Peru has an interesting and rich culture that dates back to 2,500 B.C. The north of Peru is known as the cradle of Western Hemisphere's civilization.  Pre-Inca cultures such as Chimu and Mochica flourished in our home's area. Our vacation home is located in Pimentel, on Peru’s north coast, 15 minutes from Chiclayo by car and 40 minutes from Lima by plane.

Our house, Casita Mariha, is a lovely 1500 sq. ft. (150 sq meter), 2 bedroom 3 full bath, plus roof deck house and ground floor patio. It is located three (3) houses in on a side street to main "boardwalk" which locals call "The Malecon."

Casita Mariha with its open plan kitchen, dining, living area has lots of light on the first floor along with a patio and adjoining laundry room. There is also a full bath. The second floor has two bedrooms, each with private full bath, plus the den and an area with a trundle bed that sleeps two. The house therefore can sleep six comfortably. The master bedroom has a direct view of the ocean. The third floor has a roof deck with ocean views and a comfortable, lovely sitting area with a pergola.  It also has a table with umbrella and chairs for breakfast or for watching the sunset in the evening.

The house comes completely and tastefully furnished with all the necessities you may need, including two (2) Cable TVs with over 100 stations in English (CNN & BBC as well as movie channels and American TV shows, Spanish. German, Portuguese, Italian, French and Chinese and Japanese, and two (2) DVD players. Our house does not have internet, but a five minute walk away at the town's main square there are internet cafes that cost less than a $1 an hour.

Daily maid service can be provided for $15 per day (not live in.) She will clean the house, make the beds and do laundry for you.   (All items mentioned on this website for this house rental are in U.S. Dollars.) An optional trustful and knowledgeable chauffeur and car is available for excursions, day trips, etc. Price upon request.

This is a non-smoking house, but you can smoke on the roof deck and/or on the first floor patio.

Pimentel is a lovely, peaceful, relaxing beach community that has lots of weekend visitors during the summer (January, February and March). It is very quiet and peaceful during the weekdays in their summer and all the time from April to December. Pimentel is not a beach resort.  If you are looking for golf courses, spas, parasailing, etc, then Pimentel is not for you.  But if you are looking for a relaxing, simple, easy and affordable beach community, Pimentel is the perfect place for you.

We have had guests for over 10 years and their testimonials are listed below.  Their testimony is my best advertisement.  

RATES: Rates for December 15 - April 15 are $100 per week higher because of the seasonal holidays and it is summer in Peru. The minimal rental time is one (1) week. The pre and post guest prepartion time and cost require this. The rate at this time is $800 for 1 - 4 people for one week.

RESERVATIONS: In order to reserve Casita Mariha a 50% (fifty per cent) non-refundable deposit is due upon acceptance of your dates. Money Orders or Cashier's Checks are accepted and will have to be mailed to our USA address.  The remaining 50% can be paid in cash upon your arrival at the house.

PIMENTEL AREA:

The beach is wide, about 300 feet. The middle of town has a pier that people love to fish from.

The nearest city is Chiclayo and it is Peru’s 3rd largest city. There is daily airline service between Lima and Chiclayo. The huge market, Mercado Modelo, is one of the most interesting in Peru because of its “brujo” (witch doctor) stalls with their herbs and dried plants, bones, bits of animals and other healing charms. You can also buy fresh fruits and vegetables here. Chiclayo also has modern supermarkets, movie theatres, good restaurants (i.e. "Sabores Peruanos" is just one of many), a shopping mall (Real Plaza) and casinos.

Pimentel has its own small Mercado a mere 5 minute walk away from this beach house. Here you will find fresh fish, fruits and vegetables as well as meats. There is also a new small supermarket, 4 bakeries, beauty parlors, and a church. There are a few restaurants in Pimentel, one El Pato, is around the corner from our beach house. Its specialty is Pervian food: cerviche, carne de parilla, and fresh fish. There are a half dozen other small restaurants in the town which also deliver food to our door.  Some are only open on weekends during the winter. You can also have excellent catering delivered to Casa Mariha from Chio's Catering. 

Transportation to and from Pimentel/Chiclayo is very easy and inexpensive.  You can go in a "collectivo" which is a car shared by other passengers, for less than a $1.  Or you can have a private taxi for about $5.  In Chiclayo, there are many taxi's and most rides cost about $1.

Surfing is a year round activity in this area of Peru. A 10 minute drive, or a 90 minute walk on the beach, away lies Santa Rosa and San Jose. Both are small fishing villages and it is interesting to watch the men manually haul their fairly large (40 feet long) fishing boats into and out of the ocean. Santa Rosa has one of Peru's largest fish markets and is well worth a visit. You must get there before 6:30AM.  It's the equivalent to the Fulton Fish Market in NYC. Lots of activity. Take your camera!

This area of Peru is known for its small individual fishing boats called “caballitos” (little horses). Fishermen ride on these totora reed boats since the Mochica culture (100-700 AD), hence the name. They were the inspiration for Thor Heyerdahl’s 4,300 mile journey from Peru to Polynesia to prove that the first settlers in the South Pacific were from the Americas. Two other towns are only minutes away, Puerto Eten and Monsefu. Both are worth a visit, especially Monsefu for its handicrafts of basketwork, embroidery and woodwork.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES:

However, most visitors to this area come to see the famous archaeological sites. There are two world class museums within an hour’s drive and both are only a few years old. Some say these are the most impressive museums in all of South America.

The newest opened on August 9, 2003 and is called Royal Tombs of Sipan. It exhibits the most important archaeological remains of the Mochica culture in an exceptional exhibition displaying the jewels, emblems and ornaments found in 1987 in the tomb of a Mochica government leader called the Lord of Sipan.

The Sican Museum opened in 2002 and holds the artifacts found in two burials within the adobe pyramid of Huaca Loro, in an area better known as Batan Grande, not far from the m, not far from the museum. The culture these artifacts correspond to is known as Sican. The Sican culture developed from 750AD as descendants of the Moche (100-800AD) and predecessors of the later Chimu cultures (100-1400AD). The gold, silver and semi-precious stone artifacts and accessories are beautifully displayed in the museum that has won architectural awards.

Also nearby you will find the 28 pyramids of Tucume and the Brunning Museum with its archaeological artifacts from the Chimu, Moche, Chavin and Vicus cultures.

If archeology is your interest you will be glad to know that more archelogical sites are waiting to be discovered in our area of north Peru. There are so many Huacas (ancient indian tombs) that you see them as you drive around and almost all are unexcavated.

Seasons: (January-March) is about 80 to 85 degrees farenheit during the day and 70 at night. Breezes from the ocean keep it cool. April – June and October – December are mild, 75 during the day and 65 at night. The winter (July-September) is cool, 65 –70 during the day and 55 –60 at night.

Pimentel is safe and offers its visitors a chance to savor a life that is far different from the modern day world. In the morning you can (optional) will wake up to fresh bread being delivered to your door and you can take breakfast on the roof deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Our beach house offers the visitor the chance to relax by the Pacific Ocean, take long walks on the beach to other towns probably without seeing another person on the walk, and eat fresh fish. It also offers you a lovely home from which to plan cultural excursions and learn about the pre-Inca cultures.

TESTIMONIAL #1: "The accommodations were beautiful. The house was everything that you described and more. We were very comfortable and felt great to be in a "home". It was less expensive than staying in a hotel would have been, yet the accommodations were absolutely first class. If we were to travel to the area again, we would certainly do it the exact same way. Everything with the house was wonderful." Prof. Kevin Doyle, Soccer Coach, Creighton University, Omaha, NE on his visit during World Cup September 2005. Contact: kevindoyle@creighton.edu

TESTIMONIAL #2: "We realy enjoyed our stay at this home, it was clean, beautifully appointed and in a nice, safe area. The beach is lovely and you can walk in either direction all day. We highly recommend a stay here on any vacation to Peru. You won't be disappointed. Jim Nilson and Sandy Campbell, Winnipeg, Canada, January 2006. Contact: jimnilson@shaw.ca

TESTIMONIAL #3: "Casa Mariha is the perfect retreat while visiting Peru. It is perfectly appointed with every convenience. I was in the area on business and was able to "set up shop" on the top floor patio with the ocean in view as well as in the master suite, again with the ocean in view. I opted for housekeeping services and meals and was very pleased with the friendly help and efficient service. I had more than enough to eat and fresh avocados every day, for me Paradise. The beach, just a few steps away from the house, is deep and wide and in the winter months when I stayed, hardly a soul around, except for the few brave surfers. The neighborhood is delightful and the town one of the most peaceful I've enjoyed in Peru. Great accommodations and Maripi and her husband Harry are wonderful people to know and do business with." July 2006. Contact: David Brillhart, professional photograher and director, dave@brillhart.com, http://www.brillhart.com/

TESTIMONIAL #4: "We had a phenomenal time! Pimentel and Chiclayo are indeed the capitals of friendliness. The archaeological wealth of the region rivals Egypt! It certainly was a pleasure to enjoy the people, food, traditions, weather and culture of the area in the grand style that your very comfortable house afforded. We will visit again." August 2006. Contact Gustavo Paz-Pujalt of Goldman Sachs, New York, gpazpujalt@yahoo.com

TESTIMONIAL #5:  "The house is very nicely decorated, very inviting and comfortable.  The maid prepared wonderful meals for us each day.  Everyone was helpful.  Maripi's family lives around the corner and and they were very attentive to us. We enjoyed the museums and the archelogical sites."  January 2007. Contact Mr. and Mrs. Landskis, landskis@hotmail.com

TESTIMONIAL #6:  "We rented this beautiful house for five weeks in February 2007.  We took advantage of the maid service and the chuaffeur service, both of which were very good.  The owners helped us plan excursions in the area and Marinera  (typical Peruvian) dance classes for my wife.  The weather was perfect.  We enjoyed our time there immensely." Contact Mr. and Mrs. Wyman of California, Winter 07. loisawyman@hotmail.com

TESTIMONIAL #7: "The beach house in Pimentel far exceeded our expectations, especially the
outdoor shower and lovely rooftop lounge.  We cooked daily in the nice kitchen after viewing a number of archaelogical sites. The house was the best part of our 10 day trip in Peru. We both look forward to spending another trip at thisspecial home." David Brady, Los Angels, CA  Spring, 07. http://www.bradyart.com/  david@bradyart.com

TESTIMONIAL #8: "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Casa Mariha. We had spent the previous two weeks trekking around Peru and to have such a wonderful place to relax and recover was just perfect. The house was even more beautiful than the photos or the description on the website led us to believe. The house has high quality furnishings, has been tastefully decorated and has a terrific maid service. Maripi’s family lives just around the corner and provided us with advice and help when we needed it. One of their friends even took us on a surfing trip. Our two children loved Pimentel and safely spent hours playing on the beach and exploring. Because Pimentel is close to the Sipan Museum and archeological sites and is easily reached by air from Lima, it is an ideal place to stay and explore this part of Peru. We highly recommend Casa Mariha to any traveler. " Garry and Joanne Rochow, Perth, Western Australia. Summer 07. garryrochow@bigpond.com

TESTIMONIAL #9: "I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to stay in Casa Mariha.  It was a treat to escape to a beach that is not a tourist area, a beach that is peceful and safe.  Close to a city, 20 minutes to the airport, and to stay in such a nice house. Casa Mariha is well equipped, very comfortable and so convenient.  You can walk to restaurants, farmers markets and seafood markets.  I have lived in Costa Rica for 6 years and have traveled Central and South America extensively and I find Peru and its people unlike anything I ever experienced. You will find: History, Architecture, Culture, Mountains, Desert, Jungle, Beaches and more. Prospective renters should feel free to contact me. Winter 2008.  thatron2000@yahoo.com

TESTIMONIAL #10: "Casa Mariha, was for  us the most idyllic setting for our holiday, beautifully appointed and very close to the beach. We were looking for a quiet recluse and Pimentel is a small village, quiet and safe.  Great fresh food markets and amazing sunsets over the Pacific. It's a good base for visiting the archeological sites that abound in all directions. We recommend Casa Mariha to all. Thank you Harry and Maripi Goldman." The Llewellyn Family, Australia, spring 2008 robarsh@gmail.com

TESTIMONIAL #11: "We walked on the beach, took photos of the wonderful little straw boats.  We shopped at the local markets and ate at the local El Pato Restaurant as well as several others along the ocean promenade.  The people were lovely and helpful and the owner's family who live around the corner were most kind despite our meager tourist Spanish.  Your lovely home was perfect for sightseeing and visits to Sipan, Tucume and Chiclayo...as well as a day trip to Trujillo for Chan Chan and Sun and Moon ruins. Your home was much nicer and more relaxing than a tourist hotel!!!  We cannot say enough about how pleased we were with the services of your chauffeur Senor Cubas. He was at the Chiclayo airport waiting for us with a sign, he was always early for our trips, and he was more than kind and far superior to the private drivers that we had in Chusco and the Sacred Valley! Your home is charming, beautiful, relaxing, and was a pleasure to visit. Thank you again, Bill and Judy Grant, fall 2008  bgrant@grantleatherwood.com

TESTIMONIAL #12: We have returned home now from Peru but wanted to let you know we had a wonderful stay in your home, Casa Mariha, and also our whole month in Peru was incredible.  Your family, who lives around the corner, was very helpful; your sister's catering service was delicious and her chicken pot pie servered the four of us well for two nights. Mr. Cubas, your chauffeur, is a gem--we enjoyed having him take us everywhere. And Rocita, your maid, is efficient and friendly. We're very glad we found your place--it was a great finish to a wonderful journey. Roberta and Frank Harper, fall 2008  rob_frank48@hotmail.com

TESTIMONIAL #13:  My husband, two children and I just returned from spending 2 weeks at Casa Mariha.  We go to this area each year and usually stay at a hotel, but staying at this lovely house was a much better experience.  We were comfortable and safe and the owner's family lives around the corner and were very helpful.  And their maid made our stay so easy and luxurious. We are going to rent again next year. Romykoo@hotmail.com

TESTIMONIAL #14: We spent part of our honeymoon at Casa Mariha.  It was a perfect environment for us because it afforded privacy and allowed us to invite friends and relatives if we wanted to.  Casa Mariha will be in our memories forever.  Renzzo and Paige Reyes, Los Angels, CA, summer 2009.  Renzzo@me.com

TESTIMONIAL #15: Our family, espcially our two boys, thoroughly enjoyed our 2 weeks in Casa Mariha. The owner's family lives around the corner and was very helpful.  The house is lovely. Doris and Jon Evdvardsen, Oslo, Norway,  jon.edvardsen@gmail.com

TESTIMONIAL #16: We had such a wonderful trip. Your home is beautiful and we truly enjoyed the whole Pimentel experience. Mr. Cubas, your chauffeur,  was terrific and Rosita, your maid,  left the house impeccable every time. We went to Tecume one day and the new Sipan Museum another, and Mr. Cubas also took us to the market in Chiclayo which was incredible. The rest of the days we hung around the beach, sunned, surfed and relaxed. Nagelberg family from New York. December 2009. shaynay@optonline.net

TESTIMONIAL #17: We had a wonderful time in Peru.  Your family who lives around the corner were incredibly sweet and helpful.  Your brother especially -- very kind and extremely helpful--he even arranged to get my lost luggage.  Your house is beautiful, comfortable and quiet.  The house and kitchen are well stocked.  Thel beach is gorgeous. And the seafood incredible!  Fall 2010. mterplan@upi.umaryland.edu

Testimonial #18: