1.) Travelers Tip: Great place to bring friends and family when visiting Lima is Huaca Pucllana.

The site served as an important ceremonial center between the years 200 AD and 700 AD where events such as breakage of pottery vessels, human sacrifices– mainly of young women- and great banquets all occurred.  The adobe bricks are arranged in vertical rows (looks like a book case).  We were told this arrangement allowed for sway in earthquakes (the rows were more like pyramids and little spaces between bricks; all of which allows for sway during earthquakes).

Compare this to Machu Picchu which was only built in the 15th century!

Though obviously not as big as Machu Picchu it is certainly impressive for its ancient architecture.  Oh and the best part (in my mind only of course), is that there is a lovely restaurant right on the premises (Restaurant.)  The site is lit up at night, and you can dine outside on their terrace to enjoy the lit up ruins and structures.  I’m all over it!  Doesn’t somebody want to come visit us so we can go there?!  Say yes pretty please!!!

2.) Travelers Tip: If you visit the Huaca Pucllana at night you will see the ruins all lit up! Staying for dinner after the tour is a great way to end the experience.

To see more details on the Huaca Pucllana schedule and prices: Click here.

To learn more about the restaurant: Click here.

We also went on a “Bike and Bite” tour (Food Walking Tour Peru) – this ticked off several boxes.

I needed to be “brave” and get a cab, tell the cabbie where we wanted to go, ask how much and negotiate (as if I would – luckily he said the right price, so no negotiations were needed thank goodness!).  And even more lucky, I had a back up just in case- my sister in law’s Spanish is fabulous.  But it wasn’t needed this time. To my surprise, as we were leaving the Huaca site, I overheard someone asking the cab driver in English how much and the price was uttered back to them in English.

3.) Travel Tip: When traveling by taxi it is normal to negotiate prices with taxi drivers and it is always a great idea to take a photo of the cab’s plate number just in case!

The Bike and Bite Tour: We rode bikes around the area, which made me feel a bit more comfortable about riding on my own.  On the tour, some of the biking is done on dedicated bike lanes – which is good, until there is a bike coming in the opposite direction and the lanes aren’t very wide.
I will confess, I had to stop a couple of times and let the bikes pass me.  I was too concerned I would wobble into them.  We got off the bike lanes and did a bit off road riding, again mostly okay.  Until we got to the edge of the cliff where there were signs saying don’t get too close as the cliffs shake (or words to that effect). I’m so busy trying not to fall over to the right (over the cliff and into the sea) and instead I wobble to my left and into a cactus hedge.  Just a glancing blow, but I think the guide saw it, we left the area pretty quickly after that.
On the ride down to the pier to the local fish market, the sidewalk was so skinny (handle bars are wide) that there were a couple of spots I thought I would be taken out by the light poles!

It was all worth it, however, as our reward was some of the best ceviche.

4.) Travelers Tip: A great way to stretch your legs, see the town, and try some of Latin America’s best food is by taking a Bike or Walking Food Tour!