While traveling to Peru, you might have to have a stop-over in Lima. In this case, the best solution is to book a hotel in Miraflores. In contrast to dirty and dangerous districts of predominant part of Lima, it is an oasis of calmness and cleanliness, protected by a police patrol staying on duty in every corner. Wind-surfers assault incessant ocean waves beneath the beautiful coast road passing on the top of the hill. Just a little paradise.
- ‘Sorry, where shall I find the crafts from Alpaca?’ - I asked the receptionist in my tiny guesthouse.
- ‘Almost everywhere’ - was an answer. – ‘Just there, out the corner, you will find one shop, and in a hundred meters’ - the next one...
The main alpaca shops that deservedly pretend to be named as "brand", are Sol Alpaca and Cuna: one can easily find them in Lucas street; in Largomar - the most popular shopping center in the city, and even in the airport. The choice is immense; the prices are quite high but almost equal in all of the shops - but just in Lima. I bought a poncho for 450 sols (at around 140 USD); one month later I've seen exactly the same one in the Pier 39, San Francisco, for 350 USD.
The local market - one of several of them - must be seen. There you can find the most improbable things you won't see anywhere else: a lot of local hand-made crafts, drinks and candies made from coca, "traditional" cases for mobiles and laptops, "precious" stones as well as huge amount of things that I don't even know how to describe.
In the evening people come to the seafront and admire the sunset. It was an impressive sight, indeed - and don't leave your camera in the hotel as I did, although it is very safe in this part of Lima.
In the evening people come to the seafront and admire the sunset. It was an impressive sight, indeed - and don't leave your camera in the hotel as I did, although it is very safe in this part of Lima.
After dark, people move to Lagomar - the huge underground shopping mall going inside of the rock for a several levels. There you can find whatever you want - all world-famous and local brands, likable craft shops, a lot of cafes and restaurant for every taste and budget, cinema, children attractions, chocolate shop with quite remarkable and delicious local-made chocolate, and many other beautiful and delicious things.
If you are short of time in Lima and you are after shopping or safe walking, you better stay closer to Lagomar. It is the best place to start exploring Miraflores, where one can relax before or after a jungle trail for a couple of days.
