Paracas Ica Full Day departing from Lima
Lima Paracas · Huacachina
Lima Tours: Historic Center, Coast, and Cuisine
Discover the only South American capital overlooking the Pacific: a historic center designated a World Heritage Site, cliffs overlooking the sea, and a culinary scene recognized as one of the best in the world.
- 25 tours available
- From $0.00
- All year round · Clear skies from December through April
- 2 to 3 days
Why Visit Lima
- Historic center designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The culinary capital of Latin America, with restaurants featured in global rankings
- The Costa Verde: Twelve Kilometers of Cliffs Overlooking the Pacific
- Gateway to the country and starting point for trips to Paracas, Cusco, and the south
Tours and Experiences in Lima
Packages that include Lima
7 days, 6 nights
Wonders of the South in 7 days
- LIMA
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
8 days
The best of the south 8 days 7 nights
- LIMA
- Paracas
- Ica and Huacachina
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
7 days
Lima - Cusco: 7 days, 6 nights
- LIMA
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Tickets
2 days
Paracas Ica 2 days 1 night departing from Lima
- Paracas
- Ica and Huacachina
- LIMA
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
3 days, 2 nights
Lima Practical
LIMA
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Guide
- Tickets
2 days, 1 night
Lima 2 Days 1 Night
LIMA
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Guide
- Tickets
20 days, 19 nights
Peru Adventurer
- LIMA
- Paracas
- Nazca
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
15 days, 14 nights
Lima – Arequipa – Cusco – Puno – Huaraz
- LIMA
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
5 days, 4 nights
Lima - Cuzco Express
- LIMA
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
11 days, 10 nights
Southern Peru
- LIMA
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Ica and Huacachina
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Nazca
- Paracas
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
14 days, 13 nights
Magical Peru
- LIMA
- Paracas
- Nazca
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
Things to Do in Lima
Historic Center and Catacombs
Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and the Convent of San Francisco with its catacombs, where the remains of thousands of people are preserved.
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Monumental Callao and La Punta
The Real Felipe Fortress, the mural-filled neighborhood of Callao Monumental, and the La Punta coastal promenade, lined with grand Republican-era mansions.
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Kayaking in the Costa Verde
Kayak trip starting from the shore at Miraflores or Chorrillos, with a view of the cliffs from the sea.
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Chinatown and Markets
Capón Street and Chinatown, one of the oldest in the Americas, where Peruvian Chifa cuisine originated.
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How to Get to Lima and When to Visit
-
From Jorge Chávez Airport
40 min
The airport is in Callao. Private transfer to Miraflores or San Isidro, depending on traffic.
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From Cusco
1 hr 20 min
Direct flights are available throughout the day. By car, the trip takes more than twenty hours.
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From Paracas
3 hours 30 minutes
Via the Pan-American Highway South, 260 km. This is the most common route to the southern circuit.
When to Visit
Lima It has a unique climate: it’s a desert city where it hardly ever rains, but it spends much of the year under a blanket of low-lying clouds. From December through April is summer, with clear skies, sunshine, and temperatures ranging from 22 °C to 29 °C, and the southern beaches fill up. From May through November, the garúa—a damp mist that keeps the sky gray and temperatures between 14 °C and 19 °C—dominates, though it never actually rains. That gray sky doesn’t stop you from exploring the city: the museums, the historic center, and the local cuisine are just as vibrant all year round.
Before Traveling
- Traffic in Lima is heavy: allow more time than the map indicates
- Always use a ride-hailing app or a taxi arranged by your hotel—not one you hail on the street.
- In the historic district, carry your purse in front of you and don't show off your phone
- Make reservations in advance if you want to eat at the most renowned restaurants
- Tap water is not safe to drink: drink bottled water
- In winter, wear a light jacket: the humidity makes it feel colder than the thermometer reads
Frequently Asked Questions About Lima
In two full days, you can explore the historic center, Miraflores, and Barranco, and still have time for a leisurely lunch. A third day allows you to add Callao, museums, or a trip to Pachacámac to your itinerary.
Miraflores and San Isidro are the safest and best-connected areas for visitors, with a wide range of hotels and dining options. Barranco has a more bohemian vibe and is also a good choice.
Due to the Humboldt Current, which cools the sea off the coast and creates a layer of low clouds and fog known as garúa. It is most common from May through November; in the summer, the sky clears up.
Yes. There are full-day tours that leave early in the morning, include a visit to the Ballestas Islands, and return to Lima in the evening. It’s a long day, but it’s very popular among those who only have a few days.
Tourist areas are safe as long as you take the usual precautions you would in any large city. It’s best to use a ride-hailing app, avoid displaying valuables, and steer clear of remote areas at night.
Guide to Lima
Lima It is the gateway to Peru and the only South American capital city built on the Pacific coast. Founded in 1535, it boasts a historic center designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and the Convent of San Francisco, whose catacombs hold the remains of thousands of people beneath the church.
The city stretches across a coastal desert and overlooks the sea from the Costa Verde, a twelve-kilometer stretch of cliffs that separates the neighborhoods of Miraflores, Barranco, and Chorrillos from the ocean. You can explore this coastline on foot, by bike, or from the water in a kayak.
Lima It is also the culinary hub of the continent. Peruvian cuisine blends indigenous, Spanish, African, Chinese, and Japanese influences, and its restaurants regularly rank among the best in the world. The chifa originated in the Chinatown on Capón Street, one of the oldest in the Americas.
The climate defines the experience: it hardly ever rains, but from May through November, the drizzle keeps the sky overcast and the temperature mild, while from December through April, the sun clears the coast. As a transportation hub, Lima serves as the location for the international airport and the Panamericana Sur highway exits leading to Paracas, Ica, and Nazca, as well as flights of just over an hour to Cusco and Arequipa.
