Is Lima worth visiting?
Is Lima worth visiting or spending more time in?
The Peruvian capital is a thriving cultural destination to visit, which is full of varying influences from the Inca and Colonial Spanish to various Asian countries.
Here we’ll also find some must-visit sites and ruins, as well as a pretty impressive food scene too.
In this article we’ll list the seven best reasons to visit Lima, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know.
Is Lima worth visiting?
Yes! This city is a must-visit on any Peruvian itinerary. Given it’s the main artery into the country, this makes it easy to arrive and start exploring the variety of awesome things to see and do.
Where is Lima?
Lima is located along the Pacific Coast of Peru, and is roughly in the middle (around 1300 km from both Ecuador to the north and Bolivia to the south).
As it’s also sandwiched between the Andes mountains and Ocean, Lima has its own microclimate in which it almost never rains.
This means it is good to visit year-round, although December until April is much warmer and better for visiting the beaches.
How far is Lima from Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is one of the main highlights of South America (let alone just Peru), and is often the main reason most people visit this Andean nation.
Given how large Peru and its terrains are, it means that these formidable ruins are located quite far away.
Located near the mountainous city of Cusco, the fastest travel time from the capital to Machu Picchu would take around 8-10 hours (including flight from Lima to Cusco, the buses etc).
Although technically possible in one day, we recommend spending more time here so you can enjoy everything Cusco has to offer, as well as head on the Inca Trail.
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7 Reasons to visit Lima
We have spoke a lot about backpacking Peru on this blog but if you are you still wondering if Lima is right for you, here’s 7 fantastic reasons why you should head to this diverse city.
1. Enjoy the beaches of the Costa Verde
Whilst Central Peru is not as renowned for its coastline as the exotic beaches found further north, it’s still worth a visit anyhow.
Inside Lima you’ll want to head to Miraflores, which is home to the infamous rolling green hills that tower above the Pacific.
Here we’ll find Playa Makaha which is perfect for surfing with its ever-consistent waves (beginners can book a lesson here). If going for it between June and October then brace yourself with a full wetsuit as it’s going to be pretty chilly!
The other awesome thing to do is to rent a bike with CityBike, and then go riding along the cliffs to nearby Barranco. This district is also home to some nice beaches, and also some trendy areas such as El Puente de los Suspiros as well as the Parque Municipal.
The best time to visit the Costa Verde is between December and April (which is the summer season), although you can enjoy the beautiful views and ambience year-round.
2. Feast on delicious Peruvian Cuisine
In recent years Peruvian cuisine has grown exponentially in popularity, and the country is now regarded as one of the most upcoming food destinations on earth.
The classic dish of Ceviche is a big reason for this, with this lime-infused fish available in pretty much all restaurants in the areas of Miraflores and Barranco.
Other local favourites you’ll want to try include Papa Rellena (George’s favourite) which is a baked potato filled with meat, Papa a la Huancaina as well as Lomo Saltado, which is based with sirloin strips, rice and various vegetables.
One of the best local joints to try all of these dishes is Aries, which is an unassuming small restaurant located just next to Kennedy Park in Miraflores. You can order a Menu Ejecutivo for just 12 Soles here, which includes a starter, main and refillable drink.
Those after a luxury (and pretty unforgettable experience all-round) will want to head to Central, which is known for its experimental menu where you’ll try 12 dishes, with each hailing from a different altitude of Peru!
3. Visit the chilling San Francisco Catacombs
When it comes to visiting eye-catching (and instagrammable) destinations in Lima, it doesn’t get any better than the San Francisco Catacombs.
This giant subterranean network of tunnels has over 70,000 buried skeletal remains here, and is the second largest of its kind on earth!
As well as seeing the creepy arrangements of bones and skulls, you’ll also want to bring a jacket since it can get pretty chilly down here.
The catacombs are actually located underneath the San Francisco Monastery, which is also a pretty interesting site to combine a visit with. Here you can explore the colonial building, which has many charming arches and a picturesque fountain in the courtyard.
We recommend this guided tour, which includes all transport, as well as a guided tour around the historic centre.
You’ll also see an ancient library home to the largest collection of its kind in the country, as well as many series of religious paintings that depict various events.
Try and head here during the week, otherwise it can get pretty full with other tourists.
4. Go Sandboarding in nearby Huacachina
This legendary day trip is a must-do when in the Peruvian capital.
The oasis town of Huacachina is located within the nearby Ica Desert, which is home to some of the largest sand dunes in South America. So naturally (of course), you’re going to want to ride down these head-first, right?
This is exactly what you’ll do on this day tour from Lima, where you’ll be able to enjoy a day of thrills as you plummet down these giant dunes.
It’s also great since you’ll have a buggy ride included too, where you’ll get an extra adrenaline fix as you fly around at speed whilst strapped in! It’s a good idea to wear long clothing that covers your body, given the sand can otherwise irritate and cut your skin.
We also recommend heading on the 4:00pm slot (which is the last of the day), where you’ll also be able to enjoy a gorgeous sunset from on top of a dune overlooking Huacachina.
Although it’s best to travel to Huacachina after Lima and spend a couple of days there, we know it’s not always possible for those with tight time-frames (which is why this tour is such a good option).
5. Visit the incredible Larco Museum
If you’ve already been planning your trip around Peru, then you’ll know that this country has a deep and colourful history.
The Incas are the most notable for their incredible creations such as the ruins of Machu Picchu and Sacsayhuamán, however there are others too such as the Moches, Chavín and Caral civilisations that were just as important in the development of Peru.
And the best place to learn all about this is in the Larco Museum. Located in Pueblo Libre, this must-visit museum is home to over 45,000 artefacts and is one of the most comprehensive of its kind on earth.
Here we can see many stone statues, weapons, textiles and even a large collection of erotic pottery (for those interested in the more kinky pastimes of these old tribes).
We actually recommend coming here first out of all the other destinations on this list, since you’ll learn a lot here before venturing around the city. You’ll also appreciate the ruins and other sites you’ll see on your trip around Peru more too.
6. Walk around Lima’s Historic Centre
Miradores and Barranco get most of the attention from tourists. And to be honest – we agree that you should stay here given it’s much safer as well as having more eating options and attractions nearby.
However the historic centre is also worth a visit too, which is home to many incredible buildings and architectural creations.
You’ll first want to head to the Plaza de Armas which was the birthplace of Lima, which also contains the Presidential Palace.
Walking along the adjacent streets we’ll find many Spanish colonial buildings, with the Torre Tagle and Basilica of San Francisco being some of the most notable.
It’s worth heading on an organized walking tour around this area, given the knowledgeable guides will be able to teach you lots about the founding and development of Lima. You’ll also be shown many other gems here that we still haven’t found ourselves!
7. Explore various Ancient Ruins
Having already covered the Larco Museum – why not do one better and visit some actual ancient sites that were once home to early civilisations?
The majority of the popular ones are found in the Sacred Valley, however Lima also has a couple of noteworthy ones too.
Huaca Pucllana is one of these, which is found within the heart of the Miraflores district. It’s made up of several adobe-layered pyramids and terraces, and looks pretty visually stunning with its bricked layout. It’s only a few blocks from the central Parque Kennedy too – making it really easy to get to.
Another incredible site to head to is Caral, which is a few hours north of Lima (close to the town of Supe). Once home to the second oldest civilisation on earth, it was the Caral culture who once thrived here from as early as 3000-1800 B.C. Located in the desert we can explore many of its well-preserved pyramids, as well as taking this guided tour to learn how this incredible civilization once thrived here.
Is Lima worth visiting?
And that’s all for our guide on why you should visit Lima
The Peruvian capital tends to be overlooked by other more popular destinations such as Machu Picchu and Arequipa (which are also worthy of a visit in their own right).
However after having looked at everything available here, you’ll see that there’s actually a lot going for Lima.
While you’re still here, be sure to read our Lima travel safety guide, where we cover how you can keep yourself safe whilst enjoying everything this big city has to offer.
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