MAIN TOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN LIMA 

Lima: City of Kings

The City of Lima has been declared a Historical Monument World Heritage by UNESCO due to its unique charm that blends different styles, flavors and textures for  visitors to enjoy.   

Lima has an exceptional array of colonial architecture, several Baroque style churches and elegant colonial manors.  Few cities in Latin America can boast of such a display of museums which are of particular interest due to their Pre-Colombian collections. 

The vast cultural and historical past of the city does not give the visitor the impression of being frozen in the past, quite the contrary.  Lima is a city of contrasts in which typical and traditional customs and styles are mixed with modern and state-of-the-art features. Lima is currently experiencing a boom full of signs of the mixed blood of its people which makes it a lively and attractive city.  The people of Lima are warmhearted, friendly and hard-working. 

Historical Downtown: Lima, the seat of the Viceroyalty, was a fortified city in Colonial times.  This area houses the main Spanish buildings and invaluable monuments such as the Saint Francis Church, also declared a Cultural World Heritage due to the art treasures it shelters and its beautiful architecture. 

Rímac: This neighborhood dates back to the Colonial Era as well and is located on the other side of Lima’s main square, on the northern shore of the Rímac River.   It has lovely colonial manors, museums, and the famous Plaza de Toros de Acho, one of the oldest bullfighting rings in the Americas.  

Barranco:  This district used to be known as a quiet place for poets and artists and today is one of Lima’s night life hot spots.   

Miraflores and San Isidro: These two districts of Lima are teeming with modern buildings and services. Most of the Lima’s best hotels, restaurants, and entertainments areas are located there as well as banks, shopping areas and business centers.   

Amano Museum:  This archaeological museum was founded by Yoshitaro Amano and houses pottery, textiles, and objects from a number of Pre-Hispanic cultures.  It stands out for its collection of textiles and fine embroidery belonging to the Chancay culture that thrived on the northern coast of Lima.  

Address: 160 Retiro Street.  Reference street: Av. Angamos Oeste, Block 11, Miraflores, Lima.

Telephone: (51.1) 441-2909

Open: By appointment only, from 14:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. 

Enrico Poli Private Collection: This private collection offers the visitor a rich array of Pre-Hispanic art such as pottery, textiles, and metal and silver objects, Colonial paintings and furniture.   

Address: 466 Lord Cochrane Street, Miraflores, Lima.

Telephone: 422-2437

By appointment only. 

Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum: Founded in 1926 in an old mansion built in 1707, this museum shelters the biggest private collection of Peruvian Pre-Colombian art in the world.  It exhibits archeological pottery, gold objects, decorative rock and wood objects, and pre-Hispanic textiles, especially from cultures that lived on the northern coast of Peru.  The Art Room, the Great Culture Room, and the Gold Room are of particular importance.  Visitors can also see its unique collection of “Erotic Pottery”. 

Address: 1515 Bolívar Ave., Pueblo Libre, Lima.

Open: 9:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday.  Sundays: 9:00 to 13:00

Telephone: 461-1312; 461-1835

Entrance Fee: S/.15; students: S/.7.50

Internet address: http://www.tsi.com.pe/museolarco/ 

De Osma Museum: An impressive private collection of Colonial sculptures, paintings, and silverware.  Its premises is of outstanding historical and architectural value and exhibits the original furniture that belonged to the De Osma Family. 

Address: 423 Pedro De Osma Ave, Barranco, Lima.

Telephone: 467-0937

Open: 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday.  Sundays: 9:00 to 13:00

Entrance Fee to be paid. 

Shopping:  Lima is known for its fine goldsmith and silversmith craftsmanship.  It offers a variety of handicrafts from each region of Peru at souvenir fairs where you can also buy fine quality Alpaca wool and leather garments. 

Lima also has world class shopping centers that are rated as some of the best in South America.