Lima Peru Itinerary
If you are planning a trip to Peru, you are almost certainly going to have to stay in Lima for at least a day or two. We stayed in lima for two nights and had some fun experiences we will share with you while we were there! We also will share many tips that would have been nice to know prior to our trip!
Where to Stay
There are basically three main areas that tourists should stay in to be safe and have a lot of options for things to do.
1. Miraflores (main tourist spot)
2. Barranco (more trendy/younger tourist spot)
3. San Isidro (the nice/expensive tourist spot)
We stayed in Miraflores at a hotel called La Casona Azul which was amazing! They have their own private rooftop kitchen that includes free breakfast, the hotel is in a central location right next to both the boardwalk and the downtown, and the hosts are so kind and helpful. It was also very affordable for how nice the hotel is!
However, we loved the area of Barranco the most. It had the coolest bars and coffee shops and there were lots of things to see when walking around! There is a hotel in Barranco called Hotel B which is a little pricier, but definitely worth it. It is right in the center of Barranco and is so nice! We didn't end up staying here but we went inside and looked around because we had heard great things prior to our trip.
Miraflores
1. Kennedy Park
2. Mercado Nº 1 de Surquillo
3. Walk the board walk
4. Paragliding
5. Food Tour
On our first day, we woke up and had breakfast at our hotel on the rooftop patio. Our host then told us the best place to get cash out and get sim cards for your phones which is on the street Av. Jose Larco. The street has both multiple banks and phone companies you can choose from. This street also takes you strait to Kennedy Park which is the center of Miraflores!
1 . Kennedy Park is known for something unique which is that it is home to hundreds of stray cats! Don't worry, the cats are fed food and water from the city, but as your walking through the park, you will see cats sleeping or walking everywhere. The park is also home to a beautiful church called Iglesia Virgen Milagrosa.
2. After exploring the city center, we walked over to Mercado Nº 1 de Surquillo which is basically a huge market that has everything! If you want a more local experience, you definitely have to go explore here!
3. You can walk or bike the board walk from Miraflores to Barranco in about 30 min. The walk is full of different parks that are set along the water with the most popular one being Parque Del Amor (Love Park). There is also a cool outdoor mall and market on the walk which is right on the water!
4. We planned on doing paragliding on the board walk in Lima through blank and unfortunately were not allowed because it was too windy, but we highly recommend it because it is affordable, and you have the best views of the city!
5. The most prominent thing Lima is known for is its food, so we spent a lot of time trying to find the best places to eat! One of the best ways is to start off your trip with a food tour. We did ours through Exquisito Perú and it was incredible! We guarantee you will try foods you have never had before, and you will for leave full. The guides of the tour also share with you the best restaurants in the area, so you have places to go during the rest of your time in Lima. Do not hesitate to book this tour!
Where to Eat!
1. Manolo Cafe - Miraflores
2. La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla - Miraflores
3. Caleta Dolsa Coffee - Barranco
4. Isolina - Barranco
5. Ayahuasca - Barranco
6. Kjolle - Barranco
1. Manolo Cafe is a must when visiting Lima!! It has churros dipped in chocolate and they are some of the best churros you will ever have!
2. La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla is a famous sandwich spot where you can get Peruvian sandwiches for decent prices! We had a pork sandwich and for lunch and it was good. It is also super close to the main square in Miraflores!
3. Isolina is the restaurant we went to dinner at our first night in Lima and it didn't disappoint. The restaurant is all about traditional Peruvian meals and cocktails. The portions are Huge!! This was probably our favorite spot we ate at in Lima.
4. Ayahuasca is a bar that is set in an old mansion and its super fun! We went here just for drinks, and they were delicious, but the vibes were even cooler!
5. Kjolle is where we went to dinner our second night. This restaurant is definitely on the pricier side, but it is so worth it! The seafood here was incredible!
Things to Know
Since Lima is most likely your first stop in Peru, here is a list of things you should know before you go!
1. Use Uber to get around! Uber was cheap and extremely easy to use in Lima. It also has a set price, so you know you aren’t going to get ripped off.
2. Try Ceviche and Pisco Sours while in Lima! These were the best in Lima out of all the places we went in Peru.
3. Use Cruz del Sur busses to take day trips or get to your next location. The busses were cheap and comfortable. You can book trips through their website online before your trip to make sure you have a spot.
4. If you like city vibes you should spend more time in the city but for us, we personally loved other parts of Peru more outside of the big city.
5. Go to Huacachina! This place is a four-hour bus ride from Lima and we some of the most fun on the trip here! It is so worth it! We will be writing another itinerary just on Huacachina so stay tuned!
Please reach out on our home page if you have any questions!