DESTINATIONS LATIN AMERICA | LIMA


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Food: Rolf Stanley, Lima resident and Latin America destination manager for Tucan Travel, has one answer for anyone wondering why to visit Lima. “The food!” he says. “The diverse cuisine is incredible, and Lima has everything from small food markets to upscale restaurants. Being on the coast, it has some of the best seafood in Peru.”


Families: The coastal setting is a key draw for families. “When ‘historied’ out, families can take a boat trip to the Palomino islands in Callao Bay,” says Ed Paine, founder of Last Frontiers. “It’s home to sea birds and Humboldt penguins, and you can swim with sea lions.”


Hotels: The hotel scene is booming with newcomers such as Manto Hotel Lima MGallery, a five-star boutique hotel in San Isidro, and the colourful Casa Republica in Barranco. Direct British Airways flights have made Lima more accessible. Avianca connects to Cusco and Lima via Bogotá, while many European carriers fly to Lima via their hubs.


Weather: December to April is a great time to visit. From May to November, a grey sea mist looms over the city. Real World Holidays’ Dan Clarke says: “Lima gets a bad rep, partly because people tend to visit in July and August. That’s perfect for Machu Picchu but can be grey on the coast. But in their summer, everyone’s outside or at the beach. It’s a fantastic, fun city.”


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:


Miraflores; San Francisco convent; Magic Water Circuit; Manto Hotel Lima – MGallery PICTURES: Shutterstock; Promperú


Rebuilt and recovered, Lima’s


centre has been smartened up in recent times. It’s a city with a brilliant bar and restaurant scene, excellent galleries and museums, grand squares and avenues, and distinct neighbourhoods. Better still, it’s on the Pacific coast.


Day one


09.00: Lima’s central sights are clustered around Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, where you’ll find the cathedral, San Francisco convent and its catacombs, Palacio de Gobierno and Archbishop’s Palace. Many colonial-era mansions with elaborate balconies line the streets,the oldest of which is Casa Aliaga, built in 1535. Cultural highlights include Lima Museum of Art, Museo Larco for pre-Columbian art, Museo de la Nación – exploring Peru’s ancient civilisations – and the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru. If in town for lunch, try Bar Restaurant Cordano, famous for its butifarra (sandwiches).


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12.00: The city is a hotspot for Inca and pre-Inca sites, such as the staggered, adobe pyramid of Huaca Pucllana, built between 500AD and 700AD in the San Isidro neighbourhood and boasting an excellent on-site restaurant. Guests with more time should fit in a visit to the Inca temple complex of Pachacamac, located half- an-hour south of the Miraflores neighbourhood, followed by dinner at the nearby, open-air elevated Dinner in the Sky Peru experience, which offers views over the ocean and Pachacamac.


14.00: Lively Miraflores and neighbouring San Isidro have a wide range of shops, cafes and handicraft markets. For a break from urban exploring, head to Parque El Olivar and Parque Kennedy, or relax in Parque del Amor (‘love park’) by Miraflores’ seafront boulevard (El Malecon) for coastal views and park art. For retail therapy, nearby Larcomar mall is your best bet. Travellers after an alternative experience will appreciate Monumental Callao,


Lima’s once-notorious port district, where guides run fantastic street- art tours that describe the area’s regeneration. There’s a growing art, fashion and food scene, and a strong community feel.


17.00: Magic Water Circuit is Lima’s nightly illuminations show. Open until 10.30pm, it holds a Guinness World Record as the world’s largest fountain complex, with 13 fountains synchronised to lasers and music.


19.00: Urban Adventures’ Lima Night Bites & Sights tour is a tasty introduction to the city’s street-food and bar scene. If you’re after more of a sit-down affair, dine in Miraflores or San Isidro, where you’ll find renowned restaurants such as Maido (Japanese-Peruvian fusion), Panchita and Astrid y Gastón. Or try Lima’s chifa restaurants for Peruvian- Chinese cuisine, a result of Peru’s million-strong Chinese community. Head to Barrio Chino for Madam Tusan, created by Gastón Acurio, the chef behind Astrid y Gastón, or try Kuo Wha Gardens, the oldest chifa in Miraflores.


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