Earthquake-proofing Peruvian cities

In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Chile, Peru’s government finally decided to implement measures to help prevent a future catastrophe. But the government should give special attention to the quality of housing, particularly in the over-populated and vulnerable capital Lima.

March 17, 2010 | News, Opinion

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Tourism and the Town of Pimentel

Here in the north tourist towns are not numerous. To the south of Chiclayo is Huanchaco beach near Trujillo, a distance of 250 miles. North of Chiclayo is Máncora and Punta Sal, a distance of some 200 miles. In our immediate area we’re limited to Pimentel.

December 11, 2009 | Lambayeque & Chiclayo Guide

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Gastronomy is the new driving force for economic development

With the growing economic benefits Peru is enjoying thanks to its cuisine, as demonstrated by a second very successful gastronomic fair hosted in the capital of Lima not long ago, it is little surprise that a recent study by Arellano Marketing has produced figures that back up what is plain to see.

November 22, 2009 | News, Peruvian Food

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Food business taking off in Peru [Featured]

Rich or poor, Peruvians pride themselves on eating well. Fast food is frowned upon and a poorly-prepared platter is seldom tolerated.

Strange in a country where a quarter of children still suffer from malnutrition but Peru’s sharp inequality is one of its many paradoxes. It is one of the 10 countries in the world classed as ‘mega-diverse’ in terms of its biodiversity, which means in nutritional terms it is rich beyond measure.

September 27, 2009 | Peruvian Food

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The changing face of Cusco’s plaza

From sacred imperial capital of the Incas to commercial centre home to American chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks, the face of Cusco is changing with the times.

June 19, 2009 | Cusco Guide, Opinion

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The first Peruvian car

Such is Peruvian ingenuity that this was the first nation in South America to produce high-quality automobiles. World-beating ones at that. But as great as Peruvian creativity… is a lack Peruvian self esteem. What could have been the start of a major Peruvian industry was snuffed out by Peruvians themselves, who then, as now, see everything from abroad as better, whether it really is or not.

May 7, 2009 | Culture & History, Opinion

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Europeans now allowed to eat Lúcuma

Under the guise of health regulations, the European Union has enforced illegal trade barriers on many developing countries for years. These restrictions blocked certain foods from being imported into the EU if they hadn’t been traditionally consumed by Europeans before 1997.
According to the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Repression at the French Economy Ministry, Europe had been unfairly banning lúcuma for years now, as it was indeed marketed in France before 1997.

April 28, 2009 | Opinion, Peruvian Food

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Peruvians spend 19% more, credit easier to come by [Featured]

Rachel Gamarra explains that while the world’s economies fall into recession, Peru’s is racing ahead as Peruvians increased their spending by a huge 19% in 2008. With the country’s economy only growing at about 9% and wages remaining stable, where is this money coming from?

December 14, 2008 | Lima City Guide, Opinion

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APEC 2008 comes to a close

As the security fences and blockades are pulled down, and life in Lima gets back to normal, Peru can be proud that it successfully held such a large scale international event. The numbers of delegates and the numbers of heads of state all in the capital city at the same time was unprecedented for the country, but despite Peru’s reputation for inefficiency everything went surprisingly well.

November 24, 2008 | Lima City Guide, News, Opinion

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When the U.S. sneezes, Peru drinks tea. [Featured]

They say that “when the U.S. sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold.”

Well it seems Peru was prepared to avoid a cold.

September 23, 2008 | News, Opinion

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Peruvian Pisco Conquers the World

It was not much more than a century ago that, thanks to a bar in San Francisco’s Bank Exchange, the then little-known national spirit of Peru started making an impact on the international stage. Since then, due to under-appreciation by Peruvians, Chile sneakily claimed ownership of the Pisco brand, making and exporting a greatly inferior mass-produced imitation product that had run the spirit’s reputation abroad into the ground. For many outside Chile, Pisco was now considered junk.

September 17, 2008 | Lima City Guide, Peruvian Food

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Victims of the Boom

As property prices and rents sky-rocket, and Peru’s economy enjoys its best rates of growth ever, some are left behind. Not able to pay more for rent and with nowhere else to go, this family has found themselves out on the street, evicted by the property owner who wants to cash in and sell the building that was once the family’s home for new construction.

September 16, 2008 | Lima City Guide, Opinion

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