There is no shortage of things to do in Lima. Often when we find ourselves in such an enormous city, there’s so much to do that there is nothing to do. I’ve narrowed it down to my top three.
A classic must see is the Plaza the Armas. The Cathedral sits impressively on one side of the plaza while the Palacio de Gobierno sits on another. The best time to visit Plaza the Armas is noon. Sit and watch the changing of the guard, people watch, take a tour of the cathedral and then head down Jiron de la Union. Walk down this pedestrian walkway lined with quaint little shops, restaurants and cafes. Window shop, eat lunch or have Read more
Ever been snowboarding before? Well sandboarding is kind of the same except its way hotter and much sandier.
The most popular areas for sand boarding are Ica and Huacachina. A few hours from Lima this area offers the most variety in slopes. From beginner to experienced you can find whatever tickles your fancy. Here you can rent a board from most hotels for really cheap and do the self-guided thing and haul your board up and down the hill yourself or you can pay $10-$15USD for a two hour tour. The advantage of the tours is that a dune buggy will wait for you at the bottom and drive you back to the top every time. Really it’s well Read more
One thing I’ve learned while living in the Peruvian capital of Lima is that it’s virtually impossible to go travelling without having a funny story to tell. The day I said ‘yes’ to going to La Oroya in my friend’s 4X4 was definitely one of those times; a day to remember, or as it seemed at the time, a day to forget.
Marlon, my flatmate knocked on my door at 4am. ‘Hey, do you fancy going on a road trip tomorrow?’ he asked. My senses had barely woken up and for some reason I found myself saying ‘yes’.
At 7am he banged on my door again to wake me up so we could Read more
Peru is famous for their delicious cacao. Many family businesses have undergone amazing transformations, replacing their cocaine fields with cocoa fields. Now Peru isn’t only renowned worldwide for their cacao but it is also the second largest producer of organic cacao. A new culture has been built around the cultivation of cacao. A culture of sustainable crops that give back to the environment, and fair wages to women and field workers. Peruvian Cacao farming is a true success story.
A perfect place to familiarize ourselves with the history of cacao, not only in peru but around the world, is Chocomuseo in Cusco. At Chocomuseo you will learn everything there is to know about cacao. It’s history starting Read more
In the heart of the ancient city of Cuzco lays Hotel Monasterio. This monastery, built in the late 1500′s, has been converted into a luxurious hotel complete with restaurants and a beautiful courtyard. As you step into Monasterio, you’ll be transported to another era. The modestly elegant décor breathes peace and tranquility, while the religious artwork adds a solemn note to the atmosphere.
The arhitectural details add individual character to each room. The detailed accents on the furniture complete the antique look of the entire hotel. All rooms have a heating system, televisions and WiFi. Two-level suites are particularly interesting. Your entrance goes into a cozy living room and upstairs is the bedroom and breakfast nook with Read more
I always get a bit stressed going to the border to renew my Visa. It never seems to come at a good time. When I get to my destination, usually Copacabana, I can never really relax 100% because, in the back of my mind, I’m wondering how many days I’ll get this time.
This last trip was no exception, although for slightly different reasons. This time, the problem came from protesting between Puno and the Bolivian border. I’d heard about protests in Ica on the way to Lima. But it was a complete surprise when my bus stopped before even getting to the fork in the road where the right branch goes to Desaguadero and La Paz while the Read more
Aside from the backpackers and surfing mecca Máncora, travellers often ignore the north coast of Peru, however there are many beautiful beaches to discover in the region.
Both to the north and south of Máncora, almost all the beaches on Peru’s northern coast are relatively free of foreign tourists and in the low season prices are particularly affordable.
The north coast of Peru stretches from Trujillo to the border with Ecuador and aside from the beautiful beaches there are many important archaeological sites.
Trujillo is Peru’s third largest city and some locals consider the nearby beach at Huanchaco to be place of eternal spring. It is famous for its ceviche (a traditional Peruvian fish dish) but it is Read more
Imagine driving along the Peruvian pacific coast for 16 hrs. You’re traveling from Lima to Tacna, Peru. Maybe you will attend local festivities, a wedding, a work seminar or some other important engagement. Regardless, 16 hours is a long time. What if you could be there in less than two hours? Thanks to Peruvian Airlines you can!
Peruvian Airlines started operating in late 2009. This new airline offers daily domestic flights to six different destinations. Prices and service rival large airlines. Currently they offer one flight daily from Lima to Tacna leaving at 11:00am and arriving at 12:40 pm. Rates to Tacna start at $96USD for a round-trip ticket. There are four daily flights to Arequipa and three Read more
On top of a cliff 259 feet above sea level, facing the Pacific Ocean sits Miraflores, Peru. Lima’s business and cultural center, Miraflores is one of the hottest spots in Peru for expats or long term visitors. The city is busy and full of life. There are restaurants, nightclubs, parks, hotels and a wide variety of activities for all to enjoy.
Miraflores is a common destination for those who want to learn Spanish. The headquarters of El Sol Spanish Language School are located in the heart of Miraflores. The school offers a variety of effective, intensive and semi-intensive language courses. The classes are small, usually no more than 5 or 6 and the teachers are native Spanish speakers. Read more
Cusco is a popular tourist destination with lots of hotels, restaurants, and plenty of things to do around town. One place that stand s out is Inka Panaka Restaurante Cultural y Galería de Arte. This restaurants represents the fusion of Peruvian art, culture and cuisine.
The menu at Inka Panaka offers a wide variety of dishes that will please any set of taste buds. You can have anything so familiar as bacon and eggs for breakfast or a burger to something as exotic as ceviche and alpaca steaks. The alpaca steaks are of course the best and most interesting option in the menu. They are prepared in chirimoya sauce, mignon alpaca stuffed with onions, thyme and tomatoes, Read more
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