What To Do Lima, Peru

(All my own photos)

Lima was my Lisbon of South America - in that it wasn’t on my radar until a friend said she had been dreaming of going.

I had been contemplating where to spend the Fall and was overwhelmed by choice, so when she brought up Lima and said she would come visit, I started “researching”, aka: looking at flight and Airbnb prices. Both looked great, and I had heard Peruvian food was the best in South American, so I booked a month without much more thought.

While I enjoyed Lima, I struggled to find a “vibe” and connect with the city. When my friend came to visit toward the end of my stay, I kept saying how there was something “off”, but couldn’t quite identify what it was. Her and I had a great time exploring the city, visiting sites, and eating and drinking, but at the end of her week in Lima, she agreed the city seemed to be lacking a “vibe”.

I am sure there is one! I just never uncovered it, and that is okay! Not every place is a “I need to live here place”, some are meant for the moment and the memories, and Lima absolutely delivered on that.

I ended up spending 5 weeks in Lima, with a 5 day trip to Cusco and Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu.

Here is how it went:

I fell in love with the Barranco neighborhood, with it’s street art, vibrancy, and amazing restaurants.

I wandered the vast city on foot most days, taking 345,173 steps, through different neighborhoods, along beautiful coasts, through parks and along highways.

Learned that I am a pretty talented cat photographer, capturing endless feline faces in Kennedy Park.

Sipped some of the most beautiful and delicious cocktails, including one from the World’s Top 50 Bars.

Met three new bachelors, and one bachelorette.

I experienced all four seasons in one day.

I wandered, ate and drank my way through the city.

Visited museums, archeological sites, and the incredible Catacombs.


Trip Details and Cost Breakdown

Airbnb

37 nights in Barranco neighborhood, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, rooftop pool, coworking space, 24/7 front desk: $1,194.00

Airbnb Listing

Flight

Miami to Lima $196 on American Airlines (booked with points via Capitol One)

Lima to Buenos Aires on JetSmart with carry on and seat selection added $284

Transportation

Uber from airport to Barranco ranged from $11-$14 depending on time of day. Uber in the city was very affordable, ranging from $2.00 to $7.00

Due to the low cost of Uber, my determination that I can walk anywhere, and being a bit intimidated by the buses, I did not take public transit while in Lima, but have heard the city is very well connected by metro.

Food

Food costs ranged greatly depending on what and where, but there was something available for every budget from street food to fine dining.

Empanadas were in abundance and were around $1.00 each

A coffee and pastry was typically around $5.00-$6.00

A “typical” lunch of 1/4 chicken, rice, and veggie could be found in many places for around $8 and a delicious chicken sandwich (similar to chicken salad) was around $4 or $5. Shout out to local “fast food” which was fresh, delicious and budget friendly.

Restaurants ranged from budget-friendly soup, sandwich and chicken places to high end steak house.

Drinks

Cocktails also ranged greatly, from $3.50 pisco sours to $15 cocktails and everything in between. Buy one, get one “Happy Hour” (which seemed to be all hours many places) was very common.

⭐I found that many bars had really good food and menus that surpassed typical “bar food”

Entrance Fees

$0-$8 usd

$4 usd seemed to be the average entry fee for the sites I visited


Neighborhoods

Lima is a large province, made up of forty three districts, with the urban area of Lima generally considered to be formed by thirty of these districts. While I walked through several of these districts on my lengthy urban hikes, I didn’t take note of exactly where I was and didn’t spend enough time in them to really be able to speak on them, so I will highlight a few that are the most popular, and that I spent the most time experiencing.

Miraflores

Home to Parque Kennedy (the Cat Park), endless restaurants, the Miraflores Boardwalk, Parque del Amor, street art, shops, and cafes, Miraflores is one of the most well-known neighborhoods in Lima and is where the majority of visitors opt to base themselves. With great nightlife, a huge array of bars and restaurants, coastal views, and shopping, you will likely find yourself spending a great deal of your visit to Lima in Miraflores, even if you opt to stay in a different neighborhood, like I did.

For more information and map of Miraflores click here

Barranco

“The district is considered to be the city's most romantic and bohemian, being the home and working place of many of Peru's leading artists, musicians, designers and photographers”

When I was looking to neighborhoods in Lima for my month+ long stay, everything Miraflores said “tourist” and everything Barranco said “Boho” and “artsy” so the choice seemed simple to me. I loved the Barranco neighborhood for all it’s vibrancy, with just a little bit of grit. As an added bonus, Barranco is home to Larcomar Mall, which offers stunning views, a great food court, and plenty of stores.

It felt like a perfect compromise of local and tourist and I am glad I chose this neighborhood for my stay. It was also in close proximity to Miraflores so I got the best of both worlds.

For more information on the neighborhood, click here

Historical City Center

“The Historic Centre of Lima, known as the “Ciudad de los Reyes” (City of Kings), is located in the Rimac valley, and was founded by Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro in January 1535 on the territories led by the Chiefdom of Rimac”

The Historic City Center is beautiful and worth visiting for just that: history. It is like taking a step back in time with it’s stunning architecture, horse and carriage rides circling the main square, cathedrals and fountain. There are numerous tours available to explore the area, but I loved just wandering through the streets and taking in all the charm and beauty it has to offer. There are also endless cafes, restaurants, markets and tourist shops in this area.

For more information on this UESCO World Heritage Site click here


The Sites

There are SO many museums, historical sites, and historical landmarks in Lima. I feel like I barely scratched the surface and simultaneously saw a ton.

Museums

Museo Larco

🗺️Simón Bolívar Avenue 1515, Pueblo Libre, Lima 21, Peru (Entrance on Navarra Street)

🕰️Daily (including holidays w/reduced hours) 10a-7p

💵Adult S/ 35 (approx 9usd), Senion S/ 30, Children 8-17 S/ 17, children under 8 Free

🌐Museo Larco – Treasures from Ancient PeruMuseo Larco – Treasures from Ancient Peru

“The Museo Larco is housed in an 18th century viceroyalty mansion.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the Museo Larco permanent exhibition invites visitors to explore the more than 5000 year history of ancient Peru, through a fascinating collection of pre-Columbian art”

Admittedly, my friend I went for the Inca arte erótica exhibit, and I didn’t even realize there was a whole museum as well but was very pleasantly surprised. Museo Larco is beautifully curated, interesting, and informative.

The eroticism present in this major pottery collection evokes desire, attraction and the coming together of the opposing yet complementary forces that enable life to endlessly regenerate.

This was certainly one of the most interesting exhibits I have seen, for obvious reasons but also because of how interesting and in depth the history of these pieces are. I don’t know what I was expecting, but an incredible history lesson wasn’t exactly it.

An added bonus to Museo Larco is the property it is on. It is like a magical, secret garden in the middle of the city. There is also a beautiful restaurant/cafe on-site that is an ideal setting to have a drink and/or bite before or after your visit to the museum.

Huaca Pucllana Site Museum

🗺️s/n, Ca. Gral. Borgoño cuadra 8, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Wed-Mon 9a-4:15, closed Tuesday

💵Approx $4 usd

🌐Pucllana Site Museum | Official Site (huacapucllanamiraflores.pe)

“Huaca Pucllana or Huaca Juliana is a great adobe and clay pyramid located in the Miraflores district of central Lima, Peru, built from seven staggered platforms. It served as an important ceremonial and administrative center for the advancement of the Lima Culture, a society which developed in the Peruvian Central Coast between the years of 200 AD and 700 AD.”

This was one of the coolest sites I have visited. The story behind how it sat unearthed in the middle of a bustling city, then slowly and painstakingly has been earthed is just… cool. The site can only be visited via guided small group tour (no need to book in advance) that run quite frequently. My guide was informative, friendly and entertaining.

🗺️Jr. Alonso de Molina 1100, Santiago de Surco 15023, Peru

🕰️Daily 10a-5o

💵Approx $9 usd

Confession time: I did no research on this museum, but it was recommended by several people so I asked my friend if she wanted to go to the “Gold Museum” and off we went. Due to my lack of research, we had no idea the “arms” were also included and were VERY confused when we walked in.

Second Confession: I liked the arms more.

It was maybe the most chaotic feeling exhibit I have ever seen and my friend I kept saying it felt like they took multiple stockpiles from someone’s uncle’s basement and put them on display - but in the BEST way.

The Gold portion of the museum was beautiful and interesting, and absolutely enjoyable, but was definitely a “calm after the storm” of the arms exhibit.

Lima Museum of Contemporary Art

🗺️Av. Grau 1511, Barranco (Lima – Peru) Lima 15063

🕰️Tues-Sun 10a-7p, closed Mon

💵Non-residents S/14 (approx $3.50 usd)

🌐Home - MAC Lima

Founded in 2013, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima (MAC Lima) is the only institution dedicated exclusively to the promotion, research and dissemination of contemporary artistic practices in Peru.

A bit smaller than anticipated, the MAC was still beautiful and worth the visit. With an array of exhibits and well laid out floor plan, it felt open and spacious which made it easy to enjoy.

Jade Rivera Museum

🗺️Jr. Alonso de Molina 1100, Santiago de Surco 15023, Peru

🕰️Daily 10a-8p

💵S/ 15 (approx $3 usd)

🌐Jade Rivera Museum

This was a random walk-in when I stumbled upon it with my friend on our way to lunch. An absolutely beautifully curated, small museum featuring a local artist with insight to local events, culture, people and politics. Some of the artist’s work can also be seen in the murals of Barranco.

The museum shop is also a great place to pick up unique and local souvenirs or gifts.

Museo Convento San Francisco y Catacumbas (Catacombs of Lima)

🗺️Plazuela San Francisco, Cercado de Lima (Corner of Jirones Ancash and Lampa)

🕰️Mon-Sun 10a-8p

💵Approx $6 usd

🌐Catacombs of Lima

“The monumental complex, a chapter in the history of sacred art in Peru, is currently one of the most important heritage monuments in the Historic Center of Lima, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 9, 1988.”

The Convent and Catacombs can only be visited via guided tour, which are offered frequently and in numerous languages. The tour lasts about 60-90 minutes and is very informative and interactive with the guide. We lucked out and there was no one else waiting, so my friend and I, along with her friend got a private tour.

The catacombs have some tight spaces, low ceilings, and low lighting, so if you are claustrophobic or sensitive to the highly creepy, you may want to skip this part.

⭐photos are not permitted on site (pretend mine are stock photos…)


Barranco Street Art

Technically, I guess this isn’t a “site” but it is definitely an attraction. The murals in Barranco are absolutely not to be missed on a trip to Lima. There are several walking tours available, but you can also just wander the area and take in all the art on your own. The murals span throughout the neighborhood and cover a broad range of topics and images.


Parks

Magic Water Circuit of the Reserve Park

🗺️Jirón Madre de Dios S/N, Lima 15046, Peru

🕰️Daily 3p-10p

💵approx $1 usd

🌐MAGIC WATER CIRCUIT (circuitomagicodelagua.com.pe)

“The Magic Water Circuit of the Parque de la Reserva, inaugurated on July 26, 2007, is one of the largest municipal projects, an icon of the city of Lima and a symbol of the recovery of Lima's public spaces. It has thirteen cybernetic fountains, supported by the highest technology where music, water, sound and laser lights are mixed to present us with unique and incredible shows.”

The Magic Water Circuit made me feel like I was in Disney World (a very small, less animated, corner pocket… but, Disney World all the same). It was a great afternoon and early evening spent, if a bit crowded.

I highly recommended coming about an hour before sunset to be able to see the park in daylight, as well as when all the fountains are illuminated.

Parque Kennedy (Kennedy Park)

🗺️Diagonal, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️7am-7pm

“The unofficial main square of Lima”, also often referred to as the “Cat Park”, Parque Kennedy is a great space with vendors, artists, and cats… lots and lots of cats. Though there are several vendors and even more cats, the park doesn’t feel overrun by either. Though some of the cats are quite friendly and when volunteers come out in the evening to feed them, they are very present, they tend to keep to themselves. The park is surrounded by bars and restaurants and really does feel like the center of the city.

El Parque del Amor (Love Park Lima)

🗺️Parque del Amor, lima 15074, Peru

I actually found this park by accident on the way to Park Chino and immediately fell in love (pun intended) with the striking and colorful tile work, endless love locks, and massive El Beso statue. There were musicians playing in the park, a dance group recording a video, and two couples in full wedding attire taking photos which offered great entertainment without being overwhelming and keeping the space peaceful.

For the history of the Love Park

Parque Chino de Miraflores

🗺️Mal. Cisneros, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️9a-9p daily

This little park popped up when I Googled “things to do in Lima” so I ventured here and found a kitschy little park. Was it a bit overcrowded and a little underwhelming? Yes. Is it also cute and has some history, as well as stunning coastal views? Also, yes.

While I wouldn’t necessarily make this a destination, it is worth a visit if you are going to Parque del Amor or looking for a point of interest along the Miraflores coastline.


Mercados (shopping)

If you are looking for some great Peruvian souvenirs (and are not heading to Aguas Calientes - where they are considerably less expensive), Lima has any and everything you could possibly want, and more.

Artisan Gallery San Francisco

Lima, Mercado, Lima souvenirs

🗺️Jr. Lampa 236, Lima 15001, Peru

🕰️9a-8p daily

My friend came here while she was waiting for me to get to Basílica and Convent of San Francisco and loved the selection so much, we had to go back after our tour. Collectively we made several purchases including blankets, T-shirts, a poncho, and other “littles”. We visited several other mercados and shops in Lima and this one stood out as the least pushy and with the best prices.

Inka Market

Inka market, Lima, Lima Mercado, Lima Souvenirs

🗺️Gonzáles Prada 280, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️ Mon-Sat 9a-8p, Sun 10:30a-5:30p

Probably the biggest souvenir market in Lima with a huge variety of items (though the stalls do get pretty repetitive), the Inka Market is a chotchke haven with a little something for everyone on your souvenir list. Make sure to compare prices (they can vary from stall to stall), and don’t be afraid to negotiate a bit.

Mercado Artesanal

🗺️C. Gral. Suárez 315, Lima 15074, Peru

🕰️9a-8a Daily

Mercado Artesanal is located not far from the Inka Market and has several similar items, but like Artisan Gallery San Francisco, has better prices and less aggressive sellers. The stalls in this market are a bit smaller and the sellers seem to have a more streamlined inventory.

La Feria Unión de Barranco

🗺️Jiron Unión 108, Lima 15063, Peru

🕰️Sun 12p-9p, Mon-closed, Tues-Thurs 12p-9p, Fri-Sat 11a-10p

🌐La Feria

La Feria is the best of both worlds: artisan vendors and delicious food stalls. As an added bonus, there is a small stage that hosts musicians, bands, and other performers. This cute market has something for everyone from vegan baked goods to loaded nachos, cookies to sandwiches, sweaters, candles, trinkets, jewelry and much more.

*There is a bathroom towards that back that is convenient when touring Barranco but be sure to have coins.


Mercados (Food)

Mercado 28 Miraflores

🗺️Av. Vasco Núñez de Balboa 755, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Mon-Wed 12p-11p, Thur-Sat 12p-1a, Sun 9:30a-11p

💵$$

🥬Vegetarian Friendly

There are several Food Markets in Lima, but Mercado 28 wins on vibes and energy! My friend and I happened to pop in when a Peru v. Venezuela game was on, so the energy throughout the market was high and a great time. We returned a few days later, because the food and drinks were also great, and it was still a great crowd even without the match.

Mercado San Martín

🗺️Ca. San Martín 482, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Mon-Thurs 9a-10:30p, Fri-Sat 9a-12a, Sun 12p-10:30p

💵$$

🥬Vegetarian Friendly

I only came in to Mercado San Martin for a quick drink, but from the sight and smells of the food stalls, I am confident the food is delicious too. When we went in for a drink, the market was pretty quiet, but on other days when I passed by it was packed and seemed pretty high energy.

Mercado San Ramón

🗺️Pje. San Ramón 290, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Sun-Thurs 12p-1a, Fri-Sat 12p-3a

💵$$

🥬Vegetarian Friendly

This is the biggest of the Mercados that I went to in Lima, with the most food options and a great bar, but it was also the worst lay out (in my opinion). The other mercados have a common space that feels communal and central to the space, but this one has a smaller dining area that feels separated from the rest of space. Overall, great for food options, lacking in socialization and energy.


Restaurants

Lima is said to have the best food in all of South America. While there are some places that I think could give it a run for its money, Lima (and all of Peru) does have a pretty spectacular food scene. In the month I spent in Lima, I ate everything from grocery store grab-and-go meals to street food to fast food to midrange dining, to just short of fine dining.

These were some of my highlights

Siete Sopas

🗺️numerous locations

🕰️varying hours, check location for details (all open for lunch and dinner)

💵$$

🌐Siete Sopas

I am usually not one for chain restaurants, but I would eat at every single one of these budget friendly locations. Known for their soup (made fresh daily, by the vat), Siete Sopa has a menu of classic Peruvian dishses as well. I visited twice and tried 2 different soups, both of which were delicious, but stuck with the Peruvian classic Tallarines Verdes with a juicy piece of rotisserie chicken.

Lady Bee

*not my photo

🗺️Av. Ernesto Diez Canseco 329, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Sun-Mon Closed, Tues-Thurs 6p-12p, Fri-Sat 6p-1:30a

💵$$-$$$

🥬Vegetarian Friendly

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ friendly

🌐Lady Bee

I tried 3 times to get in to Lady Bee and lucked out with a 10p dinner reservation just before leaving Lima. It took all of 7 seconds to see why this “50 Best” list maker was so hard to get in to. Everything was beautiful: from the decor to the bee themed drinks to the food to the servers. It was absolutely worth the wait and the effort to snag a table.

mo.cafe Angamos

🗺️Angamos Oeste 1146 Miraflores, Lima, Peru

🕰️8a-10:30p daily

💵$$-$$$

🥬Vegetarian friendly

🌐mo.cafe

mo.cafe was my Thanksgiving “dinner” (brunch) and it was perfection. Beautiful setting, fantastic service and scrumptious food prepared in an open concept kitchen. I planned to come back to this gem for dinner one night, because the menu looked amazing, but time got away from me and sadly, I never made it back.

L’autentica Pizza

🗺️Ca. San Martín 516, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Tues-Sun 12p-11p, Mon- closed

💵$$

🥬Vegetarian friendly

As New Yorker, it feels sacrilegious to recommend a pizza place in South America, but this place was so good, I came back again. My friend and I ventured here after a bit of day drinking and were very pleasantly surprised with how good the pizza and salad were. We returned a few days later a tried a few other menu items (me the eggplant, her a calzone type dish) and both were very good.

La Mar Cevicheria Peruana

La Mar Cevicheria Peruana

*Not my photo

🗺️v. Mariscal La Mar 770, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Mon-Thur 12-5, Fri-Sun 12p-5:30p

💵$$

🌐Menu

If you like ceviche, this is it. So many varieties, so many flavors. Don’t like ceviche? No problem! There is something for everyone at this cool and vibrant spot. It is truly a seafood lovers dream, with amazing cocktails as a bonus.

Pan Sal Aire

🗺️Av. Almte. Miguel Grau 320, , Lima, Barranco 15063, Peru

🕰️Tues-Sun 8a-11p, Mon - Closed

💵$$

🌐Pan Sal Aire

Restaurant and market where you will find all kinds of breads, both frozen to eat at home and fresh out of the oven to enjoy right there. Breakfast, brunch, salads, starters, main courses, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, pizzas, desserts and pastries. In other words, a place where you will find absolutely everything.   

I only came to Pan Sal Aires for lunch, but it was one of the cutest restaurants I visited in Lima. The smell of fresh baked break wafted through the beautiful space and my server was a ray of sunshine. I would happily return here again and again.

Sutorīto Māketto

🗺️Av. Mariscal La Mar 830, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️12p-11p Daily

💵$$

🥬Vegetarian friendly

🌐Sutorīto Māketto

Sutorito Maketto was just a really cool place. It was definitely a stand out in Lima with it’s unique decor and hipster-without-trying-too-hard vibe. The cocktails were delicious and so was the food - my friend even declared the slider was one of the best burgers she has ever tasted (that says A LOT). Our only complaint was that the food was a bit pricey for the portions, and that we wanted more of everything.


Bars

From local to touristy, beer to artisan cocktails, and everything in between; Lima has something for everyone. While a pisco sour is available EVERYWHERE, I was really impressed with the overall cocktail scene in Lima and was in awe of the variations of pisco (and other) drinks served throughout the city.

Carnaval

🗺️Av. Pardo y Aliaga 662, San Isidro 15073, Peru

🕰️Mon-Sat 5p-12:30a, Sunday - closed

💵$$$-$$$$

🌐Carnaval Bar

One of the World’s Best 50 Bars in 2023, Carnaval Bar is a truly magical experience. The staff is friendly, fun, and engaging, the space is incredible (there is an entire ICE ROOM) and the cocktails are next level. There is not a single doubt that this bar belongs on every “Best” list.

Reservations highly recommended. My friend I checked for open reservations on several occasions, and eventually just tried our luck arriving at opening and were able to get seats at the bar, but with a 60 minute limit.

💘Great date night spot

Ribeyro

🗺️Av. 28 de Julio 844, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Tues-Sat 5p-11p, Sun-Mon closed

💵$$-$$$

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ friendly

🌐Ribeyro

I was introduced to Ribeyro by my third Lima date and it absolutely didn’t disappoint. With it’s cozy, sort-of speakeasy vibes, beautiful bartenders, fresh curated cocktails, and tasty bites, Ribeyro quickly became one of my favorite bars in Lima. I took my friend for a night cap on her final night in Lima and the bartenders welcomed us and insisted we stay for a drink, even when we realized they were closing.

💘Great date night spot

Curayacu Tiki Bar - Barranco

🗺️Av. Almte. Miguel Grau 111, Barranco 15063, Peru

🕰️Sun, Tues, Wed 5p-12a, Thur 6-1a, Fri- Sat 6p-3a, Mon - closed

💵$$

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ+ friendly

🌐Curayacu

This was by far my favorite bar in Barranco, and not just because I was in the great company of my friend and bachelor #36.

Easy to miss with it’s subtle signage, but as soon as you walk in, you know you are in a tiki bar. There is a really cool display of tiki glasses upon entry and then the bar is downstairs. Unique, fun drinks, a great friendly and entertaining bartender, and a really fun space - everything a tiki bar is meant to be!

💘Great date night spot

Beerlin Restobar

🗺️C. Berlín 293, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Mon-Thurs 12p-1a, Fri 12p-3a, Sat 10a-3a, Sun 10a-1a

💵$$

🌐BEERLIN Restobar

I’m hesitant to recommend Beerlin becasue the bar itself left a bit to be desired, and the crowd was a bit “pretentious tourist” on the night I went and met Bachelor #34 , BUT the drinks were fantastic and well priced, and once the bartender warmed up a little bit, he was fun and engaging. Had I gone on a different night with a bit of a better crowd, I am sure this would be a really cool place.

El Infusionista

🗺️C. Manuel Bonilla 123, Miraflores 15074, Peru

🕰️Sun-Wed 6p-12a, Thurs 5p-1a, Fri-Sat 5p-2a

💵$$-$$$

🌐El Infusionista

I went to El Infusionista with a date as an alternative to another bar on Manuel Bonilla that was closed for a private party, and I am so glad I did. The downstairs bar looked cool and inviting, but then we were escorted up the “secret” graffitied, neon painted, spiral staircase to the upstairs seating area. The drinks are fun and interactive with a pharmacy theme and the bites we had were really tasty.

Rehab Lima 🏳️‍🌈

🗺️Alcanfores 465 Miraflores Lima, Peru 18

🕰️Hours vary

💵$$

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQAI+ Celebrated

🌐Rehab Lima

Drag brunch at Rehab Lima was one of the highlights of my trip! It was high energy, engaging, colorful, and joyful. The food is buffet style and was actually really good with a great variety available throughout the 2 hour show. Drinks were very reasonably priced and the Queens were simply magical. The bar hosts numerous events throughout the week (check IG for schedule) and I cannot recommend this bar/venue enough for a fun, unique, local experience.

For a glimpse of my experience at Rehab: click here


Cafes and Sweet Treats

CHURROS SAN FRANCISCO S.A.C.

🗺️Costado del Ministerio de Economía, Jr. Lampa 268, Lima 15001, Peru

🕰️Sunday - closed, Mon-Fri 10a-8p, Sat 8a-8p

💵$

🌐S.A.C

If you are in the Historic Center, one of these churros is an absolute must. Located just down the street from Museo Convento San Francisco y Catacumbas, this tiny churro shop gets busy! There is usually a line down the street, but don’t be deterred, it moves very quickly and is absolutely worth it.

Oriunda Cafetería

🗺️Av. Ricardo Palma 240, Surquillo 15048, Peru

🕰️Mon-Thurs 8a-9:30p, Fri-Sat 8a-10:45p, Sunday - closed

💵$-$$

🌐Oriunda

This cutie little cafe is the perfect place to meet up with friends, or spend some time with your laptop or a book, and have a coffee, drink and/or bites. The space is cozy and welcoming, and both times I came my server was friendly and kind.


Spa

Almahal Spa

🗺️C. Barcelona 221, San Isidro 15076, Peru

🕰️Mon-Sat 9a-11p, Sunday 9a-10p

💵$$

🌐Almahal

A spa day has become a Thanksgiving tradition for my friend and I, wherever we are in the world. Almahal ranked amongst the top spas we have been to so far. We were treated with care and respect and the space was calm and beautiful. We were also very fortunate that the reception and our therapists spoke English.

As a plus size traveler, things like spa days can be a bit intimidating, but there was never a moment at Almahal I didn’t feel comfortable and treated with respect.

💘Great date day


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2½ Days in Cusco, Peru