Lima (Callao)

Named in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro to commemorate its founding on the Catholic holiday of Three Kings Day, Lima is majestically sophisticated on a gorgeous oceanfront. A mix of cultures, climates, and architecture, Lima seamlessly blends its 500 years of history – pre-Columbian, colonial, Spanish, and Asian – into a contemporary recipe that consistently earns it the title of "world's capital of cuisine". Savour its soul in lime-marinated ceviche, lomo saltado, and potent pisco sours. Stroll flower-line boulevards in the colonial quarter, which was declared a "Cultural Heritage of Humankind". Picture yourself in the Barranco amongst the artistic and bohemian. Listen to the stomping boots of the Changing of the Guards at Government Palace. Venture further afield into the magnificent wetlands for a moment of mindfulness. Saddle a high-stepping Caballo de Paso, a horse breed unique to Peru. Or answer the call of the wild in nearby Torres del Paine National Park to trek through forests, fjords and glaciers.