Peru is home to an array of dining experiences, from world-renowned restaurants to Indigenous recipes one can only experience deep in the jungle. The fresh flavors of Peruvian cuisine will leave your mouth watering for more South American delicacies.
A concert of humming, buzzing, chirping and the rustling of palms saturates the surrounding forest. Tucked away in the dense foliage, a small wooden boat navigates down the small Rio Momon, a thin and winding stream that flows into the mighty Amazon. Parrots and Toucans fly past, squawking overhead before evading the soothing and beautiful rainstorms each afternoon that help cool down the smothering heat. Fresh fish, fruit and herbs in every direction, offering up countless possibilities for an unforgettable meal. The brilliant sunsets create remarkable displays upon the departing rain clouds, giving off the last hint of light and color before the night symphony of insects takes over. All this sound nice? Then you need to visit Iquitos and the Amazon Rainforest in Peru.
Peru is undoubtedly one of the most stunning countries on Earth. Home to 84 of the world’s 103 ecosystems and 28 of the 32 climates on the planet, its landscape is one of the most diverse destinations. You can find yourself hiking the Andes in the morning, exploring iconic Incan archaeological sites in the afternoon, then finishing the day off watching wildlife in the jungles of the Amazon. Gorgeous cities offer some of the best gastronomy on the planet thanks to Pisco and potatoes, while the cobblestone roads take you back in time. Culture and rich history are always on full display as the proud locals across the country are some of the most welcoming and loving people you will ever meet. I continuously try to find the right words to describe Peru, but I don’t know if I ever truly will. But that’s exactly how Peru makes you feel, speechless.
Travel, for many people, is a very scary thing. The idea of venturing to an unknown place where you don’t know anybody has the capability of intimidating the best of us. The beauty, however, lies in us making the decision to face our fears directly. For me, Colombia was one of those places.
Last winter, I was lucky enough to spend a month working as a specialty English teacher at the ACES School in Palmas, Brazil. When I wasn’t in the classroom, I explored the small and beautiful city with the families I stayed with and some local teachers who took me under their wing. My “teacher friends” helped me with my Portuguese while we explored hidden waterfalls and secret beaches—and of course while we sat for hours at barbecue joints.
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