A Piece of Peru

Earlier this year, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Cusco, Peru. The following is a list of reflections that you might not have already heard about this fantastic city

1.DON’T mistake alpacas for llamas. I realized the importance of becoming educated on these animals after yelling and pointing ‘A llama!’ at an alpaca and receiving a glare and a grumpy correction from the woman who owned it. Alpacas are shorter than llamas, have more hair, and have more blunt faces, making them look almost pretentious and sassy. In addition, llamas have banana-shaped ears while alpacas have spear-shaped ears. The city of Cusco sees mostly alpacas being walked by their owners waiting for the tourists who want to take a picture with them. The women who own the alpacas are colorfully dressed in traditional Peruvian wear and often ask for a ‘donation’ that you feel obliged to give in exchange for the picture.

2.DON’T forget to taste the Chicha de Jora at the Picanteria. Yes, the traditional Pisco Sour is a must, but the less known Chicha de Jora is also a unique drink. Chicha de Jora is a corn beer chicha (beverage derived from maize) that is fermented for several days. It has a small amount of alcohol, between 1 and 3% and is usually had in large quantities. After trying the Pisco Sour at the ‘Museo del Pisco’ in downtown Cusco, we made conversation with one of the owners of the restaurant, who recommended we try the Chicha de Jora and describing that it was served in a large glass and produced a warm satisfied feeling after drinking it. He suggested we try it at one of the ‘Picanterias’ in Cusco. A long search and many taxis later, we stumbled along the Picanteria ‘La Cusqueñita’, where we tasted the Chicha de Jora in its promised giant of a glass and watched traditional Peruvian dance among Cusco’s locals.

3.DON’T forget to acclimate. Especially if coming from an especially low area of the world, it is important to remember that Cusco is at an altitude of 3400 meters, or about 11,200 feet. It’s a good idea to take it easy the first day, rather than trying to see the entire city and its outskirts right away. The trip is much less pleasant when you are suffering from altitude sickness, something I learned the hard way. Should you, however, suffer from altitude sickness, most small stores downtown sell oxygen in small convenient bottles.

4.DON’T pay more than you need to. Downtown is ridden with local stores and vendors selling alpaca products that cater to the tourists. These stores are, as you might imagine, incredibly expensive. Vendors can be sneaky and often charge tourists more than they do locals, knowing they are likely to pay more. Being Hispanic occasionally walking around with Americans, I witnessed this in action many times. Visit a variety of stores and ask prices before buying an alpaca product and don’t be afraid to bargain with vendors for the right price. Remember, this is Latin America, and bargaining is common. Happy shopping!

5.DON’T neglect your stomach. Your tummy will appreciate it if you are cautious of where and what you eat. Not all street food and local restaurants are created equal. Some have better hygiene and preparation than others. I was born in Mexico and have had plenty of exposure to street food and small local restaurants. I was over-confident and ate everything the first few days in Cusco. This carelessness led me straight to the bed with a massive stomach infection. I had to call a doctor for a home visit and thankfully he was helpful and understanding; with the medicine he prescribed I was better almost right away. However, all of this could have been avoided if I had exercised more caution with food. Take care and try new things!

Cusco is a beautiful city with so much to offer, and I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips on making it a more pleasant and memorable experience.