The city of Lima

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The city of Lima

Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is a city of great cultural and ethnic diversity.
Present-day Lima has 7'000,000 inhabitants and is the commercial, industrial and cultural centre of the Country, as well as the seat of Government. Originally named the City of the Kings, it was the capital of the Spanish colonial empire in South America during the XVI and XVII centuries. It was the administrative center for a vast extension of land comprising present-day territories of several modern day South American countries.

The city's past supremacy is revealed in its civil and religious buildings which still stand and are well preserved, such as the Monastery of San Francisco, the Palace of Torre Tagle and the Plaza de Acho, the bull ring.

During this period of splendour local inhabitants conceived a peculiar character for the city, manifested in its mestizo baroque buildings and works of art, as well as in the traditional festivities and celebrations.

The origins of Lima pre dates the Spanish foundation of the city by many centuries. Pre Hispanic sites have been brought to study in the last decades and the city is rediscovering its native roots. Ancient centers of pilgrimage like Pachacamac, or religious and administrative buildings like Huallamarca and Pucllana can be visited nowadays.
Lima is a city transformed in the 20th century by the massive immigration particularly from the high Andes. As a result of this, it has adopted at present a new diverse and multicultural identity in permanent evolution.

Bar at downtown Lima

San Francisco Catacombs

Practical Information for Lima

Having been the most important city in the Americas during Spanish Colonial times (16th-18th centuries) , Lima has plenty to visit in the form of Museums, churches, old mansions and specialist art collections. A couple of days in Lima if you visit what there is to see can be very busy, especially if you want to shop and taste the legendary Peruvian cuisine. Sampling some of the City's culinary delights is a must in a visit to Lima. Some of our recommendations are Rafael, Astrid y Gaston, La Rosa Nautica and Los Pescados Capitales. Please click here for more details on Peruvian cuisine.

Lima boasts world -class hotels: for some of our recommendations please click here.

Lima is a great metropolis, and as such it can be a crime-ridden place. If you are careful where you go-avoid the City Centre after dark -- and how you get there -licensed cabs and private vehicles- you should be perfectly safe. We do not advise that you walk on your own after dark particularly in the city center. Leave your valuables and passport at the hotel to avoid disruptions to your trip.

San Francisco Monastery

In the residential and commercial areas of Miraflores and San isidro where we recommend you stay, you should be ok to walk around but please do nor wear jewelry or carry valuables with you. If you stick to these basic guidelines you will be perfectly ok.

San Francisco Monastery

The following set itineraries cover Lima

Itinerary 0109 (3 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 0309 (5 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 0509 (7 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 0609 (9 days): Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 0709 (10 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 0809 (9 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 0909 (11 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 1009 (11 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu, Northeast Rainforest, Amazon cruises,
Itinerary 1109 (11 days): Manu and Tambopata, Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 1209 (12 days): The Colca Valley & Canyon, Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 1309 (12 days): Arequipa and Colca, Lake Titicaca, Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 1409 (14 days): Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu, Southeast Rainforest,
Itinerary 1509 (15 days): Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 1609 (16 days): Arequipa and Colca, Trujillo and Chiclayo, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 1709 (17 days): Arequipa and Colca, Lima, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 2010 (11 days): Arequipa and Colca, The Colca Valley & Canyon, Northern Beaches, Lima,
Itinerary 2011 (13 days): Lima, Huascaran National Park, The Urubamba Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu,
Itinerary 6 (11 days): Lima,

Sample itineraries

The following set itineraries cover Lima