PeruNorth's musings on events & destinations in Northern Peru, Amazonia ... and beyond. Detailed tour reviews.
It was not until 1935, the year of Lima's 400th anniversary, that Lindley created a carbonated soft drink based on the native plant Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora). This was given the name Inca Kola and launched with the strapline 'Solo hay una y no se parece a ninguna' (There is only one, and it’s unlike any other).
In this age of social media, we were able to keep a close track on the progress of Anglo-Malaysian clients, Andy & Julia Little, as they travelled from Lima to The Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu to Cusco to Lake Titicaca (both Peruvian and Bolivian sides) and back to Lima. Here is a photographic journal of their 'exciting and action-packed' two-week journey.
When thinking of movement in Amazonia, river transport probably comes to mind. Being home to the longest river in the world, with countless tributaries, it is certainly true that a myriad boats - ranging from dugout canoes to narrow peke-peke speedboats to luxury cruise ships - ply the waterways, carrying people and supplies.
And yet, when you step out of the airport in Iquitos, Tarapoto, Pucallpa, or any city in Peru's Amazon, you will be struck by the sight - and sound - of another form of transport: the mototaxi, which will generally outnumber cars by at least five to one.
To date, 94 people have died, and an estimated 700,000 have been left homeless, as a direct result of the landslides and flooding, brought on by unusually heavy rains on the Western side of the Andes.
What, then, is causing all this destruction? To understand this, we need to look at Peru's coastal climate which, in a similar way to southern California, blends strong desert and offshore influences.
Descended from North African and Spanish stock, caballos de Paso are mid-sized horses bred for sure-footedness and comfort, not for speed. Unlike trotting breeds, Paso horses pace smoothly with little up-and- down movement, resulting in an exceptionally comfortable ride. As a result, they are tough and well-suited to demanding trips into the rough, dry, and expansive western Andes. Today, they are considered the smoothest saddle horses in the world.
Most of Trujillo’s wonderful Colonial and Republican buildings are to be found within a few blocks of the central square, the Plaza de Armas, and so it makes an ideal location to explore on foot.
In the excitement of the recent commencement of international flights between Panama and Chiclayo, I became curious as to why Chiclayo Airport (CIX) was named after José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles. It turns out, I had been regularly looking at his face, ever since I arrived in Peru - his face and aeroplane have appeared on the s/.10 note since 1991!
Since December 2015, the Historic Boat Museum of Iquitos has had a highly significant addition to her armada: the second oldest gunboat in the world, B.A.P. America.
Built in Birkenhead, England in 1904, in order to serve in Peru’s Amazon flotilla, she measures 41 m (135 ft) in length and 6 m (20 ft) in width.
The water in the vast Amazon River system is largely run-off from the Andes Mountains, and some of the most spectacular scenery and interesting wildlife can be found in the region of Northern Peru where these two gigantic geographical features meet - an area known in Spanish as ceja de selva (literally 'jungle's eye-brow') and incorporating a wide range of eco-systems between the altitudes of 500 m (1,640 ft) and 3,000 m (9,840 ft) above sea level.
Even at a slightly higher elevation, the heat can be stifling, and so a nice swimming pool is extremely welcome for the purpose of cooling down and calmly taking in one's surroundings. We therefore list below some of our favourites in the high Amazon provinces of San Martin and Amazonas.
The first week of June sees the city of Chachapoyas indulge in a celebration of the region's culture, that includes dances, cuisine, music, costumes and artwork. Known as Raymi Llacta (or Llaqta), which means 'town festival' in Quechua, it has been a fixture on the Northern Peru calendar since 1996.
