February 2026 Newsletter – Lima, Peru
Hello
It’s been quite a while since our last newsletter because life got a bit busy. We spent the first half of November crossing the Atlantic on a cruise ship from Barcelona to Miami, and arrived in Florida in time to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with our daughters.
Over the past eight yearts, we have moved about once a month. As we came to the end of 2025, Steve and I found it was getting tiresome to move so frequently. Now we’re experimenting with staying in one place up to three months and taking a few side trips from there.
What We’ve Been Doing
We left the U.S. in mid-January and headed to Lima, Peru. Honestly, we haven’t done much sightseeing in Lima. After a whirlwind stretch in Florida, balancing fun with family and friends alongside the less glamourous necessities like medical appointments, moving our storage unit, and replenishing our wardrobes we were ready fo a pause. We agreed to take time in Lima to relax, and we have.
This is our second trip to Peru. The first was in 2019. Then we toured the country with Peru Hop and saw so much that we don’t feel the need to be in full tourist mode this time.
We’ve been busy mapping our the rest of this year’s travel plans, switching from a Mac to an HP computer (Steve), and weighing the direction to take my blog (Linda, more on that below).
Where We’re Staying
We put off booking our Airbnb until October. Ideally, we should have booked it five of six months in advance, so the pickings were slim.
However, we did find a great one-bedroom apartment in the desirable Miraflores district. Best of all, we have a million-dollar ocean view for $56 per night.
A Bit of Lima Sightseeing
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please check our privacy policy. Thanks!
We took this Peruvian cooking class with Luchito’s. Ours lasted two and a half hours and included plenty of hands-on food prep followed by the best part, eating what we made. If you would rather shop for your ingredients before stepping into the kitchen there is also a four-hour option that included a market visit.
When we were in Lima in 2019, we enjoyed the street art in the Barranco district. This time, we took this tour through Viator to learn more about the area and the stories behind the art.
The Larco Museum is a must-see, even if Pre-Columbia’s art isn’t your thing. The exhibits are beautifully presented and surprisingly engaging. I recommend taking a guided tour, where you will learn fascinating details about Peru’s indigenous cultures and leave far more impressed than you expected.
A stop at Cafe Museo Larcomar makes a nice break Just look at how lovely it is.
Five Things About Lima
Do not flush toilet paper. Place it in the waste basket next to the toilet. Not fun, but necessary.
Do not drink the tap water. You can buy bottled water inexpensively, or better yet, boil or filter it. Learn more here.
The bus system is confusing. Buses of various colors and sizes are everywhere, and they are usually packed. We chose not to use them, and judging from this article, that was the right choice.
Uber is easy and inexpensive. It seems to take longer to find a ride than in other cities, so allow a little extra time. Lima is the first place where we’ve been given a PIN for each ride.
English isn’t prevalent. Don’t expect the level of English you find in Europe, although we did get English-language menus at many restaurants. We’ve also gotten help from store clerks and fellow shoppers a few times. Think of it as a chance to improve your Spanish. And if all fails, there’s always Google Translate.
I’d like to share two stories related to the above items with you:
First – Our lack of Spanish skills came to a head when we tried to make a reservation for Valentine’s Day. I called two restaurants but was unable to communicate. The best I could determine was that they were full. Both were too far to walk to make a reservation so we had dinner at home.
We celebrated the day after, and it turned out to be the better move. We had a great meal at Salve Luigi and skipped the crowds.
Second – We’ve been traveling with a walter filtering pitcher since 2022 and use it everywhere. We needed a replacement and I found a slim pitcher by Pur. While checking out, the cashier commented on the new design. I said it should be perfect for traveling. She replied that she wasn’t going anywhere she can’t drink the water.
As I left the store, I had two thoughts The first was that filtering water is a small price to pay for seeing amazing places. The second was that she’s living in a country plagued by mass shootings, where children are murdered at school. I’ll gladly filter my water.
What’s New of the Website
Our most recent post is a review of our 2025 travel expenses. Spoiler alert: We spent more in 2025 than in any previous year, but it was worth it.
I’ve been sharing our travel experiences on Wind and Whim since 2019, and it feels like time for a refresh. I’m working on shifting the focus to be more practical while possibly targeting a specific type of traveler. I would love your input. What would you like to see on our website? You can reply below.
Where to Next?
Steve and I will leave Lima in early April and Head to Tenerife, Spain, for a 12-week stay. We’re ;looking forward to visits from friends and family in our of our favorite places.
After that, we’ll spend four weeks in Flic en Flac, Mauritius, a small island off the east coast of Africa.
Then it’s on to Bali, Indonesian, for 8 weeks. While there, we’ll take side trips to Singapore and Komodo National Park, home of the komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard.
That’s our February update. If you’ve enjoyed that’s newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend and booking your next trip of activity through our website. And if you’re feeling generous, you can buy me a coffee.
Happy traveling,
Linda
This newsletter was sent to subscribers through MailChimp on March 1, 2026. If you are not a subscriber but would like to receive monthly emails and post notifications, you can subscribe here.