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Alpaca

// January 25th, 2012 // No Comments » // Destinations in Peru

 

It’s a star on the universe of fine textile fibers such as cashmere, angora or vicuña, reason why it is ever present and sought after on the most exclusive markets of the world. The alpaca is a natural double fiber, soft and warm. It does not easily get dirty since it has a fine layer of lanolin that makes it waterproof. Similarly, outside smells , such as perfumes and body odor are not easily pervaded on the fabric.

Used by Peruvians to make colorful pieces of clothing to important personalities of ancient cultures, the alpaca fiber is soft and at the same time unusually strong and resistant, which makes it ideal for the industrial process.

The prices of such pieces of alpaca clothing vary depending on the design and the quality of the product. Varieties such as “baby alpaca”, a fiber made out of the wool of young animals and that stand out for its special texture, reason why it can be more expensive but also more appealing to the eyes and tact.

The alpaca is a beautiful animal of harmonious walk and slender body. The fiber of its wool is one of the textile treasures of Peru.

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Peru’s typical dishes

// January 12th, 2012 // No Comments » // Peruvian Gastronomy

 

 

One of the best gastronomical expressions of Peru can be found up north, among the departments of La Libertad and Piura, whose locals have learned to combined the goods from both the sea and the land.

The adventure in front of the sea starts with the powerful cebiches, tortilla de raya (sting gray omelet) or chinguiritos (a cebiche made with dried guitarra fish). Then you can follow with sudados (a type of fish stew), cangrejos reventados (crab based dish), parihuela (a type of fish soup) and fried rices that challenge the guest’s palate.

If you go further north, to the warm lands of Piura, you will find the kind picanteras of Catacaos, a living exhibition of the gastronomical history of the north.

Here you should try the chicha de poto (fermented drink), the algarrobina cocktail, floriado, rompope (a type of punch), the yupisin (a kind of regional drink), and the diamantina, a punch said to be able to revive the dead.

Piura is also land of the extremely fresh prawns, soft yuccas from Morrope, seafood from Bayovar, mangos from Sullana, cabrito de leche (kid) fed only with sweet algarroba and cebiches that maintain the quintessence of the northern flavor.

Links: http://www.trip-peru.com/special-tourism-peru/gastronomical-tours.php

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Rupac

// December 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // Destinations in Peru

Rupac (which means that one that lights up in Quechua) belongs to the Atahuallos culture and its practically unknown despite of its magnificent architecture, around fifty building in good condition, the same thing happens with the citadels close by such as Añay and Chiprac.

The warm sunrise always bathes the ancient rocks of this citadel before any surrounding area, seduction and mystery in the purest of ways. The sun enters just like spurs on the cracks of the flat and polished stones of this marvelous complex as if it was a chant and an millennial enigma.

Truth be told, the traces of the Wari Tiahuanaco empire are carved in Rupac, the stone ceilings and the geometry that resembles chullpa bear witness to it.

Rupac is a walled citadel that reaches 10 meters (32 feet) high and its massive ceiling made out of huge stone slabs which surface is adorned by diverse vegetation, give these buildings the appearance that they have rose from the depths of the earth and leave in our mind the image of what this fabulous place might have been on its time.

 Links: www.trip-peru.com/special-tourism-peru/mystic-peru.php

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Yanapuma

// December 21st, 2011 // No Comments » // Peru’s Myths and Legends

On the jungle of Peru there’s a myth about one of the most amazing animals of the Amazon called the Yanapuma, which in quechua means Black Puma. It has been scientifically proved that the Yanapuma is a case of melanism in the Otorongo, meaning that they are animals with an excess of black pigmentation  which is why they are so rare.

This rarity has lead the jungle man to believe that the Yanapuma has demonic powers and that it hypnotizes its victims before devouring them.

Links: http://www.trip-peru.com/special-tourism-peru/mystic-peru.php

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Gastronomy from the north of Peru

// November 22nd, 2011 // No Comments » // Peruvian Gastronomy

Beyond the gold and the splendor of the great Inca cultures, the astonishing adobe pyramids and the legions of caballitos de totora (reed boats) thrown into the ocean, the true treasure of the ancient Moche, Lambayeque and Chimu rulers was their food.

The sole invention fo the zapallo loche (indigenous squash) is more valuable than all of Sipan’s gold, its chicha de jora (maze juice) freshly poured from the chombas (typical type of barrel) on the hot sands of Piura, is more precious that any of the walls in Chan Chan.

The truth is that the cuisine of the North of Peru is next to the one from Arequipa, the most important on a regional level in Peru. There you will find delicious dishes  like cabrito con frejoles (lamb and beans), a potent majarisco (smashed plantains with seafood) or a mero (type of fish) freshly pulled from the warm water.

If you visit the Northern Peru you cannot miss one of the greatest gastronomical expressions that Peru has to offer. Bon appetit.

Links: http://www.trip-peru.com/special-tourism-peru/gastronomical-tours.php

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