Lima, Peru – things to see and do
Peru’s capital might not be the most glamorous of South American cities but there is certainly plenty to see and do.
It is the gateway to the country as most travellers to Peru will enter and exit through the city’s modern airport.
The city is located on the Pacific in the central coastal area of the country. It is a large sprawling conurbation whose metropolitan region has a population of over 10 million people.
Climate
Lima has a mild desert climate where temperatures rarely fall below 14 °C (57 °F) or rise above 29 °C (84 °F). Summer is from December to April and Winter June to October.
In Summer you may well get colourful sunsets whilst in winter the skies are generally overcast and a high probability of drizzle.
Museums
The city boasts some of the finest museums on the continent.
Two of the most popular are:
The Larco Museum, (Av. Bolivar 1515, Pueblo Libre, Lima) which houses a fascinating collection of gold, silver and textiles from pre Columbian times. The building itself, a colonial mansion is built on a pre Columbian pyramid site.
The Archaeology, Anthropology and History Museum – (Plaza Bolivar, Lima) Peru’s oldest museum housing textiles, figurines, stone tools, ceramics and metalwork dating back to Pre Columbian times.
Gastronomy
Peruvian gastronomy is famous region wide and is getting itself known on the world stage. Lima has 3 restaurants in the World’s 30 best restaurant list of 2016. These are:
Central: (Santa Isabel 376, Miraflores, Lima, Perú) – A culinary journey through Peru from the Pacific Ocean to the peaks of the Andes. Ingredients are foraged from all over the country.
Maido: (Calle San Martín 399, Miraflores, Lima, Perú) Where Japan meets Peru. They call this fusion, where the two cultures meet in harmony and create a third reality, the Nikkei Experience.
Astrid y Gaston: (Av. Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro, Lima 27, Perú) This restaurant is responsible for helping to transform contemporary Peruvian cuisine to what it is today.
However, Lima has a plethora of restaurants to suit all tasters and pockets.
Where to stay
Most tourists stay in the districts of Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco neighbourhoods where there is a wide variety of hotels. These districts are ideal for walking around and with plenty of dining options.
Walking in Lima or even a bike tour
One of the best ways to explore the city is on foot. At Andean Trails we can include a guided walking tour into your itinerary which takes in the principal sites in central Lima such as the Central Market, Congress and Plaza Mayor. A bike tour is another energetic option.
As in most big cities we recommend you go out with just what you need and leave any jewellery or valuables in the hotel safe.
Something different
Water, lights and music: (Parque de La Reserva, Jr. Madre de Dios S/N, Lima)
Cercado de Lima, Per At 19:15, 20:15 and 21:30, Tuesday to Sunday, the fountains in Parque de La Reserva provide visitors with great spectacle with lights and set to music.
Monasterio de San Francisco, (Plazuela San Francisco, Lima, Peru). A visit to the bone lined catacombs is not for the faint hearted.
Museum of the Inquisition, (Plaza Bolivar, Lima, Peru) Another place not for the faint hearted. All means of “persuasion” used by the Inquisition are shown.
Chocomuseo: (Calle Berlín 375, Miraflores, Lima) Get your chocolate fix, see the chocolate making process from the cacao bean to the chocolate bar or even take part in a chocolate workshop.
If you are planning a trip to Peru you might want to consider a stop in Lima at the start or end of your tour.
