folktale, greed, peru

Did the Hallucinogenic Drink Chicha Influence Ancient Peruvian Politics?

The art of politics involves particular strategies and skills. For example, some would assert that to gain and maintain political power, one must keep opposing forces in balance — that is, to satisfy human tendencies and at the same time control them, such as punishment and reward, political power, and moral power, and the like. ...

Haidene Go

The hallucinogenic drink chicha.

Gigantic Sculptures of Incan Gods Carved Into a Mountain in Peru

The Peruvian city of Cusco, already marked as a UNESCO World Heritage site, now has a new tourist attraction — the sculptures of Incan gods called Apukunaq Tianan, which in the Quechua language denotes the Abode of the Gods. The sculptures are being carved by a regional artisan and are already attracting tourists from around ...

Jack Roberts

One of the sculptures at Apukunaq Tianan in Cusco, Peru.

Why Peru’s Machu Picchu Opened Amidst COVID-19 for One Single Tourist

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Peru, like all other nations, has been under strict travel restrictions. Tourist sites like Machu Picchu were also closed to visitors. However, the government of Peru opened Machu Picchu for a single tourist recently. Why? Read on to find out. Open for Katayama Jesse Katayama arrived in Peru ...

Raven Montmorency

An aerial view of Machu Picchu.

Peruvian Student Becomes First to Write Thesis in Incan Language

Roxana Quispe Collantes, a student from Peru, has become the first person in the world to write a thesis in Quechua, the Incan language that is still spoken by several tribes in the Andes. She successfully defended her thesis in Quechua and received top marks from San Marcos University in Lima. The thesis Collantes’ study ...

Raven Montmorency

Roxana Quispe Collantes.

Why Did This Alpaca Get Into a Taxi in Cusco, Peru?

Did you know there are no wild alpacas? These adorable, docile South American ruminants are raised mainly for their soft wool. They can mostly be found in herds on farms, but some people keep them as pets, too. And occasionally, one climbs into a taxi for a trip to town. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest

Mikel Davis

Alpaca riding in a red taxi.

Peru and its Culinary Diversity: A Personal Experience

Peru can be considered among the world’s most culinarily interesting countries, “boasting” a food diversity only rivaled by China. Not just the potato, but also the tomato that Europeans and Americans celebrate in a variety of dishes, has its origins in Peru. Peru is a colorful patch of various climatic zones, from iced mountain tops ...

Hermann Rohr