PeruNorth's musings on events & destinations in Northern Peru, Amazonia ... and beyond. Detailed tour reviews.
Zhihao ‘Leo’ Liao - a resident of both Hong Kong and Shanghai, who studied Material Sciences at Cornell University, NY - spent three nights on board the Rio Amazonas Research Station in early 2026, and has now written a blog about this and his experiences in Iquitos - including his encounters with the Chinese legacy in Peru - which he has kindly allowed us to translate and share, along with some of the photos he took.
PeruNorth was contacted by German journalist, Richard Kienberger, in August 2022 as he looked for a private vehicle to take him from Chiclayo to Yurimaguas, with a day’s break in Chachapoyas.
This was part of a longer trip to go across South America from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. His particular interest was in the motorised vehicles - especially trucks - that ply their trade in these geographically-challenging areas.
Read an abridged, English-language version of the article Richard wrote for French transport magazine France Routes:
Carnival - the exuberant celebration that precedes the Christian observance of Lent - is most closely associated with Brazil, and especially Rio de Janeiro with its famous Sambodromo floats and dancers. Nonetheless, there are carnival festivities throughout Latin America, with Peru being no exception.
Arguably the best-known in Peru is the Carnaval de Cajamarca, a vibrant and colorful festival celebrated in the city of Cajamarca.
Dance is a fundamental part of Peruvian cultural expression and identity, taking pre-Columbian traditions and combining them with later Hispanic and African influences.
If you are lucky enough to witness one of Peru’s many festivals, you are sure to see locals expressing themselves and their region through dance, just as they have for centuries.
The story behind uncovering the world-famous Chicama wave in mid-1960s.
Initially spotted from the air; then found by a two-car expedition.
A combined US-Peruvian effort of Lima-based surfers.
In 1861, the Peruvian government commissioned two ships - the Yavari and the Yapura - to be built in Britain for use on Lake Titicaca.
They were constructed in London, in 2,766 pieces weighing 210 tons in total, shipped to Arica (which is now part of Chile), hauled over the Andes by mule, and put together in Puno.
