The Fisherman And Ceviche Culture Of Lima Tour

This experience was wonderful for a solo traveler. As a female on my own, Alfredo made me feel safe during the whole tour. We toured a fishing village/market, took a boat ride on a fishing boat around the harbor, stopped at a shipyard to see how the boats were made, and finished our tour with a make and enjoy your own ceviche. What a memorable tour and tour guide!!! I would definitely recommend AlternativePeru and Alfredo for your tour.

Great ceviche making experience - I recommend. We were party of 2, about 5 hours of seeing off-the-track Lima, nice private car, 1 guide + driver, on their game, very professional. Would do again.

We really enjoyed this tour ! We got to learn a lot about the culture and fishing industry. The ceviche was fabulous !

Alfredo took us on a fun and very interesting tour in Chorillos. We loved visiting with Winfredo, the boat builder, and making our own Ceviche was amazing! We highly recommend this experience!

This was hands down the best tour that we did while in Peru. We already had done a 'food tour' in Barranco which was kinda generic with a company I dont even remember. In contrast, in this Alternative Peru tour not only do you learn how to make ceviche from an awesome chef in yes an "off the beaten path" restaurant which is still in an amazing location, but we learned about the neighborhood and met not only some fishermen but even the boat builder. All along the way learning of the history of Peru and of the neighborhood as well as discussing very current issues. A truly immersive experience. This is a locally owned and operated company with the goal of sharing Peru with the world while benefiting the local professionals. Visit their website in case not all of their tours are available of trip advisor. Highly, highly recommend! If we had more time I would have booked another tour with the same company.

You get to see parts of Lima not often seen. Seeing how the wooden boats are constructed by hand was interesting and to see the old part of Lima and the construction of the old homes. Certainly an interesting tour meeting the true locals

discovered Alternate Peru through several YouTube travel videos, and I’m so glad I did. This company offers a truly unique and authentic way to experience Peru—beyond the typical tourist path. We were warmly greeted and personally picked up from our hotel by the owner himself for the Fishermen & Ceviche Tour in Lima. The day started at a local fish market, where we got a firsthand look at the incredible variety of fresh seafood. From there, we visited a traditional boat-making site where wooden boats are still crafted by hand—an incredible glimpse into local craftsmanship. One of the most memorable parts of the tour was visiting a fourth-generation rooster breeder who also owns a stunning hilltop restaurant overlooking the city. He prepared fresh ceviche right in front of us and walked us through each step of the process—it was unforgettable. Our guide was outstanding—knowledgeable, personable, and eager to answer all our questions. We also visited the iconic Jesus sculpture overlooking Lima, which offered breathtaking views. We were dropped back at our hotel feeling enriched, safe, and far more connected to the culture than we ever expected. If you’re in Lima and want a deeper, more meaningful experience, I highly recommend this tour.

I highly recommend this tour we off the beaten path to see a Lima community by the ocean the history, fish market and the fish nets being repair and new nets being made. The boat yard where you could see new boats being built. The owner has been doing this for 30 years plus. We met a chef that prepared lunch his home is beneath the restaurant. The owner also had prized rooster for cock fighting. This has been in the family for years. The views were incredible.

Alfredo is a phenomenal tour guide. Showed us the behind the scenes Lima. From the fishing village to boat building to the best ceviche making! Incredible.

Alfredo was so knowledgeable and we had a great time on the fishing boat, walking through the fish market, and seeing how boats are made and finally seeing our ceviche lunch being prepared! Great way to get off the beaten path & see how locals live. Alfredo was a great guide and took care of everything. Highly recommended!

We were not sure what to expect but we had a fabulous experience seeing 'the other side of Lima' in the fishing town of Chorrillos with its seafood market and pier, where local fishermen sell their catch of the day and repair fishing nets and boats for their next adventure offshore. We also tried a delicious Pan con Pejerrey (silver side) in one of their little restaurants. Then we visited an amazing artisanal boat’s workshop - how they can work in very small spaces is hard to comprehend! We also we met the Casas family, a local family who are preserving traditions from the first Spanish Peruvian settlers, locally known as “Criollos” whose culture has blended for more than 2 centuries with the indigenous, African and Asian traditions to create the unique coastal culture of Peru. Following that we had a delicious traditional ceviche prepared by Julio, who showed us how to make it with local chili peppers like rocoto, yellow chili, and limo chili. Finally, we drove to the Morro Solar to see the statue of the Christ of the Pacific, the monument to the Soldiers, and the General Miguel Iglesias, and of course the amazing view of Chorrillos and Lima. This tour was full of traditions, fishing culture, history, ceviche and amazing views of Lima and its beautiful coast bathed by the Pacific Ocean. We returned to our hotel via the Barranca district and we appreciated Alfredo's flexibility because that was not on the itinerary. All in all, it was an extremely interesting and informative tour and very different from regular tours of Lima. We enjoyed it immensely.

Wow, just wow. Our guide, Alfredo, was a fountain of local information, very friendly and helpful. For those timid about Spanish, he speaks English very fluently. And he arranges for locals to help with the tour experience so that they, too, are financially compensated and benefit from these kinds of things, which is a major plus to us when we do any tour activities. My husband and I were picked up at our hotel lobby, got in the car that Alfredo had arranged, and the driver took us first to the docks/beach at Chorillos, where we walked through the fish market, learned the history of the wall murals, and strolled out to the end of the pier. Then we took a short (25 min) boat ride around and down the coastline, weaving through the artisanal boats and the fisherman on the water. Our captain was very capable out there on the waves. Afterwards, we grabbed a quick bite at a local lunch spot there at the docks by the market. Super! Then, we got back in with Alfredo and our driver to head up into the neighborhood in Chorillos, where we learned a bit about the architecture history and met a famous local boat master crafter who has been trained by his father and makes these fishing boats by hand in a very meticulous process. Very interesting. Then we moved on to meet a local man who runs a little restaurant called Estación Vista Mar Chorillos. We watched him prepare ceviche for us, and WOWZERS. Ok, we are from New Orleans, so we know what good food tastes like. This was on par with any of the best restaurants we have back home. After eating, we took another trip driving up further sort of behind the neighborhood and up onto the cliff/hill where there is a huge statue of Christ and a wonderful view. There were other little things along the way that were great about this tour as well, but you really need to go and do it yourself. The money is well worth the experience, the food, and the knowledge gained. Thank you so much to our awesome tour guide!

If you’re looking for a tour to see the real side of Lima than look no further! Alfredo shows you the history and teaches you what life is really like. What a great experience!

This was such a full day of experiences; we really had a lot of fun. I give this tour my highest recommendation! The day started when our guide, Alfredo, picked us up at our hotel in Miraflores in a large comfortable SUV. The tour started in a small fishing market in Chorrillos, a district in Lima and part of the city of Lima. We were able to see the fish merchants cleaning fresh caught fish and preparing for the day. In other areas, you could watch fishermen repairing nets, holding meetings, and other things related to the fishing industry. We then took a boat ride on a small fishing boat and road out to get the best view of the harbor and the cliffs above. When we got back to shore Alfredo told us a lot about the murals on the walls of the market buildings and what it all meant. There is a lot of history there! We ordered fish sandwiches at a restaurant right there next to the fish market. It doesn’t get any fresher than that! It was so good! The next activity was probably my favorite. Alfredo took us into the heart of the district with a very long history, he pointed out a lot of architectural details on the buildings as we walked through narrow alleys until we arrived at a boat builder’s shop. The boat builder, Wilfredo, who showed us the entire process of how he makes the wooden fishing boats. His father and grandfather were boat builders which makes it all the more interesting. I am an amateur woodworker, so it was an enjoyable part of the day to meet somebody who makes his living building wooden boats. We left the boat shop and immediately went up the street to Julio’s very large house with a restaurant above it. This is a very large house that has been in the family for about five generations. This tour really provides an opportunity to really meet local Lima residents and is really what traveling is all about. Julio showed us around his home which included an animal sanctuary of sorts. The views from his home are of the sea and you see that view from every room in the house. We ended up on the top of the home where his family runs a small restaurant. Julio gave us a very detailed cooking lesson on how to make ceviche, and then we had lunch. It was a great meal and a lot of fun spending time with the very sociable Julio. After lunch we went up to the top of the cliffs and got to see the Jesus statute and enjoy the views. Overall, it was a fantastic day. I really feel we got to meet interesting local people and learn about their lives and also eat their food. I highly recommend this tour! You will get exposed to a part of Lima that you will not get to see otherwise and meet people that are fun and interesting. Alfredo speaks very good English and is very well educated, so communication will not be a problem. Do not miss your chance for this unique, once in a lifetime experience.

Really great experience and you support a good cause in the process. We got to see a different side of Lima with a super knowledgeable and nice guide. The ceviche was fantastic. Interesting visit to the fisherman’s association and a boat ride, then a visit with a master craftsman boat builder. That may have been the coolest part.

We enjoyed Alfredo’s tour. Pick up and drop off at the hotel were seamless with great communication beforehand. It was very special to see the artisanal fishing boats of Chorillos and go out on one of these boats to understand the fishing life of these people and the coast of Lima from the ocean view. It was also special to see the fish market and learn about the fishermans association and long history of this organization. Then we went to an artisanal boat building shop nearby to speak with the artisan who demonstrated how these boats are built in the traditional way. Amazing experience seeing the town of Chorillos and to be welcomed in the home of a local who prepared ceviche in front of us and served us in his very unique restaurant. Later the explanations of the various monuments on top of Morro Solar were so detailed, we were very impressed. Alfredo’s english is excellent. We had no trouble understanding him. Definitely recommend Alfredo and his company which has a big social conscience by supporting locals who might not otherwise have opportunities.

What a lovely way to see a bit of Lima that I otherwise wouldn’t see! As a solo traveler I felt very much at ease. Alfredo, the guide, was fantastic. He answered all my questions and his pride for Lima and Peru was evident.

The entire tour was excellent. The guide was very good, knowledgeable and friendly. The tour gives you a cultural experience of the normal people in the area.

This was possibly one of the best tours my husband and I have ever taken! The pickup and return from the port were timely, the tour amazing and information interesting. In this tour you'll see the real authentic side of Lima, the Chorillos area and learn much about the common man. You'll take a small boat to another bit bigger boat and ride along the coastline, visit a small fish market, walk through the old area of Chorillos, see a man who build boats one at a time, learn and see how ceviche is made and then eat it. That ceviche was the best we'd ever tasted! If you're flexible and open to adventure, take this tour!

This was possibly one of the best tours we've ever taken and we've taken many! I will say that it's not for the faint of heart and is definitely for those with very good mobility and an interest in seeing the true side of life. Pickup and drop off we're perfect. We spent most of the time outside of Lima in the Chorillos area. While traveling both there and back the information and history given was wonderful. We saw the fish market, ride in a small boat to a bit larger boat to see the coastline. We walked along a frugal area of Chorillos, saw an amazing and authentic boat yard, watched fresh ceviche being made and then ate it! Wow! What a treat! We would highly recommend this tour!

This half-day tour was a great way to see and experience local culture. Alfredo was prompt in his pick-up and knew a lot about the local culture. His local contacts were amazing and really allowed us to see and experience aspects of Peru we would not have otherwise. The stop at a local restaurant for ceviche was amazing and so tasty!

The tour is unique, interesting and informative. Alfredo helped us above and beyond just the tour to ensure we had a good trip to Peru. The driver was very professional as well. The fishing town of Chorrillos is part of Lima. But we would never find our own way to it. If you want to experience something off the beaten path, this is the tour for you.

Alfredo was prompt, graciously picked us up from our Miraflores hotel, fluent in English, and very informative! Easily my favorite part of the day was being able to watch fresh ceviche being made, but that was just the tip of the iceberg, as there was so much more to the day. Everything was thoughtfully planned, and there was no long drives, or long waits in traffic etc. My cousin and I had a great time!

Everything!! Alfredo and my driver were the best, on time , fact filled, totally took care of me, showed me things that I hadn’t planned on, top notch professionals all the way, the ceviche was the best ever!!

I had the best opportunity to learn how to execute the perfect ceviche with different techniques and skills I normally used. My guide, Alberto was not only friendly but also knowledgable about the area and fluent in English. I told him I am a chef and he has set up a cook along alongside the ceviche master of Churillos. I had an amazing time. Not only that, I also had the opportunity to learn about boat building, the different types of wood and also the history of cock fightings. Was an amazing day overall. I would definitely recommend this tour to other tourists because this is something unusual and almost impossible to do it without Alternative Peru.

Nothing I say here can do the experience we shared any justice. Alfredo and the driver picked us up at our Airbnb. I wish I could remember the drivers name as he was very friendly and open to all of our questions. We started the day at the Chorrillos fishing village and we were shown around the market. Alfredo introduced us to a tasty simple fried sardine sandwich that is very popular there. Next we went out on a fishing boat to learn more about the area and the fishermen that work the local waters. The colors of the boats and the people we met were equally beautiful. Next we were taken up into Chorrillos and shown around the historic village by Julio, a member of one of the oldest families in the area. His pride for his village and the history were very noticeable. We saw where all the boats from the village were made, by one boat maker. We were then shown where Julio and his father breed and raise champion fighting birds. My favorite part of the trip is when we made it to the top of their house where Julio has a small restaurant where he prepares and serves the best Ceviche I have ever had. Julio showed us how he prepares the fish and explained the whole process. After we filled our bellies with fresh seafood and our hearts with conversation and connections we headed out to the top of Chorrillos for the most amazing views. Thank you to Alfredo, Julio and all the people we met and connected with. You will all be forever burned in our memories and on our hearts.

This was the best activity we did on our short trip to Lima in Nov2019. We did The Fishing Culture of Lima tour, taken through the fish market, took a quick boat ride in the bay, visited a boat carpenter's workshop, and a local's home (the Casas family) in Chorrillos, while learning about the importance and rich history of the area. There was a beautiful display of a variety of roosters, and the best ceviche we had was here; made by a local who showed us step by step and fresh caught! (Thanks Julio!) Everyone was very hospitable. Shout out to Alfredo and Placido for a great experience. Highly recommended if you want a breath of fresh air while staying in the big city. You really get to know a place and it's people.

Our family recently went on the fishing culture tour of Chorillo, just south of Lima. We had a great time – – it was an interesting, comfortable and enlightening experience. Our guide was Alfredo, a Puruvian who has traveled extensively himself and who is fully fluent in English. He is extremely knowledgeable about Peruvian culture, society, and politics. We visited the fish market, the boat workshop, and the home of a local family that raises roosters and runs a restaurant. There we learned about creole music and dined on delicious ceviche made by the mother of the family. We then went on to the hillside overlooking Chorillo where we had a great view and learned more about local history. Throughout the tour, Alfredo provided insightful commentary and enjoyable company. If you want to get off the beaten path and have a unique experience, this is the tour for you.

A well organized day with Alfredo, our guide and Placido, our very capable driver, who safely transported us to multiple experiences in heavy, challenging Lima traffic. Alfredo speaks impeccable English and his knowledge and passion for his country is evident. The experiences take you directly to the community and you meet the people in their own homes and places of work and hear their stories, struggles, achievements and dreams. Local guides joined us in two settings to enhance our understanding of the area. One of our highlights was joining a family at their local restaurant, watching the preparation of ceviche, tasting his delicious recipe and finishing the meal with music and dancing. Another highlight was visiting a family in their home, meeting the children and hearing about the mother’s achievement of becoming a community leader and successfully bringing electricity to her area of the settlement. Alfredo is very organized and maximizes your time throughout the day, noting points of interest and answering all our questions about his country while we travelled to our destinations. Excellent communication prior to our arrival in Peru and clear instructions on what to expect. If you are looking for a tour that you will remember long after your vacation ends, this is the one to choose.

100% worth and recommended - it lets you explore what the real life looks like in Lima, and experience in close enough to really let it change you.

This was our second time to Lima. Last year was our first time. Last year my wife and I wanted to see the monuments and other attractions commemorating the history and culture of Peru. But we also wanted to understand the cataclysm that had been wrought on the nation by the Sendero Luminoso, a Maoist group led a University professor. Roughly two million people had fled the Andes to Lima in order to escape the cruelty of communist terrorists and the over-broad reactions of the military. The refugees clambered up the arid mountain sides surrounding Lima: they were squatters glad for their lives, and hopeful to start life anew. So we signed up for the tour of Alternative Peru.that took us to see, among other things, the habitations on the hillsides Alfredo Bendezu was our guide. He was outstanding. After we had visited the local market, and my wife had danced with a troupe from the Amazon strolling through the market, -- a two-legged jaguar and a mischievous, leering two-legged cayman -- we went to the extensive and ancient hillside cemetery. Then we went to the high spot of our tour, the shanties on the hillsides. Alfredo introduced us to to two women who were refugees from the Andes. The first lady described what life was like in Lima. Her neighbors had not abandoned tribal traditions: they appointed a leader and participate on the weekends in maintaining or improving their habitat. This lady heads up a cooperative of women who make traditional Andean wares and collectively seek available markets. The second lady had a baleful story. When she was but five years old, her father, a tribal leader, had gone to Lima to complain that the terrorists were intimidating the villagers and inciting them to rebellion. The government took no action. When her father returned, the terrorists were waiting for him. Before the eyes of his family, the the terrorists decapitated him. (Echoes of Pol Pot.) The family fled with little but their grim memories. This lady had no formal education. But she was committed to the common good: for a mere pittance, she would, among other things, cook a simple early breakfast for the children on schooldays so that they would be attentive at school. She is like an auntie to the children. She took up this sacrifice in homage to her father. We we moved. Alfredo showed himself to be intelligent, and sensitive. He is a mlld-mannered, soft- spoken person. He is simpatico. But he also has dedication to these the downtrodden. Our second tour, done in 2019, was less ambitious, but no less enjoyable. Alfredo took us to the fish market and explained how the fishermen had banded together into an association. Everyone seemed to know Alfredo. Then off we went for an excursion by fishing boat around the harbor. The captain, Jaime, had a first mate who had fled Venezuela. Then Jaime went with us to see a friend in Chorillos who was among a handful who still repaired and renovated the old wooden fishing wherries. From there we went to an hacienda in Chorillos. The hacienda had been in the family from the 1600s. In the war with Chile in the 1850s, however, the Chilean army had devastated this neighborhood, and only now was it starting to recover. As Alfredo explained, the wealthy left and never came back. The incumbent family descendant had a menagerie of nearly 400 fighting game cocks,The owner was not offended that we frowned upon the sport as being cruel..The treat of this visit was a little bistro on the upper floor of the hacienda. it happened to front onto the next curve of the serpentine climbing up the hillside. A garrulous local master of the culinary arts prepared two magnificent ceviches for us: the fish and shellfish were taken that very morning from the market we had first visited. The ceviches were wondefully fresh and tasty. Alfredo then took us to several religious monuments that afforded vistas of all of LIma. Alfredo commended to us the Larco Museum (pre-Incan antiquities: worth a look) and the Lugar de Memoria (a diorama of the rise and defeat of the Sendero Luminoso).The LUM as it is called was sobering: it recounted the miasma of the terrorists through photographs, press clippings, children's drawings of raids and executions, and the people's plea for peace and finally, through astute military intelligence, the capture in Lima of Guzman, the Maoist professor. The museum's brochure was in Spanish, English and -- notably -- Quechua. Seeing Alfredo again was like seeing a friend again. His soft voice and pensive commentary deepened our empathy for Peru.