In Pictures: Travel Guide to exploring Lima, Part 2 of 2

If you’re into museums, Lima won’t disappoint you – there are plenty of public and private museums. One that stands out is the famous Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, or simply, the Larco Museum. Founded in 1926 and located in the Pueblo Libre district, about 6 km east of Park of the Reserve, the museum has various different (gold, ceramics, culture, metal, textile, etc.) galleries that showcase over 5,000 years of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. It is famous for it’s gallery of erotic pottery. Yes, you read that right – a collection of ceramic pots portraying a variety of sexual positions and acts. Let’s call it clay Kama Sutra.

The museum is housed in an 18th century vice-royal mansion. It also has a café-restaurant that offers Peruvian and international cuisines, in case you hear your tummy growling in the middle of all those lessons in history. The overall setting of this place is just fascinating and charming.

Huaca Pucllana (Juliana)

We’ve now entered Miraflores, an upscale suburban district and one of the main tourist attractions in Lima. And right in the middle of this residential neighborhood is Huaca Pucllana, an ancient adobe and clay pyramid built in 500 AD. It is the only pre-Inca ruin remaining in Miraflores. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to marvel at this wonder up-close (it’s closed on Tuesdays) but that shouldn’t stop you from getting a glimpse into the history of ancient Lima culture.

Park of Love (Parque del Amor)

Located 3 km to the south of Huaca Pucllana, the Park of Love is dedicated to all lovers and offers stunning coastal views of Lima. The surrounding walls are full of colorful mosaics. In the center of the park, a sculpture called El Beso (The Kiss) shows a man and a woman wrapped in each other’s arms, locked in a passionate kiss.

Barranco

Enter another one of Lima’s most popular neighborhoods – Barranco is the city’s artsy suburban district; home and working place of many of Peru’s leading artists, musicians, designers and photographers. I’d highly recommend spending time in a neighborhood that has got it all – history, art, food, drinks, and culture. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that Barranco deserves its own separate post. Until then, here’s a photo tour:

Peruvian Ceviche

Finally, no travel post is ever complete without a mention of the traditional food. When it comes to Peru, ceviche is part of the national heritage and even has a holiday declared in its honor. Yes, that’s right, June 28th is National Ceviche Day – a holiday celebrating the country’s national dish.

Peruvian ceviche is different from other types of ceviche as the fish is marinated in freshly squeezed citrus juices with chili peppers, onion, salt, and pepper. It’s the perfect mix of spicy and tangy – exactly how I like it. Needless to say, you can easily find this dish in Lima, or Peru for that matter. It’s best to try it in the morning (because #FreshFish). When in Peru, just remember to eat it like a local – always spicy and never after lunch.

I don’t know about you but I’m craving some ceviche right now. As I head out to find a Peruvian restaurant (thousands of miles away), I hope this post has given you enough reasons to visit Lima, soon.