If you are one of those people who love to travel on breaks, try Lima! Here are five reasons why you should visit the Peruvian capital.

1. FOOD

Peru has some, if not the best, food on Earth. Plates such as arroz chaufa, papa a la huancaina, ceviche, and lomo saltado represent the diversity in our gastronomy by African, European, Asian, Middle Eastern and influences. Peru has won the World's Leading Culinary Destination for the last five years in a row and three restaurants, all in Lima, ranked fourth, 14th, and 44th in the World's Best 50th Best Restaurants. These restaurants also ranked first, second and seventh in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants. In the last fifteen years, our gastronomy has gathered so much attention that it is pulling more tourists than Machu Picchu.

2. Larcomar

A huge complex built right in a cliff next to the ocean, Larcomar is basically a gigantic mall. It offers entertainment, awesome food, lots of shopping and best of all, a view of the ocean. They have over ten restaurants, ranging from traditional Peruvian to American, as well as fast food stops and desserts. They have a bowling alley, art galleries, and a little "amusement" park. Lima has many other modern attractions and they are all usually right next to the beach!

3. Nightlife

I landed in Lima around 2 a.m. and my expectations were to go home and knock out. Instead, we went to a rotisserie and had a small tour of the city. I was surprised that it was 2 a.m. and yet the streets were full, people were exercising and dancing, and 90% of restaurants were still open. In the states, I was used to leaving the bar around 2 a.m. when it closed and having to choose between McDonald's, Taco Bell or Waffle House for food. In Peru, nightclubs close between 4 and 6 a.m. and restaurants remain open so you can have a full meal for breakfast.

4. Historic Center

The best part of Lima for me was its history. It was the capital and most important city of the New World. It's buildings date back to the 1600s and you can see the direct Spanish influence in the center's rich colors and architecture. The cathedrals and museums, which have survived 4 major earthquakes, are open to the public. You can see the Historic Center virtually in this link. http://explorer360.org/peru/lima/lima-historic-cen...

5. The people

Although I am Peruvian, returning to Peru after 14 years had me in a kind of culture shock. The traffic is absolutely crazy, there is a lot of smog, and some parts in Lima are sketchy. However, my sister and I were always treated kindly. If possible, we wouldn't say we were from the US. But if we didn't understand anything, we would tell them and they would explain what they were talking about. Peruvians love the US and would love to hear about your experiences. They take pride in their country, as do I, and want your experience to be the best.