Top 4 things you will love about Peru

1. The Food

I honestly didn’t expect much about the food in Peru; people had told me that the food was good, but that is definitely an understatement. The food was… A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Of course it depends on where you go in Peru, differents cities have differents specialties, but overall, everything I ate during my stay was great. I’m a vegetarian, so I’m not your number 1 source for guinea pigs and llamas (cause yes… they do offer that on menus.), but I can confirm that the ceviche is TOPNOTCH. I tried to taste the ceviche from every city I visited, and each time I was not disappointed! The fish is so fresh in some areas that you’ll want to order a second plate, I’m telling you.

*sidenote: try the street popcorn. Little strange at first, but it grows on you! I got addicted.

2. Sand boarding in Huacachina

Before I got to Peru, I knew little to nothing about the country. Of course I knew about Machu Picchu, about the llamas that seem to hang out everywhere and the high altitude cities, but that’s about it. Huacachina was the second city I visited, and it did not disappoint. This desert oasis offers one of the most incredible activities (in my opinion) that you can do in Peru. Sand boarding and dune buggies.

Tip #1: take the dune buggy tour around 4pm so that at the end of your tour, you get to see the sunset setting on the town.

Tip #2: you want to make sure to sit at the front or on the sides of the buggy, trust me, the experience will be so much better.

Tip #3: you’re going to want to bring a light scarf or something to cover your nose and mouth, you will definitely get sand in your face.

I think Sandboarding was one of the coolest thing I ever did; It’s crazy fun, the view from the dunes is incredible and the buggy ride is awesome! You will not regret it.

3. Uros, The Floating Island

I didn’t know much when it came to Puno, the Titicaca lake or the floating islands. I was travelling with a girl I met on the bus, and she was so excited to visit Uros the main floating island of the lake that I decided to follow her on the tour. I didn't know that it was going to be one of the highlights of my entire trip. If you only have a short time in Puno (the main city on the lake), I suggest you try the afternoon boat tour that allows you to visit the main island until the sunset. If you have more time, I would definitely recommend you do the overnight stay. I, personally, didn't have time to stay 2 days, but it’s on my bucket list for my next time in Peru. Once you get on the island, your guide will explain how the islands are made and how the people from those island live their day-to-day life. You can buy little souvenirs, take a totora boat to the other islands and even play with the children (they are adorable). It was one of the most interesting visit I’ve ever done, totally a must on your list.

4. Peru Hop

During last night in Colombia, I met a guy at my hostel that told me all about Peru Hop. The next day, when I arrived in Lima, my Peru Hop ticket was bought and I was leaving the next day on my journey. This transport system offers differents itineraries that goes all around Peru’s main cities and attractions all the way down to Bolivia. The buses are comfy, sometimes they even have wifi, and they give discounts on places to eat, on hostel reservations and on different activities. They provided me with a bus schedule, and all I had to do was confirm my seat with the guides during the bus ride. The coolest part of Peru Hop is that your ticket is valid for 1 year, so if you’re not too sure about how long you want to stay in one place, you can just let them know, and book the ride that you want within the next year for your next city. It’s a great way to meet new people and a unique way to travel across the country. I had a great experience with Peru Hop, and I would totally recommend it if your looking into going to Peru.