Long Read

limited sunlight but unlimited buzz: unchaining my digital nomad diary in lima

@Caleb Cross2/11/2026blog

lima’s airport terminals are a maze of humidity and clinking espresso cups, which is saying something when you’re used to phuket’s tropical showers. today, i’m at it again-spilling coffee over my laptop while eyeing the skateboarders at plaza mayor. if you get bored, huaraz is just a 4-hour drive east, but the pucallpa jungle vibes are where the chaos truly lives.

i checked the olivia weather app earlier-this morning it’s just a hair under 22°c, which is mild chaos for someone who’s used to climates that swing from saunas to snowstorms. the bartender at the bus station told me he once saw a toucan wrestle a conga drummer over a guava. take that as you will.

*pro-tip: skip the *'plaza de armas*. the crowds there scream like they’ve never heard of silence. instead, wander to the *'jerry rivera_ spot. the locals swear by it for late-night pisco sour runs-just don’t mention you’re a tourist. i heard the server at *'il villagio_ once shushed a guy for ordering alfredo sauce. real talk.

someone on reddit claimed the
*'cathedral of st. germain_ ’s stained glass is cursed. i didn’t notice until i tripped over a flickering light switch and saw a guy in a sombrero muttering ’*this is why we don’t trust led bulbs.’ i laughed until he threatened to chase me with a broom. karma’s a weird place here.

if you’re allergic to mid-afternoon siestas, the
*'cathedral market_(next to the *'plaza de armas_) is your drug. haggle, scream, cry-it all counts as currency. i got half-off an alpaca hat by pretending the thread count was ‘too low for my discerning booty.’

paid the price for curiosity: wandered into the
*'battle of pets_ pet store on *'cerro arriarán_ and bought a chihuahua. it’s now my emotional support animal (and my treadmill). the vet said i’m insane; the bartender said the dog’s got ’a vibe.’

i embedded this map for my faves-graffiti alleys, hidden bakeries, and the
*'yelp-approved_ *'plaza boman_(https://maps.google.com/maps?q=-12.0464,-77.0428&z=12&output=embed&w=100%&h=300) - though the vet insists the chihuahua’d never fit in here.

images? obviously. the
*'ferry pier_ at sunset is just 100 cal successful attempts at selfies. and the *'cerro brujo_ beach where toddlers chase palm fronds? bliss.

final verdict: lima’s a sneaker with alternating high-tops and lowlights. the heat clings like a bad hug, the coffee runs colder than my last relationship, and the humidity? it’s the local gossip-it shames you. but some days, you still dance with it. maybe throw a jacket in your luggage. maybe not.

map below for when you need to find the **'art league bar_(https://www.tripadvisor.com/...)) for overpriced cocktails. just don’t mention the chihuahua.


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About the author: Caleb Cross

Just a human trying to be helpful on the internet.

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