Activities:
Plaza Mayor
Lima Main Square
@kelsienaugler
This “plaza” or square is the oldest public space in Lima. It was designed to have the most important institutional buildings around it, so as to be seen as the center of the city. Although a significant amount of time has passed, it is still used as a ceremonial center for religious, state, and military processions – mostly for religious ones – and related to the Independence festivities.
Details
Government Palace
Government Palace of Peru
@kelsienaugler
The Government Palace, also known as the House of Pizarro, is the seat of the executive branch of the Peruvian government, and the official residence of the president of Peru.
Details
Lima Cathedral
Price: Entrance to the Cathedral is free / Entrance to the museum is PEN 10 ($4 USD). You can purchase your ticket at the entrance.
Lima Cathedral
@kelsienaugler
The Cathedral of Lima still stands around the Plaza Mayor, above the land that Pizarro (one of the Spanish conquistadors of Peru) had established as the area for the city’s first church, in 1535. With the passage of time, it has gone through numerous rebuilding processes, but it still keeps most of its baroque façade.
Details
The Municipal Palace
Municipal Palace of Lima
@kelsienaugler
This is a public building that serves as the headquarters of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima. You will find the building located on the street Portal de Escribanos, block 3 of Jirón de la Unión, and in front of the Plaza Mayor of Lima's historic centre.
Details
Walk along the Malecón de Miraflores
Lima Bike Shop
Bike rental: $9 USD for 3 hours | $15 USD for a full day
Malecón de Miraflores
@kelsienaugler
Malecon is a boardwalk in the district of Miraflores, which gives spectacular views of the Ocean and the beaches below. Because of the beautiful views and easy walk.
Miraflores stretches for about 8 km along the coast, and it is a preferred area of both tourists and locals alike. Stop by the Larcomar shopping center to check out the amazing view from there, see paragliders flying around the area (or better do it yourself), rent a bike, or simply walk through football courts and lovely gardens filled with flowers!
Details
Love Park
Love park
@kelsienaugler
Devoted to all couples and known for its “El Beso” statue (located right in the middle of the park) and the nice mosaics found on the benches around it.
Details
Miraflores Central Park (Parque Kennedy)
Parque Kennedy
@kelsienaugler
Take a seat and enjoy the peace and quiet, but you can also find many handicraft artisans and shops around it.
Details
Huaca Pucllana
Price: Day-time entry fee is PEN 15 ($4.50 USD) / Night-time entry fee PEN 17 ($5 USD). The tickets can be purchased at the entrance gate.
Huaca Pucllana Site Museum
@kelsienaugler
An adobe and clay pyramid built with staggered platforms. It was used as part of ceremonial and administrative tasks of the Lima society, back in the years between 200 AD and 700 AD. On one side, you can see evidence of the deep pits where the offerings of marine life were made to favor the Gods, while the other while the other side of Huaca is more of an administrative area where the findings show huts made out of adobe.
Details
Basilica y convento de San Francisco
Hours: Go at opening - 9 AM – as the place is significantly less crowded.
Price: Entrance to the church is free. Entrance fee to the monastery and catacombs is PEN 15 ($5 USD). Tickets are purchased at the entrance.
Basílica and Convent of San Francisco, Lima
@kelsienaugler
The Basilica y convento de San Francisco (Saint Francis Monastery) has some great grounds that include an impressive library and even catacombs. Part of the Lima highlights is visiting the Monastery’s catacombs and the underground vaults that were used until the early 19th century as a resting place for members of fraternities; these have possibly had about 25,000 bodies. Once inside the Church, another site you will want to go to is the historic library that holds about 25,000 antique texts, some of which date back to the times before the Spanish Conquest.
Details
Paraglide Over the Coast
Price: PEN 260 ($85 USD) per passenger. As long as there is wind, there are flights. If you want to book your spot beforehand, contact them through their website.
Parapuerto Miraflores - Paragliding
@kelsienaugler
You will find the base of departure along the Malecón de Miraflores.
This breathtaking 10-minute experience even includes pictures and videos of the flight, which you receive on an SD memory drive, so you can keep this treasured memory forever. Who wouldn’t want to go along the Costa Verde from above and feel the breeze sailing you away?
The best time to see if there will be flights is around 5pm. The winds pick up in the afternoon, but as long as there is wind, there will be flights.
Details
Larco Museum
Price: Museum entrance fee is PEN 30 ($10 USD). Tickets can be bought online.
Larco Museum
@kelsienaugler
The Larco Museum houses an exhibition of pre-Colombian art in the interior of an 18th-century vice-royal building. The display includes more than 50,000 pots that show ceramic works of the Cupisnique, Chimú, Chancay, Nazca, and Inca cultures.
Details
Cafe Museo Larco
@kelsienaugler
Be sure to stop at the on-site Café del Museo, which is located right across a private garden filled with bougainvillea. It’s simply gorgeous!
Details
Circuito Mágico de Aguas
Light Show Times:
7:15 PM, 8:15 PM, 9:30 PM. Check the updated times here.
Price: PEN 4 ($1.50 USD). Purchase tickets at the entrance of the Reserva Park (Parque de la Reserva).
Magic Water Circuit of the Reserve Park
@kelsienaugler
Found at the Park of the Reserve, might sound like a simple circuit of water fountains – but it is actually a performance that shows the local culture in an entertaining way, through videos and music! There are more than fifteen water fountains, each different from the next that can be enjoyed during the day or evening. Some are just to go by and admire, while others are perfect to run across and try to beat the water shots before they get you wet!
Details
San Cristobal Hill
Admire the Centro Historico from above on San Cristobal Hill, at 400 meters above sea level, this is the highest natural point in the city. The hill is revered as an apu – a mountain deity that protects the city. As they tended to do, the Spanish conquistadors imposed their beliefs on the indigenous people by planting a cross here. People still make offerings to the mountains, and a massive pilgrimage of Christians occurs here during Semana Santa. While you may be tempted to hike up the hill, that is ill-advised. This isn’t the safest part of Lima, so it’s not the best place to be walking around on your own.
Located northeast of Lima’s Plaza de Armas, crossing the Rimac River, a bit far from the historic center.
The best way to get up the hill is by catching the bus in the Plaza de Armas. It costs 10 soles ($3 USD) round-trip and gives you enough time to enjoy the views and take photos.
Lima Main Square
@kelsienaugler
This “plaza” or square is the oldest public space in Lima. It was designed to have the most important institutional buildings around it, so as to be seen as the center of the city. Although a significant amount of time has passed, it is still used as a ceremonial center for religious, state, and military processions – mostly for religious ones – and related to the Independence festivities.
Details
South America's Oldest Chinatown
Chinatown
@kelsienaugler
Chinese influence came to Peru from the Asian province of Capon in 1849, to replace the slave labor in the sugar and cotton plantations of Peruvian coasts. Slowly, the Chinese approached the Peruvian capital, and by 1854 they occupied the first blocks of Capón Street, where Chinatown is currently located. In order to remember their traditions and cuisine, the first Chinese restaurant began operations with the traditional cuisine of Capón, Pekin, and Sichuan provinces.
As the years went by the Chinese cuisine melted with the Peruvian cuisine, resulting in an amazing cuisine, the Chifa. Today, you can visit it and taste the Chifa cuisine with dishes that combined the best of both worlds, Peruvian and Chinese gastronomy.
Details
Street Art in the Barranco Neighborhood
Chabuca Granda
@kelsienaugler
Barranco is a lovely district filled with color and street artists that will give you a sense of being the most romantic and bohemian area of the city.
Near the bridge, you can find the statue of Chabuca Granda (one of the biggest Peruvian singers of Musica Criolla), who was born in Barranco and whom also titled a song after the bridge!
Details
Casa de Aliaga
Price: PEN 30 ($9 USD).
Casa de Aliaga
@kelsienaugler
Originally owned by Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conqueror, Francisco gave the land to Jerónimo de Aliaga in 1535. It has been kept in the family ever since. The mansion has now been standing for about 5 centuries, though it may look slightly different then when it was built due to numerous rebuilding and remodeling thanks to earthquakes over the years.
Its beauty lies in the interior spaces, the poetic environments, and the original furniture and distribution of rooms. Once inside, you will be able to walk among the rooms of an old mansion that shows both Colonial and Republican history.
Details
Peña
Going to a peña is a classical way of seeing the more local side of the city, namely the life and music in every note and especially the way in which the music reflects sorrow or love, depending on what the composer wanted to express.
La Candelaria
Details
Peña Brisas del Titicaca
Brisas del Titicaca Asociación Cultural
@kelsienaugler
A venue where you find colorful local folk dances and music, all while enjoying delicious food.
Details
Sandboarding
If you like adventure try sandboarding down some dunes! You can go out to Huacachina or just over to the district of Aucallama, which is about 1.5 hours away from the capital city, but still in the same department of Lima.
Price: $120 USD
Lima Sandboard
Lima Sandboard
@kelsienaugler
If you like adventure try sandboarding down some dunes! You can go out to Huacachina or just over to the district of Aucallama, which is about 1.5 hours away from the capital city, but still in the same department of Lima.
Details
SandboardingPeru
Sandboarding Peru
@kelsienaugler
A great company that offers sand boarding adventures.
Details
Surfing
While being in the neighborhood, you might also want to head over to the circuit and go for some surfing lessons. If you don’t want to join classes but still want to see some surfing action, check out the following beaches:
Los Delfines
Details
Orrantia
Details
Punta Rocas
Playa Punta Rocas
@kelsienaugler
A super big beach, with loads of waves and great for people or surfer watching.
Details
Surfing Schools
The following surf schools offer the option to be picked up from your accommodations.
Eternal Wave
The lessons last 1.5 hours and include a softboard (for beginners), a wetsuit, leash and wax. Each lesson (as part of a group) is US$30, while taking the lesson individually is US$50.
Eternal Wave Peru Surf
@kelsienaugler
Eternal Wave offers surf lessons, so if you've ever wanted to learn this is the perfect opportunity!
Details
Pukana Surf School
The lessons start at 6 AM until 4 PM and last 1.5 hours for a theoretical and practical lesson. Their group lessons of up to 3 people cost US$20, while the private classes are US$27.
Escuela de surf Pukana
@kelsienaugler
Learn to surf! Rikana Surf School offers lessons at this beach.
Details
Experienced surfers:
If you are an experienced surfer and you just want to rent a board and wetsuit, find these at the beach itself, instead of renting in the city and making your way to the beach with a board. The best option is Pukana Surf School, where you can rent the board and wetsuit for $10 USD, or the surfboard alone at $7 USD for the day.
White Water Rafting
If you like water activities but surfing is not your style, you might want to go water rafting down the Cañete River. For this, you need to go to Lunahuana, which is about a 3-hour drive from Lima. Lunahuana is known for its pleasant weather, because during the winter you can always find sun here, and thanks to the mountains they have around, there are many adventurous activities that you can try.
Price: Around US$60
Lunahuaná
@kelsienaugler
The jumping off point for many white water rafting adventures.
Details
Drinks to try:
PISCO SOUR
The Pisco is one of the Peruvian alcoholic delicacies, and from which the great Pisco Sour appetizer was created. It is made of blends of Pisco (a kind of liquor) combined with fresh lemon juice, cane syrup, and egg whites that create the foamy part of the drink.
Bar Inglés at Country Club Lima Hotel
Bar Inglés
@kelsienaugler
A great bar located at the Country Club Lima Hotel. Stop in for a Pisco sour.
Details
Antigua Taberna Queirolo
Antigua Taberna Queirolo
@kelsienaugler
Stop in for the famous Pisco sour.
Details
Museo del Pisco
MUSEO DEL PISCO - LIMA
@kelsienaugler
A wonderful place to stop by for a classic Pisco Sour.
Details
Hotel Maury
Hotel Maury
@kelsienaugler
Stop in the bar at Hotel Maury and grab a famous Pisco Sour.
Details
Lima Bar
Lima Bar
@kelsienaugler
At night, Larcomar is home to Lima Bar, an upscale bar and club, where Lima’s party crowds go for big nights out. Expect higher prices and a dress code.
Details
Food to Try & Restaurants:
Bosco Magico
Enjoy ice cream in the flavor of Peruvian fruits at Bosco Magico. Aside from being cutely decorated, this gelato boutique is where you can try flavors like chirimoya-flavored sorbet. Only in Peru!
Real Ceviche
This beauty of a dish, made of raw fish cooked with a lemon based juice and served with corn and sweet potato is recommended for lunch time. This is because of a local perception, namely that of having the fish as fresh as the morning batch. A few of the best places to get fresh ceviche:
Punto Azul
Details
Pescados Capitales
Details
Canta Rana
Details
El Verídico de Fidel
El Verídico de Fidel
@kelsienaugler
Makes awesome food - give their ceviche a try.
Details
Ají de Gallina:
A dish of shredded chicken mixed together with a chili (aji) sauce, usually served with some boiled potatoes halves, rice, and topped with a black olive and half a boiled egg. Get a homemade aji de gallina at the Restaurant Huaca Pucllana.
Restaurant Huaca Pucllana
@kelsienaugler
Check out Restaurant Huaca Pucllana for a great dish of ají de gallina. This is a dish of shredded chicken mixed together with a chili (aji) sauce, usually served with some boiled potatoes halves, rice, and topped with a black olive and half a boiled egg.
Details
Lomo Saltado:
A fusion dish of beef stir-fried with tomatoes and onions, and then served with rice and French fries. Try it at Tanta, because it’s insanely tasty and also because it’s one of the Peruvian chef’s Gaston Acurio restaurants.
Tanta - Larcomar
@kelsienaugler
Head to one of Peruvian chef's Gaston Curio restaurants, Tanta. Here it's best to try Lomo Saltado, a fusion dish of beef stir-fried with tomatoes and onions, and then served with rice and French fries.
Details
Picarones:
A kind of donut made out of squash and sweet potato and covered with molasses syrup. Try finding this dish at street food stall or La Panka.
La Panka
@kelsienaugler
Head to La Panka to try Picarones, a kind of donut made out of squash and sweet potato and covered with molasses syrup.
Details
Pollo a la brasa:
One of the most consumed dishes in the country. In an easy translation, it is a kind of rotisserie chicken or charcoal chicken served with french fries and fresh salad.
Carapulcra:
A stew of pork with dehydrated peanuts and potatoes eaten with rice and yuca.
Arroz chaufa:
A popular combination of chinese and peruvian cuisines’. It is a fried rice dish with vegetables and meat and soy sauce. Frequently found in many restaurants, specially the Chinese-influenced “chifa’s”.
DaDA Bar & Restaurant
Dada Bar & Restaurant
@kelsienaugler
Spend the evening at the wacky bar DaDA and see some live music DaDA is instantly a favorite among travelers, expats and locals, and that’s because it’s hard to not like. DaDA is set in an old mansion in the cool Barranco neighborhood, and has live music. The bar sells drinks and pizza, and there’s outdoor space. The place is also decorated really eclectically, with bicycles hanging from the ceiling and some unique art. DaDA seems to be a place you can go most times of day or night.
Details
Day Trips
Palomino Islands
*Most tours include a wetsuit, so you will be able to get wet without freezing!
Price:
Tours run around US$125
Palomino Islands
@kelsienaugler
The Palomino Islands are known for being 4 small islands close to the port of Callao (Constitutional Province in Peru), where you can find a big group of sea lions and sea birds!
The beauty of this visit is to see the historic lighthouse which served to guide boats that approach the coast and see the marine animals in their natural habitat.
Get the chance to ride a yacht from the Peruvian coast to the islands and join the sea lions for a quick swim, while also learning about the local marine and birdlife.
Details
Nazca Lines
Price: Tours are around $305 USD
Nazca Lines
@kelsienaugler
There are many theories that say aliens passed by the area and left us these varied drawings on the sand! The Nazca Lines area was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because it has been found out that it worked as an astronomical calendar. The lines represent different animals, like a spider, a monkey, a condor, a hummingbird, and many more.
Take a tour outside of Lima and head over to Nazca, where you will go over to the small Aerodrome and board on a 34 minute flight over the Nazca lines. Your pilot will be in charge of telling you the story of each one of them!
Details
Paracas and Huacachina
Price: Tours to both places run around $100 USD
Paracas
@kelsienaugler
Visiting Paracas is an all-day extreme activity experience not to miss! Take a tour that way you do not have to worry about transportation and getting lost.
Paracas is a protected National Reserve that includes desert and marine ecosystems and which also has a museum with the local culture remains. Once here, you will go on a boat ride over to the reserved areas of the Ballestas Islands, where you can see sea lions, penguins, and pelicans. If you are hungry (and before heading to Huacachina), walk around the main streets to find many restaurants along the coast line for a great dish of fried seafood “chicharron” or “jalea mixta”.
Details
Huacachina
@kelsienaugler
A must see stop on any day trip from Lima! Huacachina is an oasis village in the middle of the desert, surrounded by sand dunes and a loved destination for adventurers that want to do some sandboarding or experience a dune buggy ride.
Details
Lomas de Lucumo (Pachacamac)
Price: PEN 10 ($3 USD) per adult. A local guide is worth PEN 50 ($15 USD) for 5 hours and can take up to 15 people. No prior booking needed.
Lomas de Lucumo
@kelsienaugler
Lomas de Lucumo, located in the Pachacamac District, are 150 hectares of hills about 34 km south of Lima, and are the best terrain for a sightseeing trek. If you go between June and November, the hills that face the sea will amaze you with a lot of vegetation, including the amancaes flower with their yellow color. During this time, you will also get to see vizcachas, robins, foxes, or even hawks.
There is no better way to discover nature than by experiencing it at its core. Because it has become considerably known by many locals and tourists, this is part of an Ecotourist Circuit and has its own access hours, as well as prices.
Be aware that because of the fog, if you go after 2 PM, a local guide is mandatory for this visit. You can find them at the Ecotourist Circuit entrance.
Details
* * *
