Christmas in Peru? What a great idea! Traveling over the holidays is the perfect way to create new traditions, and a New Year’s in Lima will be one for the books. You have the chance to connect with different customs and source inspiration for a great new year ahead. Some practices may seem familiar, while others pique your curiosity, striking the perfect balance so you can surrender to it all.

From mid-December, Lima goes into overdrive as preparations get underway for the big celebrations. Restaurants are overflowing, the traffic is beyond ebullient, and every corner of the city is alive and bustling. The anticipation in the atmosphere is palpable as Christmas approaches. And summer has just arrived, so it’s a great time to visit and plug into the capital’s energy.

While many countries celebrate Christmas on December 25th, in Peru, the 24th is the big day, also known as Nochebuena. Families gather in the evening to dine together and, at the stroke of midnight, embrace with a champagne toast and hot chocolate for the kids to receive Christmas. Fireworks abound as the clock strikes 12, and many head outside to catch the local displays in their neighborhoods. 

Both Santa and baby Jesus arrive at midnight, one bearing gifts as the other takes his place in the cradle of nativity scenes. As most of the population is Catholic, many attend 10 PM mass, known as Misa de Gallo, before heading to a relative’s home for dinner and gifts. A typical Christmas dinner includes turkey, cold salads, apple sauce, and a legacy of the Italian influence, panettone, a sweet cake with dried fruits. 

For visitors, things are a bit trickier. As the evening and nighttime activities are reserved for family time, many restaurants close after their lunch service on the 24th. Several places also have special menus for midday options and may not offer their regular a la carte service. Lunch is your best bet for eating a nice meal out on the 24th; for the evening and the 25th, you’ll want to possibly consider local hotels and square away any reservations and confirmations in advance.

The same can be said for New Year’s; you’ll want to coordinate your plans in advance. Most places will have special menus for December 31st, but for January 1st, your options will be much more limited. Like Christmas, New Year’s is celebrated at midnight (like anywhere), with a champagne toast, fireworks, and a couple of other more peculiar traditions.

For good luck, you can eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes twelve or wear yellow undergarments - very original. For abundance, you give and receive small bags of lentils. And for many more travels, some people even run around the block toting their suitcases. We’ll sign up for that last one. 

Happy travels and happy holidays!

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​So you're getting ready for your Peru trip, and you'll be passing through Lima: Now, you need to get things organized and get everything booked. We are going to bring you a couple of tips, some Lima travel tips for how to manage your trip so everything is smooth sailing and you can enjoy your time in Peru. With more than a decade of experience running food tours in Lima, we’ve taken our shared knowledge and boiled it down to the essentials.

​There are a couple of things to keep in mind. First of all, the temperatures, and in general, Lima's climate, are relatively mild. When you talk about your winter months, remember that we are in South America, and the coldest months are July, August, and September. Your warm summer months are January, February, and March. Many years, the warm weather can stay throughout most of May. 

We can boil this down to the three C's: the culture, the coast, and the cuisine. In terms of culture, the Larco Museum houses an enormous private collection of artifacts. The building and manicured lawn are worthy of a visit in themselves. Bonus: there’s a room dedicated to erotic huacos, or pre-Colombian ceramics. How often do you see that? The center of Lima is also full of history and boasts layers of architecture dripping around the main squares. It's like stepping into the past, many times over different periods. 

If we move on to the coast, you can take a beautiful stroll along the coast in Miraflores or Barranco. If you’re into adventure sports, paragliding, surfing, and biking are all options.
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And the cuisine, what’s to say that hasn’t already been said? Lima has been the world's culinary capital for several years, so you must book some excellent meals or join a Lima food tour!

The architecture is unique; it represents what Lima used to be. Peru is a country with a vast indigenous base that also changed and was influenced by different waves of immigration. You can feel the fusions stretching from Europe to Asia. Although it’s a small district, there are a few corners you can’t miss.

One of our favorite streets is Domeyer, which has radically transformed over the last 2-3 years. You’ll find coffee shops, pastry shops, and one of Latin America’s top restaurants on the corner, Isolina. Another restaurant on the same street that offers a distinctive ambiance is Siete. Domeyer is an excellent example of the neighborhood’s charm.

Another area you must peruse is the malecón, or the clifftop boardwalk. We would be remiss if we didn't include it. It's perfect for a stroll and provides some of the best views in Lima, right along the coast.

Boulevard Sáenz Peña is another option for enjoying Barranco’s eclectic architecture. Here you'll find some of the top hotels in Lima, like Hotel B or Casa Republica. They've recently allowed outdoor seating in the middle of the promenade serviced by Hotel B, where you can grab a drink and some piqueos, the Peruvian version of tapas. Finally, for a brief browse, you can wander into Dedalo and shop for souvenirs. 

Lastly, but certainly at the top of the list in terms of capturing the essence of Barranco, Bajada de los baños, where you’ll find the famous Bridge of Sighs. It’s a cobblestone walkway that takes you down to the coast from here, where you can delight in the lush landscaping and urban yesteryear aesthetic.

Ultimately, we are foodies and run a Lima food tour. So our second reason to love Barranco is for its culinary offering, clearly!

Our faves include Central, one of the top restaurants, not in Lima, but in the world, by Chef Virgilio Martínez. You have Kjolle, with top chef Pía León. We also love Isolina (mentioned above), which serves traditional Peruvian food and so many star dishes that it’s hard to pick a favorite. The seco, cebiche, and lomo saltado are all hits. In Barranco, you can find creative cuisine like Mérito and Sibaris, as well as fusion offerings like Casona San Martín. This last hidden gem unites the cuisine of the three main regions of Peru: the coast, the Andean highlands, and the Amazon jungle. Finally, if you have a sweet tooth, you have your pick of excellent artisanal gelato experts between Blu and Crem dela Crem. 

Numerous stylish coffee shops are peppered throughout the district. One of our favorites is La Bodega Verde, a chill and relaxed secret garden café. As the vibe in Barranco, in general, is inviting, you can sit down, have your coffee and chat away. Another place with excellent coffee, among other delicious bites, is La Panetteria. Cipresso is another neighborhood great located on one of Barranco’s main avenues, San Martín, in a renovated mansion called Casona San Martín (next to the restaurant by the same name). 

Surrender to the bohemian beat of Barranco through its nightlife. More rooftop terraces have opened in the last few years, like Hotel B. They offer sea views, a modern space, and nice music to accompany the evening. If you want something more traditional, with old-style Peruvian live music, you have something called "peñas." For one of the most iconic and classic corners, visit peña Don Porfirio. You have cocktail bars as well, like Barra 55 or Dada. In terms of nightlife, you have something for everyone in Barranco and can walk around the district jumping from one place to the next. 

​Lima Gourmet tours are experiences in Peru born out of the desire to allow visitors to immerse themselves in the country’s unique history and culture in an engaging way. What better way than to create a long-lasting set of sensory memories you can evoke with the flavors, aromas, and style of a destination? The combination of food, tradition, and local knowledge is what we seek to include in our own travel itineraries, so we dreamed of sharing that same type of journey with like-minded travelers, specifically for trips to Peru.

​When our Lima Gourmet food tour first launched in 2010, the average stay in Lima was just under one day. It was largely considered a necessary layover on the way to Machu Picchu or the Amazon jungle. Some would opt for a brief city tour of the historic center when arriving to Lima, while others would spend a few hours wandering around shopping at the seaside mall in Miraflores, Larcomar. Finally, a handful of adventurous travelers would depart from the typical tourist circuit and fit in a meal after researching Peruvian cuisine. We believed Lima had so much more to offer and merited more time for discovery. It seems our wanderlust-motivated friends agreed because now the average stay in the city is three days. So, over twelve years ago, we sat down to brainstorm what our perfect tour of Lima would look like and what we could prioritize to invite guests to venture beyond Peru’s main tourist attractions.
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​Another factor we were intent on weaving into the day was the urban playground the city offers as a seaside backdrop to the route. Although it can take hours to make the trek from one side of town to the other, we thought it was necessary to spread our Peruvian food tour throughout different Lima neighborhoods. To understand Peruvian culture, guests can get a feel by setting their eyes on the eclectic architectural legacy present in the capital’s streets. Pre-Columbian and pre-Incan temples and relics can be found nestled between buildings representing Peru’s republican period or designs that reflect the fever for adding a European flair. From ancient to modern, the visual timeline available in Lima’s landscape mustn’t be overlooked as an integral part of its history.

To bring the concept of our first Lima food tour to life, we decided that there were a few things we would never compromise, the authenticity and quality of the experience. Tourism has evolved immensely over the last decade, with guests opting for boutique offerings that preserve the essence of a destination while providing elevated service. We believe that spending time curating an experience that highlights the creme de la creme of what a place offers is one of the best ways to create a positive first impression that leaves a lasting impact. This preference to be pampered is true to what we look for while traveling and the heart of what we want to offer our guests. After hours of research and putting together an itinerary, all of the time and sacrifices to explore a new culture, we want it to be a special moment that defines how visitors feel and connect with Peru.
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​If you’re interested in booking our original Lima Gourmet food tour, you can visit the page for more details and reserve, or check out our other experiences in Lima if you’re ready to commit to a great time. If you want to know more about us as a company and how we started, visit the Lima Gourmet About Us page for the backstory. And if you need help deciding what to do while in Lima, feel free to reach out, and we’ll give you a hand.

Hope you’re ready to buy your ticket to Peru ¡buen viaje!

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The Lima Gourmet Tours team has put together a crash course in traditions and ingredients to reveal the secrets behind Peru's outstanding accolades in the kitchen. Peru is a foodie paradise that beckons travelers to come explore the flavors, the fusions and the phenomenal ambience the country provides with a backdrop of thousands of years of culinary creativity. Watch the video to get a feel for the gastronomic legacy in this corner of South America, what dishes you can't miss, and why superfoods are trending as well as what we should really know about them.

Restaurants in Lima are as colorful and diverse as the traditions and culinary creativity represented in the dishes served. Like the rest of the world, the foodie landscape was forever changed by the effects of the pandemic. Some old favorites unfortunately couldn't resist the extended closures, meanwhile new bars, cafes, and restaurants in Lima have bloomed, bringing the city back to life. In some ways the Peruvian restaurant experiences has transformed completely, generally providing more options for patrons. Peru's capital enjoys a mild climate, providing the perfect conditions for year-round al fresco dining. Motivated by the restrictions implemented, many locales opted to take advantage of curb space and outdoor areas allowing customers to pair delicious dishes with an urban view. The appetite for dining out has also increased, so be sure to make your reservations in advance otherwise you may be opting for takeout. In reality, delivery and takeout have also progressed and become more sophisticated as several top-notch restaurants launched gourmet options you can enjoy from the comfort of abode. If you're just visting, we definitely recommend planning out your meals for in-person experiences of Lima's exquisite foodie scene. If you want to head straight to the grain, you can view a list of our recommended restaurants in Lima, or read on for extra insight into our Peruvian culinary favorites.

​Peruvian restaurants serving traditional dishes can look like many different things depending on your angle. Here we've narrowed the classification to focus on dishes would mostly be considered "Peruvian creole" or restaurants dedicated to using local ingredients and rotating their menus depending on the season. Our top three favorites are: Isolina, Huaca Pucllana and Matria. So let's break it down a bit further.

​When we want to treat my mother-in-law and extended Peruvian family to a special meal, this is our go-to place. This is Peruvian soul food immaculately executed to combine home-cooking that transports you to another era with a jovial and familiar atmosphere. Everything, and we mean everything, on the menu is delicious. After years as patrons, our favorite dishes are still the seco, the lomo saltado, the cebiche, and the papa rellena. Bonus points for the chef and his team as this restaurant has repeatedly figured among the cream of the crop in terms of best restaurants in Latin America.

Isolina · 101 San Martin Av., Barranco  · +51 (1) 247-5075

The Huaca Pucllana offers an elevated interpretation of traditional Peruvian cuisine. The presentation is thoughtful and while keeping the essence of the dishes true to their roots. Additionally, this is a great place to branch out beyond the traditional pisco sour as here you can ask for the flagship cocktail and chilcanos (the pisco sour's lighter cousin)​ with one of many fruit and herbal infused piscos. An aguaymanto or coca sour are ideal options if you're already familiar with the traditional lime libation. Apart from the food, the most impressive characteristic is the setting, which is adjacent to a pre-Incan archeological site in the heart of the Miraflores district. 

Huaca Pucllana · General Borgoño Block 8, Miraflores · +51 (1) 445-4042

At Matria, Peru's ingredients and the environment are at the heart of this palatable proposal. While not necesarily traditional recipes, the menu rotates based on the season, thus coming into tune with the country's biodiverstiy and natural cycles. The dishes offer a variety of foodie fusions that highlight the quality of the local ingredients and reflect the versatility of the restaurant's culinary team. Another plus is the location, which will take you beyond the typical tours of Miraflores to explore a different side of the district.
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Matria · General Manuel Mendiburu 823, Miraflores · +51 (1) 422-2784 / +51 922 277 637

Seafood in Lima is a staple of the city's cuisine. With over 2,400 km (1,500 mi) of coastline, Peru has been experimenting with fare from the Pacific for millenia. Having perfected a range of cooking techniques, Peruvians were already masters of the sea before other cultures arrived to lend their own culinary influences. Today the fusions abound, but a particular nod to the Japanese and Chinese can be seen, especially in more delicate and elaborate preparations. 

El Mercado has been on our list of restaurants we recommend to friends and family since it opened. The consistency and attentive service is bar none and the fresh and innovative flavors never cease to impress. It's a corner of the city that has it all ambience, food, music, and great people watching. It's one of our all-time favorites. Our picks for what to order include the grilled octopus, the chili-marinated fish carpaccio, or the Nikkei cebiche.  

El Mercado · 203 Hipólito Unanue, Miraflores · T: +51 (1) 221-1322

Cala is one of those prividged places that invites guests to gaze upon the vast expanse of Pacific Ocean, connecting them to the ecosystem that supports Peru's rich heritage of marine meals. There's nothing like sitting right next to the water and getting a little lost in the waves and relaxed conversation while enjoying the catch of the day prepared in a local style. Cala does have options for those who steer clear of the sea, but if you're open to some fresh fish and beautiful views, this is your place.

Cala · Circuito de Playas, Barranco · T: +51 (1) 477-2020

​La Mar is a classic go-to for a vibrant experience, a delicious variety of dishes and great service. As one of Gastón Acurio's most notable brands, it's always packed and it always delivers. For a pro tip, look up at the chalkboard for the daily specials if you're looking to try something new. It's a restaurant that also respects and communicates any temporary bans on serving specific species in order to protect them, in line with local policy. If you want to go beyond the classic cebiche, try one of their tasting platters to open your tastebuds.

La Mar · Av. La Mar 770, Miraflores · T: +51 (1) 421-3365

Pescados Capitales opens with a great tongue-in-cheek vibe as the name is a play on words in Spanish, referring to pecados capitales, or the seven capital sins. The menu follows suit with dishes that are inspired on each of the sins as well as the overarching them. The spacious outdoor patio also makes it an attractive spot to explore Peruvian seafood, hopefully without crossing the line into gluttony. Most seafood places close after lunch, a tradition establish before the accessibilty of refrigeration, however Pescados Capitales is one of the few (along with Cala) that also open its doors for the dinner service.

Pescados Capitales · Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores · T: +51 (1) 680-4600

We would be remiss if we didn't include the names that consistently make international lists for the best restaurants in the world. There is ample information available for these rockstars, so we're sure that at least a couple of these are already on your list of where to eat in Lima. We'll leave them below along with links you can visit to begin your trip down the rabbit hole of mouthwatering instagram profiles and websites.
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Other restaurants we love and need to include in a our Part II list are: Limaná, Osaka, Jerónimo, Siete and Mérito.

¡Buen provecho y buen viaje!

This district has been the center of tourism in the city for decades. Located on a gorgeous stretch of the Pacific coast, Miraflores has it all. It's a lively district with plenty of restaurants (including one of the top 10 in the world, Maido) and nice walks along the coast. Whether you want something quiet or in a more happening area, you'll find it here. Another plus is that most of the hotels are located in areas where you can easily walk from one place to another and nothing within Miraflores is more than a 10 minute taxi ride away. It has something for everyone: surfing, cultural tours of pre-Incan temples, paragliding, food tours, shopping, and even wifi-enabled public parks. Here's our breakdown.

​If you are looking for an authentic, vibrant step back in time, Barranco is the place to be. Many buildings and areas are officially protected as cultural heritage, therefore, the Republican and colonial style facades give the district personality that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. This district is considered the bohemian, romantic and artsy center of life in Lima and there is no shortage of fascinating art galleries, shops selling uniquely hand-crafted goods, and an emergence of hip bars and restaurants to give Miraflores a run for its money. ​

In Lima you'll find everything from large international chains, like the JW Marriott, to quaint B&Bs like Second Home Peru. While luxury chains can run you a couple hundred dollars a night, you can find some amazing charmers that feel just as luxurious for around $100 per night. Our faves in terms of boutique hotels include Casa Republica, Villa Barranco, and Hotel B.

Now, if you just want to sit back, relax, and leave it to the pros, you can check out our Lima food and city tours, which cover both districts plus San Isidro, the main sights, some hands-on activities and was designed for people who want to see the city while tasting the best dishes.

​In terms of organization, while we opted for the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants model, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that approach if you have limited time. As we were there for a month, we knew that if we couldn’t swing a particular plan one day, there would always be another. It’s recommended that you make your plans in advance, especially since ongoing restrictions in Peru limit the maximum capacity, especially in closed spaces.

Our Cusco itinerary was peppered with visits to archeological sites, outdoor walks, and trips to the neighboring Andean towns. There was never a dull moment. The only non-negotiable activity on our list was Machu Picchu and it was certainly an adventure. Memories were made and we’re glad we could swing it, but getting our ducks in a row to organize the outing required more effort than we expected. When it comes to Machu Picchu, this was the trickiest part to coordinate. 
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​While we’re on the topic of swimming with sea lions, that’s just one of many adrenaline-stimulating activities you can experience while in Peru. If you like to explore destinations by getting hands-on with your surroundings, you can try paragliding in Lima, ziplining in the Sacred Valley, or sailing through sand dunes in a buggy at sunset. Adventure is never far away when in Peru.

There’s so much that we love about Peru’s artisan culture, particularly the country’s rich textile legacy.  Stretching back thousands of years, the vast knowledge and skill are still discernible in the works of contemporary weavers. In communities like Chinchero, you can admire the process in person and browse among a selection of blankets, scarves, decorations for the home, and other keepsakes to remember the trip. Apart from textiles, the baby alpaca and Pima cotton products are also well worth considering for a gift or to treat yourself. ​

We hope those five reasons to love Peru inspired you to start planning. See you here! 

RESOURCES
Food: Restaurants in Lima · Lima Food Tours
Textiles: Textiles · Baby Alpaca ·  Peruvian Gifts
Cultural Sites: Huaca Pucllana · Caral · Nazca · Kuelap · Chan Chan · Sacsayhuaman
Biodiversity: Peruvian biodiversity
​Adventure Activities: Paragliding · Ziplining · Huacachina