In my last post, I communicated that Peru (specifically Lima) was one of those places that I would strongly recommend that people that would like to jump into travel, but they don’t have a lot of money to spend on it, should go to. Lima regularly has some amazing travel deals on airfare, especially if you look at flying out of major airline hubs. I actually got a round-trip ticket out of Los Angelas (LAX) to Lima, Peru for $629.00 (Traveled in February which is summer in the Southern Hemisphere). I put a travel alert in Kayak and Momondo to let me know when fares would drop. I love how both these apps have the ability to do some leg work for me on shopping for the best deal on airfare. Here’s the deal though, I bought my ticket for this trip three months ahead of time. There are many strategies when it comes to purchasing airfare, I have found that purchasing early and having the ability to buy when the “deal” comes along.

So, now that you’re in Lima, what are the best tips to make your experience the best it can be for the time you’re there? I have thee major tips that I believe will help you make the most out of Lima…

Tip #1: Stay in Miraflores (Especially for your first trip)

I get it that there are a lot of neighborhoods to choose from in Lima, but I would recommend that you start in Miraflores. This amazing area of Lima is about 30 to 40 minutes from the airport, and it is only about a $15.00 ride with Uber. What I appreciated most about this neighborhood is that it has a lot to offer for the first timer. Great beaches, great shopping, great parks and also some great sites to see. I stayed at the Andesmar Hotel & Suites for about $50.00 a night (including a great breakfast). It was super clean, and I also found that’s many of the front desk workers had really good English. So if traveling to a new country scares you because of language, this can be a real plus. In full disclosure, I may have loved this hotel because of the 24/7 coffee and cookies in the lobby…

Tip #2: You have to try Peruvian Chinese Food

I wish that was all I had to say, but I will go further. I am a big fan of food fusion. There is a whole back story that you can watch here, but the simple summary you need to take away from my plea for you to try the Peruvian take on Chinese food is this: It has a different flavor and it is cheap! I am not a connoisseur of food…however…I am a lover of food and a lover of a lot of food for really cheap! There are a lot of foods you should try while in Lima, but your travel budget is asking you to try Chinese. You’ll thank me later.

Tip #3: Know where to exchange money to get the best exchange rate

I usually never travel with cash and just take out money from an ATM. The problem sometimes is that you’re going to pay a fee for using that machine. A friend of mine encouraged me to bring some cash instead. He said that as you walk around the area, you’ll see these guys in vests called “Cambistas” that will exchange money for you right there on the street at what will probably be the best exchange rate you will find. They are everywhere in Miraflores, and it was so easy to get cash exchanged as needed. Obviously this is the one thing that you need to remember: It is never smart to carry a lot of cash on your person when you travel. The beauty of these Cambistas is that you can exchange money along the way as needed each day.

Here’s Bonus Tip #4: Eat ceviche and enjoy the sunset

Lima is right on the coast. This makes for some stunning sunsets. Add to this stunning sunset some great Peruvian ceviche and you’ve got the makings for a great evening. Peruvian ceviche (a cold, seafood soup) is different from other ceviche’s I have had in the past. It is spicier than other ceviche, and has many different types of seafood in it. It is really delicious, and you can ask you hotel or hostel for the best/safest ceviche place that you can enjoy and take with you to a park right on the hill overlooking the ocean.

All in all, Lima is an amazing place to dive into international travel without breaking the bank. It also is a great place to learn and use your Spanish because the accent there is one that is much more easily understood. I look forward to going to Peru again soon. Chinese food, Inka Cola (look it up…it is amazing), and costal sunsets are calling…