Lima is where nearly every Peru trip begins and ends. The capital sits on cliffs above the Pacific, and the neighborhoods most travelers use, Miraflores and Barranco, run along the clifftop Malecón.
Most people treat it as a stopover. We think it deserves a full day or two, mainly for the food.
Lima is a big, busy coastal city, and it has little in common with the Andes or the Amazon. The appeal is its restaurants, its museums and its walkable seaside districts. Miraflores is the polished, central option. Barranco, just south, is smaller and more bohemian, with galleries, bars and old mansions.
The historic center, with its cathedral and colonial balconies, is a separate trip inland and works best as a half-day outing by car.
Lima has some of the most decorated restaurants in the world. Central, run by Virgilio Martínez in Barranco, was named No. 1 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2023, and Maido, Mitsuharu Tsumura's Nikkei restaurant, took the No. 1 spot in 2025. Tables at both book up well ahead, so we reserve them when we plan the rest of the trip.
You do not need a tasting menu to eat well here. Ceviche at lunch, a pisco sour at sunset and an evening in Barranco are all part of it.
Lima is a city, so keep expectations modest. The two outings worth knowing about:
Lima has a dry desert climate, but the coast is often grey and misty from about June to October. The sunny months are roughly December to April. The weather here should not drive your Peru dates, since the Andes matter more.
One or two nights is right for most trips. Plan generously around the airport, as Lima traffic can be slow.
We base clients in Miraflores, on the clifftop, close to Barranco and the best restaurants.
Our first choice for most travelers. It faces the Pacific from the Malecón, has 87 rooms and suites, and its heated rooftop pool looks straight out over the ocean.
A large, dependable hotel across the street from Larcomar, with ocean-view rooms and Marriott Bonvoy benefits. It suits travelers who want a big-brand hotel for a quick overnight.
Mammals
Birdlife (coast and wetlands)
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