Peru · The Pacific coast & desert
Almost every Peru journey begins or ends in Lima, and it deserves more than a quick stopover. The capital sits on cliffs above the Pacific, with the breezy clifftop districts of Miraflores and Barranco looking out over the surf, colonial plazas and world-class museums inland, and one of the most celebrated food scenes anywhere on earth.
We love giving travelers a real taste of Lima: ceviche at a beloved cevichería, a long tasting menu at one of the city's acclaimed restaurants, and an unhurried afternoon along the malecon. From here, the Pan-American Highway runs south down the desert coast to a string of remarkable places.
At Paracas and the dune oasis of Huacachina you find towering sand and the wildlife-rich Ballestas islands, and further on lie the Nazca Lines, vast geoglyphs etched into the desert floor and best appreciated from a light aircraft. It is a fascinating, varied stretch of the country, and an easy, rewarding bookend to the highlands.
