Biodiversity on display

Peru is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. It’s home to tens of thousands of species of flora and fauna adapted to survive in one of its 90 unique microclimates. It even ranks second in the world for species of birds and it competes with Colombia to be first in the world for species of butterflies (both countries have claimed the title).

Lima itself has become a haven to showcase all the diversity that Peru has to offer. The city has taken a special interest in uplifting the work of native ecologists and agricultural scientists through ferias ecológicas stationed throughout the city. 

Much like a farmer’s market, these fairs allow land stewards from all over the country to showcase and sell the hundreds and even thousands of varieties of fruits, vegetables, and livestock that are endemic to Peru—there are more than 4,000 types of native potatoes alone! Explore the luscious tastes of tropical fruits like chirimoya and tuna fruit (prickly pear), test your spice tolerance with a variety of ajís like rocoto, limo, and amarillo, and chat with the vendors about how best to use kiwicha, pallares, and huacatay—vegetables and herbs unique to Peruvian cuisine.  

For a more cerebral experience, visit the Archaeological Sanctuary of Pachacamac. Pachacamac translates to “soul of the earth, the one who animates the world,” and the village was the heart of coastal culture dating back to 5,000 BCE. It still serves as a conservation space for native flora and fauna like your favorite local camelid, the llama; guinea pigs; many species of coastal bird; and the charismatic Pachacamac dogs, the only species raised in the pre-Hispanic era.

Art in all its forms

As steeped as it is in culture and ancient legend, Lima is still a modern city energized by the passions of young, emerging artists and communities. To see this for yourself, the best place to start is the Callao Monumental Contemporary Art Museum, an open-air museum in the port district of Lima showcasing the works of urban artists of all disciplines. Find rappers spitting cyphers in the native Quechua languages of their ancestors, muralists depicting the lives of ordinary citizens inspired by the regal styles of the ancient Inca, and fashion designers innovating the textile industry using sustainable, native fibers. 

Where the city meets the sea, you’ll find three of the world’s best restaurants, and Peru’s biodiversity is on full display…

Where an opalescent sky meets the Pacific, surrounded by an otherworldly desert reminiscent of Mars, the capital city of Peru is a cultural hub of 43 distinct neighborhoods, home to over 11 million inhabitants, and the bedrock of a culinary scene that has captivated the world. 

Some travelers may pass through the capital on their way to trek the Andes or en route to the Amazon, but those in the know linger in Lima, a city that merges the vestiges of the Incan Empire with the dramatic baroque of Spanish colonialism alongside influences from Africa, China, and Japan. 

Sample local produce grown by farmers with generations of experience cultivating one of the most biodiverse lands on Earth, then indulge in that same produce at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Even a casual jaunt around the block reveals Lima’s artistic pulse, with colorful murals celebrating Lima’s diverse heritage, or the music of cart vendors crooning verses to sell their wares.

​Melanie’s editorial and agricultural work can be found at http://mkcanales.squarespace.com/, or you can get in touch with her on Twitter @annonymoose.

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