Peru 4U

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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 and 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!