Peru tours
Peru Information
Peru 4U
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Lima
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Lima Peru Information
Lima Peru most likely will be the first destination on your Peru travel experience.
Some tourists say: leave Lima as soon as you can. We recommend
spending some time in Lima. Lima offers you the opportunity
to learn a lot from Peru, that you can use during the rest
of your travel, in a very efficient way. Most people are just
ignorant about the numerous sites worthwhile seeing in Lima.
Therefore we provide extensive information about Lima. We
apologize for the massive information, but it is so much because
Lima has so much to offer.
Lima is a metropolis of changes, place of contrasts and
show case of all Peru. You either love or hate Lima. There
is no way in between. Being a never sleeping metropolis, its
nightlife is full of fun and joy. Visiting Lima offers the
possibility to know why the limeños are the most cheerful
people in Peru. Choices for entertainment are wide and limeños
has stamped the phrase "la noche es larga" (the
night is long).
Lima Peru Weather
Compared to other South American capital cities, Lima Peru has a stable and humid weather. In summer (Dec-Mar), sun is strong, clear sky and an average temperature of 26°C. The rest of the year, the sky becomes grey, drizzle but never rain and a winter of 12°C in average (Jun-Sep). From September, the weather gets warmer and mild.
Lima Peru Museums
Lima is by excellence, a city of museums. With more than 50
museums in the city, the best ones of Peru are located here.
From public to private and from general to specialized museums,
visiting them can be a good experience to know the different
processes in topics like history, archaeology, anthropology,
nature, culture, technology, art, religion, costumes, collections
and crime. Although it is difficult to visit the majority
of them in few days, we recommend to visit the Museo
de la Nación, Museo Nacional de Antropología,
Arqueología e Historia, Museo de Oro, Museo Larco Herrera
and Museo Amano.
Lima Peru Plazas
As every city in Peru, the Plazas (squares) are the main and
central point. Spaniards established in each city a main square
(Plaza de Armas) surrounded by a church and the local government
buildings. In the case of Lima, the Plaza Mayor (formerly
called "Plaza de Armas") was the old heart of Lima and its
foundation place. The Plaza Mayor (Main Square) was the scenery
for the Independence Declaration on July 28, 1821 and it marked
the beginning of the end of the Spanish colonial rule in Peru
and South America. It is also the landmark and central point
of all the area known as "Damero de Pizarro" (Pizarro's Square),
which has been classified as a "Cultural Heritage of Humankind"
since 1992. The Plaza Mayor is surrounded at the north by
the Government Palace, an impressive house
where the President lives. A visit to it is worthwhile. Try
to watch the change of guard at 11:45 am
everyday. They wear the same uniform of the last independence
battle (Ayacucho, 1824) and are called the "Húsares de Junín".
At the east is located the Archbishop's Palace,
built in this century with a superb balcony, and we find the
Cathedral at the right hand of it. In front of it,
there is the Municipal Palace, with an arcade
corridor in the ground floor and two "suspicious" canyons
in the balcony, recently found in the square. Between the
Municipalidad and the Government Palace, there is
a big statue of Francisco Pizarro on his
horse, a statue claimed to be offensive to the city. From
the Plaza Mayor you can take the Jirón de la Unión,
a long pedestrian street (full of shops and restaurants) that
connects it with the Plaza San Martín, a
big square built in the beginning of this century. At the
centre, there is a statue of General San Martín,
the Argentinean liberator of Peru built for the Independence
100th anniversary in 1921. In the surroundings, there are
arcaded buildings with shops, night clubs, restaurants and
hotels. Other important squares are: Plaza
Italia (Barrios Altos), Plaza Bolívar
(in front of Congress), Plaza Grau (near
Museo de Arte), Plaza Bolognesi, Plaza
Alfonso Ugarte and Plaza 2 de Mayo.
Churches and Religious Buildings
In central Lima there are more than 25 churches
with historical value. This is a small reference of the most
important ones. The Cathedral remains in
the same place where it was originally built, but have been
rebuilt after some earthquakes (latest in 1746). It have interesting
works of wood-carving in the choir stalls. The altars are
finely covered with silver. In the walls, you can appreciate
the original Spanish mosaics with the inscriptions of Pizarro
and the coat of arms of Lima. There is a Museo de
Arte Religioso at the back. In a chapel (right hand
from entrance) lies the coffin and remains of Francisco
Pizarro, the founder of Lima. Notable for its baroque
architecture and catacombs is the church and monastery
of San Francisco, in the corner of Jr. Ancash and
Jr. Lampa. Built in the 17th century, this church has cloisters
with the famous Sevillian tiles, a good an old library with
some rarities, José de Rivera's paintings, a "hidden" (not
often seen) museum of religious art and the well-visited catacombs
(under all the religious complex), which are said to contain
the remains of 70,000-90,000 people. San Pedro
is a Jesuit's church built in the 17th century and represents
a good example of the early colonial architecture in Lima.
It is the only church which has three main doors, apart from
the Cathedral. The altars, wood-carved choir and the glazed
tile work are worth seeing. This church was also a burial
place for the majority of the Viceroys. There is a small and
interesting chapel at the right side. In one of its towers
you can see the old bell called "La Abuelita"
(the grandma') which rang for the first time in 1590 and was
the "official" sound in the Independence's Declaration (1821).
San Pedro is located in the corner of Jr. Ucayali and Jr.
Azángaro. Santo Domingo church was built
between 1540-99 and remains in the same place where Pizarro
granted to Dominican friar Valverde. It is one of the religious
jewels of colonial Lima. Inside you can find the remains of
Santa Rosa de Lima and San Martín de Porres (America's first
black saint). Nice and peaceful cloisters. First block of
Jr. Camaná, one block from the Plaza Mayor. In Jirón de la
Unión, corner with Jr. Miró Quesada, there is the church where
the first mass was said in 1534. La Merced church
has a fine and decorated front and its interior houses
stalls of several venerated saints. The cloisters are interesting
to give a visit. Virgin of La Merced is declared as the Marshal
of the Peruvian Army. Convento de Los Descalzos
is a Franciscan religious complex located at the end of the
colonial Alameda de los Descalzos (descalzos=barefeet) in
the old and traditional district of Rímac. There is a collection
of 300 paintings belonging to the Cusco, Quito and Lima schools.
Through a good guided (45min) tour in Spanish is possible
to visit the infirmary, the refectory, the pharmacy, the friars'
cells and the two old chapels.
Colonial Buildings and
Houses
The Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace)
was built in the early years of this century on the same site
where Pizarro's house was located. The interiors are charming
and luxurious with halls and saloons of different styles.
Nowadays used as the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Palacio
Torre Tagle is one the best evidences of the colonial
mansion's architecture in Lima. Superb carved balconies and
a courtyard surrounded by rooms and ironwork are its highlights.
There is also a 16th century coach in exhibition. On weekdays,
visit is only allowed to the patio (working hours). On Saturday
is possible to visit the building, a tip expected if you want
to visit all. Jr. Ucayali 363, near San Pedro church. The
Plaza de Acho is the main bull ring of Lima. It was
founded in 1776 by the Viceroy Amat and is considered the
oldest in South America and one of the most important in the
world. In October, they celebrate the "Feria del Señor de
los Milagros", an international well-known competition. There
is an interesting Museo Taurino on its left
side. It is located in Rímac district, just going ahead Av.
Abancay and crossing the river Rímac. The Quinta de
Presa is now the Museo Virreynal,
a fine mansion of the 18th century which shows colonial furniture,
Viceroy belongings, clothing and a old carriage. It is located
in Rímac, some blocks near the corner of Av. Prolongación
Tacna with Av. Pizarro. Casa de Aliaga is
the only colonial house in America which is still ocuppied
by the same original family (Jerónimo de Aliaga was one of
Pizarro´s soldiers). It maintains its colonial style and has
a ceiling of the early Lima times. Located at Jr. de la Unión
224, beside Government Palace and the Central Post Office.
With five balconies and a lookout site, where Don Martín de
Osambela used to watch with a telescope the arrival of galleons
to Callao port, the Casa de Oquendo (or Palacio de
Osambela) is a nice mansion in which art exhibitions
are staged. Jr. Conde de Superunda 298. By one side of the
San Francisco church is located the Casa Pilatos,
now the Tribunal Constitucional, a mansion
from 16th century with stone pillars and unusual stairs at
the entrance. Jr. Ancash 390. Other colonial houses and mansions
worth seeing in this area are: Casa de las Trece Monedas,
a 19th century residence which is now a restaurant (Ancash
536); Casa de la Riva, a 18th century building
in Jr. Ica 426; Casa de la Rada, a bank office
which was a fine building dating from the middle of 1700 (Jr.
Ucayali, 3rd block). Casa Negreiros, now
a restaurant in Jr. Azángaro 532; Casa Barbieri,
Jr. Callao near the corner with Jr. Rufino Torrico; Casa
Prado, Jr. Cusco 448; Casa Teatro de la AAA,
Jr. Ica 323; Casa de Riva Aguero, Jr. Camaná
459, now a Popular Arts Museum of the Universidad Católica
and Casa Museo Berckemeyer, a typical 17th
century house in Jr. Lima 341.
Archaeological Sites
Lima has not been separated from the pre-Columbian history.
Certainly, it has 4,000 years of presence, when nomads and
fishermen settled in this area, especially in the valleys
of rivers Rímac, Chillón and Lurín. There are more
than 30 recognized sites inside the city and another
similar quantity in the surroundings. Others disappeared under
the urban pressure of this century. From the former El
Paraíso to the late Inca site Pachacámac,
the archaeological testimonies in Lima are wide and not all
are studied yet. As a comment, the Plaza Mayor is built over
the temple of Taulichusco, the last sovereign before Pizarro´s
arrival to Lima. Inside the city, we can find the excavated
Huaca Pucllana (Juliana) in Miraflores. This
was a pre-Inca ceremonial and administrative centre of the
Lima Culture built with millions of mud bricks (adobe). There
is a site museum with some ceramics and artifacts. Near to
it, in the suburb of San Isidro, there is the Huaca
Huallamarca or Pan de Azúcar, a Maranga Culture adobe
temple built by the 200 AD. There is a site museum. There
is a complex of huacas, ceremonial sites, belonging to the
Maranga Culture in the Parque de las Leyendas Zoo (San Miguel
and Pueblo Libre). You can visit them by entering this place.
Outside the metropolitan area you will find Puruchuco
(km7.5, district of Ate). This is a restored site that housed
the area's chief. By the km 12.5, there is an entrance (to
the left) to Cajamarquilla zinc refinery. 5km inside you will
reach the Cajamarquilla site, a pre-Inca
citadel from Wari Culture, built with big adobe walls. It
is said to be one of the most important adobe complexes on
the coast. Some kilometers more from the turn-off to Cajamarquilla
(km16) are San Juan de Pariache and Huaycán
Tambo, two archaeological remains from pre-Columbian
times. 30 km. south of Lima, by the Panamerican Highway, in
the left turn-off to Lurín is located the "king" of all the
Lima's archaeological sites, Pachacámac.
This was a pre-inca and Inca group of temples, plazas and
urban zones, which dominated the Lurín valley and then all
the area of present Lima. At the entrance there is a site
museum which explains you the development of this area. From
here you can take a long circular dirt road to visit the different
pyramidal buildings ending at the Temple of Sun,
in the top place of Pachacámac. You need half a day to visit
this major site. Do not forget to visit the Acllawasi
or Mamacona (House of the Chosen
Women), a house built by the Inca where is notable to see
the mixture of mud and stone in the walls, now excavated and
rebuilt.
Other Places
The nicest suburbs in Lima Peru are Miraflores
and San Isidro. Connected with the centre
by the Av. Arequipa and the Vía Expresa (expressway), they
are a residential, commercial and quiet area. A good quantity
of the best hotels, banks, companies and shops are located
here. In Miraflores, is common to have a stroll by its Parque
Central and Parque Kennedy, specially
in the afternoons and evenings. In these parks there are musical
shows, paintings' exhibitions and a small and round artisans'
market. Near there, you find cafés for watching how life walks,
art galleries, bookshops, pubs, discotheques and restaurants
(Calle de las Pizzas, very frequented). Up from the Bajada
Balta is the Parque del Amor (Park of Love)
with a very big and sincere sculpture of a kissing couple
laid in a bench. Miraflores is a good place to view the Pacific
Ocean. San Isidro is more commercial, but the best residences
and houses are found here, especially those surrounding the
Golf de San Isidro club. A nice, traditional and quiet area
is the Olivar de San Isidro, an old olive
forest with a delightful environment. In the middle there
is an artificial lagoon and the Municipal Library. Next to
Miraflores is Barranco, a traditional and
bohemian suburb which was in the first middle of the 20th
century the "house" of different recognized writers, poets
and painters. Now it maintains its charm and has an active
nightlife with an area full of pubs and restaurants with musical
shows. By an alley from the Parque Municipal you can reach
the poetic Puente de los Suspiros (the Sighs'
Bridge), an inspiring place for intellectuals and musicians.
The unique natural protected area inside the big city of Lima
is Pantanos de Villa. This is a group of
wetlands located in Chorrillos (next to Barranco), end of
Av. Huaylas, near to the Panamericana Sur highway. It is originated
by the water filtering of rivers Rímac and Lurín that come
from the Andes. It is possible to do bird watching, because
this is an important spot in the migration routes of birds
from Canada to Tierra del Fuego (Chile). There is a museum,
watching towers and guides that can explain you while exploring
around about all the kinds of birds available and how they
live in the lagoons and the gramadales. Parque de
Las Leyendas is the traditional zoo of Lima. It is
located in San Miguel, 24th block of Av. La Marina. There
is a good sample of typical animal species of Peru. They are
classified in three natural regions (coast, highlands and
jungle). The newest zoo and research center (since February
1999) is called Centro Ecológico Recreacional Huachipa,
located in the same area and near the river Rímac (Av. Las
Torres s/n, Huachipa, Ate). This place was created and is
maintained by Sedapal, the drinking water service company
of Lima, and although by the moment being not as big as the
Parque de las Leyendas, they have special care and equipment
for the animals.
Markets & Shopping
Although Lima markets are not as typical as those in other
Peruvian cities, a short visit to them would be good to know
about the people and the food. If you want a real "exhibition"
of fruits available in Peru, go to the Mercado de
Frutas (in La Victoria, don´t take belongings with
you), the central trading point of fruits coming in from all
the regions. Other known "mercados" are: the Mercado
Central, between the Av. Abancay and the Chinatown;
Mercado Aurora, one block off Av. Tacna in
Av. Emancipación; Jesús María market, in
the district of same name and the Mercado de Barranco,
some blocks near the Parque Municipal of Barranco. Lima is
the best choice for buying handicrafts of good quality with
no substantial difference in price comparing to other Peruvian
cities. The so-called "Indian markets" display
a wide range of handicrafts from all over Peru (sometimes
the best pieces are here): weavings, woolen clothing, copies
of colonial paintings, jewellery, bric-a-brac, ceramics, woodwork,
silver filigrees, alpaca sweaters, iron and leatherwork. First,
watch around and after having found the best price, buy. Bargaining
is possible, but don't squeeze too hard. They are located
in the Av. La Marina, blocks 6th to 10th, Pueblo Libre. Other
good option is the Miraflores' crafts market
in Av. Petit Thouars, varied but smaller than la marina
markets, 3 blocks from the Miraflores roundabout.
Beaches
The best time for visiting Lima is in the summer. It is sunny
and the sky forgets for three months the usual mist it has.
And is also the best time to see how limeños go massively
to the beaches, especially to the Costa Verde and south of
Lima beaches. All the beaches that are in the border of Barranco,
Miraflores and San Isidro are called the Costa Verde,
the Green Coast, because formerly there were subterranean
rivers that came out from the middle of the cliffs and watered
all the area becoming green. Now, these beaches are very crowded
between January to March. The most recommendable are Playa
Redondo, Barranquito and Los
Pavos. But, you have to be careful with your belongings.
It is common to "find" pocketpickers while you are sunbathing.
Camping here is a bad idea. For going to these beaches, just
follow the downway (Bajada Balta) from the central park of
Miraflores. Sunsets (18:20-18:45h) viewed from upside the
cliffs are really supreme!
Local buses and combis
The local buses are called micros (big ones)
and combis (minibuses or vans). As they are
usually crowded with people, you must take care of your belongings.
The average price is S/. 1. If you want some adrenalin, you
should try the Combis, by far, the most awesome buses. When
getting off a bus just say baja! (go down) or esquina! (corner).
Do not forget to request your bus ticket saying boleto. It
will help you in case of an accident.
Train
Lima is the starting point of the Ferrocarril Central, the
highest railway in the world. Service has been reopened since
July 1998, but stops during raining season (January-March).
All Sundays, there is a service to the small and sunny village
of San Bartolomé (50km east of Lima). The other service is
made every weekend of each month to Huancayo,
by far, the most exciting trip by train in South America!
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