LIMA

Altitude: 154 m above sea level
Climate: 15–28 °C | Mild year-round, humid from May to October (the “garúa” fog of Lima)
How to get there: Jorge Chávez International Airport

Lima has a bad reputation as a gray, chaotic city, but the truth is different. Yes, there is traffic and winter fog, but there are also neighborhoods full of life, a food scene that competes with any capital in the world, and a history that blends the pre-Hispanic and colonial in a unique way.

The historic center transports you back to the viceregal era in two seconds. You walk through the Plaza Mayor and are surrounded by 16th-century mansions. The Convent of San Francisco has real catacombs below, with bones of thousands of people arranged in geometric patterns. Sounds macabre, but it’s fascinating.

Now, if you come to Lima and don’t eat well, you’ve wasted your trip. I’m not just talking about expensive restaurants (though we have those, and they’re incredible). I mean ceviche in a neighborhood cevichería, anticuchos in the street, a chicharrón sandwich at the market. Food here is a religion.

Miraflores and Barranco are the districts you’ll probably spend the most time in. Miraflores is modern, with parks facing the sea where people exercise at any hour, and the perfect malecón to see sunsets. Barranco is more bohemian, with colorful streets, urban art, hidden bars, and the famous Bridge of Sighs where you have to make a wish.

What you can’t miss: A real food tour, not those touristy things. Go to a market, understand the ingredients, try everything. And if you like surfing, Lima’s beaches have waves all year.