Lima, the City of Kings
Lima is the capital of Peru and its largest city, home to around one third of the country’s population. Founded by Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, under the name Ciudad de los Reyes (City of Kings), it became the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru and, for more than two centuries, the most important city of Spanish South America.
Today, Lima combines its colonial heritage with a long pre-Hispanic past, a vibrant food scene and modern neighborhoods overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
A city built over ancient cultures
Long before the arrival of the Spanish, the valleys of Lima were home to important civilizations. The Lima culture built the great adobe pyramid of Huaca Pucllana, which still stands in the heart of Miraflores. To the south, the sanctuary of Pachacamac was for centuries one of the most important religious centers of the Andes, visited by pilgrims from all over the region. And a few hours north of the city lies Caral, considered the oldest city in the Americas, with pyramids built around 3,000 BC.
The Historic Center
The Historic Center of Lima is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around the Plaza Mayor, where the city was founded, stand the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace with its carved wooden balconies, and the Government Palace. A few blocks away, the San Francisco Monastery hides underground catacombs, while churches such as Santo Domingo and La Merced, and mansions such as Casa Aliaga, keep the memory of colonial Lima alive.
Museums
Lima is the best place in Peru to understand its history. The Larco Museum displays an outstanding collection of pre-Columbian art in a beautiful 18th-century mansion, the MALI covers three thousand years of Peruvian art, and the National Museum of Archaeology (MUNA), next to Pachacamac, is the country’s newest great museum.
Neighborhoods by the sea
Miraflores and San Isidro are the city’s modern districts, with parks, restaurants and the cliff-top boardwalk overlooking the Pacific. Barranco, the bohemian neighborhood, is known for its colorful houses, art galleries and the Bridge of Sighs.
The gastronomic capital of South America
Lima is famous worldwide for its food. Ceviche, lomo saltado, causa and anticuchos are just a few of the dishes you can try, from traditional markets to some of the best-rated restaurants in the world, always with a pisco sour.
When to visit
Lima has a mild desert climate and almost never rains. From December to April, summer brings sunny days; from June to October, the sky is usually grey and the weather cool and humid, with a light drizzle called garúa. The city can be visited all year round.
Arriving by cruise
Cruise ships dock at Callao Port, the main port of Peru, about 30 to 45 minutes from the Historic Center depending on traffic. If you arrive by cruise, our Lima Shore Excursions are designed to return you to the port on time.