Arts and Culture

For most travellers coming out of Jorge Chavez International Airport, your first impression of Lima is that of Callao. As much as Lima is known for its mouth-watering Ceviche and tangy Pisco Sours, every travellers journey starts in Callao. Often neglected by many travellers as it is considered a relatively dangerous and poorer part of Lima, there is so much beauty to be discovered in this coastal barrio.

#FLODown: A must see, is the Casa Ronald, a six-floor 20th century building bursting with local art and photography. The exhibitions cut deep into Perú’s history and does not hold back on the country’s painful past. Walking through the beautiful colonial building juxtaposes the raw photographs showing the country’s history of terrorism and forced sterilisation of Andean women during the Fujimori reign in the 1990’s.

The art in Callao serves as a stark reminder that Perú isn’t just about the Incas and Machu Picchu – it forces you to see the history of Lima, and the pride and pain people who live in it. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring here, especially with the surrounding street art outside the building.

Food and Drink

The usual tourist spot of Lima is Miraflores, and one can easily see why. With so much development and investment in recent years, Miraflores will keep you entertained from its shopping malls to its fantastic coastal park views of the Pacific Ocean. With a rise of Americans from the US choosing to spend their retirement in Miraflores, high rise developments are springing up along the coastline.

#FLODown: We recommend utilising the bike lane connecting Miraflores to Barranco, to avoid traffic. It’s here in Barranco where you will find the buzzing nightlife of Lima.

For a lively drink or two in Barranco, our favourite locations are the likes of Dada or Cala. Don’t settle for anything but the finest of Pisco, so treat yourself to a bottle of Pisco Porton – it’s sure to go down nicely with the stunning sunset views of the Pacific.

Barranco is the “Shoreditch” of Lima, from vegan cafés, pop ups to a romantic restaurant with ocean views. Whatever you may be looking for, Barranco will have it!

Finally, we couldn’t leave you without a recommendation for the national dish, Ceviche. We loved S’Concha, – a hidden gem serving a melt-in-your-mouth ceviche and a feast for seafood lovers.

#FLODown: For the finest Peruvian cuisine at affordable prices, we recommend Tanta – a chain of restaurants around Lima owned by the famous chef, Gastón Acurio. The top recommendation is the Causa de Pollo, and jugo de lucuma. (Lúcuma is a fruit native to Perú, and its taste has been described as being similar to sweet potato, maple syrup, or butterscotch!)

Photography and Words by Ayisha Paw