Ah, Lima! It may not be to everyone’s taste, but there are plenty of reasons to allow at least a few days to explore the Peruvian capital.
One thing is for sure: drag yourself out of your hostel and you’ll never be short of things to do in Lima, with attractions including everything from museums to culinary hotspots, submarines, music concerts, cliff-jumping monks and more…
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Free Maps, Tourist Sim Cards, Free Wifi, a Money Exchange Center, and an ATM machine are just some of the tourist services provided at the Information Center at Kennedy Park in the heart of Miraflores. It’s also a good place for Airport Transfers and their Machu Picchu Information Center is the best place to get information on this wonder of the world.
Visit their Facebook here
View on Google Maps here
Some people love this slice of modern uber-commercialism lodged in the seafront cliffs of Miraflores. You can shop for designer labels, go bowling, play arcade games, eat ice cream and go to the cinema. There are also some chic restaurants with sea views and the way-too-trendy Aura nightclub.
This hands-on experience that allows you to learn about Peruvian history and culture, while learning about and preparing some of Peru’s most incredible dishes. Experience the real taste of Peru at the Luchito’s Cooking Class.
With its green parks and the cliffs overlooking the ocean, Miraflores is also the perfect place to go for a bicycle tour. These eco-friendly tours can be booked in the mall, in Larco Street and online on FindLocalTrips and they will take you along the Cliffside. You can take a tour into the center of the city, along the cliffs, do an urban tour or even combine your cycling trip with surfing! Prices range between $30 and $70 for a few hours or a full day depending on the tour you take. Definitely check out the different packages to find the tour that best suits you.
Right at the heart of Lima’s historic center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Lima’s Plaza de Armas is a place of endless photo opportunities and excellent people watching. Notable buildings on the square include the Government Palace and Lima Cathedral, as well as the Archbishop’s Palace and the Casa del Oidor, both of which sport ornate box balconies made of wood.
An impressive series of illuminated fountains in the Parque de la Reserva. It’s fun, seriously. It should be explore not only on foot but also by bike! Check out Lima Bici and Green Bike Peru for a full day bike tour around Lima including a stop at this awesome water circuit.
Lima’s so-called bohemian district. Bohemian or not, it’s a good place for a daytime stroll or a lively night of bars, beers, bands and anything else that begins with ‘b’. That includes bridges: if you like little bridges, you’ll love the ornate Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs) that crosses over the Bajada de Baños, a walkway that runs down to the beaches below. Check out a half day bike tour with Lima Bici.
Barranco is also home to the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima (MAC Lima), one of the most famous art museums in Lima.
Kennedy Park in the center of Miraflores is home to around sixty cats, that earned it the nickname “Cat Park”. You can usually find them napping under the benches, on the sidewalk or in the grass. Nobody really knows how they got there but they have been there for more than 20 years according to their neighbours.
The Huaca Pucllana ruins are one of the few that still remain from the historic pre-Columbian period in Peru. It is an adobe ceremonial center that would have been used for spiritual ceremonies and sacrifices. It is said that it was built around 500AD during the height of cultural history in Lima. Incredibly enough it is located in what is now a residential area of the Miraflores district so it’s really easy to get there. The entrance fee is S/12 for a daytime visit. For only S/3 more you can visit during the evening when the lights and darkness bring even more mystery to the ruins.
Walk through the remains of an estimated 75,000 bodies buried beneath the convent, a truly memorable and beautifully dark sightseeing experience.
Fancy discovering a unique desert oasis? Or the Peruvian Galapagos full of sealions and penguins? Take a short round trip from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina. There are 1 day, 2 day and day short round trips from Lima and are a great way to see and do a lot whilst basking in the all year round sunshine that exists south of Lima.
If you need a bracing break from the big city, hop on a boat for a tour of the islands off the coast of Lima. Standard stops include the islands of Palomino (home to sea lions and Humboldt penguins), Cabinzas (for pelicans, gulls, boobies and more) and El Frontón (an island that once served as a quarantine stop in colonial times and later as a maximum security prison). Most boats depart from Callao.
Quick Tip: The easiest and safest way to get from Lima Airport to Miraflores is on the Lima Airport Express bus.
Lima’s barrio chino is an interesting place to explore on foot; keep an eye open for the pedestrian street paved with individually-inscribed red bricks. And if you’re hungry, don’t miss the excellent all-you-can-eat chifa buffets served by a few of the neighborhood restaurants.
Lima attracts an ever-increasing number of major international music acts, so keep an eye on the concert schedule. Concerts have so far included The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Slipknot, Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses to name some of the classics. Annual music festivals are also growing in popularity, such as Rock en la Playa, Acustirock, Lima Fest and Festival 7 Mares.
If you can, try to see the Peruvian national team play a competitive game (not a friendly) or get tickets for one of the world’s great local derbies, the clásico between Alianza Lima and their Lima-based rivals Universitario. Two stadiums worth visiting are the Estadio Nacional and Estadio Monumental.
Yep, paragliding is a popular pastime along El Malecón. I think a 10- to 15-minute glide costs about US$80 to $100.
Take the little tour bus from the Plaza de Armas in the historic center of Lima and head up to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal for an impressive view across the sprawling capital — if there’s a break in the clouds and coastal flog.
The Abtao was first launched in New London, Connecticut, in 1953 before being purchased by the Peruvian Navy a year later. It now serves as a naval museum, with its own interior providing the main attraction. On a related note, is the Submarino Abtao homepage unintentionally funny, or is it just me?
You’ll find block after block dedicated to selling clothes and fabrics. The place is a damned nightmare if you don’t like shopping for clothes, but a veritable paradise if you do. You’ll find everything from small stores selling shoddy replicas of major brands to shopping malls packed with quality items at great prices. It’s not the safest of areas, so go during the day and take only what you need.
Lima has some very lively peñas featuring genuine Andean folk music and Peruvian música criolla. Barranco is the peña hotspot, with venues like Peña del Carajo! and Peña De Rompe Y Raja. In Central Lima, try Brisas del Titicaca.
Ne it for a civic event such as the anniversary of Lima (January 18) or a major religious parade like the Virgen del Carmen Festival (July) or El Señor de los Milagros (October).
The observatory, which is run by the Peruvian Astronomy Association, includes a modern digital planetarium and an onsite museum. Public presentations currently occur on Sundays at 11:30 am (S/.5 entrance); the museum is located on the Morro Solar in Chorrillos.
Or jog. Or skate. Or cycle. The Malecón is a stretch of paths and parks that runs along the top of the seafront cliffs. There are great views out over the Pacific and along the curving Lima coastline, as well as some notable works of art including the “Intihuatana” sculpture by acclaimed Peruvian artist Fernando De Szyszlo and the popular “El Beso” (“The Kiss”) sculpture by Victor Delfín (located in the Antoni Gaudí-inspired Parque del Amor).
You don’t even need to leave the security of Lima’s upscale districts to see these two truncated pyramids, both of which predate the Incas. Huaca Pucllana is located in the popular tourist district of Miraflores, about nine blocks north of Parque Kennedy (if you’ve got some cash to burn, there’s also a good onsite restaurant). Huaca Huallamarca is located in the wealthy San Isidro district. We suggest taking a bike tour to maximise your time in Lima.
Despite the city’s reputation as a hectic metropolis, there are plenty of parks where you can sit and think. Just ask the cats in Parque Kennedy and Parque Central in Miraflores, all of whom seem very at ease with the world. Notable parks located in downtown Lima include the eight-hectare Parque de la Reserva (home to the Magic Water Circuit), the Parque de la Exposición and the Parque de la Muralla (where you can see remains of the old city walls and the statue of Francisco Pizarro). There’s also the elegant Bosque el Olivar in San Isidro, one of the prettiest and most interesting parks in the city, and the Parque María Reiche on the seafront, which has illuminated Nazca Lines figures at night.
If clothes shopping in Gamarra didn’t quench your retail thirst, try the Mercado Central (near barrio chino) and Polvos Azules (La Victoria) for, well, just about anything. For souvenirs (think alpaca items, replica Inca ceramics, paintings, Peruvian silver), try the Mercado Indio (Indian Market) along Avenida Petit Thouars in Miraflores.
The historic center of Lima is dotted with colonial casas, including Casa Aliaga, Casa de la Riva, Casa de Oquendo (Casa de Osambela) and the impressive Torre Tagle Palace. You can visit all of these old homes, but you’ll have to arrange a tour in advance (sometimes easier said than done).
The Plaza de Acho for its architectural and historical significance (and onsite museum). The Plaza was investigated by Ghost Hunters International in “Temple of Doom: Peru” (Season 3, Episode 07); as usual, the team strolled around like a bunch of gasping idiots.
Lima’s Parque de las Leyendas is a reasonably well maintained zoo (especially by South American standards) that highlights animals from the country’s three geographical regions: the coast, highlands and jungle. Parts of the Maranga archaeological complex — an important administrative and ceremonial site of the Lima culture (c. 100 to 650 AD) — are also found on the grounds of the zoo.
Lima’s numerous beaches come alive during the summer months (from December to April). Many of the best beaches are just south of the city off the Panamericana Sur highway, including El Silencio, San Bartolo and Punta Hermosa to name just a few. You’ll find bars, restaurants and clubs dotted along many of the beaches, as well as some upscale resorts.
Palace tours are free but need to be arranged at least a day or two in advance, but you can try to charm your way in without a prior appointment. You can call the palace on 311-3900 or visit the nearby palace tourism office to arrange entry. While you’re at the palace, stick around for the changing of the guard. Arrive at about 11:30 am for the midday change.
Back in the mid-1700s, when pirates and corsairs were harassing the vital port of Callao, construction began on a fortress to secure the port and the cargo that passed through it. The fort still houses about 1,000 Peruvian soldiers, as well as the Peruvian Military History Museum. Foreign nationals can pay S/.15 to join a guided tour through the imposing fortress. Like the Plaza de Acho, Real Felipe Fortress was investigated by Ghost Hunters International in “The Ghost Child of Peru” (Season 1, Episode 015); as usual, the team strolled around like a bunch of gasping idiots.
If you’re the type of traveler who likes to do random things just for the hell of it, head out to Paseo Billinghurst in the Chorrillos district. Here you’ll find a cliff top restaurant called El Salto Del Fraile (The Friar’s Jump). I’ve no idea what the food is like, but that’s not so important. The monk is important, because he jumps off the cliff into the sea below. Awesome (and here’s a video for you). I’m not too sure how often he jumps (it might just be Sundays in the afternoon), but I’ve emailed the restaurant for the schedule (no response yet…). If you are inte
OK, that may be optimistic, but you’ll find casinos dotted all over Lima, giving you the chance to get rich quick (and maybe increase your Peru travel budget) or go broke even quicker.
Cruise along the coastline or explore downtown with a bike tour or rental company like Lima Bici or Green Bike Peru.
For everything you need to know about the Peruvian capital city Lima, from what to pack to where to go check out the Complete Lima City Guide!
Lima isn’t well known for scuba diving opportunities, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be found. Popular dive sites include Pucusana (south of Lima) and the Islas Palomino. Perú Divers offers diving lessons, equipment rental and tours.
One of Peru’s best restaurants. Saha is a culinary innovator that foodies flock to from miles around. It incorporates the perfect balance of fresh, delicate flavors with traditional styles of dish and ingredients. A must visit!
OK, so this is one of those “why go to Peru just for that?” things, but a decent cinema can be quite a treat for long-term backpackers. Cinerama “El Pacifico” and the UVK Multicines cinema in Larcomar are both good options in Miraflores.
If you like drinking, dancing, chatting and generally staying up all night, you’ll never be short of opportunities in Lima, be it at a trendy hotspot or a place that most middle class limeños wouldn’t recommend. The best nightlife spots in Lima change all the time, so ask the locals for recommendations.
Yep, Lima is certainly a good place for it, whether you find yourself chowing down on ceviche near Chorrillos marke, sat in an affordable Miraflores eatery like Aventuras Marinas, or paying a little extra in one of Lima’s more famous cevicherias like La Mar, Chez Wong or Pescados
Whatever the weather, you’ll always see a few surfers dotted along Lima’s extensive coastline. Both novices and pros can find a good spot to surf, be it learning at Punta Hermosa or competing with the best at Punta Rocas.
Have some more time? Enjoy an adventure-packed day in Huacachina (just a couple of hours away from Lima) sandboarding down the biggest dunes in South America! There are trips daily departing from Lima. Check out FindLocalTrips for the best operators out there.
Stomachs be damned, there are anticuchos, churros and picarones to be devoured.If you would like to learn about the traditional dishes and get a taste at the local eateries in the Peruvian capital you can check out the options and make a reservation here.
At the Museum of the Inquisition, fun for all the family.
Embrace the chaos of combis, colectivos and micros or explore the city using the Metropolitano.
There are plenty of impressive pieces already in place throughout the city, with new works springing up all the time.
Head to the Gran Teatro Nacional (GTN), Peru’s state-of-the-art multipurpose theater. You can see the schedule in PDF form at the Ministry of Culture website (there’s also a GTN Facebook page).
By most accounts a half-assed replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. The controversial statue was a “gift” from outgoing president Alan Garcia, who decided to stick it on a desolate mount adjacent to the Morro Solar hill.
A series of miniature replicas of Lima’s most famous places and buildings, as well as some sites from other parts of Peru. Good for kids, but the S/.8 entrance is a bit steep for what’s on offer.
I know, no-one goes all the way to Peru to eat Indian food. But if you’ve been backpacking in Peru or South America for a while, you might be craving a curry (we English crave curry frequently, both at home and abroad). Try Mantra or Guru Kebab & Curry.
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