PERU 2025
Back in 2023 we had grand plans for our South America/ Antarctica trip, we would break up the long trip down to the southernmost tip of Argentina with a stop in Galapagos on the way down and Machu Picchu on the way back home. Unfortunately that didn't work out, as Peru had some civil unrest, and the country borders and airports were closed during the time we would have travelled there.
Fast forward a couple years, and Travel Best Bets advertises a 10 day Peru trip that includes Machu Picchu. It was a good deal, and we felt we had missed the opportunity for this bucket list location... so we jumped on it. The tour was being run by a company called Exoticca, which we had heard of but never used, so it would be a good test to see how the company operates as we don't normally do this type of organized tour.
When the day finally came, it was truly a red eye flight with our plane leaving YVR at 11:00pm.
We flew all night, YVR to ATL, ATL to MIA, and finally MIA to LIM... With long delays leaving Miami, it was 24 hours of flying, uggh.
Lima, Peru
We arrived in Lima, the capital of Peru on the Pacific Coast, at 12:30am, Norine tells the Customs agent that we are going to Chichenitza, he says “you’re killing me”. After straightening out where we are actually going, we clear customs and are greeted by our names on an Exoticca sign in the airport. Just the 2 of us our loaded into a van for the drive to our hotel.
It's a long drive to the Ibis Lima Larco Miraflores. I'm guessing they gave away our room because we arrived so late, and ended up in a small room with 2 small beds. The desk clerk says she will change our room if we come see her after 9:00am, but we are going on a tour, and too tired to bother packing up and moving once we got back. We fly out again the next morning anyway.
Day 2
The great views from our hotel
After our free breakfast of super runny scrambled eggs, we were picked up for our Old Town tour in a small bus and driven for an hour to where the walking tour begins. We did drive past the archaeological site of Pucllana, where we could look over the fence, but they didn’t stop the bus. I guess we'll have to try and come back here on our own at some point
There was some interesting sights along the way, through the bus window.
Our first stop on the walking portion of the walking tour was the Gran Hotel Bolivar. This historic hotel built in 1924 has hosted many dignitaries over the years, including Orson Welles, John Wayne and Ava Gardner, as well as politicians including Charles de Gaulle, Nixon, and Robert Kennedy. They highlighted the fact that Carlos Santana never stayed at the hotel, but he did visit the bar many times and enjoyed Peru's famous Pisco Sours. The Rolling Stones did stay here, but were thrown out for bad behaviour.
Apparently there are many ghost stories about the Gran Hotel Bolivar, the 5th and 6th floors have been closed for more than a decade, the hotel says it is due to a lack of funds, but stories of intense spectral activity have been told. One such story is a woman in white walking the corridors of the 6th floor, who is said to be the ghost of a woman who had thrown herself out one of the hotel windows. Another spirit on the 5th floor is supposed to be a deceased former employee who never entirely checked out.
When you are on this type of walking tour, the phrase “You have 3 minutes”is used often.
From the hotel we walk along a pedestrian street towards the historic church of the area.
The Basilica and Convent of Nuestra Senora de la Merced dates back to 1535, although rebuilt due to earthquake damage. This church is known for it's elaborate Churrigueresque Baroque style.
From the church we walk past a secret McDonald's towards the main square.
The Historical center of Lima is the Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas), it is the founding site of the city. The square is surrounded by the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima, the Church of Sagrario, the Archbishop's Palace of Lima, and the Municipal Palace of Lima. Dating back to the 16th century, this huge square is beautiful, although barricaded off due to an attempt on the life of the president as he was leaving his government office.
We would have liked to go in and see the Cathedral, but it was only open to those coming to pray, tourists are apparently only allowed on Saturdays.
From the square we walked a little way down the pedestrian road towards the train station, and as our guide is telling us some historical significant item, the local shopkeeper invites us in for a free taste some of their liqueurs.We later would find out that all the Exoticca tour groups got the same surprise invitation. The liqueurs were tasty, and we maybe left with a couple.
This monument made of Andean basal stone is a tribute to Taulichusco, the last indigenous ruler prior to the Spanish founding of Lima. The equestrian statue of Francisco Pizarro is much more controversial, it symbolizes the conquering of the Inca people.
Throughout the historic center of Lima are the painted statues know as Tapade Limeña, a term used to describe the women in Lima who covered their heads and faces in silk, revealing just one eye. The practice was introduced in the 16th century and continued into the 19th century.
Our next walking highlight was the Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo. This cluster of religious buildings dates back to the 16th century and contains a basilica, a convent, and officially the first Peruvian University.
St. Martin de Porres, born in Lima in 1579 was a mixed-race friar known for his charity and care for the sick and poor. He was more known for his involvement with animals, apparently convincing mice to eat in the garden instead of the Friary kitchen. He established an orphanage and a small animal hospital, and was dubbed a saint in 1962.
Our walking tour complete, we were dropped back at our hotel and we walked over to the Miraflores beach area.
There is a multi-level mall overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and we decided to try a local restaurant called Popular for lunch. Another member of our Exoticca group, Geoff from Muskoka, joined us for local Peruvian food and travel stories while we ate.
All along the coast line is trails and parks, including the famous Parque del Amor (Love Park) and it's giant sculpture of lovers.
Also at the top of the hillside is a launching area for para-gliders. The updrafts along this stretch of coastline provides a perfect area for people to soar back and forth along the Peruvian waters.
Thoroughly exhausted, we headed back to the hotel, to chill in the room, and try to find a TV station that had English with Spanish subtitles. Tomorrow would be an early morning for our flight to the Sacred Valley region of Peru.