Lima, Peru: What To See and Do in the Capital

Start in the Centro Histórico, where you will find several major sights around the central square, including the Government Palace, Municipal Palace, and the Cathedral of Lima. The cathedral houses an impressive collection of religious art, as well as the tomb of conquistador Francisco Pizarro.

In the Miraflores area you can admire contemporary architecture one moment and ruins dating from around 500 CE the next. The Huaca Pucllana ruins sit incongruously in this upscale neighborhood—a structure of adobe and clay built by a pre-Incan coastal civilization. Those interested in history may also find the on-site interpretation of burial practices noteworthy.

Miraflores is appealing, with upscale restaurants, boutiques, and bars. For a more contemporary and edgy experience, head to Barranco, which has a strong selection of cafés and restaurants, including many vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The area also has many early-20th-century mansions converted into cocktail bars with art-filled walls and live music. Some of these buildings now house boutiques, bookstores, museums, and galleries—and the street art alone is worth a wander.

Below the city, the catacombs under the San Francisco Monastery hold the remains of tens of thousands of people; visits are guided and photography is usually restricted. For a lighter evening out, the Magic Water Circuit in Parque de la Reserva features illuminated fountains popular with families.

Lima is one of the culinary capitals of the world, and no visit would be complete without sampling ceviche and a pisco sour. Ceviche—raw fish marinated in citrus juice, often with red onion, cilantro, and chili—is central to Peruvian culture. You will find it everywhere from market stalls to fine dining; Mercado de Surquillo offers a lively, authentic setting to eat and people-watch.

The pisco sour (pisco, lime, egg white, simple syrup, and bitters) was popularized in Lima in the early 20th century. Historic hotels and old-school bodegas in Barranco and downtown are classic places to try one—always drink responsibly.

South along the Panamerican Highway you can reach sandy beaches and a more relaxed pace than the city center. Further south, Pachacamac preserves a major pre-Inca sacred complex with pyramids and temples; allow time and water—coastal heat can make walking tiring.

In the Andean foothills within reach of Lima, Puruchuco and Cajamarquilla introduce Peru's deep archaeological record. Puruchuco dates to pre-Inca times; its museum displays artifacts excavated from the site, and the area was also a vast cemetery with remarkable preservation in some burials.

Cajamarquilla, sometimes called a "dead city," includes pyramids, temples, dwellings, and streets. It grew from an earlier settlement around 500 CE and may have been damaged by earthquake before the Inca period; it illustrates how layered Peru's history is within a short drive of the capital.