Travelers seeking to explore the Andes Mountains through its food and culture will appreciate the range of alcoholic beverages available in Peru.  From indigenous Chicha beer to coastal wineries, Peru offers a variety of drinks exclusive to the country.

The first and most well-known libation is Pisco, a brandy made from grapes grown in Peru's costal regions where the warm, dry climate provides ideal condtions for producing the special grapes needed to make the clear powerful intoxicant.

This 1 minute video show you how to make it yourself:

Pisco sour is the signature cocktail of Peru and is known to have a delayed "butt-kicking" affect. One minute you're enjoying your 2nd or 3rd drink and the next minute your speech is slurred! Made with egg whites, lemon and sugar, the drink is refreshing and sweet and goes down easy. You've been warned!

If you have time to visit the Pisco-making region in southern Peru, the best way to get there is by car or bus from Lima to Ica. (4-5 hours each way)  Ask your tour operator or hotel to arrange an afternoon winery tour.  Bring your own snacks or make time to dine along the way! The trip is best if done in 2 days / 1 night.  And you must include sunset dune buggy ride in Huacachina!  

The next beverage, chicha beer, comes from the indigenous Qechua mountain people. Corn is a dietary staple,  is fermented into a hearty, yellow-colored sudsy compound, and a pink version made with strawberries.  The frothy concoction is made by women in mud-brick houses, cooked in huge tubs, vats and buckets. A good wife knows how to make the best beer. You'll find chicha at markets, festivals and all celebrations. 
Adios Adventure Travel co-founder, Vidal Jaquehua, offers small group private tours to his family hostel in Cusco where his mother and sister have perfected a chicha beer recipe that is now being served in local restaurants. 

When driving through the Sacred Valley of the Incas on your way to Machu Picchu, you may notice red rags/plastic/fabric attached to long poles or sticks suspended on the mud-brick homes, like primitive flagpoles. This means the chicha is ready! Come on in! Visitors can also sample chicha in many restaurants. 

Finally, we want to bring attention to Peru-based breweries. A stop at PACHAR craft brewery can be included in your tour of the Sacred Valley.  With a tap room seasonal food menu, this is a great place to eat, drink and be merry on your way back to Cusco after touring the Sacred Valley, hiking, or exploring Machu Picchu.

No matter where you travel, bottled beer is one of the best ways to experience local cuisine and culture.  Cusquena brand has several flavors of beer brewed in 7 factories located throughout Peru, including Cusco. (Av. La Cultura No.725 is the address.  Sadly they do not offer tours. We tried.)

Cusquena brewery dominates the menu in most restaurants. They make lagers to quench your thirst after a long, hard hike.  And brews including ROJA, which can be paired with meat and chili dishes.  NEGRA is a mildly sweet stout that goes well with chocolate-based desserts.  It's easy to find Cusquena in Peru.  But not so much in the US or elsewhere in the world.  So enjoy it while you can!

Adios Adventure Travel includes stops on request, to sample any of the mentioned toddies.  All our groups have private drivers who do not drink.  Why not take advantage of the one time in your life when you can sample local firewater without worrying about driving home!