peru trip facts & info
THE NUTS AND BOLTS
A walk along the oceanfront boardwalk of Lima's Miraflores neighborhood will take you past the elegant Miraflores Park Hotel, the Larcomar mall nestled into rocky cliffs, and elaborate seaside statues. For a moment, you might believe that you've landed in Santa Monica or Sydney. But no! You're striding the streets of one of the world's most up-and-coming metropolises: Lima.
As the capital city of Peru, Lima stands apart. Once you leave its bustling streets, and head to the provincial cities, both life and time slow. Across Peru's deserts, mountains, and jungles, you can find people working their lands with ancient, hand-held hoes, cooking over open, wood-burning stoves, and manning stores that were granted electricity less than a decade ago.
The juxtaposition of Peruvian lifestyles offers dynamic cultural travel, which in turn, complements the country's archeological, adventure, and culinary travel. As a Peru traveler, you will climb steep hills to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, and in the process, cross paths with the ancestors of the Inca. As a surfer, you'll cut across the world's longest left hand break and pass fishermen rowing their skiffs out into deeper waters. As a culinary tourist, when you bite into a warm corn tamale, you will be eating an ancient food that has become the Sunday morning tradition of many limeño families. This diversity of Peruvian travel makes for an especially unique experience. A Peru trip is the discovery of a thriving culture, history, and geography.