Our most recommended things to do in Lima

From Lima: Full-Day Paracas and Huacachina Bus Tour

1. From Lima: Full-Day Paracas and Huacachina Bus Tour

Discover the serene landscapes of the Peruvian countryside on a day trip from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina with hotel transfers included. See Humboldt penguins and sea lions on the Ballestas Islands and slide down the Huacachina dunes by sandboarding and dune buggy ride.  Your adventure begins with an early-morning pickup from your hostel or hotel. From here, travel to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea, on a spacious bus where you'll be able to relax for the 4-hour ride. Once in Paracas, begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos. Spot sea lions, penguins, and plenty of birds up close and all in their natural habitats. You may even get the chance to see a dolphin or two. Around lunchtime, it's time to move on from Paracas to Huacachina, a natural oasis located in the Ica Desert, home to the biggest sand dunes in South America. Enjoy some free time here. Explore and have lunch (at your own expense) in one of the local restaurants around the oasis. Following lunch, it will be time for 2 hours of exhilarating dune buggy rides and sandboarding. Dune buggy up the sand dunes and sandboard down these giant hills of sand, a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America. In the evening, board your bus back to Lima. Once onboard, sit back and relax on the comfortable seats while you enjoy a movie on board. You will later be dropped off directly at your hotel/hostel upon arrival in Lima.

From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Full Day Guided Tour

2. From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Full Day Guided Tour

Start with pickup from your hotel in Lima at around 05:00 AM, all depends your location in Lima, where you will board the coach for a 03:30-hour journey to Paracas town. Before getting to Paracas, we will stop to have breakfast. On your arrival in Paracas, make your way to the dock where you will board a speedboat to the Ballestas Islands. During your journey to Ballestas, see the enigmatic figure of the Candelabro, a stunning design drawn on the side of a hill in the Peninsula. There are many hypotheses regarding its origin, some believe it is related to the Nazca Lines but still found no proof or evidence that can define its creation. In the Ballestas Islands, you will see a stunningly rugged world filled with birds and sea lions. You will navigate around the islands at a distance allowed, and depending on the sea conditions, visit nearby caves. Return to the port at 11 am, and spend some time in Paracas where you will have free time for restrooms or a short time to relax. Then, continue to the next destination, Huacachina oasis. Have a small break to prepare for your desert tour; then board a buggy for 1-hour adventure across the sand dunes that surround the water source. Return to Huacachina and have time for refreshment. Continue towards to traditional vineyard and taste the best of the local wine and Pisco or lunch at the vineyard restaurant, then Drive back to Lima arriving and dropping off at your hotel. At around 21:30 or 22 pm On this one-day tour, you will have an assistant guide on the trip who will help you with your concerns on your trip.

Palomino Islands: Swim with Sea Lions in the Pacific Ocean

3. Palomino Islands: Swim with Sea Lions in the Pacific Ocean

Embark on an incredible yacht tour to Palomino Islands and for the chance to witness Peru's incredible seabirds and marine wildlife and swim with thousands of sea lions in their natural habitat. First, get picked up from your hotel if you choose the relevant option when booking, otherwise make your own way to the meeting point in Callao. Start the tour from La Punta Bay where you will board a comfortable and safe yacht equipped with sophisticated navigation equipment, bathrooms, and other amenities. Sail out into the Pacific Ocean on an unforgettable 4-hour journey past the islands of Callao and along the coast of San Lorenzo Island. Pass a naval base and the El Frontón Island, where a maximum-security prison existed until the 1980s. Cruise along the coast of the Cabinzas Islands which are inhabited by several colonies of guano birds, until you finally reach the central attraction, the Palomino Islands. When you arrive, observe a colony of approximately 8000 sea lions, one of the largest in the area. Get kitted out with neoprene wetsuits and life jackets and take the opportunity to jump into the water as you get up close to these friendly animals. The tour will be under the surveillance and guidance of the experienced crew.

Lima: City Tour with Pickup and Drop-Off

4. Lima: City Tour with Pickup and Drop-Off

Join an insightful tour of Lima's city center and travel back in time to the colonial era. Admire amazing collections of 17th and 18th-century oil paintings, wooden verandas, and gilded mirrors. Immerse yourself in local culture and history with the assistance of your guide. Admire the monuments of Plaza Mayor, such as the cathedral, Archbishop's Palace, Municipal Palace, and Palace of the Union. Continue to the Baroque-style San Francisco Monastery and take a look at its catacombs. Along the way, discover hidden gems, such as the remains of the old city walls, the historic bridges over the River Rimac, and one of the oldest bars in Peru at the Cordano Bar. Immerse yourself in a tour full of history, culture, and more. Finally, your professional driver will drop you off at your hotel.

Lima: Colonial City Tour with Catacombs Visit

5. Lima: Colonial City Tour with Catacombs Visit

Immerse yourself in Lima's colonial history with this tour. After getting picked up from your hotel, start your experience at San Martin Square, where you can admire colonial architecture buildings. Later, visit the breathtaking Plaza de Armas and admire impressive buildings such as the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, and more. Finish your tour exploring the fascinating Catacombs and Museum of San Francisco. Learn more about Peru's colonial period through the museum's vast collection of artwork, see rare editions in the library and wander through the blood-curdling passages of the catacombs, where the bones of 25,000 people lie. At the end of the day, get dropped off back at your hotel.

Lima: Paragliding Flight Over Costa Verde Districts

6. Lima: Paragliding Flight Over Costa Verde Districts

Soar over the picturesque cityscape of Costa Verde on this paragliding excursion. Together with your personal pilot, catch glimpses of Lima's San Miguel, Magdalena del Mar, San Isidro, and Miraflores districts. After your tour, take home a complimentary HD video to relive your aerial adventure. Begin your paragliding experience along the esplanade in Magdalena del Mar. As you ascend, soak up the breathtaking views of the expansive ocean and coastline before you. Fly over the seaside residential districts of Magdalena del Mar, San Isidro, Miraflores and San Miguel. Continue your paragliding tour as you gaze down at the San Isidro and Miraflores districts. Known for their role as cultural, political, and financial centers, these districts also host resplendent greenery and impressive architecture. Savor this unique opportunity to see the city of Lima from an aerial perspective.

Lima: Ultimate Peruvian Food Tour

7. Lima: Ultimate Peruvian Food Tour

Along with your friendly local guide, embark on a walking food tour in which you’ll have breakfast and lunch! During this culinary experience, you will taste the most traditional local delicacies from a variety of small restaurants and local shops. But on this tour, you won't only eat well, but you’ll also visit one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Lima: Barranco. Taste 15 different local flavors from fruits, to drinks and dishes. Meet with inspiring local artisans and small entrepreneurs, and learn about their stories while enjoying some of the best Peruvian dishes such as lomo saltado, ceviche, pisco sour, and many more.

Lima: Panoramic City Bus Tour

8. Lima: Panoramic City Bus Tour

Enjoy the mesmerizing sights of Lima on a bus tour, with two day-time panoramic tour times to choose from. From the open-top deck of the double-decker sightseeing bus, you'll have unrivaled views, in what is already an alluring destination. See everything the Peruvian capital has to offer, from natural beauty to historic architecture. With an audio guide provided in English and Spanish, you'll also have an educational experience on this highly enjoyable trip around Lima. The tour begins in Larcomar, a well-known tourist center of contemporary Lima, continuing then with a panoramic view of the most important attractions of the capital such as the Huaca Pucllana, the Exposition Park, the Lima Art Museum, the Italian Art Museum, the Miguel Grau Square, and the Palace of Justice. Continue to spots such as the San Martin Square, the Main Square, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Wall Park, the Congress of the Republic, the University Park, the Gutierrez Oval, the Mora Park, the Reserve Jetty, the Cisneros Jetty, the Maria Reiche Park, the Yitzhak Rabin Park, the Jetties and the Love Park. Finally, the tour ends with the return to Larcomar.

Miraflores: Bohemian Barranco Guided Bike Tour

9. Miraflores: Bohemian Barranco Guided Bike Tour

Starting from the local partner's shop in Miraflores, cruise along bike paths to explore Barranco. After a short safety briefing from your instructor, start your 3-hour guided tour. See picturesque old streets and feel the sea breeze in your hair. Stop at the famous Bridge of Sighs to make a wish. In Miraflores, you'll learn about La Huaca Pucllana and Itchma, the pre-Inca civilization that existed in the area from around 300 to 700 A.D. Pass the Faro de la Marina lighthouse, then continue to the Park of Love and Larcomar Shopping Center. Afterwards, stop in a nice cafe bar for a refreshment, before returning to the local partner's shop.

Lima: Party tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl Lima

10. Lima: Party tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl Lima

Start off your bar crawl in front of the main door of the church in Kennedy Park in Miraflores and enjoy a night full of fun and get to know people from all around the world.  Hop in the bars in the famous Miraflores neighborhood and feel at home playing different games during the crawl.  Stay in each location for around 1-hour and play some games with the group. In the first bar, the hosts organize a small activity in order to get to know everyone in the group and start mingling with each other. Play a game to start turning on the night in the second bar and in the third one, the dancing time starts. Prepare yourself for the last bar/club where the tour ends. Feel free to stay as long as you want. 

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Expect vibrant flavors, colonial architecture, and bohemian neighborhoods against the cool Pacific breeze.

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What are the best day trips and excursions from Lima?

The best day trips and excursions from Lima are:

Paracas

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What people are saying about Lima

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 2,380 reviews

Wonderful experience, if you get sea sick it might be a little rough (I typically don’t and the there were around 20 minutes where I really started feeling it) but if you are willing to put up with that it’s a really amazing experience. Be sure to bring a waterproof camera with you!

Our tour was wonderful! Jessica was an excellent and knowledgeable tour guide, and our driver Victor was great as well. Lots of history in Lima was covered!

This was a really fun day! Well worth the cost and early morning start to see some highlights of the south coast with everything organized smoothly for you

Jose was a fantastic guide! He showed us all the best parts of Barranco, and at our speed. Thank you for introducing us to the donuts also!!

Good way to see the coastline on my first day in Lima. Jose was an excellent guide and the trip was done safely on dedicated bike lanes