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A Peru for Every Type of Backpacker

A Peru for Every Type of Backpacker

To truly experience a country as culturally diverse, geologically varied, and historically rich as Peru, one would need much more time than the average backpacker. Regardless, those of us guided by wanderlust seek some insight, a window into the host country. We’ve compiled a two-part list of the attractions that Peru has to offer every type of traveler… What type of backpacker are you?

Conquering Geological Wonders

Peru’s distinct environmental regions provide excellent trekking options for both experienced hikers and casual trekkers alike. There are plenty of trails to choose from, including multi-day slogs and one-day walks. Some of the most popular treks include:

  • The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the alternative Lares Trek, actually favored by locals thanks to its superior sweeping views
  • Descend into the depths of the world’s deepest canyons, Cotahuasi Canyon and Colca Canyon, home of the endangered and massive Andean Condors
  • The Cordillera Huayhuash Blanca treks- considered among the best in the world

Thrill Seekers

From catching air to catching waves, there’s plenty in Peru to keep the most demanding thrill-seeker occupied.

  • Paragliding of the cliffs of Miraflores and over the Pacific Ocean
  • Rafting the rapids around Cusco, in the Canyons of Arequipa, and into the Amazon
  • Sandbuggy riding and Sandboarding down White Hill and the sand dunes surrounding Huacachina Oasis
  • Surfing some of the best waves in the world along the Peruvian Coast north of Lima
  • Scaling the rocks and ice of the Cordillera Blanca Range

Eco-Travelers

With a landscape boasting incredible range from the desert coast to snow-capped Andean peaks and down into the lush Amazon Basin, Peru has a number of astounding national parks, sanctuaries, and reserves which would delight any nature-lover and inspire everyone else to becoming nature-lovers:

  • Manú National Park in the Amazon Rainforest, one of the world’s most biologically diverse zones
  • Paracas National Reserve, off the Peruvian coast south of Lima, with its bustling penguin and sea lion colonies
  • Tingo Maria National Park in the Amazon with its cave-dwelling oil birds

Culturally Curious

To foreigners, it will appear that Peru’s year has as many festival days as non-festival days.

  • Candelaria in Puno, where you can experience the greatest number of folkloric dances, music, and costumes
  • Some popular celebrations such as Inti Raymi in Cusco on June 24th and Fiestas Patrias Independence Days in July, have festivities which last all month
  • Holy Week, or SemanaSanta, popularly and distinctly celebrated in Ayacucho
  • Festival of San Juan celebrated on  Amazon riversides.
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White Water Rafting: Thrills in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

White Water Rafting: Thrills in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Many of our backpacking friends who come visit us in Cusco are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and luckily, from extreme sports to high Andean treks and intriguing ruins, Cusco delivers. One thing with which Peru abounds is quality whitewater rafting for all levels. Not only does the Sacred Valley of the Incas just outside of Cusco boast a majestic landscape, but there’s also a range of amazing whitewater rafting options for those of you who want to enjoy the outdoors in a more active way, from popular day trips along the Urubamba River to longer adventures along the Apurimac River rapids.

If you’ve never rafted before but want to give it a try, there are gentle rapids along the Urubamba which are appropriate for beginners, trips begin with an equipment and safety demonstration and include a companion guide in a safety kayak should assistance be necessary. In areas where the rapids are more complicated to navigate, guides scout ahead and provide the necessary directions. With an experienced professional agency like Pirwa Travel Service, you can safely enjoy the adventure whether you’re a novice or a more experienced rafter.

The Talking Apurimac River

It’s a 5 hour drive from Cusco to the Apurimac River Valley and its epic river, which was sacred for the Incas and whose name in Quechua means “Speaking God”. The waters of the Apurimac flow down from the Mt Mismi glacier through and froth into exciting rapids as they navigate through waterfalls and narrow gorges with steep cliffsides twice as deep as the USA’s Grand Canyon. Then the waters calm, passing the scenic countryside of the Sacred Valley on the way to its final destination, the Amazon River in the tropical rainforest.

Those of you who want to tackle the Apurimac River can opt for 4 day trips which advance from Class II and III Rapids on the first day up to some Class V Rapids on the third day, tackling such famed segments as Toothache, You First, and Last Laugh. (At Right: The Devil’s Tooth) After each day’s rafting, you’ll relax in campsites in narrow gorges and sandy beaches, looking up at the stars of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Outside of the adrenaline-pumping segments of the circuit, look around for some of the canyon’s wildlife such as river otters, condors, and foxes.

The Sacred Urubamba

Sacred Valley Photo by Ruth Hager

The Sacred Valley of the Incas was formed by the Urubamba River, which is Quechua for Sacred River. It is this river that trekkers along the Inca Trail and visitors to Machu Picchu see snaking down below, wrapping around the high peak topped by the ruins.(Photos Above: The Urubamba coiling around the Machu Picchu, The Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the Urubamba River snaking through the Peruvian Andes.)

Many travelers opt for convenient day trips for rafting the Cusipata section of the upper Urubamba River, which is less crowded and cleaner than some other Sacred Valley rivers. Lasting only a day, they’re a great option for those short on time, experience, or cash. They include a picnic lunch, initial equipment and safety demonstration, and 3 hours of rafting as well as transport to and from Cusco. You can even take advantage of your foray into the Sacred Valley to arrange visits to the Ollantaytambo Fortress of Pisac enroute back to Cusco. Along the Cusipata section, rafters encounter mainly Class II and III Rapids, with perhaps some IV+ depending on the season. For those with more rafting experience, there are other options for day trips along the Urubamba showcasing world-class IV and V rapids, such as Huambutío to Pisco and Ollantaytambo to Chillca.

Your Home-Base Back In Cusco

Upon returning to Cusco, a hot shower and comfortable bed will be waiting for you at any of our four hostel locations in the Imperial City. Relax in the sunshine in the patio at Pirwa Colonial Backpackers, and make yourself at home with the self-serve kitchen. There’s an onsite bar and fast-food stand that make it easy to unwind post-adventure.

 

If, on the other hand, you want to stay active, stop by the Pirwa Travel Service information counter that’s present in all of our hostels for your convenience- there are lots more adventures to be had, such as trekking, bunjee jumping, ziplining, ATV off-roading, and downhill mountain biking! Calmer, more culturally-themed excursions like guided tours of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and of course Machu Picchu are available as well, so there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy your stay in Cusco!

 

 

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Celebrating Peru’s Independence Day, Pt 1: Traditional Anticuchos

Celebrating Peru’s Independence Day, Pt 1: Traditional Anticuchos

Travelers to Peru will find one of the country’s most popular street foods all throughout the country, sold from street food stalls- anticuchos. The name comes from “cut stew meat” in Quechua. You can find chicken, beef, sausage, and intestine, but the most traditional (and delicious!) are made of beef heart. Whatever the type, the meat is marinated, skewered, and grilled before being served with a grilled potato on top of the skewer and, if you wish, a dollop of a thick parsely and green chili sauce.

The dish dates back to the Inca empire, when it was prepared with llama, but during the 16th century the Spanish conquistadores added their own touch by introducing new ingredients not previously available such as beef and garlic. The Afro-Peruvian population brought during the colony perfected the dish, and as the organ meats were generally considered food for slaves, beef heart anticuchos became the standard. After this varied fusion, anticuchos have emerged a truly pan-Peruvian treat.

They are often consumed during the Señor de los Milagros procession, the largest religious festival which rose out of the freed-slave towns, and during Peru’s Independence Days in July. In fact, during this time, known as Fiestas Patrias, the most anticuchos are consumed.

This Saturday, July 28th, we’ll be getting into the spirit of Fiestas Patrias at Pirwa Colonial Backpackers by grilling traditional anticuchos in the patio for sale and serving up in the bar. Our guests in our 4 different Cusco hostels and all of our friends in Cusco- along with all of your friends!- are invited to join us.

7:00pm Grilling up Anticuchos to serve in the bar, where the DJ will take charge of the  playlist till the end of the night
7:30 Dance performance showcasing the Afro-Peruvian Festejo
8:00-10:00 Double-Down Happy Hour with 2×1 deals
8:30 Dance performance showcasing a traditional Andean dance
10:00 “Hora Loca”– fun, dancing and games with the dancers
10:30 There’ll be some free shots and fun to keep spirits up, and the DJ will stay on till the morning hours

In honor of the holiday, savor some traditional Peruvian culture- Don’t miss sampling some anticuchos with us this Saturday, July 28th!

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Saturday’s Party at Pirwa Colonial

Saturday’s Party at Pirwa Colonial

As we mentioned earlier, we celebrated as well as this Saturday at Pirwa Colonial, and are just getting some of the photos in…unfortunately a combination of a slow camera and my photography skills mean that any photo with movement or dancing came out pretty blurry…..

Despite my hopes of professional photography being dashed, we’ll share anyway. Below, helping people don their rainbow (Tahuantinsuyu flag) ribbons:

See that last group? They’re sitting on the stairs in the lower patio, and I happen to know what their view was at that exact moment…..

….yes, it’s exactly as you guessed: underdressed Inca sentinels! Our friends put on a little show that included a sun ritual and some dancing, the latter with some flaming whips that they swung in circles, and some little platters of fire, which together managed to set off the fire alarms, which we all just pretended didn’t happen, because it would be cruel to make people evacuate during a Cusco winter dressed this way.

You are probably wondering if the glitter and underwear are historically accurate, but I’m not your wikipedia…

Then it was back up to the bar where there was a impromptu drink show-down between our Pirwa Bartenders slinging on the left-hand side, and Brazilian guests mixing on the right. It’s hard to take on the Brazilians when it comes to drinks, guys, although they conceded that Pisco Sours are tasty too!

Alongside the drinks, we hit the floor for some dancing and limbo, but basically ALL MY PHOTOS TURNED OUT LIKE THIS ONE TO THE LEFT, ALL OF THEM. You guys move too fast- I have about 30 photos that all look like this one, but I’m sparing you and only putting up one. Apparently, if you want to show up with discernable features in any of my photos, you have to be standing still or moving very sloooooowwwwwlyyyyy, and it helps to be dressed to impress (evidence follows:)

See, they had no problem showing up in photos, so maybe it would help if next time you all came dressed as them.

At the end of the night, we had to say goodbye to our Inca and our Brazilian caiparinha mixers, having done our part as cultural ambassadors. Since my photography skills completely flaked while dancing, thought we’d provide the vid instead:

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Come Party with us in Cusco!!

Come Party with us in Cusco!!

Ready for the party tonight? The bar’s stocked, playlist packed, and facepaint readied for today’s Inka Party in honor of the Inti Raymi Sun Festival!

All of our guests (in any of our Cusco hostels) are invited to come and party with us in Pirwa Colonial Backpackers from 9pm through the morning…

…And the couple chosen as Inca emperors can expect some free drinks on our behalf!

You’ll find Pirwa Colonial Backpackers at Plaza San Francisco 360, 02 blocks from the Main Square of Cusco. If you’re facing the church, look to the side on the right. Check the map here:

View Larger Map

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