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The Essential Peru Travel Guide Chapter 1

The Essential Peru Travel Guide Chapter 1

Lima, Peru

The capital of Peru, Lima is a burgeoning metropolis with a population of over 9 million. Visitors to Lima flock to the posh seaside neighborhoods of Miraflores and Barranco. Dotted with parks and open spaces, these neighborhoods offer quiet respite from the frantic cajoling of buses, taxis, and peddlers on the city streets.

Fruit carts, shoe shiners, and magazine stands adorn nearly every street corner. The hub of activity centers in the Ovalo Miraflores, where huge department stores loom over backpacker hostels and churches. Stroll the shops on Larco street until the buildings give way to a lush open green, the glossy high-rise JW Marriot, and the crystalline Pacific Ocean.

Here is Larcomar, where paragliders launch off the Costa Verde cliffs and wave hello to shopper and diners nestled in the Larcomar shopping center. Spend the evening in El Centro, the historic district, where the Plaza de Armas is lit up beautifully at night.

Much of the architecture has been wonderfully preserved, including the Cathedral, several museums, monasteries, and colonial mansions. The Monastery of San Francisco is a must-see, with its centuries-old library and the Well of Souls deep in its catacombs.

6 Things to Do In Lima, Peru

#1 Visit the Plaza de Armas in the Historic District Today, Pizarro’s tomb lies in the Lima Cathedral, and the heavy-handed influence of the Spanish colonial era is evident in the historic district of the city, called El Centro Historico. The Plaza de Armas, or the Main Square, is a lovely place to while away an afternoon, whether people-watching or witnessing the Changing of the Guard at the Palacio Gobierno, or Government Palace. The palace is decorated in a lavish French neobaroque style, with wrought iron gating and ornate façade. Sit on the steps of the Cathedral and admire its soaring front doors, called La Portada de Perdon, or Doorway of Forgiveness.

#2 Drink a Pisco Sour in Plaza San Martin From the Plaza de Armas, you can walk along Jr. de La Union Street towards Plaza San Martin. The Jr. de La Union street was once full of churches, elegant homes, and small shops, as evidenced by the ornate facades on the top level of the buildings. One of the most unique is the Casa Courret, decked in Art Nouveau style. But now there are large electronics and clothing stores and pollo restaurants – an interesting juxtaposition worth pondering while you browse the shops. Head to Hotel Bolívar and order a Pisco Sour from this 20th century establishment that has earned the reputation of being both elegant and reliable when it comes to pouring a perfect Pisco.

#3 Go Paragliding Over the Costa Verde While you’re near the coast of Lima, you’re sure to see paragliders riding the drafts that come off the Pacific and hit the jutting cliff side. If you’re in for a spin, head to Larcomar, the shopping center and park in the most beautiful part of the Miraflores District. You’ll know you’ve arrived at the Larcomar when you see the glass-gilded JW Marriott Hotel looming overhead. Here many paragliders take off, and you can ask for a guide to take you out over the Costa Verde for a fee. Soaring over the coastline, you’ll view Lima from its most beautiful angle.

#4 Dine in the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant and see the Ruins Well before the time of the Incas, an ancient people called the Lima gave the land its name, and built large huacas, or temples, throughout the region. The Huaca Pucllana is one of the most impressive. Located in the Miraflores District, the sandy dirt and adobe bricks of this pre-Inca temple are surrounded on all sides by suburban homes. After dark, the ruins are lit up beautifully and the adjacent 5 star restaurant enjoys a direct view of the ruins. Dine on aji de gallina, a Peruvian specialty, or a number of other delectable dishes, while gazing out at the centuries-old bricks.

#5 See the Well of Souls at the Monastery of San Francisco Although photography inside the monastery and subterranean catacombs is prohibited, occasionally a brave soul will sneak a photo or two of the impressive “Well of Souls,” a geometric arrangement of femurs and skulls inside the catacombs. The San Francisco Monastery is located near the Plaza de Armas, and is worth visiting even if this is the only church you see while in Lima. This baroque-style church painted in canary yellow is often lined with pigeons roosting among the concave ridges in the façade. Inside, the monk’s library contains thousands of books dating from the conquest and even before the colonial era, and makes up one of the most impressive library collections in the Americas.

#6 Visit the Second Home of Victor Delfin and Parke del Amor The Peruvian sculptor and artist Victor Delfin has produced many works of art that have placed modern Peruvian art on the international art scene. Perhaps most notable of his works is the Parke del Amor, or Park of Love, located just north of Larcomar. Enjoy the sunset and gaze upon the larger-than-life statue of lovers in a passionate embrace.