Lima's Coast
Perús capital of Lima is one of South Americas largest cities. Lying on the pacific coast, Lima is often just a stepping stone for other popular destinations such as Machu Picchu. However, there is a charm that made me fall in love with the vibrant city throughout the two months we spent there so don't breeze through your visit to Lima too quickly. You'll spend your mornings wandering through the bohemian streets, snacking on ceviche and enjoying cliff-side breezes, and spend your nights having rooftop dinners overlooking the city and drinking pisco sours at authentic local bars downtown. As a cuisine hub, Lima is referred to as the 'gastronomic capital of Latin America' due to its exquisite dishes, and I can confirm that Peruvian food is delicious - if you're looking for a reason to spend more time in Lima and the activities or sights aren't enough, let it be for the food!
Lima's Coast
When is the Best Time to Visit Lima?
The best time to visit Lima is during the summer season from December to March where the weather will range from high-70's to mid-80's (in Fahrenheit). In the summer months you'll be able to enjoy the beaches, rooftop pools, parks and walk around the city. The winter season lasts from June to August; temperatures in these months are around 60-68. In the winter, it is very common to be cloudy and have a steady, chilly breeze along the coast so be sure to bring some long pants and a heavy sweatshirt. If you're visiting during the winter months there is still a lot to do - walk the charming streets of Barranco, sit down for some delicious Peruvian food, or do some shopping in Miraflores.
I was in Lima around October and November, and some days I had to wear a light jacket and long pants while other days I could wear a t-shirt and shorts, so it's very much a transitional period from winter to summer. Regardless, the weather was pleasant and it was less busy than visiting during high season. Surprisingly Limas high season is during their winter, as that is when the weather is the driest to visit the world wonder of Machu Picchu in Cusco, and as I mentioned earlier tourists pass through Lima as a stepping stone to get there.
What are the Best Areas to Stay in Lima?
Barranco, Miraflores and Centro Histórico
The three best districts to stay in Lima, each having it's own unique vibes, are Barranco, Miraflores and Centro Histórico. Barranco is a very trendy bohemian district and is my personal favorite; it's full of vibrant houses with colonial-era architecture, colorful street art, low-key cafes, and most of all, the feeling of romance.
The District of Barranco; use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos!
Miraflores is one of the wealthiest and busiest districts of Lima and presents as more of a "downtown" hub than Barranco. As a residential, upscale shopping district, Miraflores comes to life at night as their many bars, clubs and restaurants fill up with locals and tourists looking to experience the Lima nightlife.
The District of Miraflores; use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos!
While both Barranco and Miraflores are cliffside along the coastline, the Historic Centre of Lima (Centro Histórico) is a bit further inland and one of the most important neighborhoods to represent Limas past. Squares, churches, monuments, museums and architecture are just the beginning of what the historic centre has to offer. Centro Histórico is known as the "City of Kings" ("Ciudad de los Reyes") after Lima was founded in 1535 on a religious holiday called 'Epiphany' which is said to be when the Three Kings visited the Baby Jesus.
Centro Historico; use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos!
Is Lima Safe?
I stayed in Barranco for 2 months and felt very safe in each neighborhood I mentioned. In my experience locals aren't particularly outgoing but are friendly and kind if you need to ask for help or directions. As with every new city, be fairly vigilant and don't walk on empty streets alone or flash fancy jewelry or clothes as pick-pocketing or petty theft is always a risk. If you plan on venturing past these neighborhoods just make sure to research the area you'll be going as there is usually street or area-specific warnings. However overall I felt safe in Lima and often had shopping days and cliff-side picnics alone. There have been a few cities in my travels where I felt uncomfortable even going to the grocery store alone, but Lima is certainly not one of them.
What are the Top Things to do in Lima?
There are a lot of fun and relaxing options for things to do in Lima, but I want to start with the most important - wander the streets of the 3 neighborhoods (Barranco, Miraflores and Centro Histórico) and fall in love with their charm! As one of the top things to do in Lima, Perú, it is a must to explore the graffiti-ridden streets of Barranco, the lively shopping and partying vibes of Miraflores and a walk through the past in Centro Histórico. With this, it transitions me perfectly to the next top thing to do which is walk along the scenic cliffside promenade - called the malecón - that stretches through Barranco and Miraflores, visiting the parks and mall along the way.
Malecón de Barranco y Miraflores
Walking and picnicking along the malecón was one of my favorite things to do while staying in Lima. Our rental was in Barranco, but very close to the border with Miraflores (the malecón on the Miraflores and Barranco sides are slightly separated by a highway below the cliffs - the promenade turns away from the sea for a short walk to cross a small bridge before turning back towards the sea and continuing on.) The view itself is reason enough to go cliff-side, however there is also a lot to see or do along the way.
The Malecón de Barranco
Most of the must-see parks and the iconic cliffside mall are along the Malecón de Miraflores; if you have to choose a side to walk, I would pick the Miraflores side. However if you have time to slow down and picnic, watch the sunset or just sit and relax for a bit, the Barranco side is better for that. The grassy areas on the Barranco side felt more quiet and peaceful - three ways I could describe it would be happy dogs, fresh flowers, and butterflies. As for the Miraflores side it is more family friendly and active, and as I mentioned there are some things on that side you just can't miss! Both sides are equally beautiful, I would just say it all depends what vibe you're going for at the time.
After crossing the small bridge (transitioning from the Malecón de Barranco to the Malecón de Miraflores) you can either continue on the main promenade (at this point a sidewalk) or go down a set of steps into the Malecón De La Reserva - a pretty park with a few levels of walking paths, along which are gardens full of plants from all over the world that are labeled for your knowledge. The parks paths end up connecting back onto the main malecón walkway; it's just a minor, beautiful detour.
A large platform in the Malecón de la Reserva (the other side of the platform has beautiful coastal views!!)
A ways past the malecón de la reserva along the malecón de Miraflores is Parque del Amor - a park opened on valentines day in 1993 dedicated entirely to love filled with statues, mosaics, gardens and a romantic view of the sea. Just past Parque del Amor is Parque Antonio Raimondi, containing vibrant gardens and greenery, a lighthouse and a launch site for paragliders. Watching the paragliders take off and fly so close to the cliffs is incredible - I sat and spent around an hour taking in the fresh air and looking at the views, wondering how the heck those people are so comfortable jumping off cliffs and counting on the wind to keep them in the air.
The Malecón de Miraflores (L-R; Parque del Amor (x3), Parque Antonio Raimondi (x3))
Use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos!
Larcomar Mall
Larcomar Mall in Miraflores
Larcomar is an open-air mall on the cliffs between the Malecon de la Reserva and Parque del Amor. Visiting this iconic shopping center is one of the top things to do in Lima, Perú. There are plenty of name-brand stores, botiques, a grocery store, a gym and a large courtyard with delicious restaurants for a full day of shopping. I definitely spent way too much money there - lol! After Larcomar if you want to continue your shopping day, continue down Avenida José Larco right into downtown Miraflores where you'll find a bright, bustling scene of shops, restaurants, hotels and bars.
Speaking of the bustling scene of downtown Miraflores, in my opinion this is where the best nightlife takes place. Miraflores has every possible form of nightlife to cater to every personality that passes through - rooftop bars, 3-story clubs, lowkey taverns and food courts that for some hilarious reason transform into a dance party with a full bar late at night. My favorite area to get dropped off for a night of partying was Parque John F. Kennedy. In the park itself there are tons of people (and cats) at all hours from opening to closing. There are these concrete pits in the park (we also had one near our apartment in Barranco where rap battles would take place at night) that would have dancing in it and draw huge crowds. Everyone seemed like professional dancers and it was so much fun to watch.
Dancing in Parque John F. Kennedy
Just across the road from the park is Pje. San Ramon, a tiny pedestrian street lined with clubs, bars and restaurants. Here I recommend checking out Elephant Rooftop, a building with 3 floors each featuring a different bar playing a different style of music (the top floor being the rooftop) and Mercado San Ramon which is the cool food court-turned nightclub. The areas within about a mile radius of this street is lively all night long. Two other recommendations I have within that radius are Black Llama (a rooftop bar and hostel) where the vibes are immaculate and cocktails are delicious, and Ambra which is on the top floor of a skyscraper building and has a classy vibe with gorgeous views but requires reservations in advance via a text to their whatsapp.
Lima Nightlife; (L-R: Ambra, Elephant Rooftop, Ambra, Mercado San Ramon, Pje. San Ramon)
Use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos!
The Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs; Use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos!
One of the most popular attractions in Barranco and one of the top things to do in Lima, Perú is to walk along the Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros) - a footbridge said to be a meeting point for couples in love. This is the ending point to the Malecón de Barranco. It is built over the Bajada de Baños which is a stone walkway that slopes downward and leads to the ocean. Wandering down to the beach from the bridge is a must - it's a decent beach, nothing too spectacular, but the walk down is gorgeous and looking back up at the cliffs is a pretty incredible thing, especially when you've never seen a city built cliff-side before!
Playa Los Yuyos
While wandering the artsy area surrounding the Bridge of Sighs you'll surely pass countless murals and mosaics that are incredibly well done. I recommend ending up in Municipal de Barranco Park - a popular tree-lined square that can get very busy, and if you're lucky you can catch some traditional Peruvian dancing here in the evenings!
Barranco District
Exploring Centro Histórico
In Centro Histórico, start your day at Muninet Parque La Muralla where you'll have views of a colorful favella in the distance, see some goats and peacocks at their mini zoo and check out a few ancient ruins and statues. Walk towards the Basilica and Covent of San Francisco to visit the catacombs and admire the building. From there, head to Lima Main Square - the top attraction in the historic center of Lima featuring more beautiful buildings (namely the Lima Cathedral and the Archbishops Palace). Connecting the Lima Main Square to another popular square called Plaza San Martin is the stone-and-tile pedestrian walking street Jirón de la Unión which has a lot of shops and eateries. If you're an architecture/design-lover like me the Church of La Merced on Jirón de la Unión will certainly catch your eye with its baroque facade and intricate design - it is free to enter, but even if you don't go inside you'll still be able to see that it truly is an architectural masterpiece.
Centro Historicó; (L-R: Muninet Parque La Muralla, Lima Main Square, Church of La Merced, Jirón de la Unión)
Use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos!
To continue your day, past Plaza San Martin and still along Jirón de la Unión, you will find Parque de la Exposición which has large greenspaces featuring parks, gardens and Museo de Arte de Lima - one of the best art museums containing both ancient and modern Peruvian art.
After admiring the artwork and as it gets dark, either drive for 5 minutes or walk for 15 to get to the Magic Water Circuit of the Reserve Park which is in the Guinness book of world records for being the largest water fountain park in the world. Between the 13 large water fountains that combine music and lights, the park makes for a fun family-friendly or date-night kind of evening. In the evening at 7:15, 8:15 and 9:30 there are lights and music shows at the Fantasy Fountain near the north entrance. Some of the fountains allow you to get wet if you choose but it's not necessary - if you have kids (or you just have a child-like spirit like I do) they'll definitely want to run through the tunnel of water or splash in the interactive fountains that jet water into the air at random (yes, I did both things!)
Magic Water Circuit of the Reserve Park
Day Trips From Lima
There are so many wonderful day trips from the Peruvian capital city, including the most popular trips to Paracas or Huacachina. I did not do any of these (not because they don't look incredible but because our main priority for Lima was to see Machu Picchu), so all I have for you is the following research I did regarding these day trips.
Paracas is a town about 250km (around a 3-4 hour drive) south of Lima, and is known for its beaches and rich wildlife. Paracas National Reserve is a protected area that spans through desert, ocean and islands and is home to sea lions, penguins, flamingos and other species. You can take a boat to the Ballestas Islands where there are thousands of sea lions that you can famously swim with. Along the boat ride to the islands you will get to see the famous prehistoric geoglyph along sand dunes that face the ocean - it is 2,500 years old and it's true meaning is unknown, though ideas regarding it being a trident or lightning rod of the god Viracocha are rather popular. Also in Paracas is the Paracas History museum famous for housing 'alien skulls' (believe what you will).
Paracas National Reserve: Photo by Matthijs Idema on Unsplash
Huacachina is a small village in the desert that is build around the green waters of the Huacachina Lagoon and is surrounded by sand dunes. Just over an hour south of Paracas (totaling around 4.5 hours from Lima), Huacachina is often included with Paracas in a day trip package from Lima. There is a beautiful legend that surrounds the Huacachina Lagoon and is the reason the lagoon is thought to have therapeutic properties; the story goes that an Incan princess with beautiful green eyes was mourning the death of her lover, crying so much that her tears - the color the same shade of green as her eyes -created the lagoon. While she was crying, she was startled by a warrior and ran into the lagoon to hide, but when she tried to leave she realized she had been transformed into a mermaid and was destined to stay in the lagoon forever. The name Huacachina actually roughly translates to 'weeping woman' or 'woman who cries'.
Despite being a small conservation area in a desert, there seems to be a lot to do and I'd love to go one day! You can go sand-boarding, ride dune buggies, take a paddle board or kayak out on the lagoon, party hard over the weekend (apparently lining the lagoon is a large array of lively bars and clubs that usually go all night long), visit the vinyards to take a wine and pisco tour (pisco is Perús national drink) and lastly see the Nazca Lines which are geoglyphs similar to the one in Paracas. These lines are best viewed from a helicopter tour if you'd like to splurge, but are also viewable by climbing a short distance up the sand dunes to a viewpoint.
Huacachina: Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash
To get to Paracas or Huacachina, you can either go with a tour group on a day trip (many are offered on trip advisor or get your guide), take a car or private taxi, or take a bus for around $15 USD (there are tickets on BusBud which is a website I have used and liked). Each method of transportation takes around the same time at 3 to 4 hours for Paracas and 4 to 5 hours for Huacachina.
I hope this post is helpful for you! Enjoy your trip to Perú - eat a lot of food, see a lot of historical sights, engage in the culture and have fun exploring!