Best Things to Do in Lima, Peru
Are you looking for the best things to do in Lima, Peru?
Lima is a major city with over 10 million people. I spent a full week in Lima and loved it! Many travelers heading to Peru are going to Cusco and Machu Picchu, and stop in Lima for just a day or two — or even just on a layover at the airport! I definitely think you should spend more time than that in Lima.
Especially if you’re a city person like me. Lima is a very cool city, with chic and cosmopolitan neighborhoods, a well-preserved colonial center, and a beautiful setting on cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.
Where should you stay in Lima? I highly recommend staying in either Miraflores or Barranco. These two neighborhoods are safe, stylish, and happening places to be. Lima is a very large, spread-out city, so regardless of where you stay, you’ll probably need to use Uber or buses to get around a lot.
How many days should you spend in Lima? I recommend spending at least three full days in Lima, although there’s so much to do here, you could easily spend a week without getting bored!
Now let’s get into the best things to do in Lima, Peru:
1. Visit Huaca Pucllana
Huaca Pucllana is a unique archaeological site right in the heart of Lima. Many people think of the Inca Empire when they think of Peru, but there were numerous civilizations pre-dating the Incas. The Lima Culture is the group responsible for constructing Huaca Pucllana between 200 and 700 AD.
These ancient adobe pyramids are a fascinating destination that you shouldn’t skip while in Lima. Tickets are inexpensive (about $4.50 USD) and include a guided tour of the complex. You can purchase them when you get there. Huaca Pucllana is open every day of the week except Tuesday from 9 AM to 5 PM.
2. Take a walking tour
A walking tour is a great way to discover Lima. In fact, you could actually do several walking tours, because it’s such a large city with many diverse neighborhoods. I did a free tour from Lima Walking Tours.
They have various different free walking tours, but I did the Historic Center tour. Although the tours are free, the guides work for tips, so you can pay what you feel is fair. In addition to the Historic Center tour, they also offer walking tours of Miraflores and Barranco, two other cool neighborhoods in Lima.
3. Learn how to cook Peruvian cuisine
Lima is a HUGE foodie city, home to some of the best restaurants in the world. Peruvian cuisine is very distinctive, with many regional specialties. With its oceanfront location, Lima is especially well-known for its seafood dishes, like ceviche. A cooking class is a great way to experience Peruvian cuisine.
This highly-rated cooking class will show you how to make two popular dishes with a local chef: ceviche and causa de pollo, a chicken dish. You’ll also craft pisco sours, the national cocktail of Peru.
4. Take a food tour
As I just mentioned, Lima is a city that is famous for its cuisine, home to world-class restaurants and vibrant markets. A food tour is a great activity to do in Lima — be sure you come hungry, though!
This food tour lasts for four hours and includes many different tastings, including ceviche, lomo saltado, local Peruvian desserts, and of course, the pisco sour cocktail. Not only will you get to try delicious food, you’ll also explore the hip Barranco neighborhood and learn about Lima’s culinary history.
5. Experience the Magic Water Circuit
The Magic Water Circuit is such a cool experience that you have to do one night in Lima! This park contains more than a dozen large water fountains that incorporate light, sound, and interactive elements.
Admission is about $1.50 USD, and the park is open every day from 3 PM until 10 PM, with three nightly shows once it gets dark. I recommend going right around sunset and staying until it’s fully dark for the shows. There are lots of vendors selling snacks and drinks in the area, and it’s a popular outing for locals.
I didn’t have any trouble taking an Uber there and buying a ticket myself, but you could also book this guided tour if you don’t want to deal with the logistics yourself. It includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel, your entry ticket, and an English-speaking guide to accompany you for the evening.
6. Go surfing
The Pacific Coast of Peru has a number of popular surf towns like Mancora and Huanchaco in the northern part of the country, but Lima is also a great destination for surfing! Whether you’re a total beginner or you already have some surfing experience, this is a great activity to try while you’re in Lima.
For beginners, a surf lesson is a great introduction to this sport. (You’d also be surprised by how much you can pick up — by the end of my first surf lesson, I was standing up by myself and riding small waves!)
7. Take a bike tour
Lima is a great city to explore by bike. (Well, certain neighborhoods, anyway!) It’s a pretty big and spread-out city, so you can cover a lot of ground by bike. And some neighborhoods have bike lanes.
This three-hour bike tour will take you through the neighborhoods of Barranco and Miraflores, passing street art, the ancient pyramids of Huaca Pucllana, and scenic cliffside coastal views.
8. Go paragliding
For the thrill-seekers out there, Lima is a great place to try paragliding! I’ve been paragliding once before, and loved it. I wish I had done it in Lima too, because the views would have been amazing!
This paragliding experience allows you to take a tandem flight over Lima with an experienced paragliding instructor. You’ll soar over the Pacific Ocean and get a bird’s-eye view of the cliffs of Costa Verde.
9. Visit Pachacamac
Pachacamac is an archaeological site located just south of Lima. Much like Huaca Pucllana, the ruins in the middle of the city, Pachacamac was also constructed by the ancient Lima Culture. This civilization pre-dates the Incas by over a millennium. Construction on Pachacamac started around 200 AD.
There are several temple ruins, as well as other structures and ancient roads. It doesn’t have the “wow factor” of Machu Picchu, Peru’s most famous ruin, but if you’re interested in history, it’s worth a visit.
This half-day tour is a great option for visiting Pachacamac. It includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel, an English-speaking guide, and admission into the archaeological site. It’s tricky to get to Pachacamac on your own, requiring multiple bus transfers, so I’d personally recommend booking a tour.
10. Swim with sea lions
If you’re looking for something really unique and memorable, why not go swimming with sea lions in Lima? The Palomino Islands, which are just off the coast of Lima, are home to lots of cute sea lions. Not only that, but you can also observe other wildlife, including penguins and various seabirds.
This half-day tour includes a boat trip out to the Palomino Islands, as well as a neoprene wetsuit, because that Pacific Ocean water can be cold! You’ll be able to see lots of wildlife from the boat. But you’ll also have the chance to get up close and personal if you want to hop in the water and swim!
11. Take a day trip to Huacachina
One more thing you can do from Lima is a day trip to Huacachina. This is a LONG day, but worth it in my opinion. If you have some extra time in Lima, I’d definitely recommend taking this day trip.
Huacachina is a small town in the middle of the desert — and it’s a literal desert oasis unlike anything you’ve ever seen! You can take a dune buggy ride and go sandboarding in the desert outside town. Tours to Huacachina also stop along the way in Paracas, where you can take a boat tour and see unique wildlife.
I wrote more about the day trip and what to expect in this guide. Although it’s a lot of driving one day, I enjoyed it. I recommend booking this full-day tour with Peru Hop (which is what I did!)
Best Things to Do in Lima, Peru
This guide showed you the best things to do in Lima, Peru.
Lima is an amazing city with a lot to offer. You can find history, food, art, and outdoor activities all in one place, so there’s truly something for everyone. I highly recommend making Lima a priority when you visit Peru. Although Peru is an amazing country with so much to see, you shouldn’t overlook the capital.
Enjoy your trip to Lima!
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