So, you want more sites to explore in Lima, eh? Mission accomplished!
As, I stated in part one of my Lima travel guide, the City of Kings is in no short supply of attractions. In fact, there are things that even I haven’t seen and I’ve gone at least 5 times. You’ll find my wish list at the end of this blog post for some extra inspiration. Hopefully you’ll make it further than I ever did.
While my first guide kept you mainly within Miraflores along the water, this will take you a little further into the city. All destinations are completely safe for tourists to visit. Obviously exercise your best judgement, don’t be flashy with your phone or camera and keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Also, don’t forget to scroll through each photo gallery to see more photos from each location.
Museo Larco
The beautiful Museo Larco in Pueblo Libre has a wonderful display of pre-columbian art that dates back 4,000 years. Each of Peru’s pre-columbian civilizations had a distinct style to their pottery and it’s amazing to see it all in one spot. Similar to other ancient civilizations this pottery portrays the life of these people. Be prepared to the see everything from battles, surgeries, births and even sex. Yup, this museum is also home to one of the biggest collections of the pre-columbian erotic pottery.
Ooo la la!
Huaca Pucllana
You wouldn’t expect to see ancient ruins in the middle of a city, but that’s what makes Huaca Pucllana so special. This adobe and clay pyramid rises up in a Miraflores residential neighbourhood. It was built by the Lima Culture between 200 AD and 700 AD, which makes it older than the Incan empire! The structure is a part of an important ceremonial and administrative site. The site is under constant restoration where teams of archeologists continue to find artifacts and burial tombs.
You can’t tour Huaca Pucllana unattended. Luckily, tours run often and are offered in English. The tour takes no more than hour to complete, but once you’re done, I highly recommend you visit their restaurant. Their menu and service is fantastic and if you go at night, view of the pyramid lit up at night is breathtaking.
Plaza de Armas
Located in historic centre of Lima, the Plaza de Armas (or Plaza Mayor) is considered the birthplace of Lima. Surrounding the plaza is the Cathedral of Lima, the Archbishop’s palace, the Presidential palace and many other parliamentary buildings. The plaza is beautiful and it’s great for people watching as you sit on the steps leading up to the cathedral. It’s best to get there before 11:45am any day of the week to see the changing of the guards at the Presidential palace. Afterwards, there are plenty of little shops and galleries to wander around.
Churches
Being in Lima, there is never a shortage of beautiful churches to explore. However, if you’re short on time then these are the ones that stand out for me.
The Cathedral of Lima
This baroque cathedral is located within the Plaza de Armas. The founder of Peru, Francisco Pizarro, ordered construction on the cathedral in 1535. Made originally out of adobe, the building survived numerous earthquakes after its completion in 1538. Renovations have led to church expansions and restoration. This is the final resting place for Francisco Pizarro, viewable during one of their many tours.
Monastery of San Francisco
If you’re a lover of all things creepy, then you’ll want to visit the catacombs at the Monastery of San Francisco. But, before you even get there, the sites are stunning along the way. The monastery houses indoor gardens and is decorated in beautiful examples of Spanish and Moorish designs. All throughout the halls you can view original and unique biblical paintings by Spanish artists. Any bookworm will also enjoy the antique library on the upper floor. World-renowned, the library carries 25,000 ancient texts, some predating the Spanish conquest.
Finally, once you’ve made your way through the land of the living, you’ll be taken underground into the catacombs. Discovered in 1945, an estimated 25,000 bodies were buried under the church before 1808 (when the Lima cemetery opened). While it’s believed there are tunnels connecting to other buildings, excavations are too dangerous to pursue.
Gold Museum
Growing up, visiting the Gold Museum was always a must. Located in Santiago de Surco, the two story building was created in the 60s. The beautiful artifacts are made up of a private collection owned by Miguel Mujica Gallo. Although many of the artifacts were discovered to be fakes, the collection still contains some impressive examples of pre-columbian art and weaponry.
Wish List
If you’re in Lima for awhile or you’ve already seen the above attractions, feel free to try my wish list. Every time I visit Lima, I discover something new, but even I haven’t been to these places yet.
- Reserve Park
- Huaca Huallamarca
- Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas
- Lima Art Museum
- Parque de Las Leyendas
In my last two Peruvian blog posts, I’ve focused mainly on Lima’s attractions. However, Lima didn’t get its title as the gastronomic capital of South America for no reason. Stay tuned for a food focused feature in the near future.