Boardwalk_bride said:
I am going on the Peru trip this year, and also going to Cuba in a few weeks, so I went to a travel clinic to get some info for both. Basically, you should have all your Hep shots (I know in Canada most of us get Hep B in school, not sure about elsewhere) so I made sure to get vaccinated for Hep A as well. You should also be updated on all your other vaccines.
I was also warned about that bugs. One tip the nurses told me was to wait 30 mins after applying sunscreen to apply bug spray. Apparently, the sunscreen absorbs the deet into your skin quicker, which can cause headaches and nausea.
I would also be interested in suggestions for things to do in Lima on your own! I am still trying to decide how much extra time to spend there.
I'm not sure what the
ABD tour does in Lima, or how long you will have. We only had about a day & a half in Lima. I would not waste my time at the LarcoMar shopping center, it is just a regular, over priced shopping mall. Although, I highly recommend Mangos for the views, especially at dinner. Another restaurant, and probably our fave of all in our week long trip, was Haiti. Great service. Good for people watching. Has classic American breakfasts. I think we paid about $17USD for both if us for breakfast, including tip.
Do not miss the Plaza de Armas. The Lima Cathedral is open daily, except Sundays. Francisco Pizzaro's remains (conquered the Incan Kingdom) are in the chapel.
Next to the Cathedral is the Archbishop's Palace. Beautiful!! Of course, you can not enter, but you may take photos. I even took a picture with one of the Peruvian military men.
Also in Lima, you can find the Incan Market. It is like a huge flea market, with tons of vendors. Great for souvenir shopping. We bought our 100% baby alpaca blanket & scarves there. After a bit if haggling, we got a decent price. The man we dealt with was VERY nice, spoke perfectly good English, and was generally interested in our impressions if Cusco, his home town. Don't worry if you run out if cash, there is an ATM machine near one if the entrances lol.
Also, if you are in town on Sunday, several blocks of Jose Larco Ave are closed to motorists. This is one way the city of Lina helps its residents get active & healthy. There will be runners, joggers, bikers, roller skaters, etc. There are bike rental locations set up on various corners if you want to participate.
That's all I can think of off top of my head!! Enjoy your trip!!