Lima, Peru - Travel Report
 

Peru is always on my travel bucket list and when I was in Los Angeles (yet again) last December, I figured I should visit Peru. What stopped me going there for the last couple of years because of two reasons: safety and high altitude sickness. After I went, I have to say Peru (at least the city center and tourist areas) is safe and not a second I felt in danger. As for high altitude sickness – hmm, people reacted differently to the altitude, but 99% turned out fine (or not so many tourist visits there?). Just be prepared about some remedies and don’t go further when it’s too rough.

I landed at 6 am in the morning and so the immigration line was not long and the process was smooth. Once I got out of the luggage claim I was greeted by my pickup guide and driver and they soon took me to my hotel at Miraflores District. For the first few minutes, the city looks like any other Southeast Asian cities – chaotic traffic, dusty, and shabby houses. It was soon that I saw houses and cars painted with bold and vibrant color combinations that got me excited and intrigued. When the car entered the highway by the coast I finally got to see the city’s unique feature!

*The Lima Coastline*

As the capital city of Peru, Lima has a rather dramatic and unusual coastline that stretches along the Pacific Ocean. The city was built on the cliff and so the coastline is developed into two levels – while the city is on the “upper” level and a highway and a coastal park are built on the “lower” level. Somehow, the local guide told me that she doesn’t appreciate the coastline as much as most people do (maybe because of the saltiness in the wind,), hopefully, she will. Anyway, it is just different and I would definitely suggest all visitors have a morning jog along the coast and soak in the saltiness whenever in town. Once checked into a small boutique hotel in Miraflores (luckily, they have a spare room in early in the morning), I couldn’t wait to get outside and exploring the city! Yay!

*Some Useful tips!*
I didn’t have any plan for my first day in Lima so I was just dealing with settling down. As it was my first time in Peru so everything looked new to me.
You are welcome to visit for more info, photos @ my blog: http://wp.me/p5Lw9a-1Kk

*Safety and Accommodations*
I supposed safety is a primary concern for many travelers. There had been a lot of discussions about traveling safety in the South America, but I think Lima is a generally safe. As I was walking in the city I saw security patrols and people (including taxi drivers) are generally friendly. The pedestrians are clean and nicely paved; I didn’t feel threatened walking back to the hotel after dinner. For accommodation, I would recommend staying in Miraflores. It is a classy and safe neighborhood to walk around anytime of the day, and traffic is less heavy. Avenida Larco is the main commercial street, there are plenty of handicraft and souvenir stores and cafes.

*Money Exchange*
I didn’t exchange for Peruvian Solace at the airport while I was told the exchange rates were bad, and it’s east to do so in the main streets – just look for the red vest money exchangers. When I checked in the hotel the lady at the reception informed me that they are authorized money exchangers. Besides, their rates are better than exchanges rates (I compared for the next couple of days). Most shops, hotel, and restaurants accept credit card payments and so I only got a small amount of cash for taxis and small gift purchase – but be prepared for the sightseeing spots, for example, Machu Picchu’s ticket office does not accept credit card.

*Data Phone Cards*
There were pre-sim card booths for visitors at the airport with a sign that said “US$8.99 per day for unlimited 4G access”. Don’t do it! Look for shops with a Claro sign in the city. It’s basically everywhere, especially on Calle de Boza in the old town. The cost depends on your usage. I got a 700MB phone card for 25 solaces (plus another 30 for the sim card) and it’s good for 10 days. It provides data access throughout the country. Besides, Wi-Fi is widely available in cafes and restaurants. In Miraflores, the Avenida Larco is even a Wi-Fi zone.

*Getting Around*
Lima doesn’t have a subway system so all the transportations are on the surface of the road. I generally walked or took a taxi for longer travels. Taxis were rather easy to get, taxi drivers I met were friendly and the fare is fairly cheap. For a trip from the Central plaza in old town to Miraflores district (around 10 km) costs around 20-25 solace (or you may try to bargain a better price). Traffic in the old town and the business area could be horrendous during peak hours, and therefore, it might not be a bad idea considering using bikes. I was surprised that Lima was actually quite bike-friendly as I see bike lanes on many main roads like Avenida Arequipa and Avenida Larco, which makes bike travel do-able in the city.
Some more info and tips @ my blog: http://wp.me/p5Lw9a-1Kk

I don't look at blog links but surely you knew that Lima was being at most a few hundred feet above sea level at most, there is no altitude sickess issues in that city. Peru is a country that runs from the ocean to the Andes, and back down into the Amazon..

Assuming your blog has some commercial purpose (again, I won't look at it) perhaps it should mention the Metropolitano rapid bus system for Lima?

The name of the currency is not "Solace", its "Nuevo Soles" or "Soles". Also, you can also withdraw currency at ATM machines.