The last leg of our Peruvian adventure, after Cusco & Machu Picchu, was spent in the capital – Lima. Since our bodies were a little tired from the hiking and altitude, we were ready to eat some good food and take it slow. If you only have a limited time in Lima, here are our top recommendations and tips to discover this capital city.
Miraflores Neighborhood
Miraflores is the neighborhood I would recommend staying in when visiting Lima. It is the nicest part of the city, with plenty of bars, restaurants and shopping. We found a great breakfast spot at La Posteria Cafe, near our Airbnb that we ended up going to both mornings! Highly recommend if you’re looking for an inexpensive and quality breakfast.
- Cost: Free to explore neighborhood
- Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours
Parque del Amor
Parque del Amor is located along the Malecon de la Reserva, a coastal cliff walk above the beaches in Miraflores. If you don’t have a lot of time, set your sights on Parque del Amor, rather than the cliff walk, to take in some of the best views. As you could probably tell from its name, this park is dedicated to lovers and even has a large statue in the middle titled El Beso (the Kiss).
If you’re looking for a snack, check out the crepe stand Besos Frances for a sweet or savory treat. There’s outdoor seating so you can enjoy a view of the ocean. It’s a great spot to watch the sunset or see the surfers catch some waves below.
- Cost: Free
- Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours
Huaca Pucllana
In Miraflores, you’ll find a great clay pyramid and archeology site called Huaca Pucllana. The Lima Culture was the society that used the pyramid for religious and social ceremonies. Lima Culture pre-dates the Incas and is said to have formed along this coastal region between the years 200 and 700 AD. Entrance includes a guided tour! The archeology site is massive and still being worked on today. If you’re in the Miraflores region, this is something you don’t want to miss.
- Cost: 18 soles (~$5)
- More Information: Huaca Pucllana
- Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours
Pisco Sour
The traditional Peruvian cocktail made from Pisco, lime juice & egg whites is called a Pisco Sour. Pisco is technically a type of brandy, made by distilling fermented grape juice. The lime or syrup, gives the cocktail a sweeter flavor. In downtown Lima, you can participate in a pisco sour tasting or class. We decided to attempt our own pisco tour by visiting a few local bars in the downtown area one night.
- Cost: 20 – 30 soles ($6-8) for a drink
- Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours
Ceviche
Now to go along with the theme of trying Peruvian specialties, you can’t leave Lima without getting some ceviche. Ceviche is fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices (lemon or lime) with chili seasoning. It’s typically served with sweet potatoes and corn. Out of the places we visited in Peru, we were holding off on trying Ceviche until we were close to the sea and knew the fish would be fresh. I am not a really big fish person but I must admit that the flavor was totally there.
- Cost: 38 soles (~$12)
- Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours
Parque Kennedy
Another great spot in Miraflores is Parque Kennedy, named after the 35th President of the US. We found ourselves strolling through this park more than once during our short stay here. There was a small market with local artisans and one evening we even caught locals dancing to some live music!
- Cost: Free
- Estimated time needed: 30 minutes
The Inca Market
In every big city, it’s always fun to visit a market to find some nice souvenirs to bring home. The Inca Market is a great spot in Miraflores to find some hand made crafts. Even if you are not looking for anything to purchase, it’s a great place to walk around and soak it all in.
- Cost: Free
- Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours
Circuito Magico del Agua
The Magic Water Circuit (Circuito Magico del Agua) can be found in Parque de la Reserva. The Park was originally finished in 1929 to commemorate the last soldiers to fight in the Battle of Miraflores and the Battle of San Juan Chorrillos, but in the year 2007, the magic water circuit was completed as part of the area. Currently this Water Circuit holds the world record for largest fountain complex – with 13 various fountains that include lights and music. I recommend visiting in the evening since every hour there is an automated show at the Fantasia Fountain that is synched to lights and music.
- Cost: 5 soles (~$1.50)
- More Information: Magic Water Circuit
- Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours
Spa
Finally, after a busy week in Peru we decided to treat ourselves to a day at the spa on our last morning in Lima. After doing a bit of research we discovered Heavenly Spa which is part of the Westin Hotel (located halfway between downtown Lima and Miraflores).
They offer a variety of services but we ended up choosing a package called Heavenly Sunrise so we could try a few things. This consisted of 30 minutes in a ‘bath area’ (steam room, shower & jacuzzi), followed by a 50 minute full body massage, 50 minute facial and 20 minute express manicure. It costs roughly ~$130 per person to do a package like this, which we thought was a great deal considering the cost of these services in the US. The spa was beautiful and everyone was professional and friendly. After all the hiking we did at Machu Picchu, this was the perfect way to treat our sour muscles after a long trip.
- Cost: 369 soles (~$130)
- Explore Spa Packages online: Heavenly Spa
- Estimated time needed: 2-4 hours
Lima, Peru Accommodation
We rented a studio apartment in Lima for two nights through Airbnb. We stayed in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima, which is recommended. The apartment was walking distance to the cliff walk and many restaurants. (You do need to take a taxi if you want to get to Lima center however). It also had air conditioning, which was a lifesaver due to the humidity.
Lima, Peru Travel Tips
Transportation
- Miraflores is very walkable but you will need to a take a taxi or Uber to get anywhere else you go in Lima
- Public transportation can be dangerous for locals so it’s advised to avoid it
Tipping
- 10% gratuity is added to most bills in Peru
- You can also tip 1 or 2 soles on top of this if the service is good, but it is not expected
Weather
- It hasn’t rained in the city since 1998. Yes, you read that correctly. It hasn’t rained in over 20 years in Lima! Why? The Peruvian capital is actually part of a coastal desert that runs from Northern Peru down to Chile. The Andes prevent the wine, rain and snow from reaching the Western part of the country. Although it never rains, Lima is normally very humid. In the Winter, humidity averages 95%!
- Temperatures range from 50-80 F, depending on the season.
General
- Stay in Miraflores or San Isidoro, they are the safest neighborhoods for tourists in Lima
Lima was originally planned as a strategic stop along the way home from Machu Picchu & Cusco, but we discovered it is so much more than that. Be sure to schedule a little time in this bustling city before flying home from Peru.
Hasta luego, Amanda
Last edited: April 2023
