Other Attractions
All our holidays include a visit to Lima.
Miraflores
Miraflores is now the cultural heart of Lima, with much of the city's social and shopping scene set here. Parque Kennedy is the social centre of Miraflores, with many cafes, restaurants and shops. Av. Larco, on the coast, has a modern shopping centre and there are several upmarket hotels here. There are a number of tourist attractions in Miraflores, including the Huaca Pucallana, a pre-Inca temple with a small site museum. There are a couple of good, private museum collections in Miraflores (see the museums section).
Barranco
Barranco is a pleasant suburb of Lima that has kept its character much better than most of the city, and is the bohemian heart of the city. Situated on the seafront, the area has the feel of a small town, separate from Lima. Barranco is one of Lima 's main nightspots, and there are plenty of good bars and discos in the area, which come to life at night. During the day, however, Barranco is a relaxed, tranquil place, almost like a town stopped in time, making a nice escape from the rest of Lima, and it can also be a nice place to stay if wanting to get away from the bustle of the city.
The Puente de Suspiros (bridge of sighs) is a small bridge with a nice view out to sea. There is an operational tram on Av. Pedro de Osma, which is now only used for tourist rides. There are a few museums in the area, the most important of which is the Museo Pedro de Osma with an interesting collection of colonial paintings, mostly from the Cusqueña school. Additionally, on or near the main square are the Museo Galería Arte Popular de Ayacucho and the Museo de Electricidad.
San Isidro
San Isidro is the financial heart of Lima, and also has some of Lima 's best hotels and restaurants. It is a pleasant place to stay, containing some pleasant parks, and there are a small number of attractions, including, the Huaca Huallamarca, a restored pre-Inca temple. There is a small museum at the entrance.
Pachacámac
(Pachacámac district, near Lurín)
The archaeological ruins at Pachacámac are the most important in the Lima area, and although most parts are in a poor state of repair, several areas have been restored, giving a good idea about the complex. The site is mostly adobe, although there are several stone structures. There is a small, interesting museum at the entrance to the site, with ceramics and weavings, as well as a wonderful totem idol.
Pachacámac was first occupied around 200AD by people from the Lima culture, who dedicated it to Pachacámac, the creator god. Around 650AD the Wari culture took over the site. From 1000AD to 1450AD the site was occupied by the Ishmay culture, which developed it into a major religious and ceremonial centre. The Inca occupation from 1450 until the arrival of the Spanish in 1532 added several new temples, including the Templo del Sol and the Templo de Acllahuasi. The former has a similar layout to Qorikancha, the sun temple in Cusco, and is worth visiting. The other area worth visiting is the impressive Templo de Acllahuasi, the chosen women dedicated to the sun. This was restored by the Peruvian archaeologist Julio Tello. The rest of the site is in a rather poor state of repair.
Lurín, the town next to Pachacámac, is a pleasant place with many nurseries and show horses. Ask at the ruins if there are any displays.
Cieneguilla
Cieneguilla is a small town in a pleasant valley along the Lurín River, about 30km from Lima. The town is above the garúa that hangs over Lima in the winter and is a nice escape from the city. There are many good country-style restaurants serving traditional food, including Pachamanca, an Andean dish of meat and vegetables cooked with hot stones. These are very popular with Limeños at weekend.
Cajamarquilla
10km outside of Lima, on the road to La Oroya, lie the ruins of Cajamarquilla, a pre-Hispanic commercial centre covering an area of 6,000m2.