Surroundings, Lima

About 80km / 48mi inland from Lima is the the small town of San Pedro de Casta and just 3km / 2mi further on is Marcahuasi. Marcahuasi is a high plateau area with unique rock formations in the shape of animals, thought to be the result of wind erosion. Some of the rocks, for example, resemble a turtle, llama, people, and other forms.Occasionally locals arrange fiestas up here. Very few travelers seem to make the journey to Marcahuasi. Although it is relatively close to Lima, it is much higher, at an elevation of 4100m / 13,250ft. The best option is to spend a night at San Pedro de Casta, located at 3180m / 10,271ft above sea level, to acclimatize before visiting Marcahuasi.

Kilometer 97 on the Pan-American Highway is little more than a summer time party town. Although it operates only from January to March, this town's claim to fame is the numerous nightclubs that blast loud dance music all night long. The location, far from anywhere, makes it a convenient spot for this type of activity. There is literally nothing else around here.There is limited accommodation at Kilometer 97 and most people who come here from Lima take the bus back when they're finished their evening of partying. The area is pretty quiet during the day and deserted during the winter.

Just a one hour boat ride from the Port of Callao are the Palomino Islands, (Islas Palomino) a natural refuge for sea lions and sea birds. Visiting the Palomino Islands is a good option for people who are unable to see the Islas Ballestas near Pisco. The Palomino Islands are not as well known as the Islas Ballestas and are consequently less visited, but do provide an excellent alternative for those wanting to see some of Peru's natural aquatic attractions.A four hour round trip boat tour takes visitors out to the islands and also passed the islands of San Lorenzo and El Fronton.

About 70km / 42mi south of Lima is the small fishing town of Pucusana. There are a couple of small beaches here, the most popular being Playa de Las Ninfas and Playa Pucusana, both of which are in town. At low tide you can wade out to the nearby island of Isla Galápagos. The island is a residential area with a beautiful beach. Just outside of town is the more remote beach of Naplo.From the port it is possible to take a 45 minute boat tour of the local area or arrange a fishing trip. Also of interest in town is the Museo de los Delfines, a small museum focused on marine life around Pucusana.

The main attraction in Barranca is the nearby Chimú ruin known as Fortress of Paramonga or La Fortaleza. Generally regarded as one of the best Chimú ruins in Peru, the Fortress of Paramonga was actually more likely a temple than a military fort. Later, under Inca rule, the building was used as a temple of the sun. The adobe temple is huge and can be easily seen from the Pan-American Highway.The Fortress of Paramonga is approximately 15 km / 9mi north of Barranca. Barranca itself is a decent enough town and can be a good base for exploration around this area.

In the Port of Callao is the pentagonal shaped, stone walled Fortaleza del Real Felipe. It was built to defend against pirate attacks, which were common at the time it was constructed. It later played an important role in the War of Independence. Fortaleza del Real Felipe was originally designed by Luis Gaudin and completed in 1773 by Viceroy Amat.The fort is also home to a small Military History Museum, Museo del Ejército, which may be of some interest to those with an interest in the subject.