Walking tour of Lima

Explore Lima on foot to uncover pre-Inca temples, colonial plazas and sweeping Pacific views.

While Lima may not be the most celebrated of South America’s capital cities, to those in the know it is one of the continent’s best-kept secrets. This buzzing city is home to a vibrant cultural life, befitting of a flourishing nation where modern energy is underpinned by a rich ancient heritage.

A walking tour of the capital provides an immersive introduction to its sights and sounds. It will include the smart cliff-top barrio of Miraflores to see Pacific vistas unfurl from scenic viewpoints like the Parque del Amor. For a glimpse of how the ancient world intertwines with the modern city, you might visit the pre-Inca temple of Huaca Pucllana, a huge adobe pyramid ensconced in central Lima.

Adjoining Mirtaflores is the well-heeled neighbourhood of San Isidro, where one can sample the wonderfully creative gastronomy for which the capital has become known. One of thefamous restaurants is Tanta restaurant, run by preeminent Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio, the perfect place to taste Peru’s unique and varied cuisine.

All this contrasts markedly with Lima’s historic heart, the Plaza de Armas, where the imposing cathedral, city hall and palace are testament to the colonial era.