This Country is EXTREMELY INCREDIBLE! - Life in PERU, SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY - TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY

There are numerous stunning countries around the world. The existence of a country that encompasses the Amazon rainforest and the ancient city of Machu Picchu, standing at an elevation of 24-30 meters, is one of the most remarkable indicators of this. Once subjugated under Spanish colonial rule, and even before that, the birthplace of the ancient Inca Empire, this place is remarkable. The country I'm referring to is also economically advanced, finding its place among the world's top 50 economies. It's a South American paradise, Peru. Peru and its surroundings have their origins deeply entwined with the Inca Empire, which made its name in known history. Established in the 13th century, the Inca Empire had its capital in Cusco, which is again located in Peru. Today, Peru is a state of Inca origin, spread over an area of 1,285,000 square kilometers, with a population of 34 million. The country lies on the western side of South America, with a coastline along the sea. Lima, the capital, is situated on this coastal strip overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Lima is undoubtedly the most developed city in the country and serves as the heart of the economy and industry. If we zoom in on their capital on a map, we can see that it doesn't cover a vast area. To the immediate north of Peru lies the country of Ecuador to the east. It shares its borders with Brazil, encompassing the Amazon rainforest and Bolivia. To the south, you'll find Chile. If you plan to visit Peru today, you can take flights to their capital Lima. And thanks to the visa-free entry option for many countries, you can enter the country without the hassle of a visa. However, flying directly to Peru from countries as far as Asia can cost over $1,000 because of its distant location from most parts of the world. If you have an interest in history, you must visit Peru to witness Machu Picchu, one of the world's best-preserved ancient cities left behind by the Incas. Machu Picchu is not just an ordinary historical site. Today, it is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the world and its name translates to Old Peak. It is known to have been constructed during the reign of the Inca Emperor Yupanqui, but there's still debate over its exact purpose. Some believe Machu Picchu was a secure refuge where the Incas could escape in case of an invasion, while others argue it was a palace built for the Inca king himself. The miraculous aspect is that in the 1500s, constructing a site at an altitude of 24-30 meters without the modern technology we have today was incredibly challenging. Building stone structures in such a location required climbing thousands of meters over rugged terrain, traveling along steep, lengthy trails and safeguarding against cliffs. Today, each of those stones weighs at least 30 kilograms and how they were transported there remains a mystery. Furthermore, the primary reason why this mysterious structure has survived to the present day is its location on such a high mountainous terrain that it remains concealed among the clouds. Therefore, even after the Spanish had eliminated the Incas, Machu Picchu remained undiscovered and unchanged for 350 years. It wasn't until 1912, following archaeological excavations in the region, that American archaeologist Hiram Bingham discovered this stone city atop the mountains and made it known to humanity. There's an extraordinary fascination with fishing in the country and Lima in particular has a culinary culture largely centered around seafood. So much so that you can witness people cleaning fish in factories in Lima even at 5 in the morning. The owners of significant restaurants in the city come here to purchase fish for tourists arriving from Europe and affluent regions of Asia. In Lima they not only relish fish but also enjoy a variety of seafood including crabs, oysters and the like. If you're not a fan of fish when in Peru you might want to taste fruits that you won't easily find in Europe or Asia. Here's one of them and its name is papaya. Another one is a fruit called granadilla which has yellow round seeds inside. There are many more tropical delicacies in Peru. If tropical fruits don't strike you as too strange, there are even more bizarre foods in this region. For instance, Peruvians are a society that consumes almost every creature in South America. There's a city in Peru called Iquitos and at the market stalls there you'll see creatures you've never encountered before in your life. For example, crocodile heads or even entire crocodiles. Moreover, markets selling these products are bustling with people. Iquitos is a city located in the north of Peru near the Amazon. In this region, especially near the Amazon, you'll come across many more examples of strange or primitive things. In fact, the people in this area, unlike the modern city dwellers in the West like Lima, are less educated and far removed from civilization. Unfortunately, the condition of these markets does not look good in terms of hygiene. I'm not just talking about the garbage on the ground. The smells in the markets are of a stomach turning nature. For instance, in the Iquitos I mentioned, poverty is quite prevalent. People live in shanties made of wood and they catch crocodiles from rivers and wetlands, which they then sell in the markets. About 100,000 people live here and almost all of them are engaged in river fishing. If you look closely at their homes, you'll see that they're built on top of the rivers and have no connection to the land. The breaking or tilting of the stakes that support these shanties can lead to people inside falling into the river. Additionally, there's no electricity system in the shanties and there's no sewage or toilet infrastructure. While strolling through the markets in Quito, Peru, you'll feel like you're in a South American country or as if you're in India, Thailand or Cambodia. Moreover, what I've described is not limited to just crocodile meat. They're eating things like worms as if they were candies. If you're looking for something more appetizing, you can see giant snails crawling inside containers. They eat these snails and lizards, grilling them and selling them for about two Peruvian soles each, roughly half of an American dollar. In the Amazon, there are many such wild creatures, so the people living close to this region have had to create a food industry based on these creatures in order to survive. In Peru, when you look at people's faces, you see warm smiles. These people love guests very much and invite them to have something to eat at their home. These people, who earn only between $150 and $200 a month, are very happy and really positive about life, even though they live a modest life. In Peru, it's not just the markets. The streets also have influences from South Asia. For example, people use mini motorcycles similar to tuk-tuks. Especially in Iquitos, where overland transportation is very limited, almost everyone uses motorcycles or tuk-tuks. Since the city leads a disconnected life from the rest of Peru, hardly anyone follows traffic rules, which further contributes to the chaos. This makes tourists traveling to the Amazon uneasy. In the country, there are interesting details about the Amazon. For example, this is a river located within the Amazon, and the water in this river is a scorching The river flows for 6 kilometers, and if someone accidentally falls into the river, their body gets severely burnt, and they die shortly after. Scientists are trying to explain why the river is so hot, suggesting that there might be an active volcano under the river. If you boil a raw egg in this river, it will be cooked within one minute. Peru has one more thing you might not have seen before. As you witness these details in the country, you can clearly understand that the Peruvian government is trying to make money from the country's nature. For instance, these hanging capsule hotels in the foothills of the mountains, reminiscent of the capsule hotels in Japan. Would you consider sleeping in a hotel room like this, suspended meters above the ground? This is in Cusco, located in the south of Peru, and was once the capital of the famous Inca Empire. It's also the city closest to Machu Picchu. In Cusco, some entrepreneurs have built these capsule rooms on the edges of the valleys, offering a unique dimension to the concept of hospitality. While the view from inside the room may look amazing, paying to sleep here might not seem wise to everyone when viewed from the outside. After all, a night at this hotel called Sky Lodge costs a whopping $900, my friends. You can decide if it's worth it. If you plan to go to Peru and your budget is limited, you should decide why you're going there. If you're looking for nightlife, beaches, and luxury restaurants while wanting to feel safe, you should go to the capital, Lima. If you want to see authentic historical buildings, climb the peaks of the Andes Mountains with traditionally dressed local people, you should visit Cusco. Finally, if you want to experience and feel the Amazon with your own eyes, you should go to Iquitos, the city closest to the Amazon. Of course, you can also see plenty of historical architecture in the capital, Lima. The fact that the country went through the hands of the Spaniards, who made Spanish the official language, is reflected in the city's architecture, which bears traces of Furnish influence. In fact, there are quite a few buildings in Lima that are similar to those in Mexico City. This is because Mexico was once invaded by the Spaniards. The main squares in the capital are genuinely clean, with nothing particularly eye-catching. However, for most of the year, the weather is misty and cloudy. The nightlife in the capital, Lima, might not be like Mexico or Colombia, but claiming that the city is lifeless would be a significant injustice to Peru. Regardless of which South American country you visit, people's lifestyles and mindsets are generally similar. They have monthly incomes around $400. Don't strive to save, and instead use their limited incomes to take care of their appearance, eat, drink, travel, and have fun. In Peru, you can clearly see this when you hit the streets at night. The venues in Lima are crowded in the evenings, and especially the women are quite elegant and well-groomed. People consume plenty of alcohol, which sometimes leads to unusual behavior and attitudes. The downside is that people here don't speak much English. So if you plan to stay in Peru for a while, you'll either have to communicate through body language or make a little effort to learn Spanish. You can also simply get by with a Spanish-English dictionary. In small settlements outside the capital, ATMs may not accept international cards. While there, you should always carry cash and shouldn't rely on the ATMs in the city. Another important detail to keep in mind while in Peru is that you should unapologetic about bargaining for anything you need to pay for. If just like in any country with less favorable economic conditions, the local population sees tourists as cash cows and often tries to make a quick buck from them. As locals struggle to lead a good life, they are predominantly focused on the money they can extract from tourists. Therefore, while in Peru, you'll frequently encounter people trying to sell you food, ask for money, or sell you tours. Taxis, on the other hand, open their doors at least at double the price, so you should always be alert when traveling abroad. If you enjoyed the video, feel free to like it, subscribe to the channel for free, or support us with a joint membership. Goodbye!