Peru is South America’s numero uno hotspot — for more than Machu Picchu

Llamas, ponchos, Machu Picchu and Paddington Bear, Peru is often encapsulated into cliches. But step beyond and you’ll discover a country of diverse landscapes — mountains, sea, desert and Amazonian jungle — and captivating culture.

Below, we’ve outlined a perfect introductory itinerary for an authentic experience in South America’s hottest nation.

Simply capital

Lima, the port capital of Peru, is a sprawling urban landscape, with roughly 11 million residents, high rises, snarled traffic and an excessive number of casinos. It usually marks the start for all points in Peru.

Divided into 43 districts, Lima is trending in the same direction as Mexico City in terms of food and art. Miraflores has become the place for foodies, with top-rated restaurants, as has Barranco to its south.

Once a fishing village, Barranco is also now the go-to part of Lima for shops, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, clubs and art museums, all of which are often found in brightly colored buildings that were once the beach mansions of Lima’s wealthiest.

There’s a vibrant, boho crowd in the mural-strewn streets. Standing behind it all is the dilapidated neo-Gothic remains of La Ermita de Barranco church, looking like the backdrop for a post-apocalyptic movie. The current structure dates from 1901, but fires and earthquakes have taken a toll, although restoration works are ongoing.

You can put the bustle behind you with a rejuvenating stay at the Westin Lima (from $261 per night) in the upscale neighborhood of San Isidro. The high-rise hotel boasts views over the city lights and claims to have the best urban spa in South America.

Best of all, their Alphonse speakeasy is a well-hidden, cozy mafia-themed bar where you can get your tequila fix.

Or, have the first of many of Peru’s own, the pisco sour — Peruvian brandy, blended with limes, egg whites and sugar, which goes down a little too easy.

See food

A 4-hour drive south from Lima will take you through seemingly endless desert with piles of sand stretching to the horizon. Eventually, irrigated fields emerge and you arrive at the playground of Paracas and its beachfront hotels popular with Lima residents for weekend escapes.

It’s situated on a peninsula and surrounded by the rugged, nature-filled Paracas…