The verdant hills of Lachay.
I was left glowing after a day trip to the Lomas de Lachay (Lachay Hills), a national reserve two hours north of Lima, with its own micro-climate.
At this time of year, October, it is well-know for its abundant flora, the result of the consistent moisture in the air, in an area that is otherwise desert.
Unexpectedly, we were in brilliant sunshine all day … which explains the sunburn!
On the way home, we stopped at the sea-side town of Chancay.
Most visitors here go to the faux castle, El Castillo de Chancay, built on the cliff-side overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
It is a Disney-esque pastiche of traditional European styles, constructed by a prominent local lady, in the 1920s and 30s, in memory of her husband.
An image from Hare Krishna cosmology on the Ecotruly restaurant window.
Now, after extensive refurbishment, it is operated as a museum and tourist attraction, with a pool, waterslide, restaurant, as well as photos from Peru’s early Republican period and relics from the Chancay pre-Columbian culture.
However, we headed for the Hare Krishna community of Ecotruly, located on the beach below the Pan-American Highway.
Here we had a chance to hear a little about their lifestyle and belief system, try ceviche and anticuchos made of soya … and even do some chanting.