Lima
The coastal city of Lima is diverse, with colorful parks, friendly locals, tasty cuisine, vibrant markets, and ancient historical attractions. Travelers can tour world-class museums, wander through the colonial architecture of Miraflores, and eat seafood along the Pacific coast.
Lima's historic center has the famous Plaza de Armas as its center and there are countless museums nearby—the Larco Museum and the National Archaeological Museum are some of the best. The ancient site Huaca Pucllana is situated in the middle of Lima and offers proof of the Wari and Lima nomads living side-by-side. The city now has a cosmopolitan atmosphere, especially in districts like Miraflores and Barranco, which have become popular with both tourists and locals.
Barranco is full of entertainment and nightlife, while San Isidro is known for its local market, friendly people and delicious seafood. The ocean that borders Lima brings joy to young and old alike in their search for refreshment and fun. Visitors that take a closer look soon discover that Lima isn't just a gateway to Peru, but rather an extremely interesting destination unto itself.
Francisco Pizarro founded Lima on January 6th, 1535, which today is celebrated as the "Day of the Kings." Lima became the headquarters for the Spanish conquistadors—it was the seat of power, government, politics, and culture. The port of Callao became the hotspot for trade and commerce. And Lima's fertile plains, irrigated by the Rimac River, were perfect for agriculture. Typical products from this area were (and still are) cotton, corn, potatoes, fish, fruits, sugar cane, and vegetables.
After years of trade Lima grew to be one of the biggest commercial and administrative centers of South America. Lima continued to prosper over the 19th century, but had some downtime between 1980 and 1990. During this time Peru's political and economical instability dragged the beautiful city into poverty. Luckily, the new century ushered in a new beginning for Lima. Today, the city's wide streets, huge plazas and colonial houses still show signs of the 19th century.
Many of the Peruvian people living and working in Lima originally came from rural areas. The city's population is currently around 10 million inhabitants and is still growing. Limeños are a complex mixture of racial and ethnic groups. Mestizos of mixed Amerindian and European ancestry are the largest ethnic group, and European Peruvians are the second largest group. Other large ethnic groups in Lima include the Chinese and Japanese. The influx of Chinese workers in the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in Lima having the largest Chinese population in all of South America.
Moments to look forward to
Incredible Stays
Four Points Miraflores
The Four Points hotel is set in the Miraflores district of Lima. This hotel has modern, comfortable rooms and a convenient location.
View DetailsCasa Republica Barranco Boutique Hotel
Stay at the elegant Casa Barranco while you get a feel for one of Lima’s most bohemian neighborhoods. This is one of the most interesting areas for exploring modern Peruvian culture, surrounded by the art of up-and-coming Limeños.
View DetailsAnanay Hotel Villa Barranco
Ananay Hotel Villa Barranco is in Lima’s Barranco neighborhood. This hotel’s crown jewel is its rooftop terrace, which comes with a view of the nearby coast.
View DetailsCountry Club Lima Hotel
The best of past and present, together Staying at Country Club Lima Hotel means being part of Lima’s history: cosmopolitan, historic, unique. Each of the hotel’s corners and corridors hides a legend, a story, a mystery. It is a storied icon that keeps transforming itself, preserving in its corners legends, visits of celebrities and countless social gatherings lived in one of the most exclusive areas of the capital.
View DetailsHotel B
Hotel B was built during a golden era in Lima’s history, and it has retained the elegance of the original construction. This luxury hotel has a total of 17 boutique guest rooms.
View DetailsDoubleTree El Pardo by Hilton
The El Pardo DoubleTree is set in the heart of Lima’s Miraflores district. This hotel has a superb location and good facilities.
View DetailsCourtyard by Marriott Miraflores
The Courtyard by Marriott hotel is in the Miraflores district, one of the top destinations for visitors in Lima. There is a huge variety of culture to see in this area – historic districts, museums, archeological sites, and some of Peru’s (and the world’s) top restaurants.
View DetailsCasa Andina Select Miraflores
Casa Andina Select Miraflores enjoys a convenient location in the heart of Lima’s Miraflores district. The rooms here are very comfortable and the staff is super friendly.
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