Things to do in Lima
Lima, planned before you land.
One of the world's food capitals, a colonial center and the desert coast to the south. Machu Picchu is a flight away, not a day trip.
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What to do in Lima
Lima is where everyone lands and too many people leave the same day. Stay two: the food is the reason, from ceviche counters to the restaurants on the world lists, and Barranco and Miraflores sit on cliffs over the Pacific. The colonial center and its catacombs are a morning; Pachacamac is a half day; the desert oasis and the sea lions of Paracas are a long day south.
01
Ceviche class and a food tour
A market visit, then ceviche, causa and a pisco sour made by you. Or an evening walk through the restaurants of Barranco and Miraflores.
02
Barranco and Miraflores with the Larco Museum
The cliffside parks, the bohemian streets of Barranco and the pre-Columbian gold and ceramics at the Larco. A full day with lunch in the museum garden.
03
Historic center and the catacombs
The Plaza Mayor, the cathedral, the San Francisco monastery and its bone-lined crypts. Half day; the changing of the guard is at noon.
04
Paracas, Ballestas Islands and Huacachina
Sea lions and penguins by boat, then dune buggies and sandboarding at the desert oasis. About 15 hours; the long day from Lima that people rate highest.
05
Pachacamac ruins
A pre-Inca and Inca pilgrimage site in the desert south of the city, with a good new museum. Half day, often with a horse show or a lunch stop.
06
Paragliding over the Miraflores cliffs
Ten minutes in tandem along the cliffs above the Pacific, launching from the park in Miraflores. Weather dependent; afternoons are usual.
Tour links open Viator in a new tab. All Travel Fun earns a commission on bookings made through them; it does not change what you pay. Hours, closing days and drive times above are approximate; the listing has the current details.
Top-rated in Lima right now
Live from Viator, ranked by traveler rating. Prices are per person, from the lowest option, as of the last refresh; the listing has today's.
Lima Food Tour: 9 Peruvian Experiences
5.0 (136 reviews)3h 30m
From $50 per person→
Dream tour: Full day in Paracas, Ica and La Huacachina
5.0 (81 reviews)18h
From $100 per person→
Full day Huacachina from Lima Buggy and Sandboard and Lunch
5.0 (49 reviews)17h
From $100 per person→
Miraflores Lima: Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour
5.0 (48 reviews)2h 30m
From $48 per person→
Tour Miraflores + Fotografía Profesional
5.0 (47 reviews)2h
From $39 per person→
From Lima to Nazca Premium overnight Bus & Nazca Lines Flight
5.0 (44 reviews)23h to 24h
From $259 per person→
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Good to know
- The sky is grey half the year
- From May to November a coastal mist sits over the city. It rarely rains and the food does not care; December to April is the sunny season.
- Machu Picchu is a separate trip
- Cusco is a 90-minute flight and the altitude takes a day to adjust to. Plan three to four days minimum for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
Before you go
The neighborhoods, the food and the day south, in order.
Questions before you book
Can I visit Machu Picchu from Lima?
Not as a day trip. Fly to Cusco, allow a day for the altitude, then the train to Aguas Calientes. Most people spend three or four days on that part of the trip.
Is Lima worth more than a stopover?
Two days, yes: one for the food and the coast, one for the center and a museum, or the desert day south.
How do I book these tours?
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Can your agents book tours over the phone?
Our agents book flights. Call to price the flight to Lima; book the tours on Viator once your dates are fixed.
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