Most people when they visit Peru just use Lima as a pass through point in their hurry to reach other destinations such as the old Inca towns of Cusco and Macha Pichu. I, however, spent the vast amount of my holiday in Lima itself. This is because I visited the country with my Peruvian boyfriend ... Read review
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Advantages: weather, people, cheap (once you're there) Disadvantages: usual of any big city
...they visit Peru just use Lima as a pass through point in their hurry to reach other destinations such as the old Inca towns of Cusco and Macha Pichu. I, however, spent the vast amount of my holiday in Lima itself. This is because I visited the country with my Peruvian boyfriend and stayed with his family in there. Lima is a costal city on the west of South America and it is the capital of Peru.
I arrived in Lima after a 14-hour flight, ... .../>
While in Lima make sure to go to the Indian Market where you can pick up some real bargains. These markets tend to sell touristy items such as ponchos, panpipes etc. If you go to a more local market then you can also pick up cheap (fake) dvds and cds.
I think the best thing to do when going to Lima is to contact the tourist information and find out what events are happening while you are there. During my visit I saw a horse ... more
Most people when they visit Peru just use Lima as a pass through point in their hurry to reach other destinations such as the old Inca towns of Cusco and Macha Pichu. I, however, spent the vast amount of my holiday in Lima itself. This is because I visited the country with my Peruvian boyfriend and stayed with his family in there. Lima is a costal city on the west of South America and it is the capital of Peru.
I arrived in Lima after a 14-hour flight, I flew with KLM and we made a short, re-fuel stop in the Caribbean Island of Bonaire. Apart from this short stop my flight was direct from Amsterdam to Lima. The fist thing that struck me when I got off the plane was the instant wave of heat that hit me; compared to Belgium weather at this time of year was a real shock! I have a surreal memory of my first journey through Peru from the Airport. It was nighttime but still utterly chaotic, shops were open, people were everywhere and there were small little vans zipping around, which I thought were hippy vans, but my boyfriend explained that they were actually public buses!
I stayed in San Borja, which is a suburb on the outskirts of Lima. Even in this nice neighbourhood high walls surround the houses, usually with electric wiring around the top. Although it is less dangerous in Peru now then it was a few years ago when terrorists added to the threat. Now you only have to worry about thieves and the usual threats of a big city. The gap between the rich and the poor is very apparent in Lima, there are beautiful tourist spots such as Larco Mar, an outside mall with wonderful views onto the sea. Just down from Larco Mar is a seaside restaurant, which I was lucky enough to eat in. Food in this restaurant is very expensive compared to other restaurants (which are very cheap) but the food is amazing. Also in the city centre is a grand cathedral, the presidents palace and various impressive statues. However, walk a short distance and you will see the shantytowns surrounding the city, and on the way you will undoubtedly encounter adults and children begging for money.
It is definitely advantageous to be with someone Spanish speaking in Peru as generally English is not very widely spoken. Also tourists tend to be charged a premium for things such as taxis unless protected by a local, none the less my boyfriend’s friend complained that my blond hair increased taxi fares!
While in Lima make sure to go to the Indian Market where you can pick up some real bargains. These markets tend to sell touristy items such as ponchos, panpipes etc. If you go to a more local market then you can also pick up cheap (fake) dvds and cds.
I think the best thing to do when going to Lima is to contact the tourist information and find out what events are happening while you are there. During my visit I saw a horse show that was attended by the current Peruvian president (who was booed by the locals!). Another of my favourite things was the Museo de Oro, the Gold museum; this had a massive collection of Inca gold and other items of Latin American historical importance. It was a very thorough collection and I would strongly recommend a visit.
On a couple of occasions we visited a beach just south of Lima, we went by car and this seems to be the most accessible way. The sand is white and the water mild and they are surrounded by sand dunes. I would recommend the trip for the scenery alone. Warning: take a decent sunscreen! As you are so close to the equator the ozone is thinner and you’re closer to the sun meaning even if it’s not that hot you can get burnt to a crisp, as I found out!
Finally I have to recommend eating out in Lima, actually I’d just like to recommend eating in Lima! The fruits, vegetables and fish in Peru are so fresh and they taste very different to what you might find in the supermarkets at home. If you do eat out then make sure you eat somewhere that looks clean, as my boyfriend pointed out you can’t just eat anywhere like you can in Europe. Having said that we eat in a very nice restaurant with a fancy water feature that had unfortunately attracted a rat, which ran under our table during the meal!
I thoroughly recommend that you spend a few days in Lima when you make your trip to Peru. Here are a few general facts that may be interesting to you:
Main Language: Spanish Main Religion: Roman Catholic Population: 27,544,305 (July 2004 estimate) Independence day: 28th July Currency: Nuevo Sol Phone, country code: +51
Advantages: Cheap, Friendly, Lots of Things to do Disadvantages: Problems large cities have
Lima is the point of entry to Peru for most visitors. Why should you put aside some days to get to know Lima? It encapsules hitorical buildings, archeological sites, museums, bars, shopping centres, night clubs, all for any taste possible. This city was the capital of the spanish viceroy in South America, so expect to see a huge amount of colonial buildings from the 16th century in the recently restored city centre. The financial district of Miraflores ... ...is very small, don't expect to pay more than £1 for a dish, or 30p for a bus drive!
Lima is the ideal destination for small or large groups, tourism, backpackers. As any other big city in the world, one has to use common sense to avoid incidents. ...
mitico 18.01.2001 (21.01.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lima
...or San Francisco churches.
Because Lima suffered Pirates attacks, Lima was locked by a wall for its defense on this first days.
At the midlle of the XVII century Lima was its first demographic growth to the today Rimac distric when having some architure spanish conquest building as "Alameda de Los Descalzos" or Plaza de Acho (The Lima's principal place where there are bullfughtings, and the Barrios Altos (high neighborhoods) when days after the ... ...were doing 3 times in Lima by the Argentinian Jose de San Martin on July 28th 1821 begging the Peru Republica's era.
At this time the wall that I talked lines up must crash for a future demographic expansion at the Lima's south, increasing the city to this direction, being the Lima's downtown onb the today's Lima's north
On the fifties of the XXth Century a new demographic growth occured when many peoples from the Andes Region and Jungle came to ...
heisei 01.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Lima
Advantages: friendly, busy, vibrant Disadvantages: keep your eyes peeled
Oh Lima how I miss you! Of the places that I have seen and been Lima is nost deffinately the heart and soul of my travels. Its a beautiful city with so much to offer. If you are travelling as a tourist, back pack and sandles in tow be sure to stay in the western side of the city around Miraflores. It is a beautiful part of the ccity probably the most and best developed. There are countless amounts of hostels, lively strips of bars and restuarants, ... ...a friendly face from a different corner of the world. Try messas hosel avwnida bolivia, mama messa is great, welcoming and trests everyone as her own, a real home from home. Although be warned her reputationis fastly spreading across the seas so book inn early. San Miguel is also another hotspot, great in the daytime however be careful at night the area isnt as full of traveller as Miraflores and that you will notic when walking around.
A must in ...
charliebowes 11.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Lima
My ciyy Lima the hometown of Peru, is the principal City of the country, because we have a downtown, about the Spanish times for tree centuries with many Catholic Churches as the Cathedral, La Merced, San Marcelo, San Domingo Churches an Arms and San Martin Place with a barroque style of Arquitecture for example.Somes report says that have something of arabic influence because Spain was a colony of the arabics.
Outside the Lima's downtown we have ... ...the begin of twenieth century special with monuments and arqueture that was made more or less in 1921 (when Peru had its first century as an independent country), and National Stadium and a part of Miraflores and Barranco that was a touristic part of the city that is close to the Pacific Ocean, with the Central Park, many stores and something else and the beaches in the part of Costa Verde (Green Coast) -------------
With this informations I hope ...
dguibu 20.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Lima
Advantages: A very interesting experience, friendly people Disadvantages: costal fog, globalisation,
...be writing a review on Lima as I only spent a couple of days there however I can give my initial thoughts on the place.
Peru as a whole I have found to be amazingly diverse and friendly place however Lima I did not like. Having arrived at the airport I got in a taxi to go to where I was staying... it was quite dark but my immediate reaction was astonishment... my main dislike of Lima was simply the globalisation that seems to have taken hold of ... ...couple of days was enough... Lima however I cannot stress enough was the only place in Peru where my reaction was such... I could spend my whole life exploring the country... I really did not want to come home!! Peru is a fantastically diverse and amazing country and any traveller must visit it... Just whatever you do make sure you see the whole country and do not be put off by Lima. ...
K_a_t_y 07.01.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Lima
Advantages: Lovely staff - all very helpful Disadvantages: too far from the interesting parts of Lima
course if you looked to the right, immediately in front was the Delphine Casino and we could just see dolphins in a pool behind the casino.
There was a gym somewhere in the hotel but I'm afraid that was not of great interest to me as I was there to see Lima not to get fit!! I would perhaps have gone in a pool had there been one but had to content myself with looking at the dolphins in the casino pool opposite instead.
My complaint with this hotel is that it is too far from Mira Flores or the old part of Lima. It was too far to walk and a taxi cost about 20 soles ( about £4.25). There was nothing nearby the hotel apart from the Country Club, Starbucks or the Casino so to buy water you had to go a log way. They did give you two free bottles in your room which was helpful and these were replaced daily however we needed more than this and so ...
Advantages: Clean and adequate Disadvantages: Forgettable, in a business district, frequent power cuts
The Posada del Inca is a medium sized 4* hotel located in a deathly quiet upper class residential street in the business district of San Isidro, one of Lima's finest neighbourhoods. Surrounded by some of the most expensive real estate in the Peruvian capital, the hotel is in walking distance of the ultra-fashionable beach-side neighbouring suburb of Miraflores, and within a car ride of the decaying splendour of the colonial old town. The international airport is a 25 minute drive away, most easily undertaken in a taxi to avoid multiple bus changes. I stayed here for two nights in January 2006, on a bed and breakfast basis.
FACILITIES
On entering the hotel, guests are greeted by a marble decored reception area located in the centre of an unremarkable glass-fronted open plan lobby. To the left was a plain multi-purpose restaurant ...
Advantages: beautiful, cheap, unspoilt Disadvantages: roads are mad!
I visited Ponte De Lima, in the North of Portugal last month; what a delight.
The area is untouched by tourism, there are no hotels.
I stayed in a rented mansion house which was obviously once used by a vinyard and land owner.
Luckily for me, the week i was there, there was a heatwave and the weather was over 100 degrees every day!! I was fortunate that the house in which i was staying had a swimming pool!!
The surrounding area is agricultural, with plenty of vinyards and farms.
The local delicacy is Boiled Rice cooked in Chickens Blood, however the weird thing was that you couldnt find anywhere to eat that served chicken itself.
Food and Wine is extremely cheap compared to England; a meal for 11 people including 4 bottles of wine and desserts cost about £50!
The main town itself is beautiful;it is situated on a river ...
