Lima: The Right Way

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Taking a taxi is by far the best way to get around. They are everywhere and are relatively cheap. For example, a taxi ride from Miraflores to La Molina (roughly 10km) only costs 20 soles, or about . When you flag down a taxi, you must first negotiate the price with the driver. Tell him where you need to go and then negotiate the price. You pay when you arrive at your destination.

This is a great club with a single dance floor, large outside patio area, and several bars throughout. DJs spin the latest Latin dance music, with everything from reggae and merengue to the best techno and house hits. It is considered the best club in Lima by the local youth. The atmosphere is very safe, with a late-teen to 2--something crowd. Getting into the club is a little difficult, and I was lucky enough to have a Peruvian friend help me out.

We arrived at 11:30pm and the line was already very long. Rather than wait, we paid the 40 soles to get in the VIP entrance. Make sure you bring a legitimate ID, as the bouncers were very strict about checking identifications (even though there were 14-year-olds in there). Once you get in, it's a great party! There is plenty of room for chilling, but on and around the dance floor is where it's at. If you're looking for a night of action, this is the place to have it.

Peru's gold museum is a cultural double feature. Not only is the basement filled with some stunning Incan gold artifacts, but the first floor is a treasure trove of weapons and military artifacts from around the world. I personally enjoyed this immense collection more than the museum's namesake. The museum is very touristy, offering tours in several languages, including English, French, and Spanish. There are also a few shops that sell jewelry and replicas of famous exhibits within the museum. It's a definite must-see, but once is enough.

Lima's cathedral is immense and ornate. The dominant structure on Lima's central plaza, this is a must-see for the first-timer. Inside is the tomb of conquistador Francisco Pizarro, along with many pieces of art dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. There is an entrance fee, but the sight is well worth the 5 soles.

The Museum of Anthropology in Lima’s Pueblo Libre district has some one of the most interesting collections of pottery and textiles in the country. There is also a superb temporary exhibit on Incan gold that rivals that of Lima’s Gold Museum. The museum houses thousands of exhibits; however, the curators have picked the perfect amount to put on display, allowing for a cultural tour that doesn’t wear you out. Side rooms display these additional exhibits in floor-to-ceiling display cases. The amount of artifacts is almost overwhelming. Near the entrance is La Sala de Arte Erotica, for those who don’t mind viewing copulating drinking vessels from pre-Incan times. Overall, the museum offers a lot of great exhibits for the traveler to Peru. All exhibits are labeled in Spanish, French, and English. You can expect to pay 15 soles to enter, but it is well worth it.