Lima: The colonial city and Larco Museum (PRIVATE)

The city’s main attractions include the historic buildings arranged around the main square and located in nearby streets: The government palace built between 1921 and 1938 and was constructed on the site originally occupied by the house Francisco Pizarro in the 16th century; Lima’s cathedral, first completed in 1649 and renovated many times since, most recently in 1940, and the 17th century

The baroque San Francisco church was completed in 1774 and contains a monstrance made in 1671, as well as a remarkable collection of jewels and a library of more than 25,000 antique books. San Francisco stands over catacombs containing the skeletal remains of thousands of people.

From Lima’s historic center, it takes around 30 minutes to reach the modern shopping, residential and financial districts of Miraflores and San Isidro.

Larco Museum: Often described as Lima’s finest museum, the Larco Museum was established in 1926 by a renowned collector of Pre-Inca art and artifacts from Peru’s coastal regions. The museum’s unrivaled collection of pottery and precious metal objects representing thousands of years of Peruvian history is housed in an elegant 18th century mansion, built over the foundations of a Pre-Inca temple. The museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens, making it a peaceful oasis evoking a bygone age, in the heart of a bustling modern city.

Visiting time: 4 – 4.5 hours

Altitude:

• Lima, 161 meters / 528 feet.

Yes, if your itinerary includes transfers or you have asked us to pick you up, our staff will be at the airport to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. We can also provide airport transfers at the end of your itinerary.

Travelers with a US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport do not need a visa to enter Peru for tourism or business for up to 90 days. For those traveling on another passport, information on visa requirements for Peru is available at http://www.projectvisa.com/visainformation/Peru

Cash is easy to exchange for local currency, and at popular tourism destinations US dollars are readily accepted. If you plan to use cards, inform your bank before departure that you will be using your cards overseas. Current exchange rates can be checked at https://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

ATMs are available at most of the destinations included in our itineraries, providing both US dollars and local Peruvian currency. The most secure ATMs are those located in banks, hotels, restaurants or stores.

After we have confirmed your booking you will need to pay a deposit, the amount of which will depend on the tour you book and the size of your party. The remaining balance must be paid at our office in Cusco at least 2 days prior to the scheduled departure date, before 19:30. Payment should be made in US dollars or local currency. When we confirm your booking, we will send you more details about how to complete payment.

Refund are available up to a certain date, after which only a percentage of the amount paid can be refunded. Please ask us for our booking conditions at time of booking.

We recommend that visitors to Peru travel on a passport valid for at least six months after the scheduled end of their trip.

No vaccinations are mandatory for entering Peru. However, most international travelers choose to vaccinate themselves against hepatitis A, typhoid fever and tetanus. If you are planning to travel to the Amazon basin, you should consider malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever vaccination. Check with your physician or local clinic before traveling.

At Andean Adventures Peru, we work with experienced local guides, all of whom have graduated in tourism after a 5-year course at a Peruvian university. All our guides speak English and Spanish and are knowledgeable, patient and informative. Guides in other major languages are also available upon request.

Weather in Peru varies according to the geographic region you are traveling in, and also altitude. In the Andean highlands (Cusco, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca), where UV levels are high, daytime temperatures peak at between 15 to 21 Celsius (60 and 70 Fahrenheit), while nighttime temperatures range from 1.1 to 5.5 Celsius (30 to 42 Fahrenheit). During the dry season (from April to October), the weather tends to be clear and sunny. The rainiest months are January and February. In the Amazon basin the hottest and most humid months occur during the wet season (from December to April), with the rainiest months being January and February, although of course it can rain at any time in tropical and subtropical forests. Peru’s desert coast is warm all year round, although Lima and the surrounding coastal belt are usually overcast outside the summer months (January to March). There is almost no rainfall in Lima, but humidity is high. Machu Picchu is situated at around 2400 meters (7875 feet) above sea level in an area of subtropical cloud forest. Daytime temperatures range from 26 to 29 Celsius (80 to 85 Fahrenheit). There is the chance of rain at any time of year. The driest months are May to September.