Quick Guide to 4 Day in Lima, Peru
On my way home from Bolivia, I made a quick stop in Lima, Peru. Instead of doing the major attractions that Peru is known for, I decided to just focus primarily on Lima and the dunes of Huacachina.
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Must Know Before You GoWhen to Visit: Shoulder months (May, September – October) have pleasant weather and fewer crowds. The busiest time is June – August and temperatures are hot. Off-season is from November – April. The weather can be extremely cold, icy, or wet. Visas: Tourists do not need a visa to enter Peru. A passport is required with a minimum of 6 months validity. Language: Spanish, Aymara, Quenchuan. About 84% of Peruvians speak Spanish. In touristy areas, many people are learning English and are eager to use it. Currency: Peruvian Sol (s/). Currency Exchange as of March 2024:
Credit Card vs. Cash: Card can be used in most places. ATMs: ATMs can be easily found in touristy areas. Tipping: 10% is customary in many dining and service-related establishments. Some restaurants may already include a service charge on the bill. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex Chavin, City of Cuzco, Historic Centre of Lima, Machu Picchu, Historic Centre of the City of Arequipa, Huascaran National Park, Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa, Manu National Park, Qhapad Nan, Rio Abiseo National Park, Sacred City of Caral-Supe National Parks: There are quite a few national parks in Peru. An extensive list can be found here. |
Getting Around:
I consider Uber as the best source of transportation in Lima. Transportation from the Lima Airport to Miraflores can take a little over an hour and about s/51. From Miraflores to the Historic Centre, it takes about 30 minutes and costs s/27. Getting an Uber around the historic centre can be challenging due to the traffic. I recommend getting picked up at the Gran Hotel Bolivar Lima since there is a place for drivers to pull over. Public transportation is also accessible here. I did not opt for this option as it was extremely hot and the buses did not have air conditioning.
Hotels:
After a rough week in Bolivia with no A-con, I wanted to splurge on myself just a little bit. I stayed at the Arawi Miraflores Express hotel in Lima. The hotel is nice and spacious, quiet, and in walking distance to plenty of great restaurants. Miraflores is known to be tailored to the touristy crowd. Honestly, I would prefer to stay closer to the historic center next time. My preference is that I like history more than the beach town. I paid about $175 for 4 nights. That is about $43.75 a night. I also arrived around 9am and requested for an early check-in. They were accommodating and allowed me to check in early with a fee of $35.
I also stayed one night at the Wild Rover Huacachina in Huacachina. This is an affordable hostel for $46 for a private room. I was doing a tour that met up in front of this hostel so I figured that this was the most convenient thing for me. Plus, they had great reviews on various hotel websites. This hostel had more of a party vibe and the music went on til the late night. The rooms were unbearably hot. There is no air conditioning. There is one portable fan that circles hot air. Not my preference. However, it should be noted that Huacachina is tailored to expats so most accommodations were hostels or guesthouses. Noise is pretty much unavoidable as there are parties in most of the hostels and nightclubs. Just a reminder, bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper like me.
Itinerary:
Day | Date | Location | To Do | To Eat |
1 |
Feb 13, 2024 |
Lima |
1. Historic Centre
|
Lunch in Lima: Republica del Pisco – Miraflores → Calle Bolívar 215, Miraflores 15074, Peru Great vibe restaurant. Delicious food and cocktails. Comes with complimentary nuts.
Dinner in Lima: Pardos Chicken → Av. Alfredo Benavides 730, Miraflores 15048, Peru Sell rotisserie and grilled chicken. Serves large portions. Incredible staff.
|
2 |
Feb 14, 2024 |
Paracas |
I did a two-day tour of Huacachina through Peru Hop for $149. 1. Take a boat to the Ballestas Islands from Paracas -saw sea lions 2. Dune buggy and sandboard in Huacachina |
Lunch in Paracas: Restaurant Paracas → Av. Los Libertadores C10, Paracas 11550, Peru This restaurant was selected by our tour. We were able to preorder our food on the bus and only waited a few minutes for our food to arrive.
Dinner in Huacachina: Viajero Kokopelli Huacachina Hostel → Av. Ángela Perotti 198, Huacachina 11000, Peru Met some friends at this hostel and joined them there for dinner. Food here was just okay. They lost my order and took a while for them to bring out the food.
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3 | Feb 15, 2024 |
Ica |
1. Pisco tasting at Nietto 2. Head back to Lima Our tour allowed us to explore Huacachina in our free time but there was not much to do. We paid s/500 for a taxi to take us back to Lima ahead of schedule. |
Lunch at Nietto: Tres Nieto Ordered: Rice with chicken (s/30) Dinner in Lima: Pizza Time I am not 100% sure what the name is but it is located next to the Republica of Pisco. I had a personal-sized pizza and a cocktail concoction by the server. The food was mediocre but interesting vibe. Great cartoon paintings on the walls. |
4 | Feb 16, 2024 |
1. San Francisco de Asis Museum & The Catacombs
2. Flight Home |
Lunch in Lima: El Pacifico → Pje. de José Olaya 114, Lima 15001, Peru I found the food to be mediocre but with great staff. There was a protest happening nearby and the staff filled me in.
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Expenses for 4 Days:
Type | Cost (Sol) | Cost (USD) | Conversion |
Hotels | 221 | 221 | |
Tours | 20+ | 149 | 154 |
Uber | 148+ | 88 | 128 |
Food | 330 | 81 | |
Snacks | 10 | 10 | |
Total: | 594 |