Callao (Lima)

Callao is Lima's port, about 14 kilometres west of the city centre. The port area itself is industrial, so most passengers head straight into Lima by taxi or organised tour. The historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, clusters around Plaza de Armas with the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima and the Church and Convent of San Francisco, which has catacombs lined with bones stacked into geometric patterns underneath. A taxi from the port to Miraflores, Lima's upscale coastal district, takes about 40 minutes depending on traffic. Miraflores has the best ceviche restaurants, the Indian Market for textiles and silver, and clifftop parks overlooking the Pacific. Lomo saltado, a stir-fry of beef, onions, tomatoes and thick-cut chips, is another local dish worth ordering. Use marked taxis rather than flagging random cars, and carry soles rather than dollars for smaller vendors.