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I waited too long to visit Peru. I have no real good reason why I didn’t get there sooner than I did. The country had been on my “must visit” list for years, but there was always a reason I couldn’t go. “It’s the wrong season,” “I don’t want to go alone,” “It’s not a good time,” yada, yada, yada. I always had an excuse, when in reality, if I really wanted to, I could have gone.

But last November, I finally bit the bullet and went. It was now or never, I told myself. Yes, it was the off-season for hiking; Yes, I still felt unfit for trekking at altitude; And yes, there wasn’t as much time as I would have liked.

But as I always say, there is no right time to visit, only the right time for you.

And let me tell you: Peru lives up to all expectations.

From the moment I landed, I knew Peru and I was about to begin a lifelong love affair. There are few places whose cosmic vibes match yours, like two perfectly intertwined locks. The ones who approach you and say, “It’s okay, you’re home now.”

Peru was it for me. I spent over two weeks eating my way through the gastronomic capital of Lima, falling in love with the famous Nazca Lines, the colonial city of Arequipa and its beautiful architecture, hiking Machu Picchu, and the city of Cusco and its art, museums. and food.

First, there was the food. I knew Peru was a food destination, so I had high expectations. Many of the world’s top restaurants are located in Lima, and those I know who are there always speak highly of the local cuisine.

But still, I was shocked at how good the food was. Peruvian gastronomy is a fusion of cultures: Andean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and West African. You get lots of amazing fresh produce, seafood and meat. There is innovative cuisine that blends all cultures and respect for not only quality but presentation.

From Lima’s famous high-end restaurants to holes-in-the-wall, the food was always delicious, well-portioned, and just plain delicious (the only bad food I’ve ever had was in a hostel). Heck, normally I don’t do dessert, and I was ordering chocolates left and right. It was just too good to pass up. (Here is a list of some of my favorite places.)

Second, the people were amazing. People make destinations worthwhile, and while there are friendly people everywhere, some cultures are much more outgoing and hospitable than others. I found the Peruvians very welcoming. Everyone was really amazing, whether through social media or on my hikes or just daily interactions.

For example, in Arequipa, I ran into a breakfast place that had just opened (Isidro — go there, the food is great!). The owners worked in restaurants in NYC, so we spent a lot of time connecting over it.

Third, the landscape! From arid deserts to Amazon forests to blue forests to valleys that made me feel like I was in Arizona to mountains that reminded me of New Zealand, the sheer variety was not what I expected. I knew from planning my trips and pictures that there was a wide variety of geographies, but when I finally started exploring the country and seeing it for myself, I was amazed at all the microclimates.

Peru is just an amazing country. (And that hiking, while definitely difficult if you’re not used to heights, wasn’t as bad as I thought!)

Not since I traveled around Mexico in late 2020 have I fallen so hard for a destination. Peru really lived up to expectations set by my friends and research.

I know I’m late to the party and I’m not saying anything people don’t already know. But consider me one more voice in the choir echoing the conventional wisdom that Peru is a special place. Don’t make my mistake and skip it. Get there as soon as possible.