City Walking Tours: Lima, Santiago & Buenos Aires
Capitals on foot
A great way to get a feel for a city and also to get your bearings is to do a city tour.
The best way to do so and “feel the vibe” is to include a guided walking tour in one of these South American capital cities.
Our expert Alan Lyall explains how to mix with the locals and experience the sights, sounds and smells of the city as they do.
Lima, Peru
Immerse yourself in the colourful bustle of Peru’s capital, Lima.
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel from where you will head to the Plaza San Martin by taxi or if on a Sunday, on the Metropolitano bus.
Start the tour visiting the traditional Hotel Bolivar which was the must stay place in the 1940’s and 50’s and hosted the likes of Ava Gardner and John Wayne.
Head along the pedestrian Jiron de la Union, visiting La Merced Church followed by the Palacio Torre Tagle (Foreign Ministry) and the Central Market (Mercado Central) and its colourful stalls. Here you will have a chance to taste some of the local fruits.
The tour will continue visiting Calle Capon in China Town, before heading back to the centre, passing the Congress and stopping for a refreshment at the Bar Cordano one of the oldest and most traditional of central Lima having opened its doors in 1905.
This is followed by a visit to the Plaza Mayor and the frontis of the Government Palace before heading back to the hotel by taxi or by Metropolitano bus.
Buenos Aires
We offer two great options to explore Argentina’s buzzing capital on foot.
Downtown: This tour takes in the heart of the Argentine State and Church visiting the Plaza de Mayo which is flanked by the Presidential Palace known as the Casa Rosada (Pink Place), the Cathedral and the Cabildo (City Hall).
A stroll along the widest avenue in the World, Avenida 9 de Julio, a walk past the exterior of the Colon Theatre and window shopping on Florida as well as a stop to admire the ceiling paintings of the Galerias Pacifico are all part of this tour. If your hotel is not in downtown Buenos Aires you can still take the tour by making your way to the central meeting point.
Palermo: If your hotel is in Palermo then this tour is a great opportunity to get to know “hip and trendy” Buenos Aires through the streets of Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho. Explore the colourful streets with their myriad of fashionable shops, bars and restaurants.
You’ll discover the hot spots including Plaza Serrano but also have the opportunity to coordinate the sights that you want to see with your guide so that you get the most out of this trip. A must for sybarites.
Santiago
This is your opportunity for a unique view of Chile’s dynamic capital.
Leave the hotel to visit Santa Lucia Hill, where the city was founded in 1541. This hill is located in the heart of the city and it will give us an overview of the centre of Santiago.
We will then walk to Lastarria Neighbourhood. This area has recently experienced an upsurge as a cultural centre with many cafes opening and where you’ll also find the Fine Art and Modern Art Museums.
The area is also notable for its charming early 20th century architecture which has escaped the bulldozer of modernization that has hit other parts of this city.
From here, we’ll cross the Parque Forestal and the Mapocho River, crossing the river into Bellavista, Santiago’s bohemian sector. This is an ideal opportunity to get ideas of where to go and eat or have a drink later on that night! Crossing Bellavista we come to the base of San Cristobal hill where we will take the funicular railway to the top and find a statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the city.
We’ll have great panoramic views and if the weather conditions are right, stunning views of the Andes mountains.
We then return to our hotel.
If your holiday does involve a stay in one of these iconic cities, make sure you include a walking tour as part of your trip.
