🇵🇪 Lima: guide to the capital of Peru

Lima begins to surprise even at the airport. Do you know why? Because here they won’t put a stamp on your passport about arrival in Peru. Some time ago, the country abandoned this, and now there will be no traces of your visit to this colorful country in your passport.

general information 

Acquaintance of tourists with Peru begins precisely from the capital – Lima, despite the fact that the main tourist city is, after all, Cusco. And all because it is impossible to get to the homeland of the Incas except from the capital of the country.

You can get from the airport to the city by taxi. Uber operates in the country – a more reliable and safe way to travel. Lima is a metropolis with a population of about 10 million people, so be prepared for a long journey. But while stuck in a traffic jam, you can see the real life of the city. Don't rush to make a conclusion about Lima after seeing its streets in areas adjacent to the airport. Since there are a lot of favelas here – poor areas, but even Peruvian residents are trying to make them cleaner and more comfortable.

What else surprises Lima from the first seconds is its wide avenues and sidewalks, since in Brazil, for example, they are very narrow.

Peruvians speak Spanish, and, as in almost all Latin American countries, speaking English here is very difficult.

The best areas of Lima

The best areas of the city where you can choose a hotel or rent a home are Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro. We stayed in the Barranco area. It is he who is considered bohemian. All the elite live here. There are police officers on duty here, landscaped areas and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean delight the eye. There are also restaurants and cafes.

There are only 5-6 safe areas in the city. Therefore, the best solution would be not to skimp on housing and your safety.

What to see 

Historical Center

The spirit of the Spanish conquerors hovers in the historical center of Lima. And, of course, like any city with a Spanish past, there is a main square – the Plaza Mayor. This place serves as the starting point to begin exploring the historical center. 

This is the oldest square in Lima. In 1535, it was founded by conquistador Francisco Pizarro on the site of an Indian settlement. The buildings in this square were badly damaged during the earthquake, but there is one unchanged structure – a bronze fountain. Now here are the Palace of the Government of Peru, the Municipality, the Archbishop's Palace and the Cathedral of Lima.

The capital's cathedral was built on the site allocated for the city's first church. But then it was rebuilt several times, including after two earthquakes. The cathedral now operates as a museum, but also receives parishioners. However, there is an entrance fee.

Another amazing thing in the square are the shoe shiners. They will be happy to renew and polish your shoes, but of course at an additional cost.

In general, in the historical center of the city, in addition to Plaza Mayor, there are many ornate and colorful streets. There are also bright buildings, near each of which you want to stop and take a couple of photographs. There are Peruvian grandmothers in bright clothes who sell souvenirs, various establishments, interesting nooks and crannies, and also cathedrals.

When going to the historical center of the city, you should first of all remember safety. There are a lot of beggars here, they will not hesitate to approach you right in the restaurant. Therefore, it is best to explore the heart of Lima in the first half of the day. General life hacks on how to protect yourself from thieves can be found here.

Ocean

Despite the fact that Lima is located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, you won’t be able to swim here. Since there is no beach as such. And the shore is strewn with huge stones, which are washed away by the raging waves of the not-so-quiet ocean. For a beach holiday, you can go outside the city, for example, to San Bartolo or Punta Hermosa.

But just sitting, looking into the distance, enjoying the sounds of the elements, is not only possible, but even necessary. This will give you a wide range of emotions and peace.

Although our Barranco area is located near the ocean, it is not so easy to be right on the shore. Since this part of the city is located on a mountain, and the stairs along which you can go down to the water are installed at a decent distance. Therefore, just going down to the ocean took an hour under the scorching Peruvian sun. Therefore, be sure to stock up on sunscreen. 

Activities

Although the ocean in Lima is not suitable for swimming, it is perfect for extreme sports. Surfing and paragliding are the most popular types of entertainment. There are a lot of fans of these sports here. If you wish, you can look at the city from a bird's eye view or try to cut through the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Museums

Museum lovers can check out the National Museum. Here you can learn the entire archaeological history of the country, as well as see a model of Machu Picchu.

The National Museum of Archeology and Anthropology surprises with the variety of exhibits, some of which date back to 2800 BC.

Where to eat

Lima never ceases to amaze in this regard. Because the capital of Peru has the best restaurant in the world! You can imagine. It has 3 Michelin stars and is called Central Restaurante. I recommend visiting the Embarcadero 41 restaurant, here you can try the same tiger milk, which is worth reading about here.

And in Lima there are many green, clean and well-groomed parks, where you also want to spend more than one hour.