What Type of Traveler are You?
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on June 14, 2021 by James Bustamante
An important question to ponder over before planning out any trip is “what type of traveler are you?”. Knowing the answer to this will make your upcoming trip easier to plan for, and an overall more enjoyable one.
Thousands of tourists arrive in Peru every year expecting the perfect trip. Many of these travelers will put themselves into three different classes. Some are culture buffs who are looking to take in all the information related to the Incas or focus on the colonial period.
Others will want to make it a more outdoorsy trip and connect with nature while they camp out under the stars. And there are of course the adventure travelers that just want to feel the adrenaline coursing through their veins. No matter what your passion is, Peru has something for you. So what type of traveler are you?
Peru is a Cultural Travel Destination
If you ask yourself, “what type of traveler are you?” and your answer is a cultural one, then we have some good news for you. Peru can certainly be considered a cultural travel destination. There aren’t many other destinations in South America with such a rich and powerful culture. This includes the native Incan empire as well as the colonial period that came afterward. If we want to include gastronomy into the equation then Peru is also big on food culture having won the world’s best culinary destination several years in a row.
So if your answer to “what kind of traveler are you?” is one that focuses on the cultural aspects of a trip. Where should the culturally minded traveler go in Peru? Below are some of the destinations where the trip will heavily focus on the local culture.
- Lima – Lima centro, Miraflores, Barranco, Pachacamac.
- Cusco – City of Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, The Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu.
- Arequipa – City of Arequipa.
- Trujillo – City of Trujillo, Caral.
Cusco and Machu Picchu are the obvious places to start since these destinations are basically a symbol for anyone coming to Peru. They of course are not the only places you can visit. If you go to Lima, take the city tour that goes through the impressive colonial-style architecture scattered throughout its major districts.
You can also visit the pre-Inca ruins located throughout the city like the Huaca Pucllana for example. These pyramidal buildings made of Adobe were put together by the Lima culture which predates the Incan empire.
Our next stop on a cultural travel experience can be the highland city of Puno and Lake Titicaca. Here you can join in on ancient customs and vibrant festivals that celebrate Quechua and Aymara roots. Take a boat ride around the highest navigable lake in the world as you visit the various floating Uros islands.
What about Peruvian food culture? Peru is a great place to be in if you are a foodie. No matter where you go you’ll see (and taste) why Peru is considered to have some of the best cuisines in the world. All of these cultures came together and created something that is truly amazing. Peruvian gastronomy has roots in native, African, Asian, and European cuisines. All perfectly merged to come up with dishes like Lomo Saltado, Ceviche, and Aji de Gallina for you to taste.
Peru is a Destination for Nature Travel
Are you the type of traveler that is looking to be in contact with nature and all its wonders? Peru is made up of 3 different regions, each with its own particular landscapes, topographies, and vastly different ecosystems. Below are some suggestions for the nature traveler coming to Peru.
- The Amazon Rainforest.
- Machu Picchu hikes like The Salkantay Trek, The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
- The Paracas Nature Reserve and Ballestas Islands.
We can begin the journey with a trip to the Amazon rainforest where you can spend 3-4 days in the Amazon rainforest. The Tambopata National Nature Reserve is on our itinerary and a great place to start.
Take canopy treetop walks, go Amazon rainforest bird watching, fish for piranhas or take a kayak through the river. The biodiversity found in the Amazon rainforest is unmatched by any other place in the world.
Another good place to start is just 3-4 hours outside of Lima, traveling to the South. The Paracas Nature Reserve where you’ll see a huge colony of sea lions, dolphins, penguins, rare sea otters, and more than 100 species of seabirds. Hire a boat and guide from the shore and they’ll take you to see the colony up close and personal.
If we head towards the mountains you can go to the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary via the classic 4 day Inca trail. You might think this is just a hiking route meant for the more adventurous type. The truth is that Machu Picchu and the Inca trail go through what is called a “cloud forest” which gathers unique features from the Peruvian highlands and the Amazon rainforest.
It presents a unique environment for rare flora and fauna only found here to flourish. Many of the local hotels will actually have their own private nature reserves that protect a variety of endangered plants and animals.
Peru and Adventure Travel
Now for those looking for something with plenty of adrenaline, Peru is a well-known destination for adventure travel. Famous for its multi-day hikes, jungle excursions, and dune buggy rides, Peru was made for travelers in pursuit of thrills. Some good activities and destinations for the adventure traveler are listed below.
- Cusco where you can go zip lining.
- Arequipa and the Colca Canyon.
- The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.
- Ica and dune buggies near the Huacachina Oasis.
- Lima and Parasailing.
Thrill-seekers will enjoy heading to the Andes to take the challenging 5 day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. The hike gives you the chance to trek through the varied highland landscape, while traversing mountain peaks and seeing glaciers along its path.
The Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Adventure travelers will also enjoy whitewater rafting in Cusco or Arequipa. The Sacred Valley is also a place for adventure travel thanks to the available zip-lining companies that allow you to cross huge chasms.
Lima is also a good place to start with your adventures. If you head to the Miraflores district near the “Malecon” you’ll be able to book paragliding sessions with local experts. If we head to the city of Ica down south and then to the Huacachina oasis you’ll be able to take dune buggies out into the desert and sandboard down giant mountainous Sand dunes.
Conclusion
So, what kind of traveler are you? These three types come in all forms such as single travelers, small groups of friends, and even large families. If you want to know anything more about Peru, Cusco, Machu Picchu Travel, and Peru tour packages contact our expert travel advisers today!
