An expert expat’s guide to Lima, Peru
The expat
After four years of continuous cancer treatment, former Manly local and tech founder Chad Walkaden had his travel ban lifted in 2018. He moved to Peru, where he has been operating his mobile application for research on cannabis and psychedelics, ONTRACKA.com.
Chad Walkaden
See
Penas are places to eat, drink and go dancing while being immersed into a unique Peruvian cultural experience, as you see the many different regions of Peru displayed through a fun night of dance and music. The Pena Don Porfirio is one of the best experiences I’ve had here: it’s intimate, with a bottle of pisco on the little tables, and everyone’s up there dancing traditional dances.
Do
Peruvian culture is all about the food and nothing shows this more than at the World’s 50 Best Restaurant’s top venue for 2023, Central, located in the bohemian district of Barranco. That said, if you are on a budget or you don’t wish to wait 15 months to get a table, there are so many restaurants, cevicherias (restaurants specialising in ceviche and seafood), markets or local customs like eating cuy (guinea pig), anticucho (beef skewers), chicharron (pork) or meat cooked in a Caja China oven or a charcoal barbecue, that are all a must for your stay in Peru.
Central was awarded the top honour in 2023’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Eat
Finding the best ceviche in Lima is a topic worthy of a whole post itself. There are so many cevicherias that provide a plethora of options to excite your tastebuds, but my little tip is to book a seat in advance for midday at a renowned place called Chez Wong. It doesn’t look like much, but order the Ceviche classico – lime and the fish – and thank me later. Enrique Leon García 114, La Victoria.
Drink
Being one of the World’s 50 Best Bars, Carnaval offers you a night of exclusive and unique drinks that contain Peruvian flavours. As it’s the place to be, clear your calendar for the following morning and make sure you dress to impress.
Lake Titicaca: Peru’s natural marvels beckon to be explored.Credit: iStock
Thrive
From the Amazon, through the Andes and down to Lake Titicaca, Peru has such an incredible list of options that should be explored and experimented. While places like Cusco are a must, if your time is limited, there are mountains closer to Lima that are suitable for trekking, high-quality places to surf approximately 90 minutes south of Lima, mystical plant-based medicine ceremonies that are legal in Peru as they are traditional medicines, or a three-hour visit to the picturesque Huacachina village in Ica to see an oasis set amid sand dunes.
Avoid
While I don’t want to be that guy talking about safety, the reality of living in Lima means that you need to be on alert. This means no walking around with your iPhone, flashing all your jewellery or being out alone at night.
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