Best things to do in Lima: experience a rich culinary scene, historic colonial architecture & vibrant cultural heritage with this travel guide.

If you do any research at all, you’ll discover obvious facts about Peru: it’s home to Machu Picchu, the Amazon jungle and delicious cocktails like the Pisco sour. But truthfully, that’s only the beginning.

Peru is a country bursting with personality, tradition and culture. It’s full of life and color and there’s so much to see that you’ll likely not even come close to hitting every spot on your list. I was lucky enough to spend two weeks traveling through the capital, down the coast and inland, each town with their own distinct personality, each one better than the last.

So above all, that would be my recommendation: take enough time to visit a handful of cities and towns, appreciating each for what they have to offer.

My interest in Peru began when a close Peruvian friend offered to personally host me in his country, so with two weeks and countless places to explore, we were off. Straightaway, I met him in Peru’s capital of Lima, spending only 24 hours there.

Then, we moved down the coast to the islands made of rock and tropical deserts of Paracas; highlights include the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve.

Dune buggy rides and wine tastings in Huacachina followed. This natural desert oasis is popular for its breathtaking sunsets over the massive sand dunes and its unique, picturesque landscape: think, sparkling lagoon surrounded by tall palms.

The “White City” of Arequipa, given its name from the stunning colonial architecture built with white volcanic stone called sillar, came next. Visitors can also enjoy the town’s delicious cuisine and historic sites like the Monastery of Santa Catalina and the Basilica Cathedral.

From Arequipa, the gateway to Colca Canyon, I took a solo day trip into this majestic natural wonder. One of the world's deepest canyons and a prime spot for hunting down giant Andean condors, the canyon is famous for its extensive agricultural terraces, traditional villages and trekking and rafting opportunities.

Then, we moved on to Cusco, once the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, for its blend of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture, rich Andean culture and significant archaeological sites.

Using Cusco as home base, I had a terrifying near-death experience on Rainbow Mountain, toured Peru’s Andean highlands’ Sacred Valley and explored the unimaginable, Machu Picchu.

Best Things to Do in Lima

Arrive in Lima

My flights went off without a hitch. Flying from Chicago O'hare, I landed in Panama for a short layover with Copa Airlines and then on to Lima. Copa's service was great and meals each flight were a nice touch.

Unfortunately, after landing half past midnight it took nearly an hour to get a hold of my luggage. Thank goodness my Peruvian friend, Esau, had arranged a taxi for me into downtown Lima. Talk about an excruciatingly long day.

Taste Peruvian Cuisine

After a quick night's rest we woke and were off for our first meal of the day. Esau and I walked toward Miraflores, a popular area near the coast in Lima. On the way, we stopped in a little pop-up market showcasing interesting handmade goods. We also learned that every Sunday the main boulevard shuts down to allow the public access on foot. The boulevard was packed full of people rollerblading, walking and riding bikes, enjoying such a beautiful day.

I'll admit, it was tough to find a bite to eat; getting my footing in a new country is always tricky. The area was full of overpriced touristy restaurants and cafes and this was my first Peruvian meal, so I didn't want to settle for something inauthentic. Eventually, we chose a traditional style restaurant with seating near the street.

As recommended, I ordered lomo saltado, a beef dish with tomatoes, onions, rice and french fries. It was delicious and full of flavor. Price-wise, this dish varies a lot as it can be found in almost every restaurant. This time, I definitely overpaid at almost 30 soles ($10 USD) but it was worth every penny.

Esau ordered another traditional dish of potatoes and fish, also delicious. A popular Peruvian potato and fish dish, Causa is a cold, layered dish of mashed potato flavored with aji amarillo chili and lime, typically filled with tuna or other types of seafood. They gave us a dish of corn nuts, known as cancha (cancha serrana), to snack on, as well.

Catch Coastal Views at Miraflores

Near the waters edge are gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean. The two of us walked toward the coast and even though it was super foggy, the coastline was absolutely beautiful.

The water looked rough but was filled with surfers, nonetheless. Wave after wave, they rolled in, pushing the surfers toward the shore.

As we walked along the water, we made sure to lather up with sunscreen. As I’d learn later, the sun is no joke in Peru, even when the skies are cloudy.

Stroll Through Plaza de Armas de Lima

After strolling along the coast, we jumped into an Uber toward the old city square, Plaza de Armas de Lima. The square was gorgeous with so much character and detail. The main plaza is surrounded with beautiful buildings from the Spanish colonial era including the Government Palace, Cathedral of Lima and Archbishop's Palace of Lima. The city's historic center is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Just past the Cathedral of Lima, are a number of side streets filled with little shops, museums and restaurants of all kinds, waiting to be explored.

As we meandered through the streets, we spotted a market filled with stuffed animals, colors of red and pink everywhere.

Next, we discovered the Monastery of San Francisco. The monastery offers tours but it was pretty busy, so we passed on the opportunity. Above, flocks of birds dove in and out of the plaza and between the buildings.

Instead, we took a photo opportunity with a gentleman selling balloons. For just one sole or 30 cents, he let us pretend they were all ours.

Tip / Offer a vendor a small fee to take a unique photo with a huge bundle of balloons.

Down the street we found a cafe called La Tapada for a bite to eat. Finally, it was time for ceviche, one of my favorite dishes in seaside cities. In Peru, they typically serve ceviche with sweet potatoes and corn, and it's always extra limey with a bit of seaweed right on top. Just the way I like it.

Ceviche tends to be a bit more pricey than most other foods unless you're in a small town near the water (avoid it in cities like Cusco where it isn't fresh). At La Tapada the cost was 30 soles ($10 USD). Don't forget to add a delicious smoothie but keep in mind Peru's water is not safe to drink. You'll always be able to find bottled water but things like fruits and vegetables have likely been washed with tap water. Personally, I learned the hard way but not sure I would’ve changed my decisions anyway.

Enjoy a Pisco Sour & Dance the Night Away

With only a few hours of sleep catching up to us, we stepped inside for a quick nap. In the evening, Esau and I met one of his high school friends back in Miraflores for dinner. We chose Mangos, an upscale Peruvian seafood restaurant in the Larcomar shopping center. For me, it was the typical Peruvian drink, Pisco sour, and beef liver for the first time.

Although the food wasn’t the best I’d experience in Peru, I couldn’t complain about the view. We chose a table out on the patio where we could see the entire coastline lit up in the night sky.

After finishing up with dinner, we drove down to the beach just south of Miraflores, but realized we weren’t missing much; it was quite dirty and small. Esau mentioned that the nicer beaches are not in Lima but are a few hours south down the coast.

To walk off our meal, we wandered around the park in the main plaza of Miraflores. There was a small open market selling goods in the center and a group gathered together listening to Peruvian music, dancing up a storm. It was a really fun thing to see, everyone so full of energy.

A few more of Esau's friends joined us and we decided to go for drinks at a popular gay club, ValeTodo DownTown. ValeTodo plays upbeat Latin pop. They have multiple dance floors and even host drag shows. The strangest thing though, barely anyone was drinking. Esau told me people mainly go to the bar to dance rather than drink like in the states. What a refreshing idea. It was so much fun and definitely a different vibe than what you’d find back home.

Esau also mentioned how Peruvians are very conservative and even though almost everyone there was gay you would never know it. No one was flirting or touching, it all seemed very platonic. The crowd was mostly male, maybe 80%, and the rest was female. Around 1 a.m. we called it quits after an amazing night full of music, dancing and incredible people watching. In the morning, we’d head down the coast a few hours to Paracas.