Lima Excursion Review: Lunahuana & Cerro Azul – What to Know

Thinking about escaping the Lima bustle for a day? So, too a trip to Lunahuana and Cerro Azul might be just the ticket! Very close to the city, they provide a peek into a calmer, quite different side of Peru. The ride itself shows off desert landscapes that are, in a way, just fascinating! Now, it might seem like any old tour, that’s alright, but knowing what to anticipate is that much more helpful.

First Stop: The Charms of Lunahuana

So, after that drive from Lima, you find yourself in Lunahuana, basically a small town known for a couple cool things. It’s almost Peru’s hub for adventure, especially if you’re into that whitewater rafting thing. A bit smaller than other, much larger river runs, still the rapids can be just exciting, that’s really something! Any of your tour operators can, generally, set you up with a local company that’ll kit you out with your life jacket and a paddle.

Yet, rafting is that little slice of what Lunahuana is like. Apparently, the town’s vineyards are just delightful. What’s interesting about them is that they produce pisco and wine. Lots of tours include vineyard visits where you get to sample those locally crafted drinks, a bit stronger and sweeter than you might typically expect. This really adds, I believe, to that local, rural touch that makes the place kind of great.

There’s the central plaza in town, too. Lots of people hang out here, which means you have that many more little spots to sit and enjoy that people-watching thing, just experiencing that easygoing pace of village life. A couple of those tours usually give you free time to wander. It is an opportunity, perhaps, to peek into tiny shops. You can even grab a bite at one of those traditional restaurants. The food’s just filling and offers an honest taste of what Peruvian countryside cooking has to offer, just saying.

Cerro Azul: Where the Desert Kisses the Pacific

From Lunahuana, it’s usually onto Cerro Azul. It seems that, visually, it’s very different – trading those green vineyards for a coast vibe. Traditionally, it’s a fishing village. Just today, there is a relaxed seaside setting, in a way, that is very welcoming.

Lots of the attraction is the beach itself. Many surfers like to come here, that is their space to, allegedly, ride waves, or perhaps just, like, try. For the non-surfers, maybe a long stroll along the shore can be just as fun, especially when the sun is close to setting. It seems that there are also some little seafood shacks where you can find lunch, or you can always seek that photo-op spot, so that is something!

Cerro Azul also holds a touch of that interesting history. If you ask, it’s said, almost, that there’s an old pier. In prior times, they would move cotton down the coast from here. Now, those ruins are quite pretty, particularly against that sea. So, those old structures really make that space have more atmosphere.

Planning that Day Trip

Now, if a Lunahuana and Cerro Azul sounds good for the moment, so, booking that excursion, is really the beginning! Most tours begin super early in Lima so that they get that entire drive and the daytime activities in.

The buses will generally have air conditioning but check just in case, yet pack very light! It would be best if you took layers, sunscreen, and that hat to handle changes in sun or temperature. A bit on the practical side, yet bring small bills. Loads of spots, you see, may not take cards.

Tours are usually that set schedule. You need to be ready to follow it. Typically, they only have a little time at each stop. But this pace means you get a bit of two really neat spots near Lima.

Local Food Flavors: A Taste of the Region

The thing about those excursions, is that they can serve up way more than sights, by the way. They’re really an entree into the food from this particular region of Peru. Many people like to point out, too, that lunches are where your chance is to try some meals you just might not come across in Lima, you know.

In Lunahuana, that could possibly be something like sopa seca, very interesting! Some say that it’s like a dry noodle dish, flavorful, and is almost that countryside meal. They also like camarones al ajo, and basically they mean shrimp in garlic sauce, almost like a nice, satisfying dish to have around water. Usually the tours include that stop at that local restaurant. They often serve these traditional items, I gather.

Seafood is a popular choice around Cerro Azul, unsurprisingly. Ceviche is just about always a reliable pick. Restaurants serve this fresh, in fact, cured in citrus juices. In a way, that’s almost essential Peruvian eats. If you desire something warm, that’s not a problem! Lots of places also have that pescado a lo macho. They prepare that with seafood sauce that gives it a little zing. Anyway, if you love to experience regional foods, very similar to the rest, take chances and sample that menu on this day trip!

Potential Drawbacks? Keep them in Mind

The ride to Lunahuana, generally, is not that super short thing, almost more like two to three hours, could be! It means waking at an hour when it’s almost super early so you don’t spend a significant amount of your day commuting, you see. Yet it’s the same ride back later, and basically some people get tired from the drive, you know?

Keep in mind that both spots get loads of people coming from Lima, especially over any Peruvian holiday thing or weekend, you know. Sometimes those attractions get kind of crowded. It’s not something everyone will find perfect, you see.

Another little fact, many spots in those areas might not have somebody who speaks anything in English. So that makes knowing at least, just a little, basic Spanish helpful so that you can get the best experiences, I would say.

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