Week 6 Peru Nazca to Arequipa

You will note that there are very few comments regarding drinks, simple explanation, we are now at altitude maximum 4,500m above sea level and I have struggled for breath and generally not felt quite 100%, alcohol and altitude sickness simply dont mix, so its a bit of abstinence. But I have still managed to indulge in the local culinary delights.

Day 1

Overnight bus trip from hell, left the coast and started our climb into the Andes Mountains, the guide admitted the next morning that they make it an overnight trip because westerners/tourists couldn’t handle the heights above the ocean and frightens those not familiar with the journey . I can only concur I hardly slept on the 11 hour trip ( I am sure I left my DNA on the seat) the turns and climbs were extreme to say the least.

B: Nil, still getting back to real world.

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CUY Deep Fried

L: Those who know me, know I committed before this trip to Peru, to try what the locals eat, so today I tried deep fried Cuy (guinea pig), which is a whole animal, head and all, the only bits missing is the intestines  see photos, spatchcocked, covered with a flour mix, accompanied by a whole roast potato, a large cob of white corn and a salsa mix. I can’t say it tasted like anything else I have eaten, but will say it was a white meat with a slightly gamey flavour, almost every bit was eaten, with some help from tour colleagues,  including eyes, brains, heart, ears overall, quite edible and I will try it again, rating 7.5.   

D: After such a big and late lunch, I simply had a small (allegedly) ham pizza, rating 6.0.

Day 2

Travelled from Arequipa to Chivay, where we got introduced to the Peruvian way of chewing Cocoa leaves, to help cope with altitude sickness, settle upset stomachs, and a general pick me up and cure all. Also recommended buying some cocoa lollies to eat to top up on cocoa, which we did, and they taste quite nice, and seemed to offer some relief, ( I think its more psychological, but it seemed to help so I have continued to indulge.) 

B:  Cereal, bread rolls with butter and jam, yoghurt, OJ and cocoa tea, taking the local advice we mixed up a couple of bottles of cocoa tea with sugar as a supplement to our essential daily fluid intake.

L: After a 7 hour bus trip we had a late lunch (3p.m.) at our first buffet meal in Peru, see photos for the princely sum of 20 soles (less than $10 aus) we had a choice from (you could only have 3 plates and desert): Alpacca and vegetable, chicken, and  pumpkin soups, as well as alpaca steaks, pasta and pesto, dried potato, spicy stuffed capsicum, chips, lima beans, cucumber, tomato, beetroot, lettuce, carrot, rice, maize dish, potato and cheese bake, and the deserts were chocolate mousse (more like junket), lemon mousse ( like a lemon cheesecake fill), fresh bananas, apples and mandarins. Rating 8.0

Buffet Lunch - 1st course



Chivay Bullfight as only the locals
 know how to celebrate

We also happened to be in Chivay on Labour Day and a day they celebrate for the Holy Virgin “Chapy”, so we got invited  by the locals to a bull fighting event, (they have about 8 a year), it also coincided with a wedding. So whilst there was a big temporary chapel set up for church and wedding, it was basically a huge piss up, of course we did the right thing and bought 6 large bottles (warm) no cold beer available of the local brew called Arequipena a 5.0% lager and joined in, not really fair to rate hot beer, but we drank it, rating 6.0.

It was hilarious! The actual bullfights had a number of suitably attired matadors and it seemed any drunken fool who wanted to join in, dodging and tormenting young steers, that were aggravated greatly by being tied up in a small corral and then skull dragged and kicked out into the main arena which was surrounded by an 8 feet high stone fence, one drunk fell off the fence but as only drunks can do regained his feet at his mates urgings and re-joined the party, an interesting couple of hours to sat the least.

D: After a lunch like that I passed.

Day 3 Chivay

B: Bread Rolls butter and strawberry jam, yoghurt and cocoa tea.


Peruvian Refreshments -
Inca Cola and Cocoa Tea with
Peppermint and Muna

L: After yesterday’s buffet lunch, we tried the opposition, same price, slightly better range, and this time we had a choice from (you could only have 3 plates and desert): Alpacca and vegetable, chicken, and pumpkin soups, as well as alpaca steaks, pasta and neopolitan sauce, cebiche trout, spicy deep fried cuy (guinea pig) pieces, spicy stuffed capsicum, chips, lima beans, cucumber, tomato, beetroot, lettuce, carrot, rice, maize dish, potato and cheese bake, and the deserts were chocolate mousse (more like junket), jelly with cake topping, fresh bananas, apples and mandarins. I did the right thing and tried the guinea pig again, this time it was even better done in a hot and spicy breadcrumb, (dare I say it a bit like KFC Hot and Spicy) Rating 8.5

D: Again after a lunch like that I passed !!

Day 4 Chivay to Puno

B: Bread Rolls, Sausage, Cheese and Jam, OJ and Cocoa Tea.
L: Soupa de Pollo ( Chicken Soup) rating 7; Sml Margarita Pizza rating 3.
D: Spaghetti Bollognaise and Ham, Tomato and Olives shared meal rating 7.5.


Day 5 Puno

B: Nil, Boat ride on Lake Titticaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, just 3,820m above sea level, from 3 -280 metres deep and a total water area of 8,500 sq klms, shares a border with Bolivia.

Vegetable and Quinoa Soup

L: Taqueila Island on Lake, Quinoa and Vegetable Soup, followed by pan fried lake trout with chips, rice and salad, a nice wholesome and tasy meal, rating 7.5.

Titicaca Trout, Rice and Vegetables

D: Stayed with a family at Liquina a peninsuila on Lake Titticaca, where tourism has helped develop the economic base of this community of some 2,600 people. Our family was mum and dad and 3 kids 18,16 and 13, the kids spoke some english and more spanish as well as thier native Ammaraye tounge. A simple meal of wheat and potato soup and a potato and vegetable stew with rice, first on trip, a complete vegetarian meal, quite tasty, rating 7.0.


Day 6 Liquina, Lake Titticaca and Puno.  

B: Fried Bread, Jam and Boiled Egg with Cocoa Tea.

L: Quinoa Soup, followed by fried fish expertly cooked by daughter Meliza (13) in mamas absence(caught fresh that morning by Antonio and son Frankie) potatoes and yams, rating 7.0.


D: After the vegetable overload went back to being a carnivore and ordered an Alpacca Tenderloin steak with chips, salad and salsa. Noted that they did not bring a steak knife , just the bread knife, they obviuosly know their product, a beautiful tender and tasty steak, perfectly cooked, as good as any fillet I have had in my life, rating 9.0.

From the Farm

To the Market

To My Plate

Day 7 On bus Puno to Cusco

B: Fruit, wheat, fruit and nut  type bars.

L: Buffet style, sampled, Alpacca steak, 5 varieties of roasted and fried potatoes, stuffed capsicum (with spicy meat), corn tamales, many salad items, good meal after long bus trip, rating 8.0.

D: Vegetable soup, spanish omlete and fresh made lemonade, cost 10 soles, less than $5, rating 7.0

THE END .....of the Cuy