dream vacations can be derailed by unexpected illnesses. From questionable water to pesky mosquitoes, the new stresses of unfamiliar locations can leave even the fittest travellers sluggish or bedridden. No one wants to miss out on all the things their carefully crafted trips have to offer, so it is prudent…
