Lima Travel Answers

The city centre-Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas), presidential palace, cathedral (with the, as is said, the remains of Pizarro). Plaza San Martin. Paseo de Aguas-just north of the centre. In Miraflores the shops on Av. Petit Thouars and Parque Kennedy. Huaca Pucllana (pre-Inca ruins). Take a one-hour tour with the Mirabus. The municipalidad of Miraflores has frequent interesting tours. Various museums. Just outside Lima (south of Miraflores): the ruins of Pachacamac. A two-trip: Nasca lines and on the way back a stop at Paracas/Pisco (the Islas Ballestas, sometimes called "mini-Galapagos"). You may want to have a look at my Perú and Lima pages for more info and details.

I would NOT go to see the Nasca lines. If you do, read the report about the flying companies before you go. There has recently been another air disaster going over there. One of many.... You can go, but you might not come back ....

I would NOT go to see the Nasca lines. If you do, read the report about the flying companies before you go. There has recently been another air disaster going over there. One of many.... You can go, but you might not come back ....

My personal opnion one day is plenty for Lima. The Plaza Mayor and there is an interesting Inquisition Museum not far from there (gorgeous building with a very rather disturbing basement). Frankly, while others do disagree with me, the only place I did not really enjoy in Peru was Lima. I found it to be a grey, uninteresting city, when compared to Cusco, Iquitos and Puno.

Thank you nhoolb that is helfull. Do you have any place to stay you recommand me? We are not fancy but we need a clean and comfortable place to stay under 100$ usd per night. Thank you again

thank you for your opinion GrumpyDiver. As I have only four days in peru (The entire trip is buenos aires, santiago, lima, rio and uruguay, Would it be possible to access those city from lima or to do a day trip? Thank you again Sebastien

No - none of those cities would be a day trip. Iquitos is the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road - air or boat only. While it is possible to get to both Cusco (which is at one end of the Sacred Valley) and Puno by road, even going by air would not let you day-trip to them.

We were here for three days on a cruise ship. We did three excursions. For a day trip I'd recommend going to Callao (the port for Lima) and go on the Mar Adentro boat trip - takes you out to see the penguins, sea birds nesting, and sea lions and also you see El Frontón (which is an island prison) and Los Palominos Islands and some lighthouses. In Callao you can also see the Fortaleza del Real Felipe and the BAP Abtao which is a Sierra-type submarine and is in the same area as the wildlife tour. The other two days we went to the main square and visited the Cathedral (as mentioned) and Iglesia de San Francisco (which has interesting catacombs, and is known secondarily for the library and collection of religious art. It is probably best known for a mural of the last supper depicting the apostles dining on guinea pig and a devil standing next to Judas.) On another day we did a city tour and visited Museo Rafael Larco Herrera which is a wonderful museum

In Miraflores the following hotels: Hotel Del Pilar, my favorite (but may be a little above your mentioned budget); and Hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca Miraflores (NOT the one in San Isidro). Both close (1 - 2 blocks) to the Parque Kennedy and the Av. Petit Thuars. Hotel Best Western Embajadores (a bit further away from Parque Kennedy but close to Larco Mar, the-expensive-seaside shopping centre). I have stayed in all these hotels. A hostal that has been recommended to me although I never stayed there: Hostal El Patio (also 1 - 2 blocks from Parque Kennedy). In December summer starts in Lima. Indeed during the Lima winter (some 9 months!) the city can be grey and humid, "thanks" to the Humboldt current of the Pacific, but mid December to mid/end May it will be much better; with January to April being real summer.

good day thank you all for your help! In 4 days I don't think we have time to go to the Macchu picchu. Is is still worth to go to Cusco for 2 days? I am so glad to have discover this site! What was I thinking before? It is the firts time I use a gps! sebastien

What you could do, though rushed: Day 1 - Lima Day 2 - fly to Cusco, day in Cusco Day 3 - early morning train to Machu Picchu, visit MP, late afternoon back to Cusco Day 4 - fly Cusco-Lima, day in Lima. But: Although it will be summer in Lima, it will be the beginning of winter (rainy season) in the Andes (Cusco and MP). Flights may be delayed as Cusco airport is a daylight/visual airport only. It doesn't happen too often but when it does there are many delays. This year it was a disaster-though a little later in the winter season.

Personally, I'd bust a gut to get to Cuzco and MP - my top destinations in S.America, and (just) do-able in your time-frame. Lima, I agree, is not that interesting (and we lived there for over two years).

Once again you are very helpful and I am sincerly grateful. Maybe I push my luck but would you have links to the airline and train company? Thank you again Sebastien

Airlines that fly to Cusco: LAN Peru (most expensive but many daily flights) www.lan.com TACA Peru www.taca.com Star Peru www.starperu.com Peruvian Airlines www.peruvianairlines.pe Train Cusco-Machu Picchu: Peru Rail www.perurail.com There are 2 more train companies to MP but those start from Ollantaytambo; not from Cusco.

You rock! That's what we'll do. Thanks Any hotel to recommand me in Cusco? Thank you again Sebastien

good day Is is worth to take a tour to MP or I could go by myself from Cusco? Thank you sebastien

You can arrange it yourself. Buy a ticket from Peru Rail. When arriving in MP Pueblo, take the bus up to the ruins. Mind that you have to buy an entry ticket to MP beforehand in Cusco. Info on Peru Rail website. Mind that the train leaves from Poroy station which is some 30 mins from Cusco city itself. Tickets can be bought on-line; they also have an office in Lima (in Miraflores), in the Larco Mar shopping centre. And of course an office in Cusco. We stayed in Hotel El Andariego, 2 blocks from the main plaza in Cusco. www.andariegocusco.com

thanks again. Thanks to your info, I booked my airfare to Cusco and my hotel. I am very excited about it! I can't wait. One more questions. Is it safe to go to MP by ourselves? Sebastien

Yes. The only (small) risk is that you may get stuck because of bad weather as I explained earlier.

Going to MP safe? Yes, hundreds of thousands of people do so every year. It is the most popular destination in South America. Yes, that is exactly what we did too (including our daughters who were 10 and 17 at the time).

Day 1 - Lima Trational City Tour Day 2 - fly to Cusco, day in Cusco Day 3 - early morning train to Machu Picchu, visit Machupicchu, late afternoon back to Cusco Day 4 - fly Cusco-Lima, day in Lima. Hi I recommend you do a traditional city tour in Lima, while in Peru, known Cuzco, Machu Picchu. I recommend you call 360 7173101 Peru Routes can guide you better. Greetings

Machu Picchu is perfectly safe. You may want to avoid the steep steps (with no handrails) but otherwise it is fine. Just don't sit on the grass ! We had just finished walking the Inca Trail, sat down on the grass for a rest and we were ordered NOT to sit on the grass by a whistle blowing official.

Thank you for your help. How long is the train ride from Cusco to MP? Around what time is the firt train? Do I have to reserve ticket in advance? Thank 's again Sebastien

You should be able to find the answers you are looking for on the PeruRail website at: http://www.perurail.com/en/

Good day, If I arrive by train at MP at 10:38 AM and return to Cusco by the train that leaves at 17:03 the same day, will I have enough time to visit? It seems to be the best I could do. (the only other option I have is to pick an one hour later train but it is 4 times the price, I thought for one hour it wasn't worthed...) Would you suggest me to do that or skip MP and stay a second full day in Cusco? Once again thank you for your tips Sebastien

How about spending the night at Aquas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) and taking your time exploring this magnificent site. It's best done before the day trippers arrive from Cusco or after they have left in the afternoon. This is what we did.

I arrive in cusco from lima around 9 AM the 24th. I leave Cusco for lima the 26th at 13:10 I thought I had the following options : 1-visit cusco the 24th- go to MP the 25th visit MP and come back to cusco the same day. 2- visit cusco the 24th. go to MP late the 24th and sleep there.- visit MP the 25th and go back to cusco at night. BUT when i consult peru rail site all the train from cusco to MP seems to be in the morning...

If I remember correctly, you are quite right - all of the trains leave in the morning. If as you wrote say that there are no early morning train tickets left, your timing is too tight and I don't think the trip is worth it. We took our time - arrived in Cusco from Lima in the afternoon, spent the afternoon and one day exploring the Cusco area, headed down the Sacred Valley and spent the night at Ollantaytambo, and headed to Machu Picchu for a few days from there. All in all, it took us the better part of a week doing what you are trying to pack in to two days.

2 other travelers thought that would be possible (read above)... Now I doubt it. I will continue my research. Maybe I if I do not take round trip ticket I could get better schedule.. Good day Sebastien

Sorry I misread your message - I thought the train left at 10:38, not arrived at 10:30. If you arrive at MP at 10:30, you will have from say 11:30 through to around 15:30 or so even a bit later for your visit, to catch your 17:00 train. Four hours certainly enough time to visit the whole sanctuary.