I fell in love with traveling at the age of 3. The first time I ever left my home in Dallas, Texas was to visit my family in Lima, Peru. Throughout my life, I have visited Peru three times and have been lucky enough to explore this beautiful country that has so much to offer. With my first two visits, I stayed relatively close to the capital, Lima. One of the first places we’ll talk about is the city of MIraflores, which brings together the beautiful sights of the ocean with shops the whole family can enjoy downtown. Restaurants, stores, and even an arcade take over for people of all ages to engage in. There are many opportunities for people to dig into Peruvian cuisine. From lomo saltado to ceviche, papas a la huancaina to inca kola. And although some may not be up to try cuy (guinea pig), there’s tons of other foods to try, including my personal favorite dessert, lucuma. Many people consider Peru to have one of the best cuisines in the world, so it is definitely something you wouldn’t want to miss out on! And even if you can’t fly all the way to Peru, there are many Peruvian-owned restaurants in America that still contain the well-known dishes on their menu. Another well-known attraction that excites people with its colorful and magical show is El Parque Agua. Although the title directly translates to “water park”, this attraction is a water show that projects lights and images connected to music. There is also a zoo called “Parque de Las Leyendas”. This zoo is divided into 3 different parts: the mountains, the jungle, and the coast. Each area is represented by animals you would find in that relative place in Peru. And if those three things aren’t enough for you, there’s a small theme park called “La Granja Villa”. While Lima has so much to offer, the main reason why people visit Peru is to see one of the seven wonders of the world. Less than 700 miles away from Lima, you land in Cusco, home to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is an Incan city in the mountains, perfect for hiking. There are many walking tours to follow, but you can also explore the land by yourself. There is a lot of history that dates back to the 15th century for people to see. And although it might be a long and tiring walk at some points, the views and llamas make up for it. The sights are absolutely beautiful and although I may be biased, it is definitely one of my favorite places that I’ve ever visited. While I’ve already listed many different things to do in Peru, the list goes on for even longer. So if you ever get the chance to visit, make sure to try out as many things as possible. My mom currently lives there with her family and I’ll be returning in December over winter break. In just a few months, I’ll be able to indulge myself in this beautiful country once again.