Why visit Lima? and rooms to stay: Not as large as the Museo de la Nacion, the National Archaeology, Anthropology, and History Museum does an excellent job of exploring the history of Peru from prehistoric times to the colonial era. The displays are well organized, and you won’t be overwhelmed by the amount of material, making it easier to understand. The variety is impressive, too, with priceless examples of ceramics, figural stone carvings, obelisks, wrapped mummies, burial tombs, jewelry, tapestries, and gold and metal work, many shown with scale models of the archeological sites. The ceramic collection features pieces, which date from 2800 BC, and among the carved obelisks are the granite Tello Obelisk and the famous Estela Raimondi. Parents should be aware that some of the ceramic figures may not be suitable for children. Included with the museum is the adjacent home, once occupied by both Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar.
If not for the history – Ernest Hemingway and Walt Disney, among many others, have graced the halls of this hotel – then you must go for the pisco. The bartenders at Gran Hotel Bolivar serve a famous drink known as the Pisco Cathedral, made with 5 ounces (150 ml) of pisco. Not only is their pisco drink big; their bartenders also make some of the best pisco sours in the city. One part museum and one part bar; what’s not to like? After you take the tour of the museum, you can sit down and enjoy a pisco cocktail.
While beaches such as Mancora further north in Peru are better known for their waves, Lima’s Costa Verde has some surprisingly good spots for surfing. La Herradura, south of Barranco, is considered one of the best, with its powerful left break and a swell that can reach up to four meters, making it only for those with experience. Waikiki, in Miraflores, is a good option for beginners, particularly as there are some schools where you can learn the ropes. It’s also home to the Waikiki Club, which started up in the 1920s, making it one of the world’s first surf clubs.
Visit metal artist Mario Torres Sanchez at his shop El Quijote (Av. Sucre 1198 – you can’t miss the whimsical front gate). Torres Sanchez has been making fantastical junk sculptures (go browse those photos a minute—we’ll wait) since the sixties. His store is stuffed full of sculptures both small and large, and he’ll take a break from grinding and welding new fantasies to come show you around. The sculptures are affordable, though a splurge on a backpacker’s budget. This would be a great place to visit right before you get on that plane—you don’t want to lug something that heavy all around Peru. If you go nowhere else in Lima, go here! Read a few extra pictures of this incredible ocean view penthouse on @AmazingPeruPenthouse on Facebook. Need a place to stay in Lima, Peru? Explore additional details at Amazing ocean view penthouse in Magdalena del Mar, Lima.
The Torre Tagle Palace is a stately looking building that blends several architectural styles in downtown Lima. The building blends Moorish, Andalusian, Asian and Criollo features, with even some materials coming from Spain. Two dark wood balconies grace the front of this Spanish Baroque building, while the interior features high ceilings and Sevillian tiles. The palace was built in the early 1700s s a home for the nobleman who served as treasurer for the Royal Spanish fleet. Today, it houses the offices of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meaning it is generally not open for public visits.