Karen & Sean
Explore Perú
Lima
Downtown Lima has plenty to offer! Whether it's the world-class food, colonial-style architecture or surfing, this Peruvian gem really provides something for everyone. City Tour: https://www.tourenlima.com/lima-city-tour.html Lima Bus Tour: https://www.tourenlima.com/turibus-lima-tour.html Lima & Barranco Bus Tour: https://www.tourenlima.com/lima-turibus-y-barranco-tour.html Night City Tour: https://www.tourenlima.com/turibus-lima-by-night.html Magic Water Circuit: https://www.tourenlima.com/magic-water-circuit.html
Miraflores
Visit one of the most representative and beautiful districts of the city. Enjoy the best ocean view of Lima from the Miraflores waterfront. There are many things you can do here and all of it is located close to the hotel and wedding venue: Larcomar: an oceanside shopping center with authentic Peruvian food and beautiful views: https://www.larcomar.com Miraflores Bus Tour: https://www.mirabusperu.com/collections/tours/products/tour-lima-de-dia Paragliding: http://www.aeroxtreme.com/ingles/index.php Food Walking Tour: https://www.viator.com/tours/Lima/Food-Walking-Tour-Miraflores/d928-171585P1 Huaca Pucllana: Ruins of an ancient city predating the Inca in the middle of Miraflores. Tours available in English. Make sure to stop in the cafe for lunch. http://huacapucllanamiraflores.pe
Food
Peru is well-known for its amazing food and actually many people come to Peru just to enjoy its cuisine. In fact, Peru was named the “World’s Leading Culinary Destination” in 2019 by the World Travel Awards and has won this award seven times in the last eight years. People typically hear about Peru because of Machu Picchu, but once they try Peruvian food, it is all they talk about. Here are a few great restaurants that you could try in Lima: Rotisserie Chicken: https://www.pardoschicken.pe/restaurantes/ Seafood: https://www.instagram.com/conpescao_peru/ http://www.pescadoscapitales.com https://www.instagram.com/segundomuelle/ Traditional: http://www.resthuacapucllana.com Peruvian-Japanese: http://www.edosushibar.com https://hanzo.com.pe Nikkei: https://www.maido.pe/en/ (World's Best Restaurants: #10) https://osaka-pardoyaliaga.meitre.com Gourmet: http://www.casamoreyra.pe/en/ https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/ (World's Best Restaurants: #6)
Bars
Ayahuasca An old colonial-style mansion turned into a carnival funhouse of a bar. https://ayahuascarestobar.com La Destilería Huge open space with a stage for live music. http://www.ladestileriabar.com/ Huaringas They specialize in pisco-based drinks, focusing of course on the Peruvian Pisco Sour, but they have elevated it to a new dimension, mixing it with local and tropical fruits. https://www.facebook.com/huaringasbarlima Barranco Beer Company Offers a decent selection of craft beers, all brewed in-house. http://barrancobeercompany.pe/ Gran Hotel Bolivar The bartenders here serve the best and strongest Pisco Sour, made with 5 ounces of pisco. https://www.granhotelbolivar.pe/ Hamburgo BBB = Best Burger & Beer Visit this place if you are looking for a great beer, the best burger in town and playing some games. www.instagram.com/hamburgofamousburger/ (owned by Karen's friends)
Ballestas Islands
Paracas is located in the heart of the Ica region. It is a small town and home to the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve. Here you can see a variety of wildlife like sea lions, dolphins, penguins and other birds. A bus from Lima to Paracas takes about 3 hours. We recommend that you take Peru Hop Bus Service to get there: http://bit.ly/31OjprH Once in Paracas here are few boat tour options to visit the Ballestas Islands: https://www.emotiontourperu.com/en/package/ballestas-islands-tour/ https://www.civitatis.com/en/paracas/ballestas-islands-tour/ https://www.twoscotsabroad.com/paracas-peru/
Huacachina Oasis
Huacachina is a desert oasis and tiny village just west of the city of Ica. At its center are the green waters of the Huacachina Lagoon, surrounded by palm trees. The lagoon's shores are dotted with bars and clubs. Dune buggies run across the high, rolling sand dunes surrounding the village. We encourage you to take a buggy ride around 4-4:30 pm, go sandboarding down the dunes and stay there to witness one of the most amazing sunsets you will ever see. To get from Paracas to Huacachina we recommend you take Peru Hop: http://bit.ly/31OjprH Here are some other tours you can book in advance: https://www.civitatis.com/en/ica/huacachina-dune-buggy-sandboarding/ http://www.huacachina.com/contact-form/index.php
Cusco
Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. For getting around Cusco, we highly recommend contacting Jimmy Chihuantito at jimmych_r@hotmail.com or by phone at +51 954 454 590. He will put together an itinerary for your specific needs, including transportation to the airport, tickets, hotels and tours. Karen has used Jimmy's services for many years and has recommended him to family and friends, including Sean's parents. Being a local entrepreneur, Jimmy does not take credit card. You can pay him via Western Union or with cash in person. Jimmy will be your best option and everyone is always impressed by his excellent service. Places to see in Cusco: Plaza de Armas, Corichancha Church, San Blas Church, and the Inca ruins: Sacsayhuaman, Quenko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara Places to see near Cusco: Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca city, located in the eastern Andes mountain range of Peru at 7,970 ft a.s.l. It is 50 miles northwest from Cusco and has a tropical mountain climate. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. To access Machu Picchu, you will need to take a train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (now known as the town of Machu Picchu). Once there, you need to buy a bus ticket to get to the entrance of the ruins. This bus ride takes approximately 30-35 minutes. Entrance to Machu Picchu is controlled so you must buy your tickets in advance with a specified day and time. If you are interested in hiking to the top of the mountain, you need to buy the option that says: "Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Mountain." Jimmy Chihuantito can help you to arrange that as well as a guided tour of the ruins!