A country known for its biodiversity, Peru is also known for having been the home to ancient cultures such as the Incas. It is also known for being multiethnic and being the home for several ancient ruins that are forever marked in history. It’s the perfect place for a quiet and informative vacation with your family and has enough attractions to keep them busy
A plain that gives competition to the Grand Canyon in USA, this is a must see during the trip to Peru. Though it is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, its walls are not so vertical. Its beauty is something that can be experienced through sight and it is also known for being home to the Andean Condor, a bird famed for having the largest wing span at 3.2 metres.
Travel time:
4 hrs 30 mins by plane (541.03 Sol)
Distance from Lima: 460 km
This is known as the highest range of the Peruvian Andes and definitely a treat that should be left for hardcore adventurists. It’s a great place to trek and take in the sights but can also be a good place to hold mountain expeditions as it contains Huascaran, the highest mountain in Peru.
Travel time:
1 hour 35 minutes by plane (456 Sol)
Distance from Lima: 310 km
A place where you can sand board and have high speed dune buggy rides, this is another must visit in Peru. It is a desert village which is built around a natural lake with sand dunes covering it. It is a great adventure spot.
Travel time:
4 hrs 35 min by bus (40.83 sol)
Distance from city center: 4.7 km
This series of fountains is so over the top that it attracts a lot of tourists. These fountains are all illuminated to show a laser light show at the 120 long Fuente de la Fantasia. The display is played in accordance to a medley of music which has songs such as Peruvian waltzes to ABBA.
Travel: by car
Time taken: 20 minutes
Distance from city center: 5.7 km
A museum that was converted from an 18th century viceroy’s mansion, it offers one of the largest best presented displays of ceramics in Lima. The collection includes over 50000 pots with ceramic works from the Cupisnique, Chimu, Chancay, Nazca and Inca cultures. The onsite Café del Museo faces a pravte garden draped in bougainvillea and is a perfect spot for ceviche.
Travel: by car
Time Taken: 18 minutes
Distance from city center: 47.8 km
The closest beach to the capital, the waters are clear and the sand is so coarse, it doesn’t stick to your ski. With the spacious bay, you can easily get in and out of water, swim or play any water sport. The water remains as calm as a swimming pool and there are restaurants nearby where you can unwind and relax.
Travel by: car
Time taken: 53 minutes
Distance from city center: 571.2 km
Peru is a great place for visiting the beaches and to surf. The beach at Huanchaco is great for strolling and you can see the one man boats that the fisherman use. For a small amount of money, they’ll take a passenger out to fish or surf and then you can try the catch in any small seafood restaurant.
Travel: by car
Time Taken: 8 hours 22 minutes
Travel by: flight
Time taken: 1 hour 15 minutes
Distance from city center: 373 km
To the North of Arequipa, this beach boasts calm seas and clear waters and is one of the most important beaches for the Incas. You can see the ancient barnyards for Llamas as well as rent kayaks or take hikes around the area
Travel by: car
Time taken: 6 hours
Jockey Plaza (travel by taxi, takes 20 minutes)
Done in the western style, it offers many facilities for tourists and locals alike. There is a supermarket, home center, department stores and more than 230 shops and boutiques. Along with a food parlor, cinema, arcade and bowling center, there is a theme park named Divercity which you can’t miss during your trip there.
Larcomer (Use of Taxi, takes 22 minutes)
This is the most unique shopping mall in Lima as it overlooks the Pacific Ocean in Miraflores. There are 160 shops and boutiques, all for the upper class customers and tourists. It’s very diverse offering things from clothes, shoes and accessories to sportswear and jewelry. It also has a cinema, theater, bowling center, gallery etc.
Real Plaza Centro Civico (travel by taxi)
Placed conveniently in the city center, this plaza has a department store, supermarket, food parlor, several fast food chains, arcade game and best of all, several fashion stores. It’s a must see for tourists and with its location, impossible to miss.
Av. Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro 15073, Peru
A restaurant that focuses on gastronomy, it was French when it opened before turning Peruvian. They are innovative and try to please their customers to the fullest.
+51 1 4422777, Open everyday from 1-3 PM and 7-11 PM but Sunday when its open from 12.30-3.30 PM
Circuito de Playas, Distrito de Barranco 15063, Peru
Located in a perfect location beside the ocean, it serves Peruvian and sea food. Their food is excellent and coupled with the view, it serves an experience that you won’t want to miss.
+51 1 2529187, Open everday from 12 AM to 12 PM except Friday and Saturday when it’s open till 1 AM
Ceviche (a form of raw fish)
A raw fish dish that is ‘cooked’ by the acid from citrus juice. It’s tangy with a chewy consistency and is served with red onion and aji pepper. The time to eat it is usually lunch with sweet potato or choclo, a white Andeal corn with dime size cernets.
Cuy (guinea pig)
It is as it is. This is a delicacy served in Peru in which a guinea pig is put on a spit or roasted in the oven. It is said to taste similar to the meat of a rabbit.
Causa
This is a layered dish of avocado and potatoes that are served on top of each other or served with other ingredients such as tuna, meat or a hard boiled egg.
De grot bar
A small basement bar that is well known for its cultural gatherings, music and art. It stands to spread the culture of Peru and hosts different bands for entertainment.
Avenida Nicolás de Pierola 995, Av. Nicolás de Piérola 995, Lima 15001, Peru
El Bolivarcito
Known for their drink, the pisco sours, this place is a perfect hangout for everyone, especially during sundown. It features great interiors and a soothing place to sit and enjoy yourself.
Jirón de la Unión 926, Distrito de Lima 15001, Peru Open everyday, 7AM to 9PM
HAUS Karaoke Bar and Boxes
Ever wanted to sing and enjoy yourself with your friends? This is the perfect place for you in Lima, it’s big and has karaoke machines which you can use to your own ministrations.
Av Jose Larco 612, Miraflores 15074, Peru
Nationals of the following countries can visit Peru for up to 90 days without a visa.
Nationals of the following countries can visit Peru for up to 90 days without a visa.
Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Salomon Islands, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea. Spain, St Christopher & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdon, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
Nationals of countries not mentioned above require a tourist visa and must obtain it from the Peruvian consulate preferably in person.
The age limit for alcohol is 18 and the alcohol content limit is 0.05.
Prostitution is regulated and legal for those over 18 and registered. Child prostitution is forbidden.
While homosexuality is not illegal as long as there are consenting adults, families headed by same sex partners do not have the same protections that other couples do.
Though Lima has 24 hour health care system with English Speaking doctors, it’s best to keep a bag of antibiotics with you. Tap water is not safe to drink and there are infectious diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, dengue, malaria etc. Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended.
Peru was once part of the Inca Empire before it was taken over by the Spaniards. After a bloody war, it emerged from its dictatorship in 1824. There was a period of revolutions during the next hundred years but later in 1945, President Jose was elected after which several more years following in unrest. In the present day, Peru is stable once more.
Peru’s official language is Spanish with some English along them.
