We’re Headed To Lima, Peru!

Our Gate 1 Travel – 10-Day Peru trip started in the beautiful city of Lima, Peru. As you saw in our previous post, we flew in a day or so early to avoid any flight issues and the chillout, and we’re glad we did.

We had a minor flight issue but still had plenty of time to explore Lima before everyone else arrived.

 

Getting to Peru

We typically book our airfare separately from the travel package for several reasons. 

 

1—Living abroad, travel packages all start in the US. So it’s easier for us to book ourselves and allow time for connections.

2—Travel package bookings can make upgrading seats and seat selection tough. As big guys who are both over six feet, we like the control of choosing our seats.

3—Air miles are our friend! We love using our credit card travel rewards and building up more by booking trips on that card and getting more miles.

 

With that said, we booked Latam Airlines. It was our first time flying with them, and in general, we liked the planes, the people were helpful, and it was pretty affordable. However, when we initially booked, we flew from Merida to Mexico City and then directly to Lima. Somewhere along the way, they did away with the direct flight, and our option was Mexico City to Santiago, Chile, and then onto Lima.

 

 

Unfortunately, we departed late due to ground delays in Mexico City (which seems to happen A LOT). We JUST missed the connecting flight in Santiago. They were closing the doors but had somehow bumped and rebooked us on the next flight.

So, if you were in Santiago, Chile’s airport, watching old grey-haired guys run back and forth across the terminal like a bad episode of The Amazing Race, it might have been us!

 

Hotel Review – Hotel Jose Antonio Deluxe

The Hotel Jose Antonio Deluxe is located in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima. We stayed there before the tour as it was the host property when it started and ended on our return to Lima.

It is within walking distance of Kennedy Park and the Malecon, which might be its biggest redeeming quality. 

Honestly, the hotel is pretty modern, and the rooms are comfortable. Our beds were great, and the staff was friendly. Our biggest issue was the breakfast buffet. It offered the weakest breakfast buffet of the entire trip. Bacon is not their forte. Stuck together and cooked in one big slab, it was served medium rare. Complaints from multiple people made it a little better when we returned. 

 

 

Exploring Miraflores

Miraflores is a district south of downtown Lima. It has a great mix of high-rises, hotels, small businesses, shopping centers, and restaurants. It’s blocks from the Pacific Ocean and the famous Malecon, an art walk along the seawall. It is also home to Kennedy Park, so there was plenty to do around the hotel during our free time.

 

Local Murals

There seemed to be some university a few doors down from the hotel, so the area was busy with people coming and going, and that probably contributed to some of the tremendous local mural art.

All of these people were on buildings within a few blocks of the hotel. Many were on an abandoned building across the street.

 

 

Kennedy Park

 

 

Kennedy Park, renamed to honor President Kennedy’s role in the War on the Pacific, was initially known as Miraflores Central Park and covered several city blocks. It is bordered on one side by the Church of the Virgen Milagrosa and is known for its beautiful bell towers.

 

 

It is said that in the early 1990s, the park was infested with rats. Locals left their cats in the park to help control the rats. The cats remain and have become quite the tourist attraction. 

We saw people wearing ‘official’ vests checking on them, it seems there are tons of locals who care for and feed them. We saw business people sharing lunch with them on more than one occasion.

 

 

The park has beautiful sculptures, plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by, and vendors selling local treats.

 

 

One of the most famous vendors is Picarones Mary. Picarones are a type of Doughnut made of Squash and Sweet Potato covered with sticky sweet Syrup. Mary became famous after being featured on Netflix’s Street Food: Latin America. 

 

 

They are incredible. However, we suggest trying them after sunset, as the bees are especially problematic during the day.

And make sure you don’t miss the Churro cart! They are delicious when fresh and warm and can be filled with Chocolate or Dulce de leche. And they’re cheap!

 

Walking Along The Malećon 

The malećon in Miraflores is a six-mile-long esplanade overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It’s filled with sculptures and places to work out, from outdoor gyms to tennis courts. There are a few cafes and vendors selling treats, and people everywhere are walking, biking, playing with kids, reading, and enjoying the day.

 

 

One of the most famous sculptures is “El Beso,” or The Kiss, located in a section of the Malećon known as Parque del Amour, or the Park of Love.

 

 

 

 

Lima City Tour

As our first day with the group kicked off, we took a Lima City tour to get us all acquainted with the city, its history, and the culture of Peru we would experience during the rest of the trip.

 

The Convent de San Francisco

One of our first stops was the Convent De San Francisco. Built around 1774, the canary yellow Spanish Baroque church and monastery house nearly 25,000 ancient texts, some of which predate the Spanish conquest. The church is also known for its catacombs containing nearly 30,000 bones.

 

 

Unfortunately, but for good reason, photography is not permitted inside the convent to protect the artwork. Chuck was able to take a few photos in the catacombs. 

 

 

 

Plaza Mayor

We made our way to the Plaza Mayor, also known as the Plaza de Armas. This is the heart of Lima, surrounded by the Cathedral of Lima, Lima City Hall, and Peru’s Presidential Palace.

They were expecting some demonstration, so many streets were blocked off. We were fortunate enough to be permitted to pass through before the crowds arrived. We didn’t get to see much, but the architecture of the buildings is beautiful.

 

 

The Women of Lima

Just outside the Plaza Mayor were some walkways decorated with sculptures and murals of women wearing burka-like coverings. 

 

 

Women in Lima wore these coverings for nearly several hundred years, exposing one eye. This gave them anonymity and the ability to move about the city freely. The sculptures combine history with beautiful regional artworks.

 

 

A fun Visit Lima sign was right in the center of the plaza, making it the ideal location for our Gate 1 Travel group photo!

 

 

Pachamac Pre-Inca Ruins

We chose to book one of the optional tours. This one took us to Pachamac Pre-Incan Ruins, one of the largest religious centers of pre-Inca times. The compound dates back to approximately 200 AD. It was great to see some of the building techniques and the restoration that is currently going on. Not far outside of the city of Lima, the landscape was worlds away.

 

 

 

Food and Drink in Lima

When we travel with a tour group, many meals are included. Breakfast is typically a breakfast buffet at the hotel. Other meals offer several appetizers, entrees, and dessert options. We both try to pick more traditional dishes from the country we’re visiting. Additionally, we always try to dine out a bit on our own—a food tour, street food, and snacks are some of our favorite ways to explore.

Here are reviews of places we ate in Lima.

 

El Parquetito 

Calle Lima N 373 Milaflores

 

Just across Kennedy Park are a series of winding streets with small cafes. On our first day in Lima, we decided to grab lunch and stopped at El Parquetito.

 

 

We always try to eat as much local food as possible and have quite an extensive list. 

Chuck opted for Lomo Saltado with Beef. It’s a Peruvian stir-fry with Beef, Onions, and Peppers in a soy-based sauce. It is nearly always served with Potatoes, often mixed in, and Rice. In this case, it was Fries on the side, and it was delicious.

Mark chose Causa, a cold Potato dish seasoned with Aji Amarillo Chile. It often has Mayonnaise, Hard-Boiled Egg, and Avocado layered with other fillings like Tuna or Chicken. This one was with Chicken. It was delicious, but the Aji Amarillo wasn’t as flavorful as expected.

 

Mercado San Ramon

Calle San Ramón 290, Miraflores

 

For dinner, we really just wanted something light. We decided to check out Mercado San Ramon. It was less than a half block from the hotel and offered plenty of options. It is a Food Hall, for lack of a better name. It’s a two-story building overflowing with spectacular art and small food stalls offering all kinds of local and international food. The artwork is unique and interesting!

 

It had tons of seating and a bunch of flatscreen TVs. That night, there was a national soccer match, and the place was packed with excited fans. I’m not sure who the man sitting behind us with his family was, but everyone wanted a picture with him, and he was very kind to indulge them.

We grabbed a platter of Wings and Fries from La Pollada, there were three different seasonings. They all tasted pretty similar, but they were delicious. It was fast, entertaining, and within a quick walk of the hotel.

 

 

One afternoon, we also enjoyed some Ice Cream from Helado de Lima. It’s odd, they may look similar, but they are Coconut and Salted Caramel. And they were pretty amazing!

 

 

Restaurante Angello Pizzaria

105, Calle de las pizzas, Miraflores Lima

 

For lunch one day, we went to Angello Restaurante, another local cafe just a block from the hotel. 

The place was bustling, and there was a lot of foot traffic for midday. We realized the Mayor of Miraflores was making his way through the neighborhood, doing interviews and meeting locals. The service was a bit spotty, as servers got caught up in other conversations. 

 

 

Chuck ordered Tacú Tacú with Beef. Tacú Tacú is a traditional Peruvian dish of Rice and Beans that mix in the food enslaved Africans often ate. The Rice and Beans were delicious, but the Beef was tough and stringy.

 

 

Mark dove head first in Ceviche made with Corvina. It was fresh and delicious, served with Sweet Potato, Corn, Red Onion, Cilantro, and Corn Nuts.

 

 

When a waiter says, “It’s really an appetizer-size portion, you may want to have the large.” It might be HUGE and cost nearly $35.00 US.

 

Puro Mar Cevicheria

Calle Alcanfores 592, Miraflores

 

 

On our day of touring, we stopped for lunch at Puro Mar, a Cevicheria that offers Nikke Fusion. Nikke is Peruvian food inspired by immigrants of Japanese origin.

We started with some refreshing Lemonada and a Chicha Morada. Chicha Morada is made of Peruvian Purple Corn and Cinnamon. It’s not very sweet but almost tastes like a melted Grape Popsicle—Mark drank this a lot.

 

 

For our entrees, we picked the Chicharron de Camarones, an amazing dish of crunchy, freshly fried Shrimp, and Arroz Mariscos, a Rice dish similar to Risotto flavored with Aji Amarillo and Parmesan Cheese with assorted Seafood. 

 

The food and service were excellent, especially considering there were a ton of separate checks. The restaurant was also covered with fun underwater murals.

 

 

As a side note, just across the street, there was an Ice Cream and Pastry shop called Helarte. We didn’t get to try it, but the artwork on the building was fantastic.

 

La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla

Av. Larco 999, Miraflores

 

La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla is a big name for a tiny place. Nearly every YouTuber in Lima talks about getting a traditional Chicharrón Sandwich, and this place came highly recommended.

 

 

When we walked up, there was a line outside, and more people were gathering to look at the huge menu boards. The concept is pretty simple once you watch everyone else. You walk up, place an order, and pay. They give you a number, and you line up and wait for a table to open. Then, you are guided to a table. 

 

 

The food came out pretty quickly. Chuck got a Chicken and Cheese Sandwich (without the Lettuce and Tomato). Mark went for the traditional Chicharrón Sandwich with Sweet Potato and Salsa. We shared an order of Fries, Mark drank Chicha Morada, and Chuck got a Frozen Pineapple drink.

 

 

The Sandwiches were okay, good, but not worth the hype. Maybe it’s just that we eat a lot of reasonably similar Tortas in Merida. The Aji Amarillo Salsa they served with it was possibly the most flavorful of the whole trip. But if you are walking by, get a Frozen Pineapple drink!

 

Asnapa Restaurant

Calle Alcanfores 281

 

When we returned to Lima on the last night of our trip, we had a Farewell Dinner at Asnapa Restaurant.

As with many of our organized/included dinners, our tour manager gave us a printed menu to make selections early in the day. 

For this meal, our appetizer options were Ceviche or Cream of Mushroom Soup. Mark chose the Soup, and Chuck, not caring for either, asked our server if it was possible to get some of the Chicken Soup from their restaurant menu, which they gladly did. The Mushroom Soup was smooth and creamy but tasted more like Mixed Vegetable Soup than Mushroom.

 

 

Chuck went with the Strip Loin Roast with Mashed Potatoes and Rice (you’ll see the combination of Rice and Potatoes a lot in Peru) for his entree. Mark went with Lomo Saltado. They were both tasty. It was the last night of the trip, and I think everyone was too exhausted to evaluate too much.

 

 

For dessert, Chuck had more Picarones (not as good as Mary’s), and Mark had a Peruvian Caramel, which was excellent; he could have eaten a bunch more! 

 

 

Overall, the food was solid. We found the service weird. They all got very confused about drinks and food, and even some simple things like getting a soda were challenging. But again, we chalk some of that up to the last day of a pretty physically challenging trip.

 

 

And that’s just the first few days in Lima. Next up, we’re flying to Cusco, but not for long. We’ll jump on a bus and head to the Sacred Valley!