Lima Holidays

In Lima, paragliding follows the coastal cliffs and shoreline over beaches and the Pacific. Short flights give a bird’s-eye view of Miraflores and the city edge, making this one of the most distinctive ways to experience the capital’s dramatic geography.

In Lima, the Costa Verde gives surfers reliable access to Pacific swells directly below the city’s cliffs. Lessons are widely available for beginners, while more experienced surfers can make the most of consistent waves. Watching from the Malecón is almost as absorbing.

In Miraflores, cycling the Malecón is an easy way to cover more of Lima’s coastline without rushing. Bike routes connect parks, viewpoints, Parque del Amor and La Marina Lighthouse, so the ride mixes exercise with plenty of reasons to stop and look around.

From Callao, boat trips head towards the Palomino Islands, where large colonies of sea lions gather offshore. Some tours provide wetsuits and allow visitors to enter the water near them, turning a short journey from central Lima into a genuinely unusual marine experience.

From Paracas, south of Lima, boat trips to the Ballestas Islands pass colonies of sea lions and seabirds, including Humboldt penguins. The journey is often paired with time in Paracas National Reserve, where cycling gives another active way to see the desert coastline.

In Huacachina, near Ica, enormous dunes rise around a small desert oasis roughly four hours south of Lima. Sandboarding and dune-buggy rides are the headline activities, combining steep descents, fast climbs and wide desert views that feel completely removed from the capital.

Set inside an 18th-century mansion in Pueblo Libre, Museo Larco gives an unusually clear introduction to Peru’s pre-Columbian cultures. Its collections span thousands of years, with gold, textiles and ceramics, while the famous erotic pottery gallery adds a more unexpected dimension.

The Museo de Arte de Lima, better known as MALI, brings together Peruvian art across different periods rather than focusing on a single era. Permanent and temporary exhibitions connect art with the country’s social and political history, making it a useful cultural starting point.

Barranco is where Lima’s contemporary creative side feels most visible. Murals fill lanes around Bajada de Baños, while independent galleries and belle époque buildings sit side by side. The artwork changes regularly, so the neighbourhood never feels frozen into a museum piece.

A cooking class turns Lima’s food reputation into something hands-on. Typical sessions cover ceviche, causa limeña and the Pisco Sour, combining practical techniques with stories about local ingredients. It is a relaxed way to understand why food is central to Peruvian identity.

Housed in a restored former railway station near the historic centre, the House of Peruvian Literature traces the country’s writing from early chronicles to modern authors. Exhibitions, reading spaces and literary archives give visitors a quieter, more thoughtful view of Peruvian culture.

Lima’s Barrio Chino reflects the lasting influence of Chinese migration on the capital. Around Calle Capón, markets, restaurants and street snacks lead naturally into chifa, the Chinese-Peruvian cuisine that developed locally and became one of the city’s most recognisable cultural fusions.

Surquillo’s markets and the Mercado Central reveal a more everyday side of Lima than its famous restaurants. Stalls are packed with seafood, native potatoes, tropical fruit, spices and prepared food, making them excellent places to see what Limeños actually shop for and eat.

Inside Parque de la Reserva, the Circuito Mágico del Agua turns a city park into an evening spectacle. Thirteen fountains form the setting for illuminated water shows with music, colour and storytelling, making it one of Lima’s easiest after-dark experiences for all ages.

Barranco becomes livelier after sunset, when its bars, music venues and restaurants fill up around Avenida Grau and the Bridge of Sighs. Live sets can range from Afro-Peruvian rhythms and Latin jazz to contemporary music, giving evenings here a distinctly local character.

El Quarto offers a less polished, more local version of Lima nightlife. The draw is live music, inexpensive drinks and a crowd that comes to stay late, with bands often playing familiar rock and pop covers in Spanish and English rather than tourist-focused performances.

Barranco is also a good place to sample Lima’s bar culture without planning a formal night out. Long-running names such as Ayahuasca and La Noche sit alongside craft beer spots, giving visitors several ways to try Pisco-based drinks or simply settle in for the evening.

Parque Kennedy works as much as a neighbourhood meeting point as a park. By evening, its central Miraflores location puts visitors among cafés, restaurants and bars, while the resident cats and steady foot traffic keep the area lively without needing a fixed programme.

Lima celebrates its founding anniversary every 18 January, during summer, with ceremonies, cultural activities and events centred around the Historic Centre. It is a lively time to experience the capital’s heritage and public spaces.

Peru’s Independence celebrations take place every 28 and 29 July, during winter, with Lima hosting some of the country’s biggest civic ceremonies, parades, concerts and public events.

Usually held between July and August during winter, the Lima International Book Fair brings together writers, publishers, talks, performances and family activities. Exact dates change each year, but it remains one of the city’s biggest cultural events.

Held each August during winter, the Lima International Film Festival PUCP showcases cinema from Peru, Latin America and beyond through screenings, premieres and talks at venues across the city.

Every 30 August, during winter, Lima honours its patron saint with masses, pilgrimages and religious gatherings. Visitors also leave written wishes at the well inside the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa.

Throughout October, during spring, Lima marks Señor de los Milagros with major religious processions through the city centre. Exact procession dates vary each year, while purple clothing and decorations become a familiar sight across the capital.