Peru Named South America's Culinary Destination

Between the World Cup this past summer and the Olympic games coming up in 2016, there has been a heap of fuss about all things Brazil. Well forget about Brazil, because food lovers should be booking their tickets to Peru.

Peru was named South America's leading culinary destination this past weekend at the World Travel Awards, held in Quito, Ecuador, on Saturday August 9. If you need a little more persuading to book that ticket: This marks the third year in a row that Peru has won the award.

Peru is famous for having diverse culinary offerings that are very distinct from region to region. Each region offers locals and travelers alike its own type of cuisine, perfectly catering to the adventurous and hungry traveler who is open to sampling a little bit of everything.

Though seafood plays an important role in Peruvian cuisine, the country is also home to a meat-loving population, specifically guinea pig meat. If you're not that daring, don't worry; you can also find beef, pork, and chicken dishes in Peru, along with a heap of other staples incorporated into the Peruvian diet including quinoa, potatoes, squash, avocado, peppers, and other regional vegetables and fruits.

Not only will Peru quell your appetite with its flavor-filled and diverse dishes, but it's a country that is teeming with history and offers a landscape that you could spend a lifetime exploring.

What are you waiting for?

Alexandra E. Petri is the travel editor at The Daily Meal. You can follow her on Twitter @writewayaround.