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Wandering Chef: Jose Garces in Ecuador

At a working cattle ranch in Northern Patagonia, visitors can ride horseback, eat traditional Argentine asado, and yes, stay the night.

These craftsmen and women are keeping an ages-long tradition alive.

Praised as one of the world’s most compelling cuisines, Peruvian fare owes its reputation to biodiversity, foreign influence, and the creativity of local chefs. From street food to ceviche to haute cuisine, the must-try dishes are endless.

Whether you’re carbo-loading in Aguas Calientes for the hike to Machu Picchu or eating light for a day of sightseeing at the Cathedral and the Plaza de Armas, you’ll find a wide range of food that includes local cuisine as well as pizza and vegetarian food.

There’s much to see in Cusco and the surrounding area, but you can do a lot if you have three days to explore. Day 1: Visit the Incan ruins at Qorikancha in the morning. After lunch, wander the the Mercado San Pedro, then hike up to Sacsayhuaman for the sunset. Day 2: Take a colectivo to the Sacred Valley, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Visit the ruins at Moray and the salt mines at Maras. Day 3: Watch Andean life go by at Plaza de Armas, then explore the galleries of Las Blas, the arts district.

Food Experiences Worth the Trip from Five Well-Traveled Chefs

Musicians Aimee Mann, Joe Henry, and Loudon Wainwright III gather in Louisville to indulge in raw oysters, dry martinis, and unscripted conversation.

Lima delivers when it comes to shopping, both for sophisticated shoppers looking for designer goods, and for those in search of textiles, ceramics, woolens, and crafts from makers in Peru. Head to shopping centers like Jockey Plaza or the mall at Larcomar to see the well-heeled citizens of Lima in their natural habitat or go to the Indian Market to peruse handmade items. Exploring both ends of the shopping spectrum helps provide a balanced picture of daily life in Lima.

Mixologist Tony Devencenzi of San Francisco’s Bourbon and Branch share his highlights from Mexico.

Founder’s note from the September/October 2011 print issue of AFAR Magazine.

From the Inca Trail and the Sacred Valley to Lake Titicaca and the Andes Mountains, Peru has a lot to offer in the way of pre-Columbian sites and natural beauty—a fact that the country’s best hotels use to their full advantage. Here, visitors can stay by the gates of Machu Picchu, on the site of a former palace, along the edge of Colca Canyon, and more.

Inside the city’s most innovative restaurants, maverick chefs are defining modern Czech cuisine.

One traveler returns to Laos.

La Catedral is actually three churches in one, each of which are exquisite. It is decorated in the Baroque style, with more gilt and gold trimming than you can imagine. In order to convert the Incan people to Catholicism, the Spanish used symbols from Incan religion throughout the church. Look for the hundreds of mirrors, as well as the triangle shape associated with the Mountain God. La Catedral hosts a couple of particularly unique pieces, including a Peruvian rendition of the Last Supper featuring a guinea pig as the main dish. El Señor de Los Temblores is a crucifix that stopped the Cuzco earthquake of 1650, and is featured prominently in the cathedral. Pictures are not allowed inside, but the exterior of La Catedral is picturesque both during the day and at night when it’s lit up with the rest of La Plaza de Armas.