Top three things to do in Lima

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Top three things to do in Lima

January 23rd, 2012 | Peru - Adventure, Peru - Must See or Do | No Comments »

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 some Read more

Sandboarding in Peru!

January 18th, 2012 | Peru - Adventure, Peru - Gringo Favorite, Peru - Must See or Do | No Comments »

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 worth Read more

Chocomuseo in Cusco: from the bean to…anything you want

August 18th, 2011 | Peru - Adventure, Peru - Must See or Do | No Comments »

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 with Read more

The Human Body Exhibit in Lima

July 23rd, 2009 | Peru - Family Friendly, Peru - Gringo Favorite, Peru - Must See or Do, Peru - Travel Tips | No Comments »

The Human Body exhibit has been seen around the world, and right now it is here in Lima. Although this has nothing to do with the culture of Peru, it is an amazing exhibit that should most definitely be seen. And who knows, seeing it in Lima might be the only chance you get!

The exhibit displays real bodies, complete and partial, that have been preserved using polymerization. This liquid silicone preserves the human tissue, leaving the body completely plasticized at a molecular level. You can see the complexity of the bones, nerves, organs, and blood vessels.

This is a cool way to really see how the body works. The exhibit is open to people of all ages, although it Read more

San Francisco Church and Catacombs – Another thing to do in Lima

January 2nd, 2009 | Peru - Culture, Peru - Family Friendly, Peru - Must See or Do | 1 Comment »

If you are currently making your list of things to do when you are Lima make sure you add the Church of San Francisco (La Iglesia de San Francisco) to the list. The Church and monastery are interesting enough, but the real attraction here are the underground catacombs.

For about 2 dollars (US) you can enter the extensive tunnel system of graves containing piles and piles of human bones. The bones are sorted by body type, thanks to a group of archaeologists who inventoried them. In one area the bones are arranged into a work of art, copying the French catacombs. (Oh the things you learn on a guided tour!)

Shopping and Entertainment in Lima at Larcomar

December 29th, 2008 | Peru - Gringo Favorite, Peru - Must See or Do, Peru - Places to Eat | No Comments »

The newest and most fashionable shopping center in Lima is Larcomar, and it should most definitely be on your list of things to do/places to shop. With a fantastic view of the Miraflores Bay, you can browse the stores for designer clothes, cigars, and other souvenirs, eat at one of the many international restaurants (they have a HOOTERS), catch a flick, dance at one of the discotheques, or even go bowling!

Larcomar is clean and safe, making it an ideal place to spend the afternoon. You may choose to start your day down at the beach, and then hike on up to the shopping center for lunch, where you can sit at any of the cafes that overlook the Pacific Read more

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

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

Explore the Amazon Jungle

August 21st, 2008 | Peru - Adventure, Peru - Culture, Peru - Must See or Do | 1 Comment »

Deep in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon you will find the city of Iquitos. Accessible only by small plane or boat, this town is the largest city in the Peruvian jungle, and a gateway leading into Amazon exploration.

For those looking to connect with nature and feel the power of the Amazon jungle, there is no better place to visit. The city is a hub of activity for scientists and researchers and at the same time the surrounding area is still greatly inhabited by the native Indian tribes.

Iquitos is ecotourism at its finest. It may be a little… or a lot off of the beaten trail, but it is definitely worth it. Arriving Read more