AddictedToTravel.com

Hi Malin

Lima is one of those Latin American cities that people often visit because it is the gateway to somewhere else and sadly gets a bit of a raw deal. But while it may not have the pull of Cusco or the appeal of Lake Titicaca, there is plenty to do and see there for a couple of days, and your options are really down to how long you have and what's included in your main Peru trip.

In Lima, the colonial heart of the city is a great place to spend a day - from ambling down the cobbled streets looking at the grandness of what was once the most important city in the Spanish conquest's New World and visiting the many museums and monuments, to chilling out in a cool bars and cafes, just watching the world go by.

The outskirts have funky barrios, lively nightlife and the opportunity to do some parascending over Lima’s cliff-tops. For this kind of thing, the district of Barranco is fantastic.

The Lima section of addictedtotravel.com gives a pretty thorough overview of what there is to do and see in Lima itself, so have a good read through (see our Peru Travel Guide) ... but one memorable place you shouldn't miss in the historical centre of town is the San Francisco monastery, a stunning building with incredible piles of skulls and bones found in the catacombs.

Now, if you have a little more time you could venture a short distance out of Lima:

• You could catch a boat out to the nearby Palomino Islands, home to a wide variety of birdlife and sea lions.

• The ruins of Pachacamac – just an hour or so from the centre of town – have nothing on Machu Picchu, but they are worth a visit if you want to get deep into Peru’s Archaeology.

• If you want to escape the ‘garua’ sea-mist that can tend to hang over the city, head up into the small towns of Cieneguilla or Chosica. Located at about 500 metres, in the foothills of the Andes, just a short distance from Lima, these are popular with the residents of Lima for their lush green land and clear blue skies.

• Or, if you have a good few days and your tour doesn’t include it, then I would definitely recommend a trip to see the Nasca Lines.

Should you want to find out more or need advice on booking any of these, let me know – we have some excellent Peruvian local Travel Experts joining us over the coming few weeks and they would be very happy to help out.

I hope this gives you something to start from – and I’m sure some other members of the addictedtotravel.com community will also have some inspiring ideas!

When do you go and where will you be visiting on your tour?

Stuart

Hi Malin.
That sounds an amazing trip. Look forward to hearing about your adventures when you get back especially if you have any good or interesting food experiences! Have a great trip, Ellie