1. Three Peruvian restaurants are among the world’s top 50
Lima is one of the world’s best cities for foodies. If you look at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants guide, Peru’s capital has three restaurants in the top 50. Very few cities have more than that.
Particular acclaim goes to Central (No. 4), Maido (No. 13), and Astrid y Gastón (No. 30). Each restaurants shows off different aspects of Peru’s diverse culture and culinary creativity. Compared with many other entries on the list, they also represent a (relative) bargain.
2. Peru is the most interesting destination in Latin America
For the majority of foreign tourists, Peru, is located in their travel preferences, and if we think about it, it is very easy to deduct because they prefer it.
We do not only talk about food, we talk about its people, its landscapes and without a doubt its excellent prices, that's why you can be the next one to join the list, in Hotel Enai.
3. Craft beer is a booming industry in Peru
Trust us on this one. This is something you don’t want to read about; it’s something you have to discover for yourself. Especially in Lima, but increasingly throughout the country, craft beer is revolutionising the country’s drinking scene.
4. 97% of Peru’s rural population still uses wood or dry manure as cooking fuel
97% of Peru’s rural population, including here in Puerto maldonado, still use wood or dry manure as cooking fuel, which makes the kitchen or their (often one-room) dwelling a fairly unpleasant place to be. Even worse, the polluting fumes from this fuel and from not having a chimney, result in a high rate of lung disease.
This is why renovates houses to provide non-polluting kitchens, as well as solar heating and insulation.
5. Peru’s traditional hat indicates a person’s marital status
In Peru, the traditional wool hat with earflaps (the ‘chullo’) can say a lot about whoever is wearing it. This is certainly not always the case, but some sources report that in Taquile, an island near the city of Puno, hat style indicates whether a person is single, married or widowed.
Keen to know more? Well, married men on the island tend to wear red patterned hats. Single men wear red hats with a white top. And another fun fact for you: when a man wants to marry a woman here, he must prove his worth by drinking water out of his knitted hat. (If the hat is knitted tightly enough that the water doesn’t trip, he’s classed a success!)
The 2,000 or so residents of this island divide the craftwork between them. Women weave; men tend to knit. The textiles they create are so renowned they’re even protected as a UNESCO world heritage subject. No wonder boys start learning the trade age eight.
6. it’s unlikely you’ll suffer from altitude sickness at Machu Picchu
Now here’s something that might surprise you. Although all the iconic Machu Picchu shots feature it surrounded by dizzying clouds, the site actually sits as a relatively low altitude (2,430 metres). Altitude sickness, therefore, tends to be less of a risk than you’d expect.
On the other hand, be aware of Cusco, which at 3400 metres, can present a little more of a problem. Not an insurmountable one; symptoms are usually felt within 12 – 24 hours of arrival and tend to subside within three days. Talk to your doctor before you visit and try spend a non-taxing day or so acclimatizing before your tour begins.
7. Guinea pig is a delicacy in Peru
You might know them as pets, but Peruvian know them as a tasty meal. Yes, ‘cuy’ is one of Peru’s most famous dishes and it’s guinea pig that’s cooked whole and eaten with your hands. The mammal has been a staple of Peru’s Andean diet for around 5,000 years and, to be honest, tastes pretty much like chicken or rabbit.
Cooked and then doused in salt and garlic to make the skin more crispy, it’s a pretty common meal for one. There are even restaurants specialising in guinea pig in the regions around Arequipa and Cusco. You can even get guinea pig pizza in Cusco!
8. Peru is home to the world’s highest navigable lake
You may have heard of the (beautiful) Lake Titicaca. But did you know that this wonder, located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, is the world’s highest commercially navigable lake? It lies in the Altiplano at a height of 3,810 m (12,500 ft) above sea level.
9. The best drink in the world
If you want to try an alcoholic drink with a delicious flavor, you are in the right place.
Pisco sour is an alcoholic drink that has a delicate preparation and makes it one of the best in the whole world.
10. The best hotel in Puerto Maldonado
If you have come here, you should know that Hotel Enai has everything to make your vacation the best.
We have the best restaurant, the best landscapes and the best tours for you to enjoy every minute.
Welcome to Enai!