You should not leave Peru without tasting what Lima has to offer for the palate. From ceviches to chifas, criollo food to international gourmet cuisine, you will not tire of the options and will be blown away by the quality and variety of flavors. Check out our list of recommended restaurants and be sure to explore some on your own
Lima has a wide selection of quality museums. You can get a general overview of old Peruvian culture at the Museo Larco Herrera, visit a private collection of textiles and ceramics of ancient civilizations at the Museo Amano, or the catacombs and religious objects in a 16th century convent of San Francisco, and you can take in modern art at the Museo de Arte de Lima, among other options. See our full list of recommendations.
Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, downtown Lima was once the centre of the Spanish Viceroyalty. A coat of arms received from the King of Spain in 1537 calls it "The Very Noble, Distinguished and Very Loyal City of the Kings". Forty Spanish Viceroys governed over a period of 282 years. Lima was considered the richest and most prosperous city in the colony, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries. The historical centre of Lima, located today between the avenues Tacna, Grau, Abancay and the Rimac river, were once walled in for protection from attacks. This square area is also known as El Cercado.
Most of the structures from this period have been restored or reconstructed. The Plaza Mayor is Lima’s main square and is surrounded by the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the Palacio Municipal. The day Lima was founded in 1535, Francisco Pizarro placed the first stone for the building of the Cathedral. Today it holds the crypt where the conqueror’s remains are held, as well as a museum of religious art. The Government Palace (or House of Pizzarro) was the headquarters of the conqueror Francisco Pizzarro. Today this is the official residence of the President of the Republic. The changing of the guard happens every morning at 11:45 am. The Palacio Municipal or City Hall has beautiful colonial balconies and holds a number of historical documents on the founding of Lima and the Independence of Peru.
Lima has high quality crafts, including alpaca and silverware, and is a great place to find bargains on stylish clothes. You will find these in Lima’s shopping malls like Larcomar and El Polo, or walking around Miguel Dasso and Conquistadores shopping streets. See our list of recommended shops for some ideas.
Visiting a peña is a unique experience you will likely not forget for a long time. The live Afro-Peruvian music that is performed is so contagious and full of energy you won’t have trouble getting off your seat. Experienced dancers put anyone trying to move hips and shoulders while keeping a rhythm to shame. The atmosphere is always unpretentious so you will likely not feel intimidated by the pros. Brisas del Titicaca in central Lima (Jr. Walkulski 168) puts on a good folklore show 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Smaller and less touristy, Peña Del Carajo has a great vibe (Tuesday to Saturday 10pm; Av. Jorge Chávez 403). A bit more central and less informal is Manos Morenas, on Pedro de Osma 409 in Barranco, a criollo restaurant that also puts on a peña for US$12.
Lima has a vivid modern music scene that is worth checking out. La Noche on a pedestrian street in Barranco, Bolognesi 307 (01/477-5829), is one of Lima’s best modern live-music venues. The atmosphere is casual, with an open-air terrace and indoor dance-floor, in a multi-level pub environment. The crowds are mostly locals and some tourists. Good bands of various styles, mainly jazz, play every night for under US$8. Monday nights are free. More mature crowds go to ‘La Estación de Barranco’, Pedro de Osma 112 (01/247-0344) for criollo music, ‘Jazz Zone’, Av. La Paz 656, Pasaje El Suche (01/241-8139) for live jazz, and ‘Satchmo’, Av. La Paz 538 (01/444-4957) also for jazz.
‘Paso’ horses are a natural breed of horse originally from Peru that walk with a special gait. This 400 year old breed is widely regarded as the best saddle horse due to its incredibly smooth ride. A unique gait means that the rider’s center of gravity stays relatively constant while riding, resulting in a very comfortable ride.
You can experience riding these elegant horses while visiting an hacienda or through one of our recommended organized tour. The Peruvian Paso Horse festival takes place in Pachacamac, just outside of Lima in April.
Lima, being right on the Pacific Coast, has many surf fanatics. You will spot locals surfing along the shores of Lima throughout the day. Sometimes they may resemble a herd of sea lions, sitting on their boards, in their shiny wetsuits (water in this part of Peru is very cold), waiting for the next wave to come. You can catch your own wave if you bring your gear or by taking a tour or renting equipment for a day. Check out one of our recommended tours. Be warned that although waves around Lima are safe for any level, places like Pico Alto (boasting one of the biggest waves in South America, at 24 ft.) and Cerro Azul in the South, and others in the North of Peru are mostly for advanced surfers.
A tradition carried down from Peru’s colonial past, bullfighting is an unusual pastime whose season is during late October and November in Lima. Bullfights take place just outside of Lima, in Rímac, at the historic Plaza de Acho; the arena opened in 1766 and is today the second oldest bullfighting arena in the world. Note that bullfighting in Lima is ‘Spanish style’ meaning they fight until the death of the animal, so this activity is not for the faint of heart. You can buy tickets online close to the dates at Teleticket.
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