A Peruvian’s journey through the Near and Far East through letters of recommendation in the context of the transportation revolution between 1842 and 1844

Varillas P.E.R. · Revista de Humanidades (SPAIN) (2025) · DOI: 10.5944/rdh.55.2025.46011

Resumen

This article deals with a traveler from the southern Andes of Peru, Juan Bustamante, who traveled to the Near and Far East between 1842 and 1844 and, upon returning home, wrote a book about his experience in 1845. He was one of the first Latin Americans to circumnavigate the world on a budget, using steamships that sailed all seas and stopped at various ports, such as Istanbul, Beirut, Alexandria, Suez, Madras, Calcutta, Malacca, Singapore, Macau, Canton, among others. He also made use of the letters of recommendation he obtained to consuls and other important figures who facilitated his stay. These steamships boosted travel not only for merchants and bureaucrats but also for early travelers, tourists, who traveled for the sake of exploration.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos