Last week Peruvians went crazy celebrating Fiestas Patrias. Roughly translated, this means Fatherland parties, which gives you a pretty good idea of what they do on this occasion, their Independence Day. Though they’re better known for the Incas, Paddington Bear and llamas, the Peruvians are also experts at partying. Ask any one of them, from three to eighty-three years of age, and you’ll find they love to dance. And, with the exception of the kids, they can drink you under the table, too.

Everything from the anniversary of someone’s death to honouring the local patron saint is an excuse for a boogie.

The year I spent volunteering in Andahuaylas in the Andes may have been good for my conscience but not so for my liver. Anything from the anniversary of someone’s death to the fiesta in honour of the local patron saint was used as an excuse for a booze fest, a boogie and a singalong. I was even invited to dance (and drink copious amounts of sugarcane rum) in a grocery shop at 9am one Monday morning.

On the way to renew my visa, I usually stopped off in the capital, Lima. Away from my Andean friends, this break should have given me the chance to lead a healthier life for a couple of days, but alas, I was already corrupted. Lima’s brilliant nightlife, particularly in comparison to my local Kreazzy Bull discoteca that played the same tunes every weekend, tempted me night after night. And I’m glad it did.

If you want to be led astray in Lima, here’s a suggested itinerary that should guarantee a memorable night out. (Unless of course your memory is frazzled by one too many pisco sours.)

Gran Hotel Bolivar
Jr de la Union 958, Plaza San Martin

The bar of this famous 1920s hotel is the perfect place to sample pisco sour, the Peruvian national drink made of pisco (a kind of vodka made of grapes), sugar syrup, lemons and egg whites. You can choose between a normal pisco sour or the “catedral”. If you go for more than one of the latter, you’ll start to see double.

Sargento Pimienta
Av Bolognesi 775, Barranco

A former britpop boy, I immediately felt at home in this cool bar cum restaurant named after the legendary Beatles album. There’s live bands every Friday, while on other nights the buzzy crowd talks loudly over the Rolling Stones, Kaiser Chiefs and the like.

La Noche
Av Bolognesi 337, Barranco

Just a quick stroll down the road from Sargento, La Noche is a bar, club and a cultural centre all bundled into one. Its fringe theatre performances and arthouse film evenings, live music, affordable drinks and a bohemian atmosphere make this my Barranco favourite.

Discoteca Vocé
Petit Thouars 2161, Esquina con Risso

Excellent local and international DJs drop a selection of brilliant tunes that keep the dancefloor packed in this cool club. Here people party like it’s Fiestas Patrias every night.