A day in the life of the Peruvian

Peru local culture

With Peru Travel Plan you’ll travel the way we ourselves like to travel: discovering a new country and immersing yourself in the local way of life. It’s about experiencing local culture, and who better to teach us about the Peru local culture than the Peruvians themselves? When we’re travelling in a new country, we like learning about the culture and values of the people we meet. For us, it’s an essential part of the travel experience.

In Cuzco we met the 35-year-old taxi driver Juan. He came to pick us up at our hotel in San Blas, a lively, authentic district in Cuzco. Juan greeted us with a big toothless smile as we stepped into his battered old Suzuki. It was like entering a mini-shrine; rosaries dangling from the rear-view mirror over the crackling radio belting out Latino hits, the entire dashboard covered in mini figures and stickers of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Catholicism is just as important as family to the Peruvian. Juan hopes and prays that one day he doesn’t need to be a taxi-driver anymore. Unwavering optimistic hopes for the future is something you’ll often hear in Peru.

Juan took us to the central market in Cuzco, and seeing as it was around lunch time, he took us to see his wife Lorena. Lorena has a little food stall in the market where she sells Pollo frito con arroz, papas y ensalada, a traditional Peruvian meal. Lorena was busy peeling potatoes, cucumber and tomatoes as the little benches in front of her stall slowly began to fill up with hungry punters. On her back she was carrying their youngest son in a brightly-coloured traditional cloth while her other son and daughter sat on the ground munching on a corn cob. All the women at the stalls were busily waving newspapers in the air trying to draw customers to come and taste their food. Just follow your instinct and not the menu, because all the stalls sell the same fare.

The Peruvians love their food. The staple is potato, they have hundreds of varieties here. The local market, the neon-lit restaurants or a street stall are usually the best places to engage with the locals and try the traditional cuisine. Fried chicken, causa, choclo and cheviche are just a few of the fantastic dishes you can enjoy here. Everything is piled onto a place and you can eat with your hands if you like. After our fantastic lunch Juan went back to his taxi and headed for the airport where he knew there were a couple of flights due from Lima.

In the meantime Lorena’s food stall had emptied out again and 5-year old Jose and 7-year old Sofia headed into the streets in their colourful traditional dress, carrying a little lamb and a llama on a leash. They try to make a bit of money by posing for tourists. Jose and Sofia go to school in the morning. They know it’s important to learn and prepare for the future. Their dreams for the future: Jose wants to be a doctor when he grows up, Sofia wants to be an actress.

Peruvian culture: food, family and religion

As we discovered when we were with Juan and Lorena, food, family and religion are the three pillars of Peruvian daily life. The most important meal of the day is lunch, or ‘almuerzo’. The average Peruvian isn’t rich and has to work hard to get by, so meals are quite basic using cheap or home-grown ingredients.

Religion plays an important role here and should be treated with respect. Peruvians seek hope and comfort in God, praying of a better future. They have very little in terms of material possessions and daily life is all about getting by and scraping a daily meal together. It can be desperate at times and it shows in their toughened, characteristic faces. But despite their hardship, the Peruvians are fiercely proud of their country and of their possessions. Despite having little, they’re incredibly optimistic. Even if they have nothing more than one chicken leg, they’ll share their meal with any unexpected visitor. Families are close-knit and often live together under one roof in a small house. Older children will help look after their younger siblings when the parents are at work trying to earn a living for the family.

Doing your bit

When you’re visiting a foreign country on the other side of the world, you’ll soon find yourself immersed in a completely different culture. Different smells, different faces and sounds on the street. It might take a moment to adjust and it’s not always easy figuring out how best to engage with the local people. The customs here are often different to what you’re used to at home. Peruvians are quite reserved and modest, but they’re also extremely friendly and you’ll be greeted everywhere you go. If you ask a question and they don’t know the answer, they’ll never say so as they don’t want to disappoint you. Peruvians are very inquisitive and will be very interested to find out who you are and where you’re from.

The Peruvians are very resourceful in finding ways to make money to provide a meal for their family. It’s fun seeking out the places where the locals go to buy their food, like the market where Lorena works. Besides the food stalls you’ll also find people selling their home-made souvenirs and crafts. Don’t just give them money but always try and buy something. You’ll show respect for their work and it encourages them not to beg for money. Haggling is normal in Peru but don’t take it too far. After all, they need to be able to make a living. Posing for tourists in traditional dress, like Jose and Sofia do, is an increasingly popular way to make some money. Don’t take pictures of the locals without asking them, as they will feel very insulted. Just ask them nicely and give them a little tip. They can make a little money and you’ve got a nice memento for your holiday album. Everyone’s happy.

Fiesta time

The Peruvians love their fiestas. One of the most important days of the year in Peru is All Saints, or Dia de los Muertos, celebrated in November 2nd. It’s the day when the dead are commemorated and the graves are decorated with flowers and candles. The favourite food or drink of their deceased loved ones is placed on their graves and people eat bread rolls in the shape of little children, called t’antawawas. It’s a national holiday and after people have honoured their loved ones, they’ll head into the streets to celebrate together with lots of music and dance. Often they will stay by the graves all night long, or make a small altar at home so the dead can join in the celebrations.

If you happen to be in Peru during a national holiday you're in luck. The festicals in Peru are a fantastic culture event celebrated with lots of food, drink and music and a great way to experience the local culture.
Click here for an overview of the major festivals in Peru and Bolivia.

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