Thoughts on visiting Lima, Peru?

Question

Weather, sights, everything!

Answer 1

While Lima is yes a big city -and thus chaotic-, it's far from being uneventful or uninteresting.

To begin with, Lima's gastronomic scene has grown over the last 10 years to become the most interesting in Latin America, praised by a wide array of renowned chefs and media, such as The Economist Magazine, Florida's superstar chef Norman Van Aken, Patrick Martin from Le Cordon Blue, and the food & restaurant consultants Baum and Whiteman (who predicted Peruvian Cuisine would be 2007's Big thing).

Some great restaurant choices include La Mar and Pescados Capitales (lunch only) for cebiche and seafood; Astrid & Gastón, Las Brujas de Cachiche, or José Antonio for traditional Peruvian; and Edo or Osaka for sushi Peruvian-style.

Besides cuisine, you have a pretty vivid nightlife too. Barranco and Miraflores quarters have plenty cafés, bars and live-music bars. Some of the finest include La Noche, El Dragón, Huaringas, Aura, and, of course, Peñas (music clubs with folkloric music shows, in particular Afro Peruvian and Criollo gigs).

On a more cultural side, you find many museums. I recommed the MALI (Lima's Museum of Art) and the Gold Museum. Lima's historic centre (Lima Centro quarter) is loaded with fine colonial buildings, including some of the best in Latin America.

Besides, you have great beaches for surfing, some nice birdwatching spots nearby, and a couple of rivers and mountains within a 200km range for practicing rafting, trekking, and mountaineering.

Of course, Lima has an ugly side: poverty, chaos, criminality... As for the former, there is little you can do about it. Regarding safeness, well, I guess the chances of getting robbed in Lima aren't higher than in NY or LA. Just keep away from the dangerous quarters and follow the common sense rules suggested by every travel guide.

Answer 2

Lima is great, but I'd head out to visit some other spots like Arequipa, the rainforest, Machu Picchu... Great sightseeing, friendly people and wonderful food- made me gain five pounds in two weeks!

Answer 3

Hi, I spent a month in Peru last year and I would say Lima was uneventful and pretty uninteresting. It is just another big city and not a very impressive one at that. Peru is a truly beautiful country though with a million things to see. Go to Huacachina and go sand dune buggying, go to Arequipa, go to Cusco (millions of travellers there) and definitely don't miss out on Machu Piccu...especially the four day trek to it - brilliant! Have fun and take loads of pictures.