Official Language:
Spanish, Quechua
Secondary Language:
Aymara
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Currency:
Nuevo Sol
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Population:
Approximately 8 million people call lima home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Lima: Average temperature in summer (mid December to mid March) is around 77-82°F/25º-28ºC. Summer is the best time to enjoy Lima's many beautiful beaches, such as those along the Costa Verde, about 15 minutes from Lima Historical Center, or along the Pan-American highway within 30 to 45 minutes south of Lima. Winter days are grey, overcast and quite humid, and average temperatures are between 55°F/12 to 15°C. Lima, with a mild climate of neither heavy rain nor intense cold, can be visited quite easily at any time of the year.
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Lima, Peru's capital, is overcrowded, polluted, noisy and often has wretched weather. Nevertheless, the inhabitants are friendly and hospitable, opportunities for dining and nightlife are ample and the city has a great selection of museums. A project is now underway to restore the city's colonial center, so Lima may be a lot lovelier in the near future
Lima is an extraordinary city nestled on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
Cruise ships dock at the Port of Callao, located approximately 30 miles west of Lima. Bus and taxi services are available at the port to take you to the capital city of Peru.
Lima has an efficient bus system, comprised of micro buses and van-sized combis. They will pick you up and drop you off at nearly every street corner in the city, and the average fare amounts to $1.50. If you would like to rent a car while in Lima, contact Budget (tel. 01/575-1674) for more information. Finally, you can opt to take a taxi to your destination. Simply call Taxi Metro (tel. 01/437-3689) and they will pick you up.
It's an old city with an esteemed history. Ranging from fast paced activities to relaxing sightseeing, Lima has it all. In 1535, Francisco Pizarro founded Lima, and in its early days the city surrounded the Rimac River. For the next three hundred years the city was the capital of the entire Spanish South American Empire. Over the years, the city has mushroomed, and now Lima is home to around seven million people.
The hustle and bustle of Lima is found in the downtown sector. The area surrounding the Plaza Mayor is the most popular and busy region. This is where you will encounter the most aesthetically pleasing architecture, artwork, and museums. Other portions of the city are more entertaining and exciting, but this is the district that houses the educational and historical sights of Lima. They exist elsewhere within the city, but not in nearly as much of a concentrated fashion as they do here by the Plaza Mayor. Miraflores and San Isidro are the two nicest neighborhoods in Lima, as they are located by the sea and quite affluent. The restaurants and shopping in these areas are probably the best in Lima. The nicest parks are definitely close to the ocean, and a few in particular are absolutely gorgeous. In between the beautiful towns by the sea are small working-class areas of Lima such as Rimac, Brena, and La Victoria. Lima is a city best enjoyed by walking, and during the day it is safe to travel anywhere within the city. Peruvians love the outdoors, and on weekends you will see what seems like the whole country gathered in the Plaza to enjoy the warmth.
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Attractions |
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The National Museum of Anthropology and Archeology | El Museo Nacional de Antropologica y Arqueologica
As one of the premier centers for preserving Peru's pre-Pizarran artifacts, this Lima museum houses important ceramics, granite obelisks, and textiles from Peru's various ancient cultures.
Main Square - Plaza de Armas
Like all Peruvian cities, Lima's Plaza de Armas, or Main Square, is the heart of the Lima and the starting place for touring its nearby monuments. The Cathedral, Municipal Palace and many examples of colonial architecture surround the plaza. From this central vantage point, Lima visitors can also witness the changing of the presidential guard every morning at 11.45am.
The Gold Museum - Museo de Oro
Wholly devoted to displaying the treasures of Peru's pre-conquest civilizations, this Lima museum's gilded collection includes Incan artifacts and thousands of golden treasures, from stand-alone sculptures to wearable fineries. Lima's Arms Museum, tellingly at the top of the Gold Museum building, showcases thousands of ancient firearms from all over the world.
The Church of San Francisco
A bright yellow highlight of Spanish colonial architecture in Lima, this 17th century Lima church's intricate mujedar design (a combination of Spanish and Moorish styles) and expansive underground catacombs, just discovered in 1951, have amazed the devout and the curious for centuries. The adjoining monastery's large collection of antique books, famous Sevillian tiles and Jose de Rivera paintings are also worth perusing.
The Cathedral - La Catedral
Off Lima's Main Square and built in 1555, Lima's Cathedral is a dramatic structure with two bell towers. Here, the remains of Francisco Pizarro (the Spanish conquistador who staked Peru for Spain in 1535) are kept in a mosaic-covered chapel. For the artistic theologian in Lima visitors, there is a small, but informative Museum of Religious Art (Museo de Arte Religioso) towards the rear of the Cathedral.
The Indio Market - Mercado Indio
Between 6th and 10th on Avenida La Marina, Lima Peru
This lively Lima market specializes in Peruvian crafts, namely handmade relics, fine woolen clothing, carved wood, stools, and silver jewelry.
Legend Park - Parque Las Leyendas
This Lima zoo boasts an extensive collection of Peruvian wildlife as well as a breakdown of the varied flora and fauna of Peru's three distinct habitats: the Costa (the coast), the Sierra and the Selva (jungle).
The Green Coast - Costa Verde
On a row of beaches crossing six districts, sea lovers, swimmers, surfers or those who dare to parasail or handglide can find plenty of ways to relax and escape Lima's urbanity.
The Museo de Arte Nacional is located at Colon 125 (01/423-4732) and has been blessed with the majority of the artwork that Peru's past has to offer. The paintings are magnificent, and weavings from Paracas that are nearly 2,000 years old are fascinating. Another interesting museum is the Museo de la Inquisicion, located at Junin 548 (01/428-7980). This historical landmark was the actual headquarters for the Spanish Inquisition in South America. This building of terror was used between 1570 and 1820, a long era of suffering for anyone who was brought to this house of horrors. This museum is certainly not for the very young, as parts of it are quite graphic. But the exhibits and demonstrations are remarkably true to life. The original torture chambers and dungeons are still intact, some of which are nearly five hundred years old.
The two main plazas in the city are the Plaza Mayor and Plaza San Martin. They are both extraordinarily entertaining places that are perfect for soaking up the culture and heritage of Lima. Great snack shops, markets, and cathedrals line Plaza Mayor, and there are numerous fun activities nearby. Plaza San Martin is laced with fabulous architecture such as the Gran Hotel Bolivar and the Club Nacional. This square is extremely lively and features street performers engaging in wild behavior nearly every day of the year.
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