top of page

P E R U

L I M A

O V E R V I E W

OVERVIEW

Popularly regarded as the gateway to Peru, Lima is the second-largest desert city in the world after Cairo. This is a place of blended history, a world-class culinary scene, and dynamic cultural tapestry, all set against the dramatic backdrop of clifftops and the Pacific ocean.


The Spanish founded Lima in 1535, and the combination of its familiar climate for them, and easy trade links with Spain made it their choice as Peru’s capital. 


This unique setting shapes the city’s character, blending coastal charm with the rugged intensity of its arid backdrop.

Here's what we think should form the core of your experience:

Historic & Cultural Highlights

Lima’s Historic Center (Centro Histórico) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and for good reason.


Beautiful plazas, catholic churchs and Lima cathedral, the Archbishop’s cathedral and the convent of San Francisco with its impressive library all form part of this picture.


The stunning Museo Larco provides a deep dive into pre-Columbian art, housed in an 18th-century mansion.


But there are much older and stranger parts as well to consider. Amidst the urban sprawl, the great adobe pyramid of Huaca Pucllana hints at bits of Quechua, pre-Incan Lima culture. 


And a few hours north of Lima, the sacred City of Caral-Supe dates back 5000 years, making it the oldest permanent settlement in the Americas.

Culinary Comfort & Surprises

Celebrated as South America’s gastronomic capital, and the repeated home of institutions which have made the list of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants, Lima’s food scene is an intoxicating mix of regional cuisines, and comida criolla, or creole food.


Part of our philosophy at Global Guide Group is help you discover the intoxicating way in which the devil is in the details with almost everything, and rediscovering simple foods made with perfect ingredients is a big part of this.


It’s why we don’t generally recommend specific restaurants in our guides – we want to help you learn to understand local cuisine and have the skills to spot your own stunning finds wherever you go, off the beaten track of suggestions that everyone else is following. This is a skillset that compounds infinitely and delivers volumes over the course of a lifetime.


In that spirit, we’d like to re-introduce you to some ingredients which you thought you you already knew:


Potatoes: Peru has more than 4000 varieties of potato endemic to the country, and its potato gene bank preserves over 5000 in total.


Corn: If you’ve perhaps come in contact with colorful corn varieties beyond the ordinary sweetcorn on offer in most western groceries, consider that Peru produces 55 total varieties, with a dizzying range of sizes, colors, textures, and corresponding snacks, dishes, and concoctions.


Indulge in traditional specialties like ceviche, lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), or aji de gallina (creamy, spiced chicken stew), all are well-loved classics.


Then again, there is the ever-present pollo a la brasa, a rotisserie chicken introduced by Swiss immigrants in the 1950s.


You’ve also got parihuela, a  sort of bouillabaisse soup with fresh fish and whichever seafood happens to be available at the moment.


And far from finally, another distinctly Peruvian adventure to consider is Nikkei, or Japanese cooking with Peruvian ingredients.

Neighborhoods & Local Charm

Lima offers a good mix of different neighbourhood flavours which are worth some exploration. 


Miraflores is all about cliffside views and its scenic Malecón, a term used throughout Latin America to describe a stone or built up embankment along a waterfront, an esplanade if you will.


Wander through Parque Kennedy, or head to Barranco, Lima’s bohemian quarter.


Here you'll find vibrant murals, art galleries, and the iconic Puente de los Suspiros, Lima's Bridge of Sighs. Barranco neighborhood comes alive at night with lively bars and music venues.

P L A N N I N G & G U I D E S

M E M B E R S  O N L Y

You'll have to sign in past this point

PLANNING & PRIVATE TOUR GUIDES

Here's where the real magic begins.

Lima

bottom of page