• Home
  • Start Here
    • Meet Lia & Jeremy
    • Our Year-Long Honeymoon
    • Read These Posts
      • Year in Review Posts
      • Travel Stories (& Travel Fails)
    • About Practical Wanderlust
      • Our Mission Statement
      • Meet The Team
    • Lia’s Book
    • Podcast
    • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Destinations
    • Browse All
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Nepal
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • Puerto Rico
      • United States
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • Panama
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • What to Pack for South America
      • 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
    • United States
      • Browse All USA
      • California
      • National Parks
      • Disney
    • Virtual Travel
  • Travel Tips
    • How to Plan a Trip
    • Travel Safety Tips
    • Travel Insurance Guide
    • How to be a Responsible Tourist
    • Long Term Travel
    • Family Travel
  • Packing Guides
    • General Packing Guides
    • Packing Lists by Destination
    • Product & Gear Reviews
    • Our Travel Essentials
    • Baby Travel Essentials
    • Browse All Packing Lists
  • Gift Guides
  • Lia’s Book
  • Podcast
  • Blogging Tips
  • Work with Us
    • Partner With Us
    • Press & Media
    • Write for Us
    • Coaching & Mentoring
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Practical Wanderlust

Responsible Travel on a Budget

  • Home
  • Start
    • Meet Lia & Jeremy
    • Read These Posts
      • Our Year-Long Honeymoon
      • Browse All Personal Posts
      • Travel Stories & Fails
      • Year in Review Posts
      • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel
      • 32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple
      • More Things Nobody Tells You…
    • About the Blog
      • Our Mission Statement
      • Meet The Team
    • Podcast
    • Lia’s Book
    • About Blogging
      • Income Reports
      • Pinterest Tips
      • Digital Nomad Tips
      • Write for Us
    • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Destinations
    • Browse All
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Nepal
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • Puerto Rico
      • United States
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • Panama
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • What to Pack for South America
      • 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
    • United States
      • Browse All USA
      • California
      • National Parks
      • Disney
    • Virtual Travel
  • Travel Tips
    • How to Plan a Trip
    • Travel Safety Tips
    • Travel Insurance Guide
    • Responsible Tourism Guide
    • Family Travel
    • Long Term Travel
      • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel
      • Our Year-Long Honeymon
      • Digital Nomad Tips
      • What Not to Pack for Long Term Travel
      • How to Quit Your Job & Travel Book
      • Browse All Long Term Travel
    • Packing Guides
      • General Packing Guides
      • Destination Packing Lists
      • Product & Gear Reviews
      • Travel Essentials We Bring on Every Trip
      • Baby Travel Essentials
      • Browse All
    • Gift Guides
      • 50 Perfect Travel Gifts
      • Eco-Friendly Travel Gifts
      • Gifts for Hikers Under $25
      • Travel Gifts for Coffee Lovers
      • Funny Travel Gifts
  • Work with Us
    • Partnerships
    • Press & Media
    • Write for us
    • Coaching
Home ยป 40 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking in Peru

40 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking in Peru

By Lia Garcia | Updated on: January 6, 2022

Things To Know About Backpacking in Peru
Ads are how we keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
9.4K shares

If you’re going backpacking in Peru, chances are you’ll hear a lot about Machu Picchu, something like “don’t spend any time in Lima” (we disagree), and some generic advice about acclimating in Cusco for a few days before doing anything athletic, like getting out of bed or walking up a flight of stairs (we agree).

And that’s about it.

We arrived in Peru with very little idea of what to expect: we knew a whole lot about the history of the Incas and very little about the Peru of today.

After a month of backpacking Peru and figuring it out as we went, we’ve cobbled together some observations from our very gringo perspective, with varying levels of usefulness and in no particular order.

Here are 40 things nobody tells you about backpacking in Peru!

Traveling through Peru? Subscribe in the box below and we’ll send you a free self-guided Lima walking tour, plus tips to help you plan your trip to Peru!

Get the Printable Lima Walking Tour!

Subscribe below and we'll send you the FREE Lima Walking Tour printable directions & map! We'll also send you some tips for visiting Lima and Peru.

Awesome! The walking tour is on its way to your inbox. Be sure to add contact@practicalwanderlust.com to your address book so we don't end up in spam!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

Psst, planning a trip to Peru? Here are some of our other posts that might be helpful!

  • Hiking Machu Picchu: Failure On The Inca Trail
  • The 5 Most Instragrammable Places in Peru
  • 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
  • 10 Outstanding Things to do in Ollantaytambo, Peru
The desert from a bus window in Peru. The frequency of deserts is something we did not know about before backpacking in Peru!
Bonus tidbit: There is a LOT more desert here than I realized. Most of our bus rides seem to involve passing through some kind of desert landscape.

Backpacking Peru

1. If you order a coffee at a restaurant, you are likely to receive a cup of hot water and a small pitcher of cold dark liquid.

Surprise! That’s your coffee. It’s highly concentrated and often sweetened.

You’re supposed to pour the concentrated coffee into the hot water until it stops tasting like watery coffee, which is usually about a 50:50 ratio, in my experience.

I will say that it’s way better than instant, but it’s not quite the cold brew of my snobby coffee fantasies, either (although there is incredible coffee in Lima).

2. There’s more American music in Peru than anywhere else we’ve been.

But it’s all like, a few years behind. There’s a lot of classic rock, a weird amount of Jason Mraz, and more than anything else, Coldplay.

This entire country is freaking obsessed with Coldplay. We hear it at hostels, restaurants, coffee shops. Acoustic Coldplay. Live recorded Coldplay. Acapella Coldplay.

It’s very relaxing, but we’re very confused.

3. When they’re not chillaxing to Coldplay, every coffee shop in Peru has the same acoustic cover album playing.

Just hours of acoustic covers of American Top 40’s hits. Miley Cirus, Taylor Swift, Adele, and – above all else – James Blunt and that song “Let Her Go” from whoeverthehell.

Seriously, we’ve heard it more here than we ever did in the states. It’s so odd.

READ THIS POST
13 Things to Know Before You Go to Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru: Guest Post

4. Lúcuma is the Pumpkin Spice of Peru.

It might just be our favorite Peruvian fruit, and we’ve never actually tried the fruit itself!

Lúcuma is a flavor used all over Peru in sweets, ice creams, and desserts. It tastes like caramel and maple syrup mixed with brown sugar and heaven.

We hear the actual fruit has the texture of a hard-boiled egg yolk, which is why people use it for cooking instead of eating raw. We’re really curious to try it.

If you’re backpacking through Peru and see something flavored with lúcuma, get it!

5. Sometimes when something in a restaurant includes ham, it’s literally pieces of lunch meat ham.

This is maybe excusable – if a little weird – on pizza, but it makes absolutely no sense on pasta. And yet….

Food for Peru Backpacking
Mmm, delicious lunch meat alfredo pasta.

6. Don’t forget to look up the altitude of your destination ahead of time!

Altitude is no joke in Peru, where you can travel a few hours away from the coast and suddenly find yourself gasping and sick.

I got altitude sickness after taking a bus from Huancacho, at sea level, to Huaraz, at 10,000 feet. Try to plan your trip so that you climb gradually and have a few days to acclimate.

When you’re backpacking Peru, don’t go from coast to mountains and back to the coast and then back into the mountains, which is what we did – wtf were we thinking??

And bring altitude sickness pills!

7. Coca Tea is your best friend.

Don’t let its plant origins fool you: it’s nothing like cocaine!

It tastes like bitter dried leaves and smells a bit like weed, but it’s fantastic for soothing an upset stomach and easing the effects of altitude sickness

READ THIS POST
Laguna 69 Trek: My Crash Course in High Altitude Hiking in Peru

8. There are a lot of very strong, unpleasant smells in Peru.

Inside, there is floor wax, gas, and strong chemical cleaners. Outside, it constantly smells like exhaust and gasoline.

And anywhere that would otherwise be pretty, like the beach, a lake, or a small alley, smells like pee.

We don’t know if it’s due to people or the many stray dogs, but the pee smell is even worse then in San Francisco, and that is really saying something.

If you’re sensitive to strong smells, like Lia, it makes for a lot of headaches and nausea.

9. Peruvian history is everywhere in Peru.

From casually passing by thousand-year-old ruins while walking through a town, to shelves full of ancient pottery  in random shops or hostels, you can’t help but feel the ancientness of the Peruvian people (did I just make up a word? Whatever, it works.)

The heritage of Peru is still proudly on display in their traditional brightly colored woven textiles and garments. From alpaca wool ponchos to tall hats and brightly skirts, Peruvian traditional dress is still alive and well!

10. Inca Kola is a national obsession.

Like … people LOVE this shit.

We counted about 20 ads for Inca Kola just while sitting on the bus pulling into the station in Lima. It is a source of national identity and pride and you’re bound to come across it when you’re backpacking Peru.

And while some people rave about it, it’s … well, it’s kinda gross.

It tastes like neon yellow bubblegum. But as much as we don’t love it, we still find ourselves ordering it and craving it.

I think maybe they put something addictive in there….

Fishing Boats Huanchaco Peru
Huanchacho, Peru is an awesome surfing town where fisherman paddle out into the sea on these unique hand-woven boats made from straw, and then surf the waves back to shore after collecting their catch! How awesome are these?

11. Northern Peru is not on the typical “Gringo Trail.”

We think we know why.

Although we enjoyed the scenery crossing the border through Ecuador into Peru, we weren’t terribly into Cajamarca or Chachapoyas, the two most frequently backpacked cities in far northern Peru.

We absolutely LOVED Huanchaco, a surfing town, and Huaraz, an adventure/trekking town, though – and they’re much closer to Lima.

Don’t feel like you missed out if you don’t venture all the way north – you can leave this part off your Peru backpacking route.

READ THIS POST
La Balsa Border Crossing: from Ecuador to Peru

12. While some countries tend to specialize in producing just one product, Peru is an overachiever.

Ecuador does chocolate. Colombia does coffee.

Peru, the Hermione Granger of South America, specializes in coffee, chocolate, wines, Pisco, rice, olives, cheese, and a huge variety of fruits and vegetables!

This makes visiting local Peruvian markets exciting and also super affordable if you’re backpacking Peru!

13. Supermarkets are a rare luxury.

We’ve only encountered them in big cities, like Lima and Arequipa. Instead, everyone shops at the huge local mercado for fresh fruit, veggies, fish and meats, locally made cheese, and more.

14. Mercados are awesome.

In Northern Peru, you can buy discs of dark, farm-fresh chocolate for under $1 at the local mercado.

In Arequipa, they sell caviar alongside fresh fish and crab – for cheap!

Supermarkets are typically more expensive, but they’re also our only chance to find sugary breakfast cereal, so we still seek them out every chance we can.

15. There is still no Cinnamon Toast Crunch here.

That’s 3 countries and counting. We got SO close – they even had Captain Crunch! AND Crunch Berries!! – but not our fave.

Also, American cereals are insanely expensive here. Like $7 a box!

But after 3 months without cinnamony heaven, we’d pay anything. Seriously. (Side note: apparently there is no Cinnamon Toast Crunch in Europe either, and nobody there eats breakfast cereal. This breaks our hearts a little bit.)

Mercado backpacking Peru
We’re totally obsessed with Mercados in Peru, like this one in Chachapoyas. You can buy insanely cheap fruits like Starfruit and Cherimoya, discs of farm-fresh chocolate, even prepared sauces so you can pretend that you know how to cook Peruvian food!

16. Everywhere in Peru you’ll see menus with “criollo” food: Comida Criolla

The word translates as we expected, to creole, but with a totally different meaning.

We’re used to thinking of creole food as what you might get in Louisiana.

Here, it actually means food that originated with European descendants, like the Spanish, that has been mixed with traditional Peruvian food to create a whole new type of food.

Criollo food is sort of like a Peruvian history lesson: each of the ingredients used in the dishes has a different history that evolved since the Spanish conquistadors invaded.

It’s now considered the typical and traditional food and we had it numerous times whilst backpacking through Peru.

READ THIS POST
The Best Third Wave Coffee Shops in Lima, Peru

17. Don’t order Cau Cau.

It is basically just tripe and some other stuff that isn’t as gross as tripe but also isn’t enough to hide the tripe-ness of the tripe.

It’s disgusting and tastes disgusting and looks like it has veins and it smells bad and I ate it once not knowing what it was and I had a really awful time so just don’t do it.

(Note: obviously if you’re the sort of person who is able to eat tripe in other dishes, like Mexican Menudo, such as my husband who also happens to be Mexican, you’ll probably be able to enjoy cau cau. For the rest of us gringos, it’s an acquired taste that I did not acquire.)

18. Chinese food is incredibly common here.

It’s called “Chifa” and isn’t exactly what we’re used to as Americans: it’s a blend of Peruvian and Chinese food, and unique to Peru.

If you’re craving some fried rice and stir-fry, it hits the spot.

READ THIS POST
How to Be a More Responsible Tourist: a Traveler's Guide to Ethical Tourism

19. One of the most famous Peruvian dishes is called Lomo Saltado.

It’s like a beef stir fry, deeply inspired by Asian ingredients, with a rich flavorful sauce that we’ve found perfect for dipping bread into like a French dip sandwich.

It’s super good. Peruvians eat it for all 3 meals!

We even tried it once made with alpaca (we were not a fan. Alpacas are for petting, not eating)

READ THIS POST
The Kennedy Park Cats: Cat Lover’s Paradise in Lima, Peru

20. Dairy is a big industry here.

While nobody drinks fresh milk (it comes in a box and is shelf-stable and sort of just tastes like creamer), they do eat all manner of fresh Peruvian cheeses.

As a huge bonus, ice cream here is the best we’ve had in all of South America!

And not even just the fresh stuff in heladerias in the dairy region near Cajamarca. Even the little coolers you see in bodegas and on the street sell delicious packaged Peruvian ice cream

Eating lúcuma ice cream in Peru! Lúcuma is our favorite flavor! Nobody told us about it before we went backpacking in Peru.
Jeremy enjoying a delicious chocolate and nut covered lúcuma ice cream. If you’re wondering why he looks so irritated, it’s because I’ve taken a picture of him every time he’s eaten ice cream on our trip, which is nearly every day. I’m making a series called “Jeremy Eating Ice Cream.” You’ll probably see it in a museum one day.

21. Chicharones are everywhere on every menu, and they’re so good.

They’re sort of like deep-fried nuggets of meaty deliciousness and something you have to try when backpacking Peru.

We’ve tried chicken, fish, and pork chicharones, and they were all absolutely delicious!

We highly recommend them, because what’s the point of traveling if not to eat unhealthy delicious food?!

22. Chicha is a fermented corn drink that sounds gross but is actually pretty good!

It’s sweet, a little corny, and delicious both hot or cold.

It comes in purple and yellow varieties (from purple and yellow corn) and is included with almuerzo at loads of typical Peruvian restaurants.

23. Chocotejas, or Tejas, are delicious chocolate treats, a bit like Peruvian turtles.

They are made only near Ica (and Huacachina) and you will see them sold everywhere in that region.

They consist of delicious manjar blanco  – a version of dulche de leche, similar to caramel – pecans, and chocolate. We’ve also seen versions with raisins, Pisco soaked raisins, fig, lime, and more.

They’re so incredibly good. Do not miss out if you travel near Ica!

READ THIS POST
The 5 Most Instagrammed Places in Peru

24. Very few hostels offer amenities such as towels (even rental towels!) or included breakfasts.

This is an important one if you’re planning on backpacking in Peru. It’s a bummer, because those were basically standard throughout Colombia and Ecuador, and we got spoiled.

When they do offer a breakfast, it consists of bread, butter and jam, and coffee or tea. It’s not at all filling.

They sell the same shitty “American Breakfast,” which is the same but with an egg, at restaurants for like 12 soles/$4.

25. You must eat Ceviche.

MUST. It’s so incredibly delicious here.

It’s fresh and tangy (thanks to the Tiger’s Milk juice that it’s marinated in) and comes topped with crunchy salted corn on a bed of sweet potato.

In the north, it was most frequently mixed with a variety of seafood: octopus, conche negra (shells, we think?), fish. On the coast, it was all fish.

But it’s so crazy good.

What I love about Backpacking Peru
Delicious fresh Ceviche in Peru! There are various types throughout the country. This version is just fresh fish ceviche.

26. You can buy bus tickets online here!

This is so exciting to us and a game-changer for backpackers in Peru.

It eliminates the very real possibility of showing up only to find that there are no tickets available, you missed the only bus of the day, or the next bus isn’t leaving for 7 hours.

It also allows you to comparison shop for your bus company, meaning that instead of making a panicked decision while various people behind counters scream at you in a crowded bus station about a bus that is already late to leave, you can leisurely shop online in your PJ’s and plan things out well in advance.

It’s so incredibly nice.

27. Movies on long buses follow weird themes.

Like one day it was the oddly specific “Men that don’t want babies that hilariously end up with babies:” (Instructions Not Included,  The Pacifier, Robin-B-Hood).

Another day the theme was “Dog movies.” It started with a sweet, emotional tearjerker (Hachi: A Dog’s Tale) and then, once we were all softly weeping, moved on to a creepy horror movie that involved angry fighting killer dogs and a lot of blood (White God).

What?! Don’t play with our emotions like that! Traumatizing.

28. We’ve seen “Bus 657” 3 times now.

Apparently movies about buses being hijacked are seen as thematically appropriate to watch on a bus.

In related news, there’s nothing as exciting/terrifying as watching “Fast the Furious 16: A Fast Series of Furious Events” while careening at 90MPH along the edge of a cliff.

READ THIS POST
30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America

29. There are very few short bus rides in Peru.

Like, the shortest we had was 5 hours.

It felt like a dream compared to the 12-hour overnights and 21-hour all-day buses we’ve been taking to get around the country.

Thanks a lot, $200 foreigner flight tax. We could have hopped from Cusco to Lima in an hour instead of 21!

If you’re backpacking Peru, this is something you’ll have to come to terms with!

30. The buses here are a LOT nicer than in other countries.

There’s plenty of room, lots of amenities, and full-recline luxury seats complete with pillows and blankets for overnights.

A lot of the buses are 2-story – and if you can sit in the very front of the 2nd story, it makes for a fantastic view of the scenery while you travel!

Backpacking Peru Route
At the stunning Colca Canyon near Arequipa, Peru. This is the best place to view giant Condors as they soar through the canyon!

31. Don’t expect to be welcomed with open arms, the way gringos are in Colombia or Ecuador.

We got stared at a lot, and not in a friendly way.

We’ve had several people try to trick us or take advantage of us – on a bus, a passenger tried to get us to pay him our fare instead of the bus attendant; and twice, taxi driver drivers have argued us into paying a higher fare than we had agreed upon – and we even had our bag stolen right from under noses in a bus station once!

Luckily Jeremy chased the guy down, didn’t fall for his diversion tactics, and safely recovered the bag.

But be doubly on guard when backpacking Peru as tourists are sometimes seen as targets. Always, always follow these travel safety precautions 

32. There is always a stray dog or two in every restaurant.

Nobody seems bothered by this. They just wander in and out as they please, stopping to beg at the occasional table.

I like dogs and all, but I’d prefer to not be worried about fleas around my food!

33. The stray dogs here aren’t always cute and friendly, like they usually were in Ecuador, Colombia, and Chile.

We’ve had a few aggressive dogs chase us down the street, and we’ve seen some truly horrific hairless dogs that look like diseased nightmares (read more about the hairless dogs of Peru at Probe Around the Globe).

Most of them are mutts with underbites and a chip on their shoulder. It’s a downer for a dog lover like Jeremy, who had never been forced to admit before that not all dogs are adorable loving puppies.

(On the flip side, EVERY Peruvian cat we’ve met is both cute and sweet, ESPECIALLY the stray ones. You can find plenty of friendly kitties at Kennedy Park in Lima)

READ THIS POST
Why we're leaving South America early

34. Mototaxis here are very unique.

They’re sort of 3-wheeled rickshaw taxis. It’s like a motorcycle in the front, and a covered 2-seater in the back.

There is only enough space for humans, so good luck with your baggage. We’ve also had them break down on us mid-trip.

But they’re a quick and cheap way to get around and a great means of transport if you’re backpacking Peru. They’re also just as common as regular taxis throughout the country!

Transport for backpacking Peru
A stray dog eyeing us suspiciously under a 3-wheeled Peruvian moto-taxi. As soon as I snapped this picture, the stupid dog attacked us. Stray dogs here are not our favorite.

35. In Soles, the Peruvian “sun” money, coins are more popular than paper change.

One day we counted up all of our change and realized we had $60 worth of coins! It’s because of the 2 and 5 soles coins.

We once got change for a 50-sol bill with all coins.

This also means that everyone wants you to give exact change, and get pissy when they have to break anything bigger than a 20.

36. Do not take a ripped bill from anyone, because nobody will take it from you.

Ripped or too-crinkled bills are totally not-ok with vendors – everywhere from hostels to taxi drivers refuse to take them.

Oddly, we’ve been told by some of those same vendors that banks will take them, so we aren’t really sure why they’re so taboo.

37. Counterfeit money is REALLY common in Peru.

Don’t accept any US $100 bills while you’re in Peru, just in case – or be extremely careful to confirm that they’re real.

While most businesses accept US dollars, they’re also on the lookout for counterfeit bills, and will destroy them on sight at your loss.

I honestly have no idea how to identify Peruvian counterfeit soles, but those are common too.

READ THIS POST
Travel Safety Tips: How to Protect Yourself and Prevent Theft while Traveling

38. Crossing the street here is like playing Frogger.

Stop signs don’t exist, and when they do, they’re completely ignored.

You have to look death in the face and just run across and hope people will stop before they hit you (they usually do).

39. Walking down the street as a gringo means being honked at constantly.

Every other car is a taxi, and all of them assume that being a gringo equals needing a taxi.

Even if they watch you get out of a taxi, they will honk. Even if you tell all 5 cars in front of them that no, you don’t need a taxi, they will still honk at you.

It’s especially stressful when you’re trying to get up the will-power to run across the street, Frogger style.

40. Yes, they eat guinea pig in Peru. 

“Cuy” is a national delicacy. And yes, it just looks like someone fried up your childhood pet hamster.

You’ll see them all over when you backpack through Peru, strung up in mercados and on the menu at fancy restaurants

We couldn’t bring ourselves to try it: Jeremy kept having flashbacks to Sir Sassafrass, his childhood hamster, plus his little sister informed us that she’d never speak to us again if we tried it. So we didn’t.

We hear it’s a bit like eating a very small fried chicken. Let us know if you’ve tried it!

Honorable Mention: 41. Pisco is THE Peruvian liquor, and it’s so good.

You absolutely have to order a Pisco sour when backpacking Peru!

Even better is visiting a Pisco winery near Ica, where it’s possible to taste both delicious strong Pisco made from various types of grapes, AND the sweet wine that is actually created as the first step of the Pisco distilling process!

We bought a bottle of sweet Amor wine that is nicknamed “The Babymaker.” Ooh la la!

For more information about Pisco and visiting Pisco Wineries check this post on Pisco in Peru.


And there you have it: 40 weird and random things that nobody told us before backpacking in Peru!

If you are looking for more tour tips during your visit to Peru the amazing guys over at ViaHero will connect you with a local person who will share all their juicy knowledge and help you plan your perfect itinerary. Check it out here.

Did any of the things nobody tells you about backpacking in Peru surprise you? Leave us a comment below!

Psst, planning a trip to Peru? Here are some of our other posts that might be helpful!

  • 32 Backpacking Essentials For South America
  • The Ultimate Self-Guided Free Walking Tour: Lima, Peru
  • Hiking Laguna 69 in Huaraz, Peru: Everything You Need To Know
xo Lia & Jeremy signature graphic
FOLLOW US!

Hey, did you enjoy this post? We’d love it if you shared it on Pinterest! (There’s a full-sized pin hiding in the Share Menu!)

Backpacking in Peru? Heres' 40 things nobody tells you before you travel to Peru. Like that the entire country is obsessed with Inca Kola!
From lunchmeat on our pasta to the national obsession with Inca Kola... 40 things nobody told us about backpacking in Peru!
9.4K shares

Our Top Travel Tips & Resources

Here are our favorite travel tips & resources for saving money and planning travel logistics! For more tips, check out our travel tips resource page or our guide to planning a trip.
  • Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
  • Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they've got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we're not fans of Airbnb's unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
  • Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it - visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
  • Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor's office or a walk-in pharmacy.
  • Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local's perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
  • Luggage Storage: Whenever we're checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we're running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
  • VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you're connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
  • What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!

Peru Things No One Tells You

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Estefania says

    February 19, 2020 at 5:44 am

    I am from Peru and I actually liked this post, I think tthere are some great tips here but 2 things, first you should check the names, some of them are not written correctly and could be confusing for some people and second, as a peruavian or a tourist you should always ask in advance for taxi fares (I always see tourists jump in without asking and som taxis take advantage). You can also use uber or cabify because they give you prices in advance and they don’t change.

    Reply
    • Practical Wanderlust says

      March 5, 2020 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks for your suggestions Estefania!

      Reply
  2. Ana Lucia says

    February 16, 2020 at 5:37 am

    Fun to read! Some of the things are accurate some not…like cuy Is not a delicacy…they eat it more at Cusco, Arequipa, Puno รกrea…but not so much in Lima…and also is more common at cheap restaurants. And yes! Inca Kola tastes like bubble gum! I don’t like it though. Hope you enjoyed your stay here… cheers!

    Reply
    • Practical Wanderlust says

      March 5, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      Thanks for sharing Ana Lucia!

      Reply
  3. Camille Yap-Sam says

    February 15, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Great information. Can you recommend a backpack for the trip?

    Reply
    • Practical Wanderlust says

      March 5, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      Please visit our What to Pack for South America post: https://practicalwanderlust.com/what-to-pack-for-south-america-the-best-travel-gear-for-backpacking/

      This post is fill ed with gear recommendations for your trip, including our specific backpacks ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Toรฑo says

    January 20, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    I enjoyed reading the description of your backpacking trip and experience in Perรบ, it was kind of funny.
    “Inka Cola”= always ask for a glass full of ice to pour your Inka Cola in, so you could really enjoy the flavor.
    We can now find Inka Cola here now in L.A. almost in every latino market.
    “Cau Cau” with your fork, you pull a bit of cau-cau, combined it with a bit of rice and then add a bit of ajรญ (green sauce), you’ll be able to really enjoy the taste.
    (Although you already said that (tripe) is what you didn’t like and that’s probably why you said you didn’t like cau-cau since it has tripe in it.
    “Breakfast” a piece of bread with butter or jelly and a hot cup of tea or coffee will always be better than any cereal which would be cold and if I wanted to drink something cold then yes you got it, it would be a really cold Inka Cola for breakfast lol… And if there is some left over cau-cau from yesterday we would refried it on a pan for breakfast lol…
    Thank you for sharing your experiences, they were interestingly funny.
    Salsa music is heard in Callao as well as regeaton but mostly salsa. Cumbia is not popular music in Perรบ for what I remember in which in any event Cumbia was known as Chicha music.
    And last but not least, “Huanchaco” is the proper way to spell the name of the place you visited.

    Reply
    • Practical Wanderlust says

      January 24, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks for sharing Toรฑo!

      Reply
  5. Dave Westray says

    December 14, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    Cuy tastes like Squirrel to me. I grew up in a hunting family and had Squirrel and rabbit often.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      January 24, 2020 at 2:31 pm

      Interesting! Despite growing up in Kentucky (where squirrel is one of the main ingredients in traditional Burgoo, a Kentuckyian specialty) I have never tried it. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t stomach trying cuy either ๐Ÿ˜›

      Reply
  6. Christy says

    June 4, 2019 at 7:58 pm

    Great read!! I read this before I went to Peru and it was helpful. I just now read it again after Peru and found it more wonderful! Mostly how accurate everything was. I tried the cuy and wasnt a fan. It had a taste unlike chicken or beef. Just… Unique maybe? Incan kola is a cream soda but a tad more sweet. I brought some home and my 10 yeard old LOVED it. Happy travels!

    Reply
  7. Ashley says

    October 12, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    Hi! I just returned from Peru a little over a week ago. Wanted to let you know I tried the Guinean pig and it was pretty good! It was a bit of work to get the meat out, without much meat on the animal. It was tasty though! And a fun experience.
    Also we LOVED the ceviche! Best food I had there.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      October 15, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      Hey, that’s good to know! Hmmgnngngng I am still craving real Peruvian ceviche, SO GOOD

      Reply
  8. Blue says

    June 23, 2018 at 10:27 am

    Hola, I am peruvian and un many points you are right. Itโ€™s kinda funny seen this perspective from a foreigner . It just got my attention that many places smell like gasoline or pee ๐Ÿ™ . I usually go to the highlands to have some fresh air and get my lungs cleaned haha because in Lima , where I live, yea itโ€™s very polluted , I agree. But the pee thing โ€โ™€๏ธ.

    Other than that, where was the reggaeton , cumbia and salsa? They are everywhere. Maybe in Hostels they play Coldplay because they are run by โ€œgringosโ€โ€™hehe I donโ€™t know just guessing.

    Anyway, hoped you enjoyed peru , oh! Lucuma is way gooood, I d rather not try it itself because it has a very strong flavor, itโ€™s better if you have it as an ice cream or juice.

    Cheers!!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      June 25, 2018 at 11:35 am

      We were missing reggaeton, cumbia and salsa after hearing it so much in Colombia and Ecuador! Surprisingly it wasn’t just the gringo spots and the hostels, but coffee shops and restaurants as well. It was so weird!

      Also, we live in San Francisco where the primary smell is pee. Unless it’s raining, in which case it smells like wet pee. So we feel ya ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
  9. Ella says

    March 20, 2018 at 4:40 am

    Thanks for the information, but youโ€™ve listed Coldplay as an example of โ€˜American music.โ€™ Iโ€™m a bit confused as to why you would do this, as Iโ€™m sure you realise theyโ€™re a British band. FYI Adele and James Blunt are also British.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      March 20, 2018 at 1:56 pm

      I guess I just meant like … pop music that’s in English? That plays in the States on the radio? Although if I’m being honest I have very little idea where any of the pop music I listen to actually originated ๐Ÿ˜› Like I probably knew somewhere deep down that those people were British but … chances are if I was at like, a Trivia night, I would’ve gotten that question wrong. Whoops!

      Reply
  10. Courtney says

    March 8, 2018 at 9:10 pm

    I love how transparent and real you are! Thanks for the insight!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      April 13, 2018 at 9:45 am

      You’re so sweet! That’s what we’re all about ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for reading, Courtney!

      Reply
  11. Nieves says

    January 11, 2018 at 5:18 pm

    You probably forget to mention, always, always carry toilet paper with you!!! and do not forget to go to a Pena (restaurant/music, dancing place) is a fabulous place to spend the evenings.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      January 29, 2018 at 10:37 am

      YESSS this is so crucial! We mentioned it in our other post about backpacking South America but we didn’t include it here – whoops, that’s an important one ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
  12. Romina says

    December 31, 2017 at 1:14 pm

    Hi, i randomly found your blog and this article. Im from Peru, so I was curious to know what do tourist think about my country. It made me laugh, something I have never realize like Coldplay is basically everywhere, I swear that is so true and that explains why Im sooooo tired of this band!
    Im so sorry for the experience you had at the bus with that passenger, some horrible people take advantage of tourist, specially the ones who dont speak spanish to take money from them, its true.
    I love that you talk about cau cau, because it has a weird taste and even i hate it, but some people actually like it.
    Finally, the thing with the taxis. Well that happens to everybody, you just cant walk peacefully without a taxi honking at you, once I walk with a german friend and some people honked and shouted at him “GRINGO” while we were walking. I felt so ashamed…. like people cant you behave?! but yeah the taxis thing is very stressful.
    I love that to kind warned and teach some good stuff about my country, that is kind of insight and most people wouldnt know.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      January 2, 2018 at 11:23 am

      I would be super curious to read someone’s impressions of the USA as well! I’m glad you enjoyed my random observations from the amazing 2 months we spent in your home country ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  13. Angelique says

    September 22, 2017 at 9:16 am

    How can you not like Inca Cola?! Itยดs the best drink in the world! T-T
    But apart from that I liked your post, because most tourists forget that not every Country ist save like their homecountry. Good luck with the next post!

    Reply
    • Lia says

      September 22, 2017 at 3:29 pm

      Haha! My husband agrees with you ๐Ÿ˜› It’s just a bit too sweet for me! And by a bit I mean like 10 spoonfuls of sugar or so ๐Ÿ˜›

      Reply
  14. Luana says

    July 11, 2017 at 5:53 pm

    Such a lovely post! As a peruvian reading this is so funny! Inca kola and cau cau is awesome ๐Ÿ™
    PS: I know they are cute, but Cuy is freaking delicious. You should have tried it haha

    Reply
  15. Scott Sandel says

    May 27, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    We will have to agree to disagree about Northern Peru, the land of the Chachapoyas. We both LOVED it (last year, our third time in Peru). But we love the countryside and the high cloud forests, not so much the cities per se. Keulap, Leymebamba (horseback trip), Gocta Falls, …) Agree with most of your other comments, such as liking Huaraz area (not the town so much). But we’re not a fan of Lima, except the high-end restaurants.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      May 27, 2017 at 5:42 pm

      Interest, Scott! I have to admit, we skipped out on Kuelap and Gocta Falls because we were just exhausted from crossing the border from Ecuador. That’s totally our bad. I’m sure we would feel differently if we went! And you know, we mostly loved Lima for the amazing food, so I’m with you on that one!

      Reply
  16. Mia says

    May 15, 2017 at 9:32 am

    Good post ๐Ÿ™‚ you’ll be happy to know that they actually do eat cereal in Europe, at least where I’ve been in England, and I’ve lived in Spain for awhile now and they have a lot of cereal. I’m Canadian and they definitely have larger cereal ilses in Canada, but they had all of my favorites (specifically cornflakes and golden grahams). I didn’t check for cinnamon toast crunch because while it’s good, it’s never been a go-to for me and I often forget it exists! UHT (boxed, shelf stable) milk is also extremely popular here (and really quite cheap) although it is possible to find fresh milk too.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      May 15, 2017 at 5:09 pm

      I’m so relieved! hehe.

      Reply
  17. Jenn says

    May 12, 2017 at 3:30 am

    Just FYI, Danlac makes leche fresca in glass bottles that we can get many places in Lima. My kids refuse the shelf stable stuff. We can also get it from a few smaller producers as well. I loved some of your points. I was just talking about the weird lounge cover music with my husband today. I think maybe it’s something to do with licensing because they play it at all restaurants, shops and hotels.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      May 12, 2017 at 7:28 pm

      Good to know! We definitely find the most variety of food in Lima (the mercados there are AMAZING!!) but the smaller the towns we visited, the more difficult it was to find!

      Reply
  18. Patty says

    April 5, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    You didnt mention if you try “Cuy”, we ate what you consider pets, lol. Or tried Llama, alpaca?

    Even though i liked it.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      April 5, 2017 at 6:28 pm

      We could not bring ourselves to try Cuy (too many memories of cute hamster pets – plus Jeremy’s little sister told us that if we did, she’d never speak to us again). But we did try alpaca! … we weren’t fans of the taste or texture. And they’re cute too ๐Ÿ™

      Reply
  19. mousysmithmicky says

    March 19, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    Definitely appreciate the travel tips and have added a few to my already extensive list.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      March 20, 2017 at 3:53 am

      Happy to help! Let us know if you have any other questions that we can help answer!

      Reply
  20. learningthisish says

    March 14, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    These are all great though I’m not sure what you are referring to with the $200 foreigner flight tax? I took a couple flights in Peru: Lima -> Iquitos (~$100 USD), Iquitos -> Lima (~$70 USD), and Cusco -> Lima (~$80 USD) never saw a foreigner tax. I booked some flights online and some through a travel agent in town. I would suggest going to the travel agency while knowing the price you can get online. I found that the travel agencies were always cheaper

    Reply
    • Lia says

      March 14, 2017 at 5:34 pm

      That’s such a great suggestion! We didn’t book any flights, because when we went to book online, each airline had this giant warning that the discount/cheaper flights were only for Peruvian residents, and foreigners would be subject to an insane tax per flight (maybe based on our IP address when we searched?). We didn’t want to book the lower rate and then get in trouble at the airport. Perhaps we should have given it a try. It never even occurred to us to visit a local travel agency, that’s such a great idea! Thank you for your tip.

      Reply
  21. Maggie says

    January 21, 2017 at 9:34 am

    Truthfully as a Peruvian I feel insulted by half of the 40 things “nobody” tells you. I was born in New York and lived in Peru my early years so yes I’m a gringa and didn’t encounter such terrible experiences as you place.

    P.S: Cau Cau is delicious.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      January 23, 2017 at 1:44 pm

      I’m sorry to hear that! We don’t mean to insult anyone. We enjoyed Peru, and we thought some of the things that we noticed might be humorous or helpful to someone planning a trip to Peru. Perhaps our experiences were less due to being gringos and more due to being backpackers – it’s hard to blend in with a huge backpack on your back! Although I must say I just didn’t like Cau Cau … but that’s just personal taste.

      Reply
      • Jill says

        May 9, 2017 at 2:44 am

        I agree Maggie. Didn’t like her review at all.

        Reply
        • Lia says

          May 9, 2017 at 2:19 pm

          I’m sorry to hear that Jill! Can I ask what you didn’t like about it? I’m always open to feedback and it sounds like perhaps I need to tweak the post.

          Reply
  22. Brittany Thiessen says

    January 19, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    Peru sounds like a really fascinating, culture-rich and vibrant country to explore! Those tuk tuks look really unique and are definitely very different from the ones I used in Guatemala! That’s super helpful that you’re able to book all your bus tickets online. I will have to remember that for when I decide to go there! Thanks for sharing this insightful and entertaining article.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      January 23, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      Thank you! We never saw any other vehicles like it in all of our time in South America, really they were like VIP moto-taxis and quite fun to ride in. Booking your bus tickets online is SO helpful, unless of course you’re prone to accidents in which case chances are you’ll run into a few situations of missed or near-missed buses ๐Ÿ˜› But if you’re capable of booking a bus and then leaving on time to catch it, it’s wonderful! (I’ll let you guess which camp we fall into ….)

      Reply
  23. rhiydwi says

    November 22, 2016 at 5:59 am

    “The Hermione Granger of South America” – love it! When I was there in June every single bus journey I took played the same movie. I don’t know what it’s called but it had Nicolas Cage and Chad Michael-Murray in it. It wasn’t a very good film but Spanish-dubbed Nicolas Cage is the best!
    Have you heard the panpipes version of Robbie Williams – Angel? That seemed to be playing absolutely everywhere!

    Reply
    • Lia says

      November 24, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      Hahaha that sounds about right! That’s hilarious. We did hear a lot of panpipes covers, mostly “The Sound of Silence” but I’m not sure I’ve heard that one! How funny.

      Reply
  24. matt says

    November 20, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    a quick amend to the chicha. there are 2 kinds chicha morada (purple) and chicha de jora (yellow). The first one is sweet made by boiling the purple corn with pineapple and cinnamon, cooling and adding lemon juice. TopTip. always ask for bajo de azucar in peru as they make everything too sweet! Chicha de jora is the fermented one, its alcoholic but not strong normally. Confusingly depending where you are both are referred to as just chicha. in central lima though chicha nearly alway means chicha morada.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      November 20, 2016 at 5:43 pm

      Thank you for the clarification! We had both kinds of Chicha (although the yellow chicha we had was never alcoholic, as far as we noticed) and didn’t care for either – because you’re right, everything is SO sweet! We should have tried some without added sugar, but they always seemed to come unasked-for with our meals from a premade jug. I was tempted to try some alcoholic yellow chicha on our Inca Trail trek, but I doubt it would have had the same performance-enhancing effect on me as it seemed to have on our porters ๐Ÿ˜›

      Reply
  25. Yara says

    November 7, 2016 at 3:34 am

    Coldplay everyhere? What part of Peru did you go to? Where I live is all about reggaeton, cumbia and salsa, honestly not my favourite thing

    Reply
    • Lia says

      November 7, 2016 at 2:43 pm

      Haha that actually sounds like the music we heard most in Colombia! We actually ended up missing reggaeton and cumbia because we heard it so little! We spent 2 months in Peru and visited Chachapoyas, Cajamarca, Trujillo/Huanchacho, Huaraz, Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco. Coldplay is insanely popular in Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco, and our hostel in Huanchacho was playing it almost nonstop too! It was so odd. Other favorites we noticed: Aerosmith (almost as much as Coldplay, but not quite) and random acoustic covers of American pop songs from 10 years ago ๐Ÿ˜› Where do you live?

      Reply
      • Yara says

        November 21, 2016 at 3:42 am

        I live in Lima but i just came back from Puntal Sal and it was just like you said: coldplay and covers (especially guns n roses) everywhere

        Reply
        • Lia says

          November 21, 2016 at 6:25 pm

          lol!! Isn’t it weird? We just started noticing it everywhere and thought it was so funny.

          Reply
  26. Joanna says

    October 16, 2016 at 8:18 am

    I remember a lot of these thing from my Peruvian 3 weeks trip in 2013. I still didn’t try the Inca Cola but I am going back in December and I plan to. The Peruvian food is sooooo good though.

    Reply
    • Lia says

      October 16, 2016 at 3:55 pm

      Honestly, you’re not missing much. I don’t really get the obsession. It tastes like bubblegum and a heart attack! Where are you visiting in December?

      Reply
      • Sonya says

        February 20, 2018 at 5:24 pm

        But way better than Coke.

        Reply
        • Lia Garcia says

          February 21, 2018 at 7:39 am

          If you like the taste of neon yellow bubblegum, sure! But I’ll take a Pony Malta from Colombia over an Inca Kola any day ๐Ÿ˜›

          Reply
          • Jim says

            September 7, 2018 at 12:04 pm

            Omg I LOVE inka Cola and Chifa!
            Just not together.

            Reply
  27. Brianna (@ArchivesofAdv) says

    October 15, 2016 at 10:48 am

    This was fun to read and full of really useful information! Peru is definitely on my travel bucket list!

    Reply
  28. Neni says

    October 13, 2016 at 5:54 am

    I love this! Especially all those little tips and quirks about Peru. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lia says

      October 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm

      Thanks Neni! We loving hearing about all those little quirks and fun facts about a place that you you don’t find out about until you go visit!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Travel bloggers Lia and Jeremy in front of a colorful background with welcoming text.

In 2016 we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast!

low-key stalk us here

Get a FREE Travel Planning Guide!

Need some help planning your next adventure? Sign up and we'll send you all of our travel tips, hacks, printable packing lists, and more!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

You'll also be subscribing to our monthly newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.

Footer

About Us...
  • Meet Lia & Jeremy
  • Browse Destinations
  • Travel Tips
  • Packing Tips
  • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Work with Us
  • Mission Statement
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
@practicalwanderlust

Get the Free Travel Planning Guide!

Need some help planning your next adventure? Subscribe and we’ll send you our FREE 22-page Travel Planning Guide. The guide includes everything from the hacks we use to save money on travel to printable packing lists. We’ll also send our favorite travel tips straight to your inbox!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Copyright ยฉ2025, Practical Wanderlust. Site by Pixel Me Designs
As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases
Back To Top