Lima

Museo Larco - Av Bolívar 1515 - Pueblo Libre

V!VA User‘s Description

A culturally rich yet modern city on the rise, Lima has an edge worth exploring. Its raw vibe mixed with its new sense of pride is sure to bring this once-Spanish capital back into the spotlight. Lima is home to Peru’s best museums, most notably the Museo de Oro del Peru (Peruvian Gold Museum) and the Museo de la Nación (The National Museum), one of the largest museums in South America. Other highlights include colonial architecture at Iglesia de San Francisco, pre-Inca pyramids at Pachacámac and catacombs in Central Lima (p.90).

The recently renovated Plaza de Armas (or Plaza Mayor) has been Peru’s governmental center since 1535, with the Palacio de Gobierno (Presidential Palace) and the Archbishop’s Palace at its center. Recently, upscale restaurants and cafés have sprung up in the area right around the plaza. The coastal suburbs of Miraflores (p.112), San Isidro (p.104) and Barranco (p.129) are popular places to stay to avoid Central Lima’s smog and chaos. Barranco is especially popular for its nightlife and performing arts center.

While high unemployment rates in the 1980s and 90s contributed to the deterioration of the city and rise in crime, Lima also suffered from intense pollution, mostly emitted by the large number of cars and emerging industry. The smog, combined with a heavy fog, called garua, blankets the city from June to December, making Lima seem dark, gloomy and scary. But under it all, Lima is a colorful city, and in recent years the government has cracked down on crime and made many tourist areas safer. As a result, the city as a whole, with its reputable gastronomic scene, including signature fish dishes, musical talents, lively historic and contemporary art scene, terrific performing arts and cosmopolitan shopping venues, has become a great place to explore.

In 2003, under the mayor’s orders, the old city got clean. For years, the historic center, El Centro, has been considered an unsafe area not worthy of any attention. But like in so many South American cities that hold exquisite architecture and rich history, all that was needed was a bit of money and a whole lot of loving. Today, the Plaza de Armas, located in the historic center, shows off its beauty. Lima declared its independence from Spain here in 1821. The renovation of this area has also made it easier and safer to visit some of the center’s most unique treasures, such as the Iglesia de San Francisco, which houses catacombs whose tunnels reportedly hold bones from 75,000 people, or the Museo de Arte de Lima, a Peruvian art museum.

If you are just using Lima as a portal to Cusco, your flight will most likely arrive late at night and leave for Cusco early in the morning. You can either tough out the layover in the airport or go to a hotel for a few hours until your flight leaves. The Miraflores district is your best bet for a reasonable rate on a room and you won’t have to travel too far. Central Lima is about 30-45 minutes from the airport. Be sure to get to the airport early, as the flights to Cusco are usually packed and often delayed due to cloudy weather in this mountainous city.

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Places in Lima

• Cusco
• Lima

All Activities in Lima

Top Rated Hotels

90% - 6 ratings

86% - 4 ratings

69% - 6 ratings

Top Rated Restaurants

97% - 15 ratings

94% - 4 ratings

87% - 5 ratings

Traveler Reviews of Lima

Amazing vacations

Rating: 100%

Lima is the best place ever, a must !

By V!VA User from France, Feb 17, 2009

Lima, give it a chance!

Rating: 100%

As any other capital city in the world, yes, Lima is huge, a little bit chaotic, loud, but still complete worth a visit for a day or two.
You are going to stop there anyway on your way to Cusco and Machu Picchu, so why not understand what´s going on with modern Peru.
The best restaurants are here, an important part of their culture, and the best overall experiences are at the museums.
The best museums are waiting for you in Lima. Don´t miss Larco Museum in Pueblo Libre, or Huaca Huallamarca in Miraflores, to really understand ancient Peru. You probably are going to be lost without this visits!
Lima is the safest place to get to know peruvian food, so don´t miss cebiche, lomo saltado, or aji de gallina. Don´t leave Peru without trying pisco!!!

By V!VA User from London, Feb 10, 2009

Just Amazing

Rating: 100%

I love the people, the abundance of things to do and enjoy, the food, the women, the landscapes, the simplicity in getting exactly what you want, the relaxed atmosphere, the weather, the beaches, the service, I could go on and on.

By V!VA User from New York City, Dec 08, 2008

See all reviews for Lima (7)

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