Visting Peru

Peru attracts visitors from all around the world because it has everything a tourist could ever want—exquisite gastronomy, ancient ruins, a diverse ecosystem, unforgettable beaches, deserts that awaken ones spirit of adventure and cities full of traditions.

Lima

Lima, the capital city of Peru, better known as "The City of Kings", is one of the first tourist stops. A city that both shows and hides its colonial history, its traditions and its modernity is worthy of the aristocracy and the thousands of tourists who visit it every year.

In order to know Lima from its roots, it is essential to start with the Centro Histórico. Its traditional, republican style and ornate balconies with wreaths and neoclassical buildings reminiscent of the Rococo style, make this site an architectural spectacle. Here one must sit on the benches of La Plaza Mayor, located in the heart of the center and contemplate buildings such as the Palacio de Gobierno, the Club de la Unión, and the Cathedral, among others that make the visitor feel transported to the colonial past.

The city center is also a good place to visit the long list of museums that teach us the history of the Spanish rule and how Peru’s independence was won, such as the Museo de la Santa Inquisición (Museum of the Holy Inquisition ) and the Museo de las Catatumbas (Catacomb Museum). And if you’re interested in the archaeological history, the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera located in a viceroy mansion dating from the seventeenth century, has a complete tour of Pre-Columbian history as well as collections of pieces belonging to the indigenous peoples of Peru.

Within the exuberant and modern Lima, there is no better way to observe the Pacific Ocean than from the Costa Verde Boardwalk (Malecón de la Costa Verde). Here there are buildings on the edge of a precipice that stand out without shame, naked, proud, bright and beautiful. Then, you must walk on the giant cliffs while watching the landscape that unveils the Pacific until arriving at Parque del Amor that, to honor its name, is decorated with colored porcelains in which are inscribed romantic verses from Lima’s poets.

You cannot finish the tour without tasting the delicious food offered at LarcoMar, an open-architecture shopping center that offers a variety of restaurants specialized in Peruvian cuisine. But if you can afford it, the Rosa Nautica restaurant is the ideal place to taste the exquisite cebiches and tiraditos of Lima. Another alternative is to consider trying out The Lima Gourmet Company that offers, for around $130, tours of a wide range of restaurants in the city.

And finally we cannot leave Lima without passing through the Barranco neighborhood and crossing el puente de los suspiros (the bridge of sighs) where lovers meet and walk through its narrow streets admiring all the murals. 

Cuzco

Cuzco, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, is better known as the navel of the world because the imposing Tawantinsuyo was lead from here. The small and enchanting city is located at 3,400 meters above sea level and is admired for its superb Inca colonial architecture and European-style cobbled streets.

Cuzco is where you can take the train or the bus tour to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu, but before that we suggest you see cities like Plaza de Armas  that are smaller than Lima, but just as beautiful for a stroll. Here you will find various beautiful crafts shops, colonial restaurants and romantic houses such as Inkaterra, a 16th century mansion that offers accommodations.

It is also worthwhile to stop over at the famous Montaña Vinicuna, or Rainbow Mountain. Cataloged in National Geographic magazine as one of the places to include on your bucket list, it’s a geographic anomaly worth seeing. Its appeal is due to the colors of the mountain composed of erosion rocks that give it its exquisite appearance.

Macchu Picchu

Considered one of the 7 wonders of the world, Machu Picchu is a place that awakens and shakes the senses. There are two ways to arrive at this splendid place—the first is by a train boarded in Cuzco and the second is by a bus that stops halfway. Either way you choose to go, you can see breathtaking landscapes along the countryside of the Sacred Valley such as snow-capped peaks, cliffs, winding roads, green mountains and sublime waterfalls.

Perhaps because of the wind that passes through the mountains of this ancient and imposing Inca town that was hidden from the Spanish conquerors; maybe due to the mountains themselves that surround it with their giant peaks giving the sensation of being on top of the world; perhaps for all that, Machu Picchu is a city that never disappoints!

Paracas

Traveling to Paracas National Park is to have a spiritual experience where myths are intertwined with the sands of its beaches and the clear blue of the sky. Paracas is a quiet village where tourists go to admire its beautiful and desolate beaches. Its name comes from the strong air currents of sand that in Peru are known as paracas or sandstorms. Its inhabitants say that when they appear it’s best to stay inside and close the doors!

The first trip to take is to the Islas Ballestas, impressive due to its rock formations and marine diversity. The tour passes through different stone caves where you can see the sun rise and set. It is an impressive landscape—the sea is a deep blue color and to one side there is a mountain of red sand where you can see El Candelabro, a true wonder of nature. It is a geoglyph in the shape of a candlestick that is drawn on a sandy hill in the bay of Pisco. Many are the stories that talk of the mystery of who made it and with what purpose, ranging from old Inca navigators and Spanish pirates to extraterrestrials. The truth is that this formation, despite the strong sandstorms, has never been erased.

On the boat trip to the islands you can see colonies of Humboldt penguins, sea lions and birds. This beautiful boat tour lasts approximately 2 ½ hours and costs around $40.

Huacachina

There is no better place to get lost in the world than in the Huacachina desert. For adventure seekers who like sandboarding, this is the place to be. At La Laguna de Huacachina spa they rent all the necessary equipment to enjoy this sport.

Here, at Huacachina you’ll find yourself enveloped by mountains of golden sand and the clear blue of the sky. The shear vastness that presents itself can only remind one that loneliness is not always bad company. Huacachina is a synonym for daydreams.

You never really leave Peru. Do not be surprised by the memories of an endearing Peru, every time you touch sand, contemplate the mountains, or observe how the ocean breaks onto rocks, because Peru is a country that moves you forever.

Written by Romina Córdoba Moscoso, who lives and works in Ecuador as a film producer, journalist and photographer. Translated from the original Spanish by Ana Ibrion.