That Ayni Thing: Where Reciprocity is Just a Way of Life
There are some words and concepts that should be shelved and forgotten. Then there are some of eternal value which deserve to rest in a kind of immortal docking zone. “Ayni” is one of them. Story by Jeff Fuchs, Photos by Outpost While reading up on Peru and the Andean world, I remember my first […]
The Birds-Eye View: Peru is a Birdwatcher’s Paradise
STORY BY CARLA BRAGAGNINI FEATURE PHOTO: Alfonso Zavala/PromPeru) When I was young, some Canadian friends visited our home in Lima after a cruise trip to the Galapagos Islands. During our outdoor lunch, they spotted it on a branch – an unseen bird from their Galapagos birdwatching checklist. They ran toward the red-breasted bird with notebooks […]
Peruvian Cuisine is a Lesson in History and Geography (FOOD: Part 1)
From multicultural influences to ancient traditions and modern adaptations, here’s Peruvian-Canadian Carla Bragagnini’s guide to Peru’s cuisine! (Part 1) Story and Photos by Carla Bragagnini A ride through downtown Lima reveals endless chifa restaurants, bakeries, cebicherias, outdoor markets and street food stands. Lima, Arequipa and other major Peruvian cities have a strong cultural identity that is built […]
Iquitos: a Sweaty, Spectacular Springboard to an Amazon Adventure
While Iquitos may not be every traveller’s cup of (very!) hot tea, the capital of the Peruvian Amazon is funky and well worth exploring on your way to a jungle adventure! Story by Colin Quinn Iquitos is a special kind of hot. It’s a smothering, deodorant-defying heat that makes you feel like a bear in […]
72 hours in Cusco | Acclimatizing in Inca Territory
Are three days in Cusco, Peru enough? Of course! The ancient Inca capital of cobbled streets, plazas and a dramatic central square is a popular base to acclimatize, with plenty of attractions Story and Photos by Desiree Anstey Soprano high whistles direct traffic from narrow, stone-slabbed streets. There’s screeching of brakes and honking of horns, but […]
In From the Outpost PERU/Episode3: The Last Inca Bridge at Q’eswachaka
In Peru, Jeff Fuchs led Team Outpost along the Salkantay Trek in the Andes Mountains, then to the community of Chawaytiri and Q’eswachaka, finally across the highlands of Tanta—pack-llamas in tow, tea at the ready—listening to the stories of the Quechua people, exploring the history of the Great Inca Road and the ancient people who’ve […]
Ancient Lima: A Place Where Human Civilization Began
Unbeknownst to most travellers to Lima, the modern metropolis brims with an ancient past and a vibrant history. Story by Carla Bragagnini, Photos by Outpost In the historic colonial center of Lima, Peru, Spanish conquistador/conqueror Francisco Pizarro built—unfortunately—the Government Palace (or Presidential Palace, where he lived, and where Peru’s current president lives) atop pre-Incan structures. The Spanish actually did […]
Ancient Alpaca Weaving with the Women of Chinchero
How I learned the ancient alpaca weaving techniques with the Women Weavers of Chinchero. Story and Photos by Carla Bragagnini Our welcome into the weavers’ collective includes a smile and a mug of coca-leaf tea. I can’t think of a friendlier gesture at these soaring altitudes (coca eases its affects). Chinchero, a rural Quechua weaving town […]
In Between Instagram: Tips from an Expat on Getting Around Peru
By Colin Quinn Peru has everything an adventurer could want: beaches, mountains, rainforest, ancient sites, colonial history and modern cities. But if you want to brag about visiting all these epic places, you have to get there first. And therein lies the fun. The “how you get there” is rarely as photogenic as the “once […]
