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Lima, boasting some of the finest museums and historical monuments in Peru, and fast earning a reputation for the most exquisite cuisine in the Americas. Herman Melville described the Peruvian capital in Moby Dick as mist-shrouded, and “the strangest, saddest city thou can’st see.” For decades Lima could not shake that reputation as a gloomy place to avoid or pass through as quickly as possible. How that’s changed. Book your Lima tours today with Fertur!
Today, this city of 9.8 million is fast earning its place among the top Latin American capitals, with some of the finest museums, hotels and restaurants in the hemisphere. Lima’s historic fabric of cultures — Spanish, Andean, Chinese, Japanese and African — are more vibrant and dynamic than ever, and those who fleet by are simply missing out.
To book your Lima tours now or consult with us, fill out the “Contact Us” form and a Fertur Peru Travel coordinator will contact you within one working day with detailed information about your fully customizable trip.
Fertur Peru Travel’s pledge is to offer you top-quality, individualized attention that starts with the planning of your trip and continues through your journey to guarantee a great vacation.
Prices starting from $399 per person
Prices starting from $510 per person
Prices starting from $194 per person with Private guide
Prices starting from $570 per person
Full-Day Lima Street Photography Tour
Visit the best places in Lima while learning the art of photography with an exceptional pro photographer. Tours are customized to your unique interests and skill level. The photographer is a special breed of traveler. Enticed by objects and scenery that others may overlook, travel photographers search for the angle and lighting of an experience or a moment worthy of development and revelation. Let us take you on a full-day photographic tour of Lima to discover and photograph the beauty of this amazing and diverse city.
Topics covered include:
An archaeological journey that pinpoints the transition from Inca imperial rule to the Spanish conquest. The tour offers cutting-edge insights into the discovery of fallen indigenous warriors from the Inca Rebellion of 1536. The excursion includes delicious meals and a traditional dance show at one of Lima most popular restaurants.
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A special evening tour of Lima, the “City of Kings,” to discover the allure and beauty of our capital by night. See the architecture and monuments magnificently illuminated. Also enjoy the marvelous spectacle of the Magic Water Circuit in Lima’s Reserve Park, where monumental fountains, laser lights and music are melded in spectacular displays. Finish the evening with a fine dinner at one of Lima’s premier restaurants or nightclubs.
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(Minimum two people)
From Wednesday to Sunday
Beginning at 5:00 p.m.
A four-day vacation package with a guided tour of Lima’s Spanish colonial center, including the eerily fascinating catacombs of the San Francisco Convent. Also, Miraflores and Lima’s famous Gold Museum. Then head south of the city to the sprawling ruins of Pachacamac, the temple deity adored for a thousand years by a succession of ancient cultures until the Spanish Conquest of the Inca Empire.
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This package vacation shows you the historic and modern highlights of Lima — the “City of Kings — from the Spanish colonial center, with its grand Plaza de Armas, impressive Cathedral and Franciscan catacombs, to the famous Gold Museum, and the Miraflores district’s “Park of Love.”
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Lima, the capital of Peru, is a city where history, culture, and modernity converge. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima offers a wealth of experiences for history enthusiasts, culture aficionados, and travelers seeking to explore the vibrant heart of Peru. This comprehensive guide delves into the top attractions and excursions in Lima, providing detailed insights to help you uncover the many wonders of this captivating city.
The Plaza Mayor, the site of Lima’s founding by Francisco Pizarro, has witnessed some of the most important historic events in Peru. Small shops and businesses originally surrounded the Plaza Mayor. More than a century later, a bronze fountain was built in the center in 1651, and it still stands today. It was in this plaza that Peruvians declared their independence in 1821. The Presidential Palace sits on the northern side of the square, while the Cathedral and Archbishop’s Palace are on the east side, and the City Hall is located to the west.
Built in 1625 in Baroque Renaissance style and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1940, Lima Cathedral is a veritable work of colonial art. While its facade is somewhat austere, the Cathedral houses magnificent Churriguerra altars, beautifully carved wooden choir stalls, and gold-leaf altars. Additionally, it boasts a unique collection of oil paintings and sculptures from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The Iglesia de San Francisco is a striking complex consisting of a church, the convent of San Francisco, and the chapels of El Milagro and La Soledad. Built in the seventeenth century, the complex’s cloisters and patios are decorated with blue Sevillian tiles. There is also a well-stocked library, the Religious Art Museum, and the Zurbarán Room. The church is built on top of a network of underground tunnels, or catacombs, which were used as a cemetery during colonial times, and today are open to the general public.
Miraflores is Lima’s foremost tourist and hotel district. It features spacious modern shopping areas, parks, and gardens. The district also hosts many cultural events at theaters, cinemas, and art galleries. It boasts a pre-Inca mud-brick temple called the Huaca Pucllana, one of many archaeological sites still found in Lima. Miraflores teems with cozy cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shops. Its freshly remodeled parks and gardens attract thousands of Lima inhabitants every Sunday who congregate to visit art exhibitions, take in open-air concerts, and browse through flea markets.
San Isidro is Lima’s “garden” district, standing out for its green zones and exclusive residential areas. San Isidro also features many of the city’s finest restaurants, hotels, and concert halls. Despite the building boom, San Isidro has retained its aristocratic atmosphere from the beginning of the last century. This is clearly seen in the area of El Olivar, a centuries-old olive grove that evolved into a popular park built around ornate upscale homes. In recent years, the district has become a major financial quarter as many banks and businesses moved from downtown Lima to set up headquarters in modern high-rise office buildings. The district features a pre-Hispanic temple, Huallamarca, where concerts and exhibitions are occasionally held.
Located 19 miles (30 km) south of Lima along the Pan-American Highway, Pachacamac is an ancient temple rearing over the fertile Lurín valley. A sprawling ceremonial center of 18 mud-brick pyramids with ramps and plazas, Pachacamac was ruled by the Ychsma lords from 900 A.D. to 1470. The Inca Empire conquered the religious center less than a century before Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro’s brother, Hernando, plundered the site in 1533 and destroyed the idol that served as an oracle. The Inca section (1440-1533) is the best-preserved part of the archaeological complex. The site includes palaces, plazas, and temples that have been painstakingly restored, and even includes an on-site museum that houses an interesting collection of pre-Hispanic relics. Archaeologists began exploring Pachacamac in the 1890s but found much of the nearly 1,500-acre (600 ha) ruins already looted, and quickly ran out of intact tombs to explore. But not all of Pachacamac’s historical treasures had been sacked. In 2005, archaeologist Peter Eeckhout of the Free University of Brussels excavated 69 tombs and funerary bundles, including some containing whole families. Others held the mummified remains of pilgrims who presumably sought cures from the oracle deity for diseases like syphilis, tuberculosis, and cancer.
San Isidro is a blend of upscale residential areas, green spaces, and a bustling business district. El Olivar Park, with its ancient olive trees, offers a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The district is also home to Huallamarca, a pre-Hispanic temple that occasionally hosts cultural events and exhibitions. San Isidro’s reputation for fine dining and luxury accommodations makes it a prime location for both leisure and business travelers. Despite the modern developments, the district has retained much of its historic charm, making it a unique blend of old and new.
North of Lima lies the arid Supe Valley, home to the Caral archaeological complex. This city, dating back 5,000 years, is considered one of the oldest in the Americas and a peer to great civilizations such as Egypt, China, and Mesopotamia. Caral’s architectural complexity, with its pyramids and musical instruments unearthed by archaeologists, speaks of a highly developed society.
A lovely, sunny valley south of Lima, Lunahuaná is a perfect spot for adventure sports and culinary delights. The area is known for its river shrimp dishes, exquisite wines, and pisco brandies. Nearby, the ruins of the ancient Inca Wasi (House of the Inca) archaeological site offer a glimpse into the region’s historical significance.
Encompassing the upper Cañete River Valley, this reserve is a paradise for nature lovers. The area is filled with waterfalls, enchanting lagoons, and abundant wildlife. Visitors can also explore the small villages of Huancaya and Vilca, known for their colonial-era bridges.
Celebrated on January 18th, this event commemorates the founding of the Spanish city of Lima with live music, parades, and popular art fairs.
Held in the second week of March, this festival allows visitors to taste wine and pisco brandy and participate in their preparation at various wineries in the district of Santiago de Surco.
The 1st Saturday every February, Peru’s iconic cocktail takes center stage at bars and restaurants throughout Lima.
From April 20th to 28th, the best Peruvian Paso horse breeders gather at the Mamacona Hacienda in Lurín for this prestigious event.
Held during the last two weeks of July, this fair brings together Peruvian and international writers, offering a space crammed with books and literary activities.
In August, this international film festival showcases Latin-American films, allowing visitors to watch, vote, and meet filmmakers from around the world.
In October, the image of the Lord of Miracles is carried in massive processions through the streets of downtown Lima. It is the most attended religious procession in Peru and one of the most significant in the world.
Celebrated on October 31st, this day honors Peru’s traditional coastal music with concerts in bars, restaurants, and plazas throughout Lima.
To book one of our Lima Tours now or consult with us, fill out the “Contact Us” form to the right and a Fertur Peru Travel coordinator will contact you within one working day with detailed information about your fully customizable trip. Fertur Peru Travel’s pledge is to offer you top-quality, individualized attention that starts with the planning of your trip and continues through your journey to guarantee a great vacation.
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