Have you ever heard of Paddington? What country or places do you associate Paddington with?
Whether you’ve heard this name or not, stick around to learn a little more about this character (spoiler: you’ll learn about Paddington’s relationship with Peru and his Machu Picchu trip).
What or Who Is Paddington?
Paddington is a tender, kind, fun and adventurous bear created by the English writer Michael Bond in the story “A Bear Called Paddington” in 1958. It became a classic book in children’s literature in the UK.
Where Does He Come From, and What Kind of Bear Is Paddington?
To create Paddington, Michael Bond was inspired by the spectacled bear or Andean bear or “ukamari” in Quechua which is the only species of bear native to South America and whose largest population is found in Peru.
Some Facts About the Spectacled Bear That Inspired Paddington in Peru
- Visits by these bears have been reported in Peru at the Machu Picchu Archeological Site, which is why conservation strategies and population monitoring have been implemented.
- Since 2017, the image of the Andean bear has been included on the Peruvian one sol coin, for being a mammal that is in danger of extinction.
- The spectacled bear is considered a sacred animal within the Andean and Amazonian world view. Some cultures consider it to be a link between heaven and earth, a mediator between good and evil.
- This unique species of bear is considered omnivorous although 90% of its diet is based on fruits and plant stems.
Has Paddington Been to Machu Picchu?
The great popularity of this character led to the first major film in 2014, the second film in 2017, and the third film this year, which was released on January 16th in Peru.
In the most recent film titled “Paddington in Peru,” our adorable bear, Paddington, returns to Peru to visit his aunt Lucy and discover the mystery behind an ancient relic that takes him to discover many places, one of them being the Machu Picchu Archeological Site.
What Places Did Paddington Visit?
- Machu Picchu Town – this is the closest access point to the Inca citadel, which is 6 kilometres away
- Machu Picchu Archeological Site – this is the most famous Inca archeological site in the world
- Huayna Picchu Mountain – this imposing mountain rises in front of the citadel of Machu Picchu
What Was the Impact of the Movie “Paddington in Peru”?
- There’s a Paddington statue sitting on a bench in Machu Picchu Town, which was donated by the UK Embassy and is now a tourist attraction in the town. It’s a 6-minute walk from the Machu Picchu train station.
- The company PeruRail offered the “Paddington Experience” in its “Vistadome Observatory” service in which the train was decorated Paddington-style, and included a tea time and a red hat giveaway. (This was valid until February 28, 2025.)
Paddington, a spectacled bear of Peruvian origin, and the premiere of the third Paddington movie set in Machu Picchu have been major contributors to promoting tourism in the area.
