Museum of the Convent of San Francisco

The Convent of San Francisco was the capital’s cemetery until the 1800s. Although now a museum of religious art, it shows hints of its past identity—catacombs, underground tunnels, wells, and the remains of some 25,000 worshippers. Several other places of interest, including churches, museums, and historical centers, can be found within a few blocks, so it may be worth an entire day’s trip.

Plaza Mayor

Located at the center of Lima’s most historic neighbourhood, this town square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an unwitting tribute to the city’s architectural background. The buildings surrounding the area boast wooden balconies, ornate carvings, and palace sculptures, many of which date back to the mid-1600s and were reconstructed in the 1800s.

Larcomar

Larcomar is essentially a cliffside entertainment complex, built seemingly precariously on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. Once you get over the breathtaking view, you can head inland for a wide range of entertainment venues: arcades, restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlors, and dozens of stores selling everything from local handmade clothing to souvenirs.

Nazca Lines

All we know about the Nazca lines is that they were probably made by a tribe dating back to 300 BC. The drawings span over 50 square kilometers in the southern Nazca Desert. Some are seemingly random lines, while others clearly represent animals, trees, and flowers. Theories as to what they were range from alien landing strips (as some of the drawings can only be seen from over 1500 feet high) to solar eclipse predictors. Musings aside, the sight is definitely worth a couple of days’ travel out of the city.

Alpamayo

Once dubbed the most beautiful mountain in the world, the Alpamayo is a popular site for hikers because of the area’s calmness, good weather, and picturesque views. You don’t have to do the hike to appreciate its beauty—indeed, hikers warn that the path can be challenging—but its distinct shape can be seen from way off, making it one of the most striking landmarks of northern Peru.

At the center of this practice is ayahuasca, an indigenous herb with an effect not unlike that of magic mushrooms. It’s a hallucinogen, but rather than distort your view of reality, it makes it clearer. One is said to have a heightened sense of awareness, all five senses taking in his surroundings. This gives the feeling that the traveler is one with nature, offering a form of relaxation that’s not quite like a day at the spa. It opens doors for meditation, reflection, mental healing, and all manner of possibilities.

The practice isn’t new; its main proponent outside South America is probably William Burroughs, who wrote about it in his book The Yagé Letters. Here he details his trip to the Amazon jungle to find the elusive herb, locally known as yagé, which he said would be his “final fix.” Curiosities were piqued, not to anyone’s great surprise, and locals were quick to rise to the occasion. They began singling out areas where ayahusca grew in abundance, and arranging trips to the most peaceful, scenic parts of the forest.

Ayahuasca has been used by American Indian healers as early as the 1770s, purportedly to find “lost souls and bodies.” The name translates to “the vine of souls.”  A typical tour takes you deep in the jungle, where nature lends itself well to quiet musings and meditation. People are encouraged, before taking the herb, to ask themselves a question about their career, future, or something equally important—and assured that at the end of the experience they would have an answer.

There’s no telling whether mystic tourism will catch on, or whether it will even push past scientific skeptics and become mainstream. For the moment it’s an exotic alternative to the usual route, drawing mostly people who want to take the road less traveled. One thing’s for sure: with locals eagerly offering it, more than a few curious souls will be waiting to give it a try.

Islas Ballestas: Nicknamed the “Peruvian Galápagos” (referring to the famous islands off neighboring Ecuador), this small cluster is home to rare sea lions, turtles, penguins, and a variety of wild, endangered seabirds. It forms the bulk of the Paracas Natural Reserve. From offshore, the bird droppings (guano) on top of the beautiful rock formations can be mistaken for polar ice caps.

Colca Valley: Travel guide Arthur Frommer calls this the best place to see giant condors in South America. Visitors are treated to scenic volcanoes capped with (real) snow, gorges cutting through verdant valleys, and vast patches of desert. The trip there takes you through a couple of nature reserves, where on a good day you may spot local wildlife like llamas and alpacas.

Manu National Park: If you’re up for a long drive, this biosphere reserve—the country’s second largest protected area—is well worth the trip. Because it’s so remote, it has one of the best-preserved flora and fauna in the continent, with habitats ranging from cloud forests to the Andes highlands to tropical rainforests. It also has the world’s highest level of plant, bird, and mammal diversity.

Huascarán National Park: Nature lovers and adventure-seekers will love the wild topography of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which runs almost the entire length of the Cordillera Blanca in the north. You’ll need the whole day and a good deal of stamina to explore its hundreds of glaciers and alpine lakes, and enjoy the unparalleled views from its peaks.

Llanganuco Lakes: Just a short distance from Huascarán, the Lagunas Llanganuco offer a quiet respite from the Cordilleras. The twin turquoise lakes are tucked away in a valley, fed by glaciers and always clear enough to reflect the mountains around it. Some 35 miles off, you’ll also find giant bromeliads called the Puya Raimondi, which rise up to 40 feet high and bloom just every hundred years.

Of course, a great vacation starts with smart planning—and that’s where Island Getaway comes in. With links to a wide range of accommodations, it’s the best way to get the best deals on lodging and see as much of Hilton Head South Carolina as your time allows. Villas, condos, waterfront suites, budget hotels—there’s something here for every type of traveler. And if it’s your first time to visit, the site also offers ample information on the area’s history, culture, and local attractions.

Golf is one of the most popular activities on Hilton Head Island, with dozens of golf courses each boasting magnificent views and championship-level greens. The Heritage Golf Classic tournament takes place in spring every year and attracts thousands of players, from beginners to pros. Celebrity sightings aren’t uncommon here. Other popular golf sites include the Harbour Town Golf Links, the Robert Trent Jones course in Palmetto Dunes, and the Golf Club at Indigo Run.

Nature lovers will love Hilton Head’s diverse wildlife, which includes dolphins, alligators, various bird species, and the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle. If you have a few hours to spare, get on a bike and explore the island on two wheels—the hard-packed sandy beaches and generous cycling trails make it easy and particularly scenic. Make sure to check out the Hilton Head Island lighthouse at Harbor Town Marina, one of the busiest areas on the island.

No visit to Hilton Head is complete without swinging by the beach, of course. The town offers four public beaches: Alder Lane Beach, Coligny Circle, Driessen Beach Park, and Folly Field Beach Park. Activities range from swimming and sunbathing to diving, fishing, and parasailing. Each beach has its own safety rules and may ban certain activities according to weather conditions, so make sure to plan your activities ahead. Check Island Getaway’s informative guides and reserve your accommodations as early as possible—it’s the best way to ensure a great vacation!

Just four hours from the Arizona border, Puerto Peñasco has been called Arizona’s Mexican Beach, especially since it’s a popular weekend hub for locals. Online rentals such as Seaside Mexico make it all the more convenient—with dates, accommodations, and activities all at your fingertips, you can plan your Mexican getaway in minutes and start packing right away. Seaside Mexico also offers rental services for Barra de Navidad in Jalisco, Riviera Nayarita in Nayarit, and San Carlos in Sonora.

Puerto Peñasco golf attracts as many visitors as its beaches, thanks to its picturesque views and the mild weather it enjoys for much of the year. The Puerto Peñasco Mayan Resort boasts a signature golf course designed by professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, and is easily accessible from local tourist destinations. Other courses can be found in nearby hotels in and around the hotel zone. Whether you’re after a few swings or a complete golf vacation, planning your stay is easy with Seaside Mexico and its wide selection of accommodations.

Fishing is also a major activity in Puerto Peñasco, where it has always been a major source of livelihood. It still is today, although the area is leaning more heavily recreational fishing from tourists. Many people come to the beaches to fish, especially during the Puerto Peñasco fishing festival which kicks off in June every year. It’s a heavy season, though, so it’s best to make your reservations early. Months before your trip, check out the dates on Seaside Mexico and book your hotel and activities to get the best spots.

Other points of interest include the sand dunes at the Altar Desert, one of the driest in the world; Bird Island, a cluster of rocky outcroppings along the shore and home to the largest sea lion population in Mexico; and a public marine research center. No matter what you’re into, there’s sure to be something for you in Puerto Peñasco—and with Seaside Mexico, you can get dibs on your favorite activities any time of the year.

Overall, however, Peru climate is classified as dry and subtropical. Much of the country gets little rainfall, except for the Andes where summers are wet and winters decidedly dry. Going into the eastern lowlands, the weather warms up considerably with rains scattered throughout the year. The coastal regions have moderate temperatures, except up north where it warms up near the equator. The mountainous regions get frequent rain, and get noticeably cooler as it nears the Andes.

The coastal climate is often compared to Greece or Italy, although there are some differences. Winter, for example, is cloudy and humid in these areas, but is less rainy than Mediterranean coastlines. This season, which is summer in North America, has comfortable temperatures down to 14°C. Summer is hot and humid, with seasonal highs of around 38°C.

Further down the coast, including the central region where Lima sits, it gets considerably cooler, with temperatures running from 8°C to 29°C and about 30% less rainfall. In the summer the temperature can go down to 18°C, but is generally between 22°C and 25°C. Rain, when it does fall, is more common during the night. Winters are noticeably foggy from the coast to a few kilometers inland, known locally as garua.

The Andes is no doubt the country’s most diverse area in terms of climate. The higher up, the lower the temperatures get, with the coldest areas reaching or dropping slightly below freezing point in the winter. Rains occur frequently from January to March. Areas directly to the east of the mountain can get close to 400 inches of rain in a year. Snow is usually seen only at altitudes over 5,000 meters early in the year, and above 3,800 meters from May to August.

The eastern lowlands, which include Iquitos, have the same climate as the neighboring Amazon Rainforest. Here the climate is steadily hot and rainy, save for brief cool periods from May to September where temperatures can drop to 10°C. Most of the time, however, temperatures are in the mid-20s with lows of 18°C and highs of 36°C.

Many people who travel to South America generally include a visit to Peru in their trip.  Tourists who visit Peru enjoy a vibrant city that has everything you need for a great holiday.  People visiting Peru can enjoy things such as the unique architecture, traditional Peruvian influences, the stretch of beaches in the Miraflores district and the great night life that this city has.  Some tourists also use this city as the start or base for tours on the Inca Trail and visits to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and the many glaciers and mountains that surround the city of Peru.

For many tourists and travellers one of the most important parts of organising a trip is booking suitable accommodation which is cheap, clean and has everything that you are going to be needing.  For many travellers bed and breakfast accommodation is often chosen over hotels or hostels as they have more facilities and are a more private option.  The following are some of the best rated B&B hotels in and around Peru.

One of the best B&B hotels, The Green House is located in Peru and is regularly voted as the best by travellers who choose to stay there.  This B&B has breathtaking views, beautiful gardens and comfortable and cosy rooms which are perfect for travellers who are looking to spend a few days relaxing.  The Green House has everything that you would expect from a bed and breakfast and is highly recommended by anyone who has stayed there.

Another B&B hotel, the Casa Bella, is located in Lima and is conveniently situated within walking distance of restaurants and tourist attractions.  The Casa Bella is a mansion style bed and breakfast with only 14 rooms which gives this place an intimate feel.  For golf lovers the prestigious Country Club Hotel and the Lima Golf Club are just one block down from Casa Bella.

For travellers who wish to stay in the Miraflores district, the Bed and Breakfast Tradiciones is a great choice.  This B&B is in a great location as it only takes 8 minutes to walk to the main centre of Miraflores where you can enjoy shopping and dining at some of the great cafes and restaurants in this district.

If you are planning on visiting Peru and are looking for great B&B hotels then you will be in luck as Peru has many top rated bed and breakfast hotels to suit any budget.

The announcement was made last Tuesday by Mara Seminario, Peru’s Tourism Deputy Minister. Ms. Seminario said the growth can be attributed to the broad range of opportunities offered across the country, from small and large businesses to the promotion of culture and cuisine. These opportunities can be found nationwide, rather than just in the tourist-filled routes of the south.

Efforts to promote tourism development have been consolidated between the country’s regions, making for more attractive opportunities for investors. Many investment projects are already under way, and others are soon to follow, according to Ms. Seminario. Among other things, they will aim to make tourist activity more sustainable in the well-known areas, such as Cusco’s Inca Trail, and direct visitors to lesser known ones such as the northern beaches.

Part of the tourism department’s program is “Private Investment Opportunities in Tourist Destinations,” a trade forum showing and explaining the investment potential of some of Peru’s most well-known destinations. These include the Arequipa, Puno, Paracas-Nazca, the beaches in the north, the Amazonas River, and the Moche Route.

Relevant information was collected on each of these destinations by Macroconsult, a local consulting firm, through market research and interviews with members of the private and public sectors. From the data, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) calculated potential investments that could total more than $100 million over the next few years.

The Moche Route can account for a large part of these investments, being the fastest-growing tourist destination outside the more popular south. By 2016, it is expected to attract around 1.6 million visitors from in and out of the country. According to Mincetur minister Eduardo Ferreyros, their goal is to improve infrastructure and services in this area to offer an alternative to well-known, and often crowded, southern destinations such as Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa.

Earlier, projects were also announced in the southern area of Puno, home to the famous Lake Titicaca. The regional directorate is pushing for the creation of a regional tourism board, which would help promote sustainable yet competitive tourism in the area. It would be part of the Regional Tourism Strategic Plan, a larger initiative that aims to bring public and private sector organizations together to promote local tourism, as a supplement to Puno’s mining industry.

That being said, Peru isn’t completely stripped of sand. The northern regions have some very decent beaches, stretching from the uppermost point, Putumayo River, to about midway down the coastline. Even Lima, the capital, has a few stretches of sand that get filled with locals and tourists on weekends.

If you feel like venturing out of Lima, most experts agree that Trujillo, Tumbes, and Piura are among the best spots. Here the beaches boast wide sandbars and gentle to moderate waves, perfect for a day of surfing or swimming. Not all of them offer child-safe swimming, though, so make sure to check ahead.

Close to the Ecuador border, about an hour’s drive from Tumbes, is arguably one of the best beaches in the country. Punta Sal offers scenic views and abundant sun, but also a wealth of activities, including scuba diving, windsurfing, and deep-sea fishing, on top of the usual swimming and beach volleyball.

A close contender to Punta Sal is Mancora Beach, about a thirty-minute drive away. Surfers flock to Mancora to ride its powerful waves, which sometimes reach 6 feet tall. It’s also a popular stop for people fresh off the Inca Trail hike—who wouldn’t want to crash on a beach after walking for days?

Both beaches are a long way from Lima, so if you don’t want to go too far from the capital, Piura may be a better option. The city is just a two- to three-hour drive up north. Some 30 miles outside the city proper is La Tortuga Beach in Paita, which boasts some of the best sunsets and relatively calm waters.

The South American summer is from January to March, so plan your visit accordingly. December may be a better month for surfing, though, as the waves are more pronounced. The other months are prone to rain and crisp weather—perfect for a refreshing hike to the ruins, but just a tad too cold for a swim.

If you’re strapped for time and want to hit the beach right away, head south—that’s where the best urban beaches are. The neighborhoods of Barranco, Miraflores, and Chorrillos offer quick access to the beach, with a lively nightlife to boot. Señoritas, El Silencio, and Caballeros are among the most popular.

For people who are travelling on a budget it is important to save money where you can without missing out on too much when you are travelling.  One area of travel that people are always looking to save some money is when it comes to accommodation costs or hotel rates.  Finding the cheapest and most suitable places to stay when travelling in Peru can be done by utilizing tools such as the internet, word of mouth, recommendations from people who have toured the area before and also by booking through tour operators.

When it comes to booking and paying for accommodation in Peru overseas tourists are exempt from a 19% sales tax which is usually included in the price of the accommodation.  Making sure to show your passport when booking and paying for a room will automatically save you money on your room anywhere that you stay in Peru.

Using the internet while you travel is also a great resource for finding cheap hotel rates and great bargains for accommodation.  Websites that specialise in last minute accommodation can provide you with good rates on rooms that would normally be quite expensive.  Using the internet can also provide you information on the areas of Peru that have accommodation available as many cities will have areas or sections that are full of all types of tourist accommodation.

When looking for accommodation in areas of Peru it is also a good idea to talk to people who have visited or are currently staying in the cities that you are going to visit.  Recommendations from fellow travellers are a great way of finding the best deals and the cheapest hotel rates especially when it comes to backpacker or hostel accommodation.  Sometimes local knowledge is the best thing to have when looking for the cheapest hotel rates while travelling.

There are many different tour operators which regularly book accommodation for their clients so if you are looking for places to stay it is sometimes a good idea to look at where these operators book.  You may not get the same rates as the tour groups however these companies generally only book quality accommodation so you can be sure of a nice room.  If you are travelling in an area that you don’t know much about looking where the tour groups stay can be a great tip for finding accommodation at a cheap rate when you need it.