What is there to do in Peru?

Question

Ok. I am going to Peru December 13- 21st and I wanted to know as much as i can about Peru. I am going to Machu Pichu and the Manu. Few questions i have are: Is there any good shopping? What is there to do in Lima for a 16 year old? Do we really have to sleep outside if we are going to Machu Pichu? What should i take with me? Is there any good beaches to hit? IN Lima would i be able to find people who speak english?

Answer 1

a better question would be "what isn't there to do in Peru" :):):):):):):):) Have a wounderful time in Peru! you will never forget about that trip!!!

Answer 2

December is the warm season on the coast.  Lima is on the coast and beaches abound in Peru.

You only have to sleep outside on your way to Machu Picchu if you choose to hike the Inka Trail.  If you don't, Machu Picchu can be a day trip from Cusco.  Book ahead if you're picky about a date because it can be pretty busy, even though December is the off season for tourism in Peru.

There is a lot of good shopping in Peru.  In Lima there are many fine jewelry shops.  Cusco has a really neat alpaca factory that you can tour.

For Peru travel, I suggest bringing water purification tabs, clothes for multiple weather types, and lots of toilet paper (not always provided in bathrooms there and hey - by the way - don't flush your tp, you've gotta throw it out).

There will likely be English speakers wherever you go, but they will also probably be other tourists.  Bring your Spanish dictionary and brush up on the basics before you go.

Answer 3

Unless you speak Spanish or are in a group, you may have a problem, as English is not as widely spoken in Peru as it is in Europe or Mexico.

In Lima, go to one of the Archaelogical Museums first thing to get an idea of the pre-hispanic country.  Around the Plaza de Armas, check out the Franciscan Church and Monastery--that's the one where you can see all the bones of the friars.  There is also a Museum of the Inquisition,although at both of those places you'll probably have to wait until enough English speakers gather to have a tour in English.

You may also enjoy going to Barranco (suburb of Lima), which is an entertainment district right on the Pacific.  You can walk down to the beach.

Warning:  the water along the Peruvian shore is VERY cold, so you probably can't swim in it without a wetsuit.

You'll have to fly to Cusco to go to M.P.--take it very easy the first day there and don't eat anything or you may be altitude sickness (sirroche).  

Unless you hike to M.P., you won't have to stay outside.  I'd stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, which is where the train from Cusco stops.  That way, you can stay at M.P. after all the tourists go back to Cusco and get up first thing in the morning to explore before they get there.  If you try to go there and back in one day, you won't have time to see everything.

Also, spend a good bit of time exploring Cusco and the Sacred Valley--in my opinion they are much more interesting than Machu Picchu.  Go to a travel agency in Cusco and book a day trip to the Sacred Valley with an English speaking guide which will go to all the "hot spots" in the area--Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Chincheros etc. Each of which is very interesting on its own.  You could easily spend a week in Cusco itself.

Pisac and Chincheros have very interesting markets where you can buy relatively inexpensive alpaca sweaters, rugs, etc.  Most shopping in Lima is probably around the Plaza de Armas and in Miraflores, but Pisac prices should be cheaper.  

  

Cusco and M.P. are in the mountains, so it'll probably be cold--bring some winter clothing even though it's summer in Peru. And Manu will almost certainly be very hot, so you will have to pack for both.  For Manu--lots of light, long-sleeved clothing.  Also, buy and use a money belt that fits under your close so it is invisible on the street.

Forget about purifying the water--buy and drink bottled water.

One important safety tip:  The Peruvians are generally very nice and helpful.  But, as everywhere, there is a criminal element.  So beware of overly friendly strangers.  Don't accept anything to eat or drink from anyone you do not know very well.  Sometimes these are drugged and you will wake up without your belongings, or worse.

Also, do not buy or use any non-prescription drugs or antiquities--you'd hate spending the best years of your life in a Peruvian prison.

Have a great time.  Peru is a lot of fun!

Answer 4

I went there in February with my family, however not Machu Pichu.  Go to Miraflores, it is 30 minutes away from Lima, in Miraflores you will see lots of tourist, especially in Larco Mar, which is by the ocean, in there there are little stores, such as starbucks, kfc, burger king and boutique stores.  Of course, there are plenty of that elsewhere too, but if you want to be around Americans, you can visit there one day.  As for Lima, just head out to the capital and there are plenty of stores, President's palace and old churches, you can take pics, they have musuem, very interesting.  There is one which goes under ground, don't know the name, but you can ask, they have bones from actual people and toture chamber.  

I also heard that Playa Asia, is the nicest beach out there, but it's a bit of a distance, south from Lima, at least an hour and half.  Or, just hit the beach by Larco Mar, it's nice and not crowded.  

My dad was born in Peru and it has been a tradition for us to go as a family every year.  I like it because food is inexpensive and they have lots of places to visit now than before.  

Best of luck out there and yes, bring all you can to keep you and your family clean from bacteria and buy water bottles in Peru, don't bring any liquids in your carry on, everything must go in your suitcase...

Answer 5

How are you getting to Machu Picchu?  If you hike I guess you'll have to sleep outside, but if you take the train then you'll just stay in a hotel.  Cusco will probably be a fun city for a teenager, there's a lot going on at the Plaza de Armas and you can people watch, eat, etc.

Peruvians rarely speak English, in my experience.  There will be some that work in the tourist trade as guides, but even most tour/travel employees know very little English.  However you'll probably meet plenty of people from North America and Europe who are also traveling to speak English with.

There are lots of beaches close by Lima, and up and down the coast.  Some places in Peru have great surfing, and don't miss fresh Ceviche while you're in Lima (a dish of whitefish cured in lime juice).