The thought of driving anywhere in Latin America is certainly a daunting one but one which if you’re visiting Peru you may want to consider. Whilst it’s not for the feint-hearted, it is a wonderful way to explore everything the region has to offer and brings with it the experience of a lifetime. Doing your research beforehand, you can book cheap car hire to collect when you arrive at Lima Airport and then hit the road to begin your trip.
Begin by heading into Lima and spend a day exploring all that the capital city has to offer. With a population of over 9million people, Lima is the fifth largest city in Latin America and it certain has much to experience. The city has a rich history which is celebrated in its many museums. If you only have time to visit a few, make sure you take in the Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larco Herrera and the Museo de la Nacion, both of which explore Peru’s cultural and political history. Once you’ve learnt about Lima’s heritage, head for Miraflores, the vibrant tourist area of the city. Here you can shop in both a mall and street stores, but it’s the craft markets which attract attention with many traditional goods on sale to take back home as mementos.
It’s advised that tourists only drive in daylight hours, so ensure you do your preparation before setting off to anywhere from Lima to work out distances in both kilometres and hours. With Lima being on the Pan American Highway, known as the world’s longest ‘motorable road’, the choice of places to visit are endless. Located 100km north of Lima is Caral, the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere. Here you are taken back to the start of civilization, found amongst the breathtaking ancient pyramids and in the ancient ruins. It is simply spectacular and will have your imagination running wild.
Back on the highway and for a change of scenery, head south from Lima to Asia whose beaches provide the perfect place to relax and soak up the sun and enjoy the heat as the waves lap at the shore. Asia is a great destination for surfers and it is also possible to rent beach-side accommodation to make the most of your time here.
Driving further south along the highway from Lima will take you to Nazca, a must see place for any Peruvian holiday. In the Nazca Desert is the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Believed to have been created between 400 and 650AD, lines cover this area in a variety of patterns and it laid undiscovered until the 1920s when flights began over the desert. The only real way to view the lines is from the air and for that there are two choices. The Peruvians have erected a viewing tower, which is the cheaper option, whilst many tourists book a flight in a bi-plane which gives spectacular views of this most fascinating part of Peruvian’s historical culture.
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This is a guest post by Natalie Likness whose love of travel was introduced to her from an early age due to a trip abroad before she was even born! Having close family and making friends across the world, she has continued to travel ever since.
I have a question. Is ir posibel yo drive from Oklahoma to lima Perú un my trike