Peru is one of South America’s most beautiful and spectacular countries. Peruvians will proudly tell you that it’s the most beautiful country. Once you’ve experienced the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, the majesty of the Amazon basin, the arid desolation of the Pacific coastal strip, and the verdant tropical jungle, it’s hard to disagree with them.
Peru also has a compelling Jewish story and is home to one of the world’s most unique and unusual Jewish communities. A luxury Jewish heritage tour of Peru explores a five hundred year old Jewish history that stretches from the early days of Spanish colonialism, through the waves of Jewish immigration that shaped the 20th century community, and the small but resilient Jewish community in Lima today.
American Jews can combine the wonders of Peru’s natural beauty, and its world famous Incan treasures, with a journey into the spiritual heart of one of South America’s most interesting Jewish communities.
Explore Historical Lima and Meet the City’s Jewish Community
The Jewish community in Peru is sadly in decline. It was never large, but now stands at fewer than 2,000 people. Most of the country’s Jews are divided between the capital Lima and the towns of Iquitos and Cuzco. Lima is the usual starting point for US Jews who tour Peru and there are some important heritage sites in the capital.
Lima’s main Ashkenazi Synagogue & Jewish Museum chronicles the arrival of Jews and their impact on Peru’s culture. The Orthodox Sinagoga Sharón is located in the San Isidro neighborhood. The Sinagoga 1870 is a Conservative synagogue in the Miraflores district. Many of the congregants were Holocaust survivors. If you visit the Bet Haknesset Rabi Abraham Benhamu synagogue, you may be lucky enough to hear the traditional Ladino melodies and Sephardi hazzanut.
Lima’s Miraflores District is a great place for a private walking tour with an English speaking guide. Apart from the Sephardic synagogue, there are stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, restaurants, and artisan markets where you can find local arts and crafts as souvenirs.
The Iquitos Jews
Iquitos is known unofficially as the Capital of the Peruvian Amazon. The jungle city is truly remarkable for the simple reason that it can’t be reached by road. If you want to visit, you have to take a river boat or fly in! Iquitos’ remote location was a big part of the attraction for its early Jewish settlers. Six hundred miles of mountain and jungle terrain between the Iquitos Jews and the Inquisition in Lima more than compensated for the privations and dangers of Amazonian river life.
Most of the Jews who moved to Iquitos were absorbed into the indigenous populations or married other European settlers. Their ancestors became known as Amazonian Jews and many maintained core Jewish traditions. A guided tour of the Jewish provides a trace of the Amazonian Jewish settlers and their extraordinary lives as merchants and river traders in the heart of the Amazon forest. If you want to explore the history of the Iquitos Jews, Gil Travel can arrange transportation to the city and kosher food and accommodation. There is some risk of yellow fever in Iquitos. A simple vaccination and basic anti-mosquito precautions will keep you healthy.
Celebrate Shabbat in the Andes
Cusco is a mountain town in South Eastern Peru that’s a convenient jump-off point for a trip to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It’s a pretty remote and farflung location but you can enjoy a warm Shabbat welcome from the local Chabad. They are keen to offer hospitality to Jewish travelers exploring the Andes and it’s a wonderful and moving experience to see the Shabbos candles flickering in such an unusual and atmospheric location. Without the Chabad, kosher travel in parts of Peru would be extremely challenging. When you explore Cusco, the Plaza de Armas is a great place to take a stroll. It’s a charming blend of Incan and Spanish heritage.
The world-famous Incan citadel of Machu Picchu certainly doesn’t feature in Judaism but it’s nonetheless a “must-see” destination in Peru. The 15th century site is just 50 miles from Cusco and is set on a mountain peak above the Sacred Valley. It’s not surprising that Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a spectacular creation set in an awe inspiring landscape. When you take a break from a Jewish tour to explore Machu Picchu, you’ll be seeing one of the human race’s great treasures.
Plan a Luxury Tour of Peru
Peru is definitely an unusual tourist destination for American Jews. It’s not close enough to the States to serve as a resort and it’s outside the established Jewish heritage tour circuit. Peru is an adventurous destination that is developing a high end travel niche with luxury accommodation and kosher dining. The story of the country’s Jewish past offers a fascinating glimpse into the turbulent and terrifying period of Spanish colonialism, and a deeper dig into Peruvian Jewish history can deliver plenty of surprises.
Peru is in the Southern hemisphere which means that when it’s winter in America it’s summer in Peru, and vice versa. If you want to get away from snowy North America, book a winter visit and enjoy the sun in Peru – but – just to complicate things, there are three separate climatic zones in Peru. Gil Travel can help you plan your tour for optimal weather in the coastal zone, the jungle and the Andes and can advise you on travel clothing, vaccinations and local conditions.
The chance to explore the enduring spirituality at the heart of Peruvian Judaism is a deeply rewarding experience that can strengthen your Jewish identity. Hearing the haunting melodies of a traditional Ladino service in the Sephardic synagogue in Lima, or celebrating Shabbat in the jungle or mountains is a truly unique moment of spiritual renewal. Gil Travel can arrange chauffeured transport and kosher accommodation, and an age appropriate itinerary for your family or tour group.
Talk to Gil Travel today about a luxury private tour of Peru – or a wider Jewish heritage tour of South America, including adventures like a kosher Amazon river cruise or helicopter rides over the Andes!
FAQs:
Is there a Jewish community in Cusco?
Yes, there is a community, albeit a very small one. Cusco does have a Chabad House and extends a warm welcome to many Jewish visitors each year.
Are there kosher food options in Peru?
Yes – certainly in Lima and Cusco and the food can be excellent! The Chabad are always willing to help out and there are some respected local kosher caterers.
Did Jews come to Peru during the Inquisition?
Yes. Many converts fled Spain and Portugal seeking safety in the New World. Jews in Peru were initially able to practice Judaism openly – until the Inquisition arrived in 1570 and unleashed a reign of torture and persecution.
Is it possible to visit Jewish sites during a regular Peru itinerary?
Absolutely, Jewish heritage stops fit seamlessly with classic cultural routes. Gil Travel will help you to plan a tailored itinerary that gives you the best of both worlds and takes you to the places that really interest you – and in the luxury style that you expect.
