- First Time in Lima.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME TO TOUR AROUND THE LARGEST CITY OF PERU IN THREE DAYS, ONE OF THE MOST CHARMING BURGS IN LATIN AMERICA
The lady sitting next to me tells me that I have to visit Astrid & Gaston, at Casa Moreira… I Google it and learn that Gaston Acurio is one of the most media-hyped chefs in Latin America and the main gastronomic ambassador of this South American country, with a passionate commitment to the spreading of Peruvian cuisine and its latest expressions.
I write everything down just in case I forget any detail after landing. I have less than 72 hours in Lima and I don't want to miss a single heartbeat of the most authentic elements of the City of Kings.
The coastal neighborhoods and busy malls can be overwhelming for those who visit Lima for the first time, but people say that you can enjoy the main allures in just three days, with enough time to appreciate colonial squares, explore the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco and relax at the Miraflores spa.
DAY 1
Right in the heart of its historic core, declared World Heritage by Unesco, the Arms Square or Main Square is the starting point for tours on foot. I shouldn't miss the Government Palace, where the guard change ceremony is carried out at noon.
I've been also recommended to visit the Cathedral of Lima, so I walk into it. It's amazing, and it perhaps features some exquisite details that are not found in the cathedrals of other countries that were colonized by Spain in the 16th century. The guide tells me that it's even more astonishing at night, since the display of lights makes an admirable show. Likewise, I'm advised to go to the Church and Convent of St. Francis, where tourists can visit the goose-bumping underground catacombs.
Lima's historic core certainly makes me recall the one in my country. So, I walk on to other areas of the city where I can find out what makes it different.
As the sun is going down on my first day in Lima, I arrive in the Reservoir Park, where the Magical Water Circuit is the main attraction. I'm astounded by the show of fountains and lights, which can perfectly hold a candle to others around the world, with the screening of images on the water, an exceptional environment in the middle of such a hectic city.
DAY 2
Huaca Pucllana, which harks back to year 500 BC, is one of the best-preserved prehistoric sites in Latin America, devoted to sacred burials.
When I'm naïvely about to believe that I'm standing on the only site of this kind in Lima –since everybody knows about Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman in Cuzco, and other wonders across Peru- I learn that there are some 54 huacas in Lima alone, some of which were built over 4,000 years ago. Among the most visited sites, besides Pucllana, we have Pachacamac and Huallamarca.
We stay in the Miraflores district, but we go down to the coast with a great opportunity to take the most emblematic pictures of Lima's coast.
They tell me that I have to drop by Larcomar Mall. The truth is that I'm not much into this kind of crowded places, so I return to the hotel and get ready to have dinner.
We have brought Chef Gaston Acurio's cookbook "Perú" in which he reveals his passion for culinary art in simple words: “Yes, when we visit Peru we discover people that are proud of their gastronomy and happily enjoy it, especially by sharing it.”
DAY 3
“If you only visit one museum in Lima, it has to be the Larco Museum”. That's what they recommend on social networks and that's where we're going today, in our last chance to take a look into the history of the Peruvian capital.
The museum, besides treasuring a tremendous collection of gold and silver artifacts, colorful ceramics and huacos, features a one-and-only setting. Even the property is impressive: a mansion that dates back to the 18th century, surrounded by impeccable gardens.
We're running out of time and we have several obligations back home, so we spare some time to go shopping at the Indian Market. We feast eyes on Peruvian souvenirs: exquisite jewelry, alpaca wool clothes and miniatures similar to pre-Hispanic ceramics; those are the best presents.
When we return to the bohemian district of Barranco, we feel like we have crossed a border, a cultural one at very least. Street murals invite us to go through art galleries and take pictures of every corner of this eclectic area of Lima. We are suggested to come here at night to enjoy live music in several clubs.
Described as a trending place, the Mario Testino Mate Museum showcases a fantastic collection of pictures of celebrities and typical Andean clothes. Its creator, talented Mario Testino Silva, opened the place as a cultural project back in 2012 and it's presently ranked among the must-see attractions of Lima. Among the famous faces captured by Testino lens, we can mention Princess Diana of Wales, Kate Moss, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
We can't say goodbye to Lima without going to the iconic Bridge of Sighs. By following that route, we arrive in Bajada de los Baños, when we are greeted by a few hours of typical Peruvian food and a number of bars that remain open till the wee hours of the morning.
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