Peru? I am interest in traveling to South America and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

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i know, i know, i know!

I live in peru. And let me tell you, it is AWESOME.

PerÃº is a multicultural country, we speak mainly spanish here but there are other tongues like aymara and quechua. Lima is the capital, founded by spanish conquerors.

Downtown Lima is def. the place to start. Go to museo antropologico. There you will learn about the precolumbine history and much much more about our country. They show amazing objects there. Also, visit museo de la inquisicion which shows how people were tortured back when they were believed to have "sinned". And you can't miss "El museo de la nacion" a huge museum right in the middle of the Javier Pardo, probably the longes avenue which conects the whole city. To cover downown lima's most important places, you can take the whole morning and half an afternoon aboard the "urbanito" a bus which gives really cool tours. (Vising catacombs, bull fighting coliseum etc...) Visiting all of this should cost no more than $50 including meals, tips and the tour itself!!! yeah, honestly! (Check the old fashioned houses and balconies)

The best place to stay is by far Miraflores. It is the disctrict of tourism and you can find the right commercial and cultural places there. There you must go to Larcomar. It's a mall built in a risk in front of the sea and it's amazing. It's on the open. You must also go to Park Kennedy too. They have many cultural shows there and entertainment. Also visit the crafts market, the "La quinta" store right by park kennedy at la quinta u ll find all those clothes u buy in the us that are made in peru like GUESS, ABERCROMBIE, HOLLISTER, THEORY, TOMMY H, RALPH LAUREN. You know how much a tee costs at that store? Less than 1$ !!! the most expensive one will be like what... $5...
Any passerby will be very pleased to help tourists but always watch out for your things. Like anywhere in the world there ARE pickpockets and mugglers. (They're not EVERYWHERE and its not that bad! u only have to be as alert as ud be as leaving a child alone). Nightlife in miraflores is really awesome. near larcomar there are MANY clubs like "Blue", "Lava lounge", "Voce" (in district of lince), and the one id recommend the most "Producto peruano" in Benavides Ave.

In Surco you have Jockey plaza which is the first mall here. its big (for us at least!) and you can find really good deals and fine stores.

Other districts to visit are Barranco, because of the bars and the public library and the firestation.... Barranco is a district which keeps restored antique houses.

The best districts La molina, san borja, miraflores, san isidro. (like the best places to live) La molina is on the east side of lima. We have the most beautiful weather here cuz Peru is a country divided in 3 regions: coast, highlands and rainforest. La molina is closest to the highlands than any other districts so its like living in paradise! You have sun all year long and a nice place to visit is Cieneguilla (past la molina) where you can eat Pachamanca (food cooked with the heat of rocks under the earth) and ride horses. You can go from one side of lima to the other in like 40 minutes by the JP (javier prado). The bus costs 1 sol (aprox $0.37) and taxis here charge min. 3 soles ($0.90) for short distances like 20 blocks and up to $15 say for instance from la molina to the airport (55min) (obviously taxis from the airport charge much much more!) and yellow cabs are safer!

Other cities to visit are Cuzco (Machiu pichu) You jut cant miss it. Then go to the south, go to Ica, nazca (one day) and do some sandboard at the dunes or visit the seawolves at the isles in paracas, or the lines in nazca. Definately visit AREQUIPA the white city because the houses where built with a rock that comes from the MISTI (volcano). Do some trekking there or hicking. Also go to Puerto palmeras (the jungle, rainforest) the ticket is only $76 and you can tour at more than 50 feet high on bridges built on trees! Its beautiful.
There's much more to do in peru. If you plan to come and visit all the good places, why dont buy my fave guy (lonelyplanet's PERU) . They have great advice!

BTW NEVER CHOOSE A HOSTEL OR HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN LIMA. Downtown lima is somewhat dangerous to be at during evenings and late afternoons.

Really hope this helps. If u need anything else feel fre to send me a message! :D

Matt S

Peru is awesome! I went there in 1994 and REALLY want to go back. I went to Cuzco and did the Inca trail to Machu Picu. Absolutely amazing. Very tough hike, but well worth it. We also went to the jungle (via Iquitos) , but if I had to do it over again, I would spend all of my time focusing on the Cuzco area.

Dalia G

Peru is a great place to visit, its diversity (geography, climate, culture), great landscape, warmness and people most of all, will probably make your trip a memorable one. I recommend that you visit Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Also Lake Titicaca, Huaraz, Puerto Maldonado and Colca canyon in Arequipa are great sites for an adventurous journey. Best time to visit is probably from June to October. I suggest that if you are looking for a "living culture" trip, you should then check their festivities such as Intiraymi, Paucartambo, etc.
You should definitely visit Peru, cheers!

WHY

Peru is beautiful, beaches, mountains, Jungle, Deserts, lakes, high lands, history.......etc and the food....just delicious you must go.

daria_cv

I'm from Peru. From what I've heard everyone raves about Machu Picchu, I haven't been there but I've heard is awesome, so that would be a place you shouldn't miss.

I wouldn't recommend Lima, even though the food is very good, it's not a safe place, especially for tourists. Personally that's why I moved out of Peru, because I couldn't feel safe in Lima.

So in general, enjoy your trip, but be very careful, don't trust anyone there.

peaceful

Peru is a great country. We visited the Amazon rain forest in the Tambopata area, Manu National Park, Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. There is a good combination of natural and historical places to see. The Inca ruins and the raiin forest are amazing in their own ways.

The facilities for tourists are quite good and you can plan a trip at different budget levels. There is a lot of good information on the web.

Fatima

go to larcomar, if you want to have a good time, it's a place where you can eat, go to the movies buy things ,etc ..
i used to go there with my friend when i lived in lima.

adrian11y6

Well, Larcomar is a really great place. Mostly at night if you wanna have some fun dancing or maybe with some drinks. Then we have Miraflores and their discos, lounges and bars; restaurants, good restaurants can also be found at Miraflores Downtown, which is like 10 blocks from LarcoMar. There are also some kind of Food Fairs, where you can buy the most delicious plates of Peruvian gastronomy, those are in the district of Barranco, pretty near Miraflores.
At night, the view of the Pacific Ocean from Larcomar is really beautiful and amazing, as any of the places that are near LarcoMar, like "Parque del Amor", "Faro de la Marina". Here are some photos I hope you might appreciate in your search for something to do here in Peru. If you want more ideas, please specify them and send me a mail. I'd be glad to answer you queries.

Yow Joo

I went to Lima and there is a beautiful park called "El parque del Amor" The love park, where you have a great view of the open sea. down under there is a restaurant that is called "La Rosa NÃ¡utica" there you can eat typicall peruvian food, which is by the way delicious.... Lima has also a nice Centrum (alike in Mexico City, with a Government Palace and a Cathedral) By the way there is a legend that tells that the Spaniards confused with the blue prints for a prision in Peru and the Governmental palace in Mexico City (Palacio Nacional) and then the Prision of Peru looks like a palace and the Palacio nacional in MÃ©xico looks like a prision...
The peruvian food is really delicious, I am trying to remember the name of a soup but i canÂ´t, "something LimeÃ±o". I ate delicious in Cuzco..mmm! The music is also wonderful...
I went also to Cuzco: unbelievable!!! A wonderful experience, a very pretty town with lots of prehispanic history. Macchu Picchu is breath taking, it is a prehispanic Inca city which was built up in the mountains, absolutely beautiful. Also there are many ruins near Cuzco. I Â´ve hears also the Titicaca Lake is a wonderful place to visit.

bcorran

Peru really is amazing...

Lot's of the above answers are good: Macchu Picchu is pretty standard, and there are WAY too many tourists there (like 2000 a day.) I found the coolest places I ended up were off the beaten path: just asking local folks where the best place to go is, etc. Try being "out of your element" and just talk to people, that works well at finding fun stuff/places to do.

One of the best things I did there was head to the Amazon jungle via Iquitos...a friend and I (literally) missed the boat to go on the highly rated jungle tour, so we ended up with this tiny company, Guiding Light tours...and we went down on the amazon, kayaked around (with and without guides) through the water-y jungle....saw all kinds of cool animals, got caught in rainforest rain moments...it was great.

Have fun! It is beautiful, and don't be afraid to talk to people!

V for Vendetta â™ª

wow all answers are Great and true!IÂ´m Peruvian and have lived in Peru half my life!
Going to Peru is like going for an amazing adventure! You wonÂ´t regret it!!!! IÂ´m not just saying this good things about Peru, because IÂ´m Peruvian, but its true!!!!!!!!!
If you need any info/advice you can always contact me!

oleole

well, i actually live in Peru. itÂ´s true what they've told you about Machu Picchu and Cuzco. By themselves they make absolutely worth the visit. Another true fact is the food...Lima (Peru's capital city) is becoming known as America's (North and South) Gastronomical Capital. Peruvian food is the result of the blending of centuries of cultural heritage : pre-columbian, inca, spanish, black, chinese, japanese. To this you add an unbelievable geographic and climate diversity, which produces a wide range of agricultural products. Each region (north, center, south, coast, highlands, jungle ) has its own cuisine, tradition and flavours...you must come and taste it!!
I could talk endlessly about Peru but I think you'll get a better idea visiting http://travel.peru.com/travel/english/
If you need any more tips, just let me know, I hope it helps you...

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