Positive Surprises in Lima
I guess we did not have much of expectations for our days in Lima, the focus was on the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. But these days turned out to be full of positive surprises…
What about being neighbor to the most powerful man in the world? During our days in Lima we have had the pleasure of following Obama closely. Due to his extensive crew and protection, we knew when he left in the morning and when he was back in the night and if we felt a bit unsafe when driving through the suburbs close to Lima airport, this feeling was gone the minute we arrived to our apartment. It is not every day you have 10 Secret Service guys standing outside your house following your every move.
However, what made the days in Lima great was not Obama, but all the great preparation that our dear friend Gaby had done for us. We felt so welcome and we truly loved our big cosy apartment in the nice area of Miraflores! Thanks a million Gaby, Carmen and Carla for all your support and hospitality!
What to see in Lima
Lima as a city is very different from any other city we have visited but has a lot to offer. It is something special with cities by the sea. The boardwalk on the cliff above the beach quickly became our favorite, walking all the way from the fancy residential area of San Isidro to the less developed area of Barranca. We watched the sunset while having a Nutella pancake at Beso Frances Creperia together with the locals and kissed in the park of lovers. This you could do every day if living here, given the good Swedish summer weather all year around with only10 mm rain per year – A dream for a Swede!
History and Art in Lima
What surprises you is the many faces of Lima. It is truly a city of fusion, in terms of not only food but also architecture, people and culture. Here you will find newly built houses and residential buildings, all in line with the latest trends, side by side with buildings from the Spanish colonial era, Miami’s art deco houses or, if you go down town, buildings inspired by the French neo baroque style. According to our lovely guide Charman, there are more than 100 languages spoken and more than 300 tribes living here and for the last 20 years or so they have done so more or less peacefully!
The history of Peru is not only about the Incas, something we learnt during our visit to the “Huacas Pucllana” museum. The Lima population built impressive temples and graves long before the Incas, places that recently were discovered.
Today Lima is a city under development, something that is evident in areas like Barranca – still a bit rough but with an arty and bohemian touch. Here we found MATE – a museum founded by Mario Testino. Entering into his world of celebrities and parties as well as the Diana room offered a great break from the city life on the outside.
Food in Lima
What did not come as surprise was all the incredible food and drinks that Lima has to offer! The ceviche is one of a kind, the 40 or so different types of potatoes and exotic fruits are sooo tasty and the avocados… yammi! We have had delicious sushi and Chifa food (Chinese food with a Peruvian twist) and our neighborhood turned out to be full of small stylish restaurants. We both fell in love with one of these little gems, La Plazita – a place we would visit every week if living here!
Peru has shown its best sides during our visit. The sun has been our companion every day, the only rain we got was when leaving Cusco. We have now left Peru full of new impressions, a bit wiser and yet it feels like there is so much more to see, food to try (did not dare to try guinea pig and alpaca this time) and treks to be discovered.
Hasta Luego Lima! For sure, we will meet again!
More on Travel with a Silver Lining
Lima is a wondrous city that took us by surprise, and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did. That’s why we have some recommendations!
- Eat like kings and queens in Lima after getting to know the most delicious spots in my restaurant guide!
- Check out more awesome tips on my Lima travel guide!
- Are you traveling around Peru? Read my Cusco travel guide to find your way around this ancient South American city. And then get inspired to go on an adventure on my Inca Trail travel story and travel guide!
- For more travel tips, don’t miss my top 3 posts: My Lisbon Instagram Guide, My Amalfi Photography Guide, and my Top Trendy Moscow Restaurants!
- Do you love boutique hotels? Read my review of Sydney and Hua Hin hotels!
Booking Support & Input
- South America awaits with Momondo, the platform that will allow you to find the best prices for your flight. Get their all-in-one travel app here!
- Enjoy Lima in a great hotel, book your stay now!
- Get to your Miraflores hotel ASAP by booking an airport transfer in advance!
- GET YOUR GUIDE is where I find the most incredible experiences to see each city in a unique light. Go beyond the capital by joining this Full-Day Ica and Huacachina Sand Dunes Tour. Check out their Lima city guide, below!
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