10 Things to Do in Lima, Peru

Posted on 16. Oct, 2013 by Colin in peru

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I’ve been reading a lot of Lima tourism articles lately, and I’ve come across the typical list articles (“Top 10 things to Do in Lima”). About.com, TIME Magazine, Lonely Planet – all their lists are generic and LAME (Lonely Planet’s is the worst).

So this is my stock Lima tourism article, and these are my top Lima tourism recommendations!

1. La Punta de Callao

Callao, home to the largest Pacific Ocean port in South America, is also an infamous slum notorious for crime. However, La Punta de Callao is an upscale district of wealthy homes and yacht clubs located in a tiny peninsula. To get in or out, you have to pass through Callao proper. I have found it safe to travel the main avenues during the day, and it’s worth the trip.

The taxis drop you off at Plaza Grau, before the entrance to La Punta, because it costs 20 soles for vehicles to enter. On the east side of Plaza Grau (on your left if facing the sea) is the Coast Guard. There’s a dock right there where you can take a boat tour of the port and La Punta.

Some boat tours are motorized, and some are led by fishermen with rowboats. They both will show you abandoned piers overtaken by starfish, sea spiders, pelicans, and more. But only the motorized tours will offer you glimpses of the massive port. Those tours leave from this dock at Plaza Grau, and they require a minimum number of passengers. A fisherman’s tour will only take a few.

Points of interest in Callao include Port of Callao, Submarine and Navy Museums, Fortaleza del Real Felipe, Chucuito, Plaza Galvez, Plaza Matriz, the Naval Academy, Plaza San Martin, Malecon Wiese. See a map of La Punta de Callao with those points of interest.

2. Bicycle Tour

I became an avid urban cyclist in Bogota because of its chaotic congestion. In the process I realized cycling is the best way to see a city. You’re not passing too fast to see interesting places, as in a car or bus. You’re also not limited to the areas you can walk or run to. On a bicycle, you can cover a lot of territory but you don’t go too fast to take in the sights.

Lima is an even better city for cycling because, although there are fewer bike paths, it never rains, it’s never cold, and it’s completely flat. Avenida Arequipa, a major vein running from downtown Lima to Miraflores, is closed to cars on Sundays until 2 p.m., during which time all four lanes fill with pedestrians, rollerbladers, skateboarders, and cyclists. It’s great for people-watching without the stress of cars and honking horns. Sunday is the best day to do a Lima bike tour, but any day will suffice.

I recommend Bike Tours of Lima if you are not comfortable navigating Latin American car traffic in on a bicycle. But if you have the confidence and want to cover more ground than a one-size-fits-all guided tour, I’ve created a custom Lima tour on Google Maps. In addition to the typical tourist areas, my tour will take you through Lince, Paseo Colon, Campo de Marte, Avenida Salaverry, Jesus Maria, Barrio Japones (Japanese Town), and more.

See my Lima Bike Tour.

3. Gamarra

Gamarra is my off-the-beaten-path recommendation. Aside from a few travel sites like Latin America For Less, you won’t find it on any other Lima tourism list.

Gamarra is the largest clothing and textile market, and maybe the largest informal market, in Latin America. Located in the La Victoria district, Gamarra’s 20,000 textile shops, manufacturers, contractors, and retailers employ over 100,000 people. The Gamarra economy is estimated at over $1.4 billion a year. Taking up 24 square blocks, the city estimates the area receives an average 100,000 visitors a day. Most of them visit during the weekends (if you don’t like crowds, skip Gamarra).

Visiting Gamarra is the best way to see the informal economy in action. It’s interesting to me because it’s a business and economics wonder. But it would also be a great time for clothing and fabric aficionados.

You can find everything: t-shirts, jean, socks and underwear, lingerie, maternity dresses, suits, tuxedos and bridal dresses, shoes, accessories, sports jerseys, hats, traditional Peruvian fabrics like alpaca, imitation replicas of designer brands, and more. Seeing all of Gamarra would take weeks. The prices are low, and be prepared to haggle. Gringos will be presumed rich and quoted higher prices than normal.

San Victorino in Bogota is similar, but much smaller, more congested and dangerous. Still, some foreign visitors to Gamarra feel it is dangerous. Beware of pickpockets as always, but I’ve never felt unsafe.

See a Google Map of Gamarra points of interest.

4. Larco Museum

Museo Larco is the best museum in Lima. Victor Larco, for whom the museum was named, dedicated his life to collecting pre-Columbian artifacts from different Peruvian cultures. He is credited with discovering the Mochica culture, which produced the museum’s claim to fame: erotic pottery featuring couples in all positions imaginable: doggystyle, missionary, oral, solo acts. Also from the Mochicas came a strange blade and chalice used to cut the throats of other tribes’ defeated soldiers (blade), and catch the blood for the priests and leaders to drink (chalice).

The museum’s garden and building are marvelous, Lima beauty at its best. See pictures of selected exhibits at Museo Larco on the Expat Chronicles FB page.

While most museums in Lima are not worthy of mention, the catacombs at San Francisco deserve a shout for their thousands of skeletons buried below.

5. Magic Water Circuit

By night, Parque de la Reserva hosts the Circuito Magico de Agua. The Magic Water Circuit is a water fountain exhibit. The show consists of 13 water fountains that combine music, colored lights, and laser effects. The Guinness Book of World Records has verified it as the world’s largest fountain complex in a public park.

A Lima must-see, The Magic Water Circuit is a family-friendly hit with all ages. Some fountains are interactive, with names like Tunnel of Surprises, Dream Maze, and Walk-In Dome. You can stand and walk through these exhibits trying not to get wet. But anticipate getting wet. Excited kids get soaked. Staying dry is an option, but not as fun. Visitors say the Magic Water Circuit is more impressive than the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas.

See the Magic Water Circuit photo album on the Expat Chronicles FB page.

Children’s Fountain:

Dream Maze Fountain:

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6. City Center Walking Tour

Of the Latin American cities I’ve visited, downtown Lima is by far the most impressive city center. Before the 18th century, all of Spanish South America was governed by Spanish representatives in Lima. In Spain’s extraction of the vast silver wealth from the Potosi mine in present-day Bolivia, everything passed through Lima.

Below is a custom walking tour of downtown Lima, called “Cercado” in Peruvian Spanish. The tour features the Palace of Justice, Casa Roosevelt, Plaza Francia, Iglesia de la Recoleta, Plaza San Martin, Parque Universitario, Plaza de la Cultura, San Pedro Church, Barrio Chino (Chinatown), Congress, San Francisco church (which features the famous catacombs), Plaza de Armas, Government Palace, Lima Cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace, the Alameda Chabuca Granda, and Santo Domingo church.

See my Downtown Lima Walking Tour.

7. Miraflores Walking Tour

Miraflores is an upscale district along the Pacific Coast, and the heart of Lima tourism, business, and leisure. Known for shopping, gardens, parks, and beaches, Miraflores is Lima’s best-known upscale district where all Peru’s modern celebrities have a history.

My tour features Parque Central, Parque Kennedy, Calle de las Pizzas, Avenida Larco, Larcomar, Malecon, and Parque del Amor. See my Miraflores Walking Tour.

8. Barranco Walking Tour

Barranco is the bohemian beach community in Lima. Where Miraflores is hustle, bustle, and business, Barranco has a more laidback, artistic vibe.

My walking tour features Parque Municipal, Plaza Barranco, Santisima Cruz church, Boulevard Sanchez Carrion, Avenida Miguel Grau, Avenida Saenz Peña, Avenida San Martin, La Ermita church, Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), Bajada de Baños. See my Barranco Walking Tour.

9. Gastronomy (Eat!)

Peruvian cuisine is the best in Latin America. If you’re in Lima for a week, you won’t have time to try everything. If you’re in town for a month, you’ll be able to have your favorites a second or third time. So don’t waste time, and don’t go to McDonald’s!

Lima-specific food features more seafood, so lots of ceviche and variations of causa. But here’s a list to work through while in Lima:

• Ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime, tossed with sweet potato)
• Causa (chicken or tuna salad with avocado in mashed potato cake)
• Aji de Gallina (shredded chicken breast in creamy sauce served with rice)
• Arroz con Pollo (cilantro-infused rice steamed with chicken, carrots, and peas)
• Seco de Cordero (stewed lamb in cilantro with potatoes and rice)
• Lomo Saltado (steak strips tossed with fried potatoes, tomato, and onion in soy sauce)

In addition to those standard Peruvian dishes, try my off-the-beaten-path pics: Tacu Tere and Suspiro de Limeña.

Tacu Tacu is the traditional Afro-Peruvian plate of Lima. Tacu Tere is a remixed Tacu Tacu invented by late Afro-Peruvian chef, Teresa Izquierdo. The Izquierdo family continues to manage her Lince restaurant, El Rincon Que No Conoces. The beans and rice in Tacu Tacu is fried in the Tacu Tere, and stuffed with beef or pork tenderloin. Served with fried tomato and onion with chorizo, fried egg and plantain. The contrasts are oral orgasm.

Unfortunately the Tacu Tere is only served on Saturdays and Sundays. El Rincon Que No Conoces has a buffet every Wednesday. It’s located at Calle Bernardo Alcedo 363 in Lince, southeast of Petit Thouars and Jose Pardo de Zela (Block 19 of Petit Thouars).

Suspiro de Limeña, or Lima Woman’s Sigh, is a super-sweet parfait made from sweet red wine and dulce de leche (AKA manjar or arequipe). If I’m going to order a dessert, I don’t go halfway. I want it to knock the sweet tooth right out, and this is the only Peruvian dessert that fits the bill. Ironically given its name invokes Lima, it’s hard to find. I recommend the historic Jesus Maria confectionary, Nova (Avenida Cuba and Avenida Salaverry).

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10. Debauchery (Drink!)

Pisco, a strong spirit distilled from grapes, is Peru’s national liquor. When I first moved to Peru in 2008, I thought it was awful. Since then, I’ve turned a new leaf. I love it. Pisco sours or pisco shots, I am all in.

Pisco sours, which contain simple syrup, lime, and egg white, are very sweet. I have to chase them down with beer, which Cusqueña is my choice in Peru. Although if you want to drink like an authentic Limeñan, stick with Pilsen Callao.

The less famous Peruvian cocktail is the algarrobina, which is a pisco-infused, sweet and creamy cocktail. With both condensed milk and egg yolks in the recipe, the diet is out the window.

In sticking with the off-the-beaten-path nature of my recommendations, I would never send you to a bar in Miraflores or Barranco. Start at Bar Queirolo, Lima’s oldest bar, located on Camana just below Colmena and west of Plaza San Martin. Queirolo is one of Peru’s national pisco and wine brands, and the bar sells all their booze by the bottle. It’s a great place to let your hair down, order a bottle of wine or pisco with your friends, and get a buzz started. They also sell cheese and salami platters for the wine aficionados, as well as sandwiches and hot plates.

From Queirolo, move to Gran Hotel Bolivar facing Plaza San Martin and order the Catedral, an oversized pisco sour. Then hit Bar Maury, which claims to have invented the pisco sour, just a block south of Plaza de Armas. If you’re in the mood to dance, I recommend El Bolivariano in Pueblo Libre. If price is not an option, try La Calesa in San Isidro. They have dozens of herb-infused piscos to sample.

Those are my pics for Lima, City of Kings, the capital of Peru!

Tags: art, food, lima, museums, pictures, tourism, video