Lima, Peru?

Question

If you've been there, do you have any travel advice?

Answer 1

I agree with SergioPL

Answer 2

Unless you like museums I try to avoid Lima.  It is congested, noisy, and dirty.  Better to spend your time in Peru in outlying regions such as Cusco, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Trujillo, Amazon rainforest, Cordillera Blanca, Kuelap, etc.

If you must spend time in Lima it does have some world class museums, such as the Gold Museum and Museum of the Nation, as well as several smaller specialty museums dealing in such subjects as erotic archaeology and torture devices of Peru's Inquisition era.

Answer 3

Yes, rest a lot before you go.You won't stop.It's great!

Answer 4

I disagree with the first part of Dendronbat's answer. Lima can be congested and noisy at certain hours because it's an 8-million habitants city. That happens in any big city in the world.

Anyways, if you are interested on the native civilizations you can visit Museo de la Nacion (Museum of the Nation), Museo de Oro (Gold Museum) and Museo Antropologico de Lima (Anthropological Museum of Lima).

If you are interested in Lima's history you should go to the downtown (Centro de Lima). You could visit Lima's cathedral, main square, the congress and the president's house. Just next to the congress is the Spanish Inquisition museum, were you can still find the dungeons and chambers of torture that were used centuries ago. You can also visit the old churches and abbeys. Some of them will let you access part of their catacombs. Make sure you take a tour if you want to visit all these places safe and easily.

If you want to have fun, try going to Larcomar. A small shopping center with many pubs and night clubs with a very nice view to the ocean. If you like to gamble, just go across the street to Marriot Hotel's Casino and a few blocks from there you can go to the Park of Miraflores, were you'll find more restaurants, clubs and places to hang out (Just don't go to the Downtown club... unless you are g*y).

There are other places that I'm not mentioning just because they are too many.

Have fun.

Answer 5

Anyone who thinks says Lima is a c**p place only says it because they were too lazy to actually take the time to explore the city themselves. I went there for a week and ended up staying for a year. I loved it.

I see some people above have recommended Miraflores and San Isidro. If you're just traveling I would skip San Isidro and stay in Miraflores. San Isidro is a little expensive and upper class and doesn't really have anything to offer the average traveler.

In Miraflores there are a number of restaurants - my favorites include Punta Azul, La Mar, and of course el Sugundo Muelle close to the love park. I found some interesting tours and pictures in the area on http://www.cat-travel.com  

My favorite place in Lima however is Barranco - and if you like a little peruvian fiesta you'll like this place. Its amazing. Its  rather bohemian and has a mystic vibe to it. There are a number of restautants, bars, and clubs in the area and they're all worht investigating. My favorite bar there is La Noche.

Other than restaurants and bars I'd recommend La Punta in Callao which is a great place to chill for an afternoon, La Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores which is an old pyramid, or anyone of the many museums.

Lima's a great place and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  Relax when you get there and have a pisco sours. It certainly seems to cut the edge.

Answer 6

Everybody rags Lima pretty bad but for me. I like Lima. There are 2 barrios in Lima that are as nice as any place in the world. Miraflores and San Isidro.

  When I am in Lima I stay in not so good area called Brena. Because the owners of a small hotel called Iquique invite me to break bread with them and always cook me a homemade dinner my last day.

   One word of caution. Always take a certified taxi. Anyone in Lima can put a taxi sign on there car.