So, I went back to Lima.
I said I would, and I did over the Easter Long Weekend last month.
Pretty proud of myself for writing up this recap so quickly, as my recent travels felt like eons to post recaps for.
If you are interested in how much the trip cost – click here.
If you are interested in what I got up to when I was in Lima back in 2022 – click here.
Friday, March 29th
We technically took off late-night on the 28th, but we landed at 9am on the 29th. That is where I will start this recap.
All went well and on time with Avianca Airlines, I seem to have great luck with them and I hope it continues. My boyfriend and I arrived in Lima and took an Uber IMMEDIATELY over to my favourite breakfast place in the city.
El Bigote Coffee & Waffles – I looooove this place. The waffles here are so big and so damn good. The variety of flavours is crazy as well! This time I went for the tres leches waffle and I had no regrets. Another perfect breakfast here.
Funny thing is that I literally picked our AirBnB for this trip, because it was right next to this place. That is how fat I am. Seriously.
On my previous trip here my mom and I stayed in a building to the right of the waffle place, and this time my boyfriend and I stayed in a building to the left of this same place.
Let’s talk about the AirBnB.
The security at the front desk was great, the unit was clean and had everything you could possibly need on your trip and it even had a rooftop pool. We didn’t get around to using the pool during our time there, but, if that is something you enjoy, they have it.
This AirBnB in Barranco is actually owned by the same hosts that owned the two-bedroom one my mom and I had stayed in. Awesome hosts. It made picking this one-bedroom stay for the two of us really easy. The only complaint I had about this one (vs my last one) was the size of the bathroom. My boyfriend and I are some big people and trying to enter the bathroom and close the door was pretty hilarious and took some maneuvering. I know this isn’t some huge complaint, but figured I’d let my fellow high calorie persons know. The hosts also left us some delicious Inca Kola …….and look at the view from our apartment in the photo above. So beautiful.
If you are interested in this AirBnB for your Lima trip, click here.
We took a little nap and then decided to go explore the area outside. I knew the Barranco area pretty well from the previous trip and 10000% wanted my boyfriend to see the amazing landscaping, views and head to the beach as well.
Last time I was in Lima it was their winter, but this time? It was the most perfect summertime weather. There was sunshine and warm temperatures. I much preferred this weather.
I will shut up a little now, and just show you pictures. Look, pretty pictures.
I mean, do you see the material? It was GORGEEEEOUS outside. The perfect weather, people on the beach and the sunset views. I can’t imagine a better way to spend Good Friday.
We made a quick trip over to this restaurant that was also by where the AirBnB was.
The name of it was LA73, and if you like burgers? This is your spot. I loved the burger here last time and this dish with cheese on their big corn. Yes. Get that.
We had to rush eating our food here because at 9pm we had a reservation at one of the Top 50 Bars in the world – Carnaval.
If you are into fancy pants cocktails, you need to come here. There is a two-hour maximum but you will be intoxicated much quicker than that, you’ll be fine.
My boyfriend and I chose to go with their 7-cocktail tasting menu. It only cost $65CAD per person (and before any of you say something, I live in Toronto where two cocktails might come to that price sometimes).
Have to tell you, the tasting menu wasn’t my favourite. I am a rum drinker and this was waaay more adventurous for me that I wanted it to be.
Make sure you DO get their signature drink (the colourful one, top left) and also the deconstructed margarita. Everything else was way too weird for me. Some stuff had cheese? The Negroni was awful. I don’t know, just not for me. My boyfriend thought they were OK, but he drinks way more variety than I do.
Also, the final photo? Yeah that wasn’t part of the tasting menu, we got a round of shots for the two guys we made friends with at the bar from DC and Switzerland.
Those guys suggested we go to some nightclubs, so we did.
I would love to pretend that I was a responsible blogger and got the names of the places we went to party at. Nope. I have absolutely no idea what either of these were named. I do know the first one was a rooftop bar and it was located at the party street by Parque Kennedy.
Please remember this was after we each had seven cocktails from the tasting menu at Carnaval, plus tequila shots and then at the rooftop bar I bought a bottle of rum for the table. Then we went to another club down the street that was so packed, I opted for buying ANOTHER bottle of rum so we could have a private booth. By now, there was seven of us???? I don’t know how we went from just us two, plus the two guys we met at Carnaval, and now there was three girls with us as well. Yeah.
We had THE BEST TIME EVER. I suggest that all of you (safely) get drunk with your significant other and then make friends that you literally never will see again. 10/10 experience.
Great first day in Lima.
Saturday, March 30th
Well, we woke up with a severe hangover today. Wonder how that happened…..
I know we thought about going to this one place for ceviche, but they ended up with a super long lineup and, fail.
Luckily, down the street from the place we failed to go to, there was a cutesy-looking breakfast spot.
It was very much giving *aesthetic* and the people on the patio looked to be eating some yummy things. The name of the place was Armonica. The dish I chose had potato, onions, chicken and egg in it. I do not know which came first, the chicken or the egg? But delicious nonetheless. I also got this chocolate cake they had on the menu and it hit all the spots.
After this hangover meal, we decided to do some more walking in Miraflores, where the restaurant was.
This post-lunch walk ended up turning into something like 13km of walking for the day? I am so serious. We literally just said we’d try to walk off the food (and hangover), this turned into walking pretty much until sunset.
Bring very good sneakers to Lima. If you like walking as much as I do and want to see some beautiful places, this is the best place for it. Everything is so clean and there is just so much to do. I would happily do those 13 kilometers every day on their waterfront and in the weather we had while there.
Eventually we got hungry again and took an Uber over to La Glorietta for dinner. I had gone for drinks here last time I was in Lima, but this time we just went for dinner. Neither of us wanted to see anymore alcohol. Pasta did the trick for our tummies.
If you can believe it, after dinner, we ended up walking SOME MORE.
Make sure you check out Parque Kennedy, away from the parties as well. The Church there is beautiful and there are cats all over the park. If you like cats. I love cats.
Sunday, March 31st
Today we woke up feeling much better and well rested compared to the day before.
We walked over to another breakfast place near our AirBnB named La Crepera.
This place was super cute and it had some nice breakfast/lunch choices.
From here we took an Uber up to Cristo del Pacifico. It was Easter Sunday, so it only made sense to go up to say hi to the Jesus statue.
I told my boyfriend that taking an Uber up and then walking down was pretty cool, I did it last time. It was even better this time because of the beautiful sunshine above us.
We walked down and around to check out the views above Lima.
I probably should have brought some sunscreen with me on this walk. Terrible mistake. I ended up burning so bad. WORTH IT. I loved the walk, I didn’t even want to go back to the AirBnB, but I was so red that it was necessary after some hours. Real shame. Probably would have walked like 25km on this day.
We did have reservations at our last restaurant in Lima – Huaca Pucllana.
Yes, I had been here on my other trip to Lima and the food was so good, I wanted to go back. This place is a little fancier, but the service and the view is amazing. The food is really good too.
We had the ceviche to start, and then I had some Amazonian fish and my boyfriend had some pork dish. I have to say the highlight was the ceviche and the dessert? Oh goodness me. The chocolate in Peru is so good!! Make sure you have this chocolate dessert with ice cream to finish off your meal at this restaurant.
On Monday, April 1st – we flew home.
Flying TO Lima we only had a 90 minute layover but on the way home it was closer to a four hour layover. However, it went pretty fast by the time we landed in Bogota and got something to eat? Time to board.
Only extra things to mention here are 1) you really don’t need to bring physical cash to Lima, cards were good everywhere and 2) absolutely DO NOT USE TAXIS in Lima, stick to Ubers.
My previous trip to Lima, my mom and I had used only Ubers and that was great. During this trip, the night we went clubbing the Ubers were taking too long so we decided to take a taxi back to the AirBnB. Listen, learned an expensive lesson that night.
The cost of the Uber from our AirBnB to the club area was like 26 soles ($14.83CAD) when we went out. Do you know how much this taxi man tried to charge us to return BACK from the club?
100 soles ($37.05CAD). Fucking absurd.
So doesn’t matter how long your Uber takes, just wait for it okay? Do not fall for these crazy taxi prices.
All in all, definitely go to Lima. This city is amazing and if you can manage it, do try to go during their summertime weather. It is amazing. I love the city, if I see another deal and I have vacation days left? I will go back so fast.
Happy travels!
- Mirna