The Inca Empire

Here we are again, dear friends of Travelsauria.

And this time, writing from Europe: yes, we came back to our beloved continent. As you can check on our Instagram profile.

However, we are not done with travelling and with the articles about South America. We still have to tell you stories about Ecuador, our short stay in Colombia and last but not least, about Peru.

So, don't go away and keep on reading us. It is a big support for us to know that you are still there and follow our little steps through the World.

It’s time to write about Peru, the Inca Empire.

And we want to begin quoting a sentence from Frey, a truck driver who gave us a ride between Trujillo and Tuquillo (it's not a joke): “Peru is a bit like an ocean: a mixture of several civilizations, cultures and influences, hard to believe. Exactly like all the fishes that meet in front of our Peruvian coast because of the sea water currents, Humboldt and Niño.”

This is a big truth. The Peruvian territory was home to several ancient cultures. Starting from the “Norte Chico” of the 32nd century BC, the oldest civilization in the Americas, to the Inca Empire, the largest state in pre-Columbian era. Peru has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing its heritage back to the 4th millennia BC. A unique example of cultural diversity and richness.

Everybody has in mind, probably as first image of Peru, the magnificent ruins of Macchu Picchu and all the mystery surrounding this location. Then the Nazca Lines, another historical doubt still to solve. And what else: Lima, Cuzco, Arequipa. Right?

Many travellers we met through our journey, fell totally in love with the country and we absolutely respect this feeling. We think, however, that they had just a partial and constructed view of Peru, mainly presented by an incredible marketing campaign of the national tourism ministry. Which is nothing negative but, as said, only partial.

Thousands of tourists usually follow this main route: entering from south to the Titicaca Lake, arriving either in Arequipa or straight to Macchu Picchu. Next steps are Nazca Lines, Ica and the Huacachina sand dunes, Lima and its nightlife, ending with a flight to Colombia or a bus to the Ecuadorian coastline.

This is normally the suggested path and many people choose it because it's well connected, safe and it includes the main touristic attractions. Sometimes it is also a matter of time, not everybody can travel for so long as we did. That’s why we don’t want to judge anybody!

Our intention is just to give a different impression and some possible travel alternatives, in order to keep your budget low and be anyway satisfied. With a tick of adventure.

Peru is much more, come to discover it with us. Let’s go!

Always “off the beaten track”, our path started in Juliaca, the ugliest city we have seen so far in South America. Definitely an experience!

We decided then, to avoid Macchu Picchu because expensive, overcrowded and mainly exploited. We have been staying in the outskirts of Lima instead than in the famous hip Miraflores, full of hostels and nightlife. And when we said to the locals that we were staying in "El Augustin", all asked why the hell we did that?

But there we have seen the real life of the capital, walking beside graffiti walls, through calm and characteristic squares and feeling the typical South American mess.

After Lima, our path brought us to volunteer in a project immersed in a semi-deserted valley but where, because of the humidity, they were still able to grow citrus, avocado and mango. Like if we had no sand enough in 3 weeks, we spent another month working in an eco-lodge on the ocean side. Totally surrounded by nothing than desert, rocks and dunes but with the best sunset view possible, right in front of us. Our lullaby was the sound of waves.

In need of some fresh air and vegetation, we went up on the green mountains of Caraz and San Ignacio, in the Northern region of Cajamarca. Learning about blueberry production, cacao and coffee plantations, three realities that made us understand the real value behind products, which we consume daily throughout Europe and usually for ridiculous prices. Not comparable with the effort and the sweat of their peasants.

And after facing all these adventures, places and experiences we deeply understood how Peru cannot be limited only to Cuzco and Lima. There is so much more to see, to discover, to protect. Far from the touristic routes and probably because of this, much more worth it.

Like all the almuerzo places, offering lunch menus for less than one Euro. Or like some plants and fruits you find only in the village markets (like achote, used for colouring clothes in red, or the guama, a huge green bean with sweet white seeds inside). Or many archaeological sites which don't have even a street to enter but are so impressive and full of history to surprise us. We still are amazed by the Chankillo sun clock or the ancient villages of Caral and Chan Chan.

Achote

And then the invasion of the mini-moto everywhere on the streets, so many that they will become part of your stay. Or the Amazonian region, especially Iquitos, which cannot be reach via land but only with a 3 day trip on a cargo boat. What else? The rooster fights, a peculiar entertainment where to spend your Sundays and bet on your favourite fighter.

It wasn't always going all fine in the huge Peru. Sometimes we felt misunderstood or totally in the wrong place, we were tired of hearing about the massive corruption that the country is facing and that nobody seems to care about. Often we didn't accept our "gringo" nickname, walking down the markets and being tagged as the usual tourists.

But after 8 months travelling South America, we learned how to deal with this funny treatment and we are here to state once more, if you ever think about planning a trip to Peru, to include as many not touristic spots as possible. Because only in this way you will understand this country, its reality, its conscience, its history and soul.

A soul perfectly explained by another quote from a song we heard on the radio: "Con Amor, con dolor y con ardor"!

This is it, this is Peru: "With love, with pain and with courage"!

Merry Christmas and Risk Curiosity