Visit Paracas in the coast of Peru! Beautiful beaches and ecotourism!

Paracas is located in the department of Ica, which is south to Lima and just 3 hours by car from Lima. Pacaras bay is very attractive for tourists because of the beautiful beaches it has, some great hotels and also because of the eco-tourism. Paracas means “sand rain” and is the name given to some great winds that are observed in this region, mainly in the afternoon.

Paracas has been declared a national reserved for migratory birds, that is why visitors in Paracas enjoy observing the different ecosysetms and bird species that are found in Paracas. One of the species is the Humboldt penguin, which receives this name because of the Humbold Current that passes through Peruvian waters, and this are the only species of penguin that can be found in Peru. Other kind of birds that live on the islands are the so called “aves guaneras”, which received this name in the golden years of bird guano in Peru, when this was the main product being exported.

Besides birds you can also see some other animals on the islands mainly mammals like sea lions and also some dolphins. The islands that are in Paracas and where you can take this kind ef eco-tourism are the Ballestas Islands, which are very near the coast and you can take one of the many tours that depart every day, but you have to do it early in the day, because the boats don’t go there in the afternoon because of the winds.

If you are looking for relax and fun you are going to love Paracas! There are many beaches in Paracas bay but one special beach is one that is calle “La Mina” which in English means mine, and is located inside the Paracas Reserve, with a beautiful view of great part of the bay and calm waters to swim and relax.

When it comes to places to stay in Paracas you can really find great variety when it comes to hotels, if you do not want to pay much and are going to be all day at the beaches and sightseeing, you can find some affordable hotels, but if you want a great luxury hotel with spa and great food you can also go to one of the two main resorts in Paracas, one is the Libertador Hotel and the other one is the Hilton, both are 5 stars luxury hotels which are just beautiful and relaxing!

Finally, Paracas has some history too, because the Paracas culture that lived before the Incas have left some important legacy in Peruvian history, mainly because of its knitting techniques that can be seen in the Paracas mantles but also because of their great knowledge of irrigation and water management. You can learn about this culture in the museum that is located inside the Paracas Reserve.

So……..what are you waiting to visit Peru and come to Paracas???

The biggest Food Festival in Peru: Mistura! Come and delight yourself!‏

This days in Lima is all about Mistura! You take a bus, go to the movies, at lunch at work, everybody is asking “did you go already?, got some tickets? What day are you planning to go?”, because is the event nobody wants to miss, is the opportunity to try great dishes from all across Peru, from a great variey of restaurants and street restaurant and at very affordable prices!

The festival started first on 2009 with the Peruvian Association of Gastronomy promoting the idea of reuniting the main players in Peruvian Gastronomy and make a menu of activities that promote not only the Peruvian Gastronomy but the cultural identity of the Peruvians.

The festival also wants to celebrate that in Peru, through the centuries, the food has been associated with festivities and joy, using techniques that had been transmitted from generation to generation. Also, the food has also been very much hand in hand with the music and social fraternization among different kind of peoples………….and this is the spirit that prevails in Mistura.

The festival reunites all the actors in the gastronomic chain in Peru: small farmers, Pisco producers, cookers, chefs, bakers, confectioneries, restaurants, street restaurants, food institutes, food processing companies and more!

In Mistura you can find all kinds of foods, from Ceviche to “Picarones” which are a special Peruvian dessert almost in the form of a donut but with honey all over…..just delicious! You can also find the most exotic juices made with fruits from the highlands and fruits that are only found in Peru, like the Lucuma.

You can also find some food stands with some Tamales, and “Humitas” which is very much like a tamale but in a sweet flavor, or you can also find the popular “Anticuchos”, which are pieces of meat from the heart of the cow and are cooked on a grill, put together on a stick…………

You can also find Food that is typical from the jungle part of Peru, like “Cecina” wich is a dried meat that is regularly served with “Tacacho”, which is kind of mashed bananas cooked with some salt and species and us just delicious!

The best about the food stands, compared to the restaurants that you can also find at Mistura, is that you can  see the whole preparation of your dish!!!

But it is not all about just eating, you can also go to some of the conferences that are offered by the greatest and most recognized internationally, and they talk about the techniques for the preparation of some dishes, about the different ways a special dish has been reinvented and presented in different restaurants and many more interesting topics!

So if you are planning on Visiting Peru next year around this time, I strongly recommend you to purchase your tickets for Mistura in Advance, the cost is only S/.15 (which is about $6) and inside the festival all the dishes have standardized prices so is the best of Peru’s food at a great price! No better deal!

The perfect dessert in Lima: Mazamorra Morada

Whether you are just walking around in the streets in Lima doing some tourism or shopping for souvenirs, or if you go to eat some of our delicious typical dishes in one of the many restaurants in town you should not leave Lima without trying a delicious Mazamorra Morada!

So what is this dessert about? The mazamorra morada is made of purple corn mixed with some other fruits like pineapple, this is cooked into a pudding-like texture with potato flour and it is spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Its name could be read as “purple pudding” because in Peru “mazamorra” is a special kind of pudding made of potato flour and can be made of many fruits, but the most popular is the mazamorra morada which is made of the purple corn.

This dessert cand be found in some of the most refined gourmet restaurants in Lima but is also very popular as a “street dessert”, and you can find it for example in carts in the principal squares around town.  Because it is easy to make, the Mazamorra Morada is one of the Peruvian desserts that is typically prepared at home.

Mazamorra morada is also popular in October in Lima because in this month there are celebrations all around town for the “Señor de los Milagros” or “Lord if the Miracles”, these are religious celebrations that include long processions, and the mazamorra is always present in this celebrations.

And if you just loved the Mazamorra and you want to take this delicious dessert to your home country now you can because in all the supermarkets you can find the packets to make at home when you only have to mix it with water and you can have your own Mazamorra Morada anywhere in the world!!

So now you now…..you don’t have any excuse for not trying these great dessert when you come to Peru! Enjoy!

Visit Trujillo in the coast of Peru!‏

Trujillo is Located in the north of Peru, in the department of La Libertad and was founded in 1534 by Miguel de Estete, and was surrounded with walls to prevent the invasion and attacks by pirates at that time. During Peru’s independence, Trujillo was the capital, but this only lasted a while.

Trujillo is the commercial center of the region, where rice and sugar is cultivated, and also has a very important textile sector. Trujillo is about 6 hours from Lima in a particular car, or about 8 hours by bus, but if you choose to go by air, is less than an hour from Lima airport!!

Trujillo, the same as Lima, is recognized by its great balconies that come from the colony times, and also in Trujillo there are two important churches that are very visited and recognized by its great architecture: “La Compañia” and the cathedral of Trujillo.

Also, to visit in Trujillo, a little outside of the city are the ruins of the pre-incas city of Chanchán, a great citadel to explore, take amazing pictures and learn about the culture that lived there way before the Incas. There are also the Sun and the Moon “huacas”, which are adobe brick temples built by the Moche civilization.

Trujillo also has its own version of the “Marinera” dance, and is in this city where the national Marinera contest takes place every year!

In Trujillo there is also the popular beach “Huanchaco”, home of the “Caballitos the Totora” or “Totora horses”, which are small boats and are used since (at least) the year 1,000 B.C. These boats are made from stems and leaves of reed, a particular kind of plant that grows around the region. This boats were originally used to fish, but nowadays they are still produced mostly for tourism rides and to surf along the Trujillo beaches.

Besides the national marinera contest, in September is held the big “International Spring Festival”, which lasts for about a week and there are parades all over the streets, the houses are decorated and there are contests, dances, and parties every day!

Of course there is a lot more to say about this great city but I will post about each particular attraction soon, meanwhile………..I think I gave you enough reasons for you to be booking your hotel in Trujillo now!!

Visit Tumbes and its beaches!‏

In the department of Tumbes, in the north of Peru, you can find different eco-systems such as estuaries and mangroves, the dry equatorial forest (Cerros de Amotape National Park) and the Pacific tropical forest (Reserved Zone of Tumbes). More than 30% of the territory has been declared natural protected areas.

Its closeness to the Equator makes the beaches of Tumbes ideal places for surfing, diving, fishing, or simply for the people searching for fun and sun in summer. Punta Sal is thought to be one of the best beaches in Peru because of its white sand and rich marine life. The Zorritos cove is famous for its tranquil water and wide variety of fish.

If you are young and are looking for fun nightlife, don’t really care much for tranquility or relaxing, just partying a lot when the sun goes down, you should go to Mancora which is a very popular beach among young people, and is really in Piura, but almost in the limit with Tumbes.......there you can find a great variety of hotels and get to know other people from many nations, beside the locals from Tumbes.

The weather in Tumbes is semi tropical, with a average temperature of 24ºC, so you can really come in any time of the year and will find nice weather, besides the water level of the sea is not cold at all! There are flights to Tumbes every day from Lima, and many times a day, or if you’d also like to make a road trip you can take a bus or rent a car and go through the Panamericana highway and also enjoy a few stops in Chiclayo or Trujillo, beautiful cities and with beaches as well!!!

 

To the north of Tumbes, you come across Puerto Pizarro, well known for its islands and for its American crocodile farms, a species unique to Peru and one in danger of being extinct. This is also a city where you find large amounts of black scallops and crabs, the basis for an exquisite local cuisine.

Inside Lima, Peru: The Cathedral‏

The Cathedral of Lima is located on the main square on the "Historical Center" in the city of Lima, which is the capital of Peru, and is almost next to the government palace, home of the President of Peru and where many important ceremonies take place.

Francisco Pizarro, one of the conquerors of Peru founded the city of Lima, which is called "The city of the kings" and ordered the construction of the Cathedral in 1535, which will be the most important church in the entire South America in the times of the Spanish Viceroyalty in South America. Its inaguration was on March 1540.

The great work in the Cathedral, specially the cover, altars, the vaults and drawers is highly praised and is recognized as the oldest architectural work in Lima. The cathedral has been renew many times, in part because the conquerors wanted to look every time more grand and superb, and in part because of the earthquakes that the city has suffer, so there is really a mix of different architectural elements that visitors can appreciate in the cathedral.

The cathedral has two huge towers of neoclassical style, and its internal vaulta are of evident gothic inspiration. Inside the cathedral there is a museum of religious art, where you can find just beautiful paints from the times of the colony, and also some sculptures.

In keeping with the majority of cathedrals the front facade has three large doorways. The main or central gateway is called the Portada del Perdón or the "door of forgiveness". There are also no less than 14 side doors; one of which opens on to Calle de Judíos (Street of the Jews) and another on to the Patio de los Naranjos (Square of the Oranges, connected to the Cathedral).

Even with all this beauty inside and the great art that you can appreciate in the catheral when you visit it on the day, you should also take some pictures from the outside at night because the lights are just beautiful and it almost looks as a fairy tale palace!!!