Biking Around Lima

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Biking Around Lima

September 29th, 2008 | Peru - Adventure, Peru - Culture, Peru - Must See or Do | No Comments »

Being the adventurous, active type, I enjoy exploring any city I visit on a bicycle. Most bike tour companies offer a variety of tours, including ones for riders of all ages and levels. For those who prefer to fly solo, most tour companies have the option of bicycle rental only, leaving you to explore where you like.

In Lima, try Bike Tours of Lima. They are a tour and rental company that has a host of bilingual guides that are just as excited to be out biking around the city as you are. Tours take you over bike lands, through parks, down one way streets and across wide sidewalks. Rides are fairly easy-going, and always on smooth surfaces. Read more

Project Peru – Do Your Part

September 23rd, 2008 | Peru - Family Friendly, Peru - Gringo Owned Business | No Comments »

For those who are passionate about making a change in Peru, Project Peru is a great place to get started. This registered charity has established a shelter in Peru where is provides food, clothing and protection to those in need. It is also currently working to construct a building in Zapallal, near Lima which will be used as a community center of sorts, and aid the community greatly.

Project Peru also sends financial support and material assistance to its affiliates in Peru to be distributed among the needed. The charity is based out of the UK, but calls to action any who feel the need to help the situation of the many poor who live in Peru. Read more

Sipping on Pisco Sours in Peru

September 19th, 2008 | Peru - Gringo Favorite, Peru - Must See or Do | 1 Comment »

Pisco is one of my favorite things in Peru. The Peruvian style of this brandy (it is also made in Chile), is distilled from freshly fermented grape juice, and is only produced in copper pot stills, and it is never diluted after it is distilled, keeping the flavor strong.

There are a great number of Pisco factories throughout Peru that you can tour. Most of these are also wineries, meaning the tour is a bit longer, but the complementary drinks at the end have a bit more of a variety. Check out The Tacama Winery. (The focus is really heavy on the wine, but they serve and sale Pisco as well)

Pisco can be drank Read more

Trekking in the Cordillera Blanca

September 14th, 2008 | Peru - Adventure, Peru - Must See or Do | No Comments »

A friend once told me that going to Peru and not visiting Cordillera Blanca is like going to Nepal and not visiting the Himalayas. I think I would have to agree with him. The Cordillera Blanca, and the Santa Cruz trek in particular, has been praised as one of the best places for trekking in the world.

Why is the Santa Cruz trek so popular? Well, to start off it is safe and gorgeous, not to mention the world’s highest mountain range outside of Asia. The weather is great from May to September, and although the hike reaches an altitude of 15,617 feet, the pass is long and slow, allowing your body to adjust to the changes in Read more

Family Adventure to Peru

September 10th, 2008 | Peru - Adventure, Peru - Family Friendly | No Comments »

Fallen in love with the idea of Peru, but not sure how to get your family to agree? G.A.P. Adventures offers a “Peru Family Adventure” tour that might help convince your family just how great Peru is.

The 10 day tour includes a guided tour of Machu Picchu and an Amazon jungle excursion. The tour price includes accommodations at a hotel for 6 nights and at a jungle lodge for 3. The local flights throughout the tour are included as are the train rides and motorized canoe trips! Jungle meals are included as is a daily continental breakfast.

As it is a family tour, one in the group must be between the ages of 6 and Read more

Tips for Taking Taxis in Peru

September 7th, 2008 | Peru - Tourist Trap, Peru - Travel Tips | No Comments »

Taking a taxi in Lima is generally the easiest way for tourists to get around the city. Taxis can be found on every other corner, and the most common cars used are sedans; Toyota Corollas are pretty standard. Seat belts are not standard… you may not even be able to find one in the cab if you want it!

Typically fares are decided at the end of the trip, but I warn against that. The Gringo tax can get pretty high. Ask a local what the standard fare is and try and make sure you agree upon that with your driver.

If you plan on staying for a couple days or longer and manage to get a Read more