Best Things to do in Lima in 2024

There is a plethora of fun things to do in Lima in 2024 for all travelers including families that will bring the culture and history of Lima to life. Interesting options like exploring the historic city center while learning about the history as well as the historic architecture and each neighborhood has its own charm with activities like cooking or chocolate making classes, bar crawling at night or you can watch live cultural performances while tasting Peruvian food. Exciting watersports have you surfing, white water rafting, paddling a kayak or sailing to a distant island where you will swim with sea lions. Other options include walking through Inca ruins, mountain biking, flying over interesting scenery, taking a day trip and rappelling down a waterfall or you can relax on one of the many beaches along the Costa Verde while being immersed in an ideal sunset.

  • Multiday Tours from Lima

    Multiday Tours in Lima

    One of the more popular things to do in Lima for adventure seekers who are looking to take their explorations to a new level is to plan on taking a Multiday Tour. There are numerous excursions that will have you traveling from 1 to 15 nights to interesting places where you can immerse yourself into the culture of Peru. Some excursions will have you visiting iconic places like Inca ruins at Machu Picchu while other trips will take you to Cusco where you can mingle with the locals as well as visit the Temple of The Sun. Many of the excursions will include a stop at Lake Titicaca where you can view the Taquile Floating Islands and on your explorations you can see the intricate animal figures of the mysterious Nazca Lines as well as the Sacred Valley while on your way to the Inca ruins of Pisac.


    Cultural Tours

    Cultural Tours in Lima

    One of the best things to do in Lima for travelers that like to learn about the people and traditions of Peru and the region is to go on a Cultural Tour. There are a wide variety of family-friendly excursions that are interesting which tell the story of how the people as well as civilization of the area evolved over time. You can visit incredible places such as the archeological ruins at Caral and Pachacamac where you will learn about the Incas and Lima Culture people. The historic buildings within the Historic Center of Lima explain the influence of the Spanish as well as the Museo Oro del Peru and Armas del Mundo. Other options will have you viewing traditional dances, eating Peruvian cuisine and drinking a pisco sour while you watch a unique Peruvian Paso Horse Show.


    Adrenaline and Extreme Tours

    Adrenaline and Extreme Tours in Lima

    When you are ready to go on an adventure that will surely have your blood level raising to new levels then the perfect thing to do in Lima is to try an Adrenaline and Extreme Tour. These excursions are not for the faint of heart and there is a wide variety of tours that will have you screaming with fear as well as joy. You will be delighted with the places these excursions will take you that include the Ballestas Islands, Paracas National Reserve, the Huanano Falls, Autisha Canyon and the Huacachina Desert where you can go sandboarding. Other options include rappelling into canyons, driving a dune buggy over high sand dunes, rock climbing and surfing as well as swimming with sea lions.


    Cruises and Water Tours

    Cruises and Water Tours in Lima

    If you are searching for an adventure on the Pacific Ocean that will allow you to relax and view the incredible marine life then the best thing to do in Lima is to take a Cruise and Water Tour. You will be amazed at the marine life sightseeing opportunities you will enjoy as you sail upon the waters of the Pacific Ocean. These excursions are family-friendly and will have you traveling to places such as the islands of Palomino, Cabinzas, El Fronton as well as the Ballestas. Some tours offer you a chance to go swimming with sea lions while other options include sunset cruise where you can watch the blue skies over the Pacific Ocean turn into a canvass of pastel colors.


    Air Tours

    Air Tours in Lima

    When you want to experience a unique view of the natural and built environment of the region then a great thing to do in Lima is to plan an Air Tour. On these excursions you will have a bird's eye view of the Andes Mountains, the Pacific Ocean and special places such as the mysterious Nazca Lines which are geoglyphs that are fashioned after animals that were created by the Nazca people. Other options include flying and spending the day at the Huacachina Oasis as well as the Ballestas Islands where you can view penguins in their natural habitat. For the adventure seeker you can try an adrenaline filled paragliding ride along the Costa Verde where you will have a panoramic view of neighborhoods like Miraflores, Chorrillos and San Isidro.


    Food Tours

    Food Tours in Lima

    Taking a Food Tour is a superb thing to do in Lima for travelers that like to combine culture, history and cuisine into a splendid day of learning about a new country. You will be delighted with the variety of these family-friendly excursions that will have you strolling through various neighborhoods such as Miraflores, Chorrillos and Barranco. You can visit the Historic Center of Lima where you will indulge in unique cuisine that combines Peruvian and Chinese flavors or you can have a chef prepare specialties like locro de zapallo, causa as well as an arroz con leche for dessert. As you pass by several historic buildings your expert guide will explain the influences of the Inca and Spanish colonial days on the wonderful food that you will experience.


    Cooking Classes

    Cooking Classes in Lima

    One of the best things to do in Lima for people that like to learn about culture through food is to go on a Cooking Class Tour. There are a wide variety of these excursions that are family-friendly and will have you enjoying some mouthwatering cuisine. During your tour you can choose between visiting a local family where you will indulge in local specialties like ceviche and causa limena. Other excursions offer classes taught by professional chefs who will take you to the market and explain the various exotic fruits of the region before teaching you how to blend the ingredients to make delicacies such as sudado de pescado and of course you will learn how to make the national libation which is a pisco sour.


    Bar Crawl

    Bar Crawl in Lima

    When you are ready to let your hair down and have a fun night on the town as you learn about the history of Lima then the only thing to do in Lima is to take a Bar Crawl Tour. You will be thrilled with walking the streets in the evening while your expert tour guide explains the interesting history of the city as you stop by several drinking establishments where you can indulge in a pisco sour, the national libation of Peru. Also on these excursions you will be able to taste incredible local cuisine anticuchos and picarones. The city comes to life at night as you pass through the Plaza de Armas and continue on your way to Plaza San Martin.


    Chocolate Workshops

    Chocolate Workshops in Lima

    If you are a foodie that likes to learn about the process of making delicious sweet items that will please your palate then a superb thing to do in Lima is to plan on trying a Chocolate Workshop Tour. Families will like these excursions as you learn about how to make various types of delicious chocolate from a professional chocolatier. During your workshops you will have a chance to turn cocoa beans into several varieties of dark, milk and white chocolate. You will learn about the life cycle of the cocoa bean from planting to growing to harvesting to making numerous different flavors of chocolates and desserts like truffles. Workshops are available in several neighborhoods such as Miraflores as well as Barranco and these tours are offered at several convenient times throughout the day.


    Biking Tours

    Biking Tours in Lima

    If you like to mix a day of sightseeing with exercising whether you are in the city or in the countryside then a great thing to do in Lima is to try a Biking Tour. These excursions are perfect for all skill level of riders from novices to experts and you will be peddling the perfect bicycle that matches your adventure. You will be thrilled with the different places these excursions will take you that include the various urban districts of Lima such as Miraflores, Barranco and Chorrillos. There are opportunities to peddle around the Plaza de Armas, along the Malecon of the Bay of Lima and the Lima Culture ruins of Huaca Pucllana. Other exciting rides include a trip to Pachacamac Mountain where you will be delighted with the mountainous countryside and the Canete River Valley where you can stop at the quaint town of Lunahuana.


    Water Sports

    Water Sports in Lima

    When you want to combine a fun time that can be relaxing or full of exercise with a different vantage point of the built environment or the natural environment then the best thing to do in Lima is to take a Water Sport Tour. There is a wide variety for you to choose from and some are family-friendly such as white water rafting on the Canete River near Lunahuana. You can enjoy the Pacific Ocean and gather a different view of the Lima skyline while sea kayaking or when you are paddling on a standup paddleboard. Surfing is another great option that can take your adrenaline to new highs when you carve your first wave.


    Historic Centre of Lima

    Explore the Historic Centre of Lima-Introduction

    When you are ready to experience the rich history of Lima then an ideal thing to do in Lima is to visit the Historic Centre of Lima. This UNESCO-listed site encompasses the area that surrounds the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin which are delineated by the pedestrian friendly Jiron de la Union. Within the Historic Centre of Lima you will find fascinating places like the Presidential Palace, Barrio Chino, the Catedral de Lima and the churches of San Pedro as well as Santo Domingo. Other important stops include the Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas, the Municipal Palace as well as the Church and Convent of San Francisco. The Historic Centre of Lima is packed with plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by as you gaze upon the historic beauty of the inner city of Lima.


    Miraflores

    Miraflores-Introduction in Lima

    Whether you want to go shopping, relax in a park, learn about the early Lima Culture, process cocoa beans into chocolate or search for that perfect souvenir the best thing to do in Lima is to plan a trip to the Miraflores District. Located along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean the Miraflores District offers a variety of attractions for everyone. Once within the district you can feel the affection at Love Park or pet a cat at Kennedy Park while watching numerous street performers. The Miraflores District is perfect for shopping at the futuristic Larcomar Shopping Center or for that one-of-a-kind souvenir at the Indian Market. When you want to learn more about the early Lima Culture of the area then visit the ruins at Huaca Pucllana and don't forget about making your favorite type of chocolate delight at the ChocoMuseo Miraflores.


    Barranco

    Barranco-Introduction in Lima

    Visiting the Bohemian inspired Barranco District is an excellent thing to do in Lima for travelers looking for an upscale environment that contains museums, chocolate shops, market place and other manmade features. Once you are within the Barranco District you can enjoy a day at the Dedalo Market searching for an one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry or blown glass and you can stop by the ChocoMuseo Barranco where you can learn how to make delicious chocolate treats from cocoa beans. The Mario Testino Museum holds an eclectic collection of portraits painted by this famous Peruvian artist as well as colorful sculptures, carvings and photographs that depict the traditional cultures of Peru. The Museo Pedro de Osma combines beautiful historic architecture with one of the largest collections of artworks created by Peruvian artists and the Puente de los Suspiros offers an area filled with entertainment during the day and night.


    Other Lima Neighborhoods

    There are a few neighborhoods that are often overlooked by travelers when they arrive in Lima and many people are finding that visiting these three enclaves is a great thing to do in Lima. The three districts of Chorrillo, San Isidro and the Callao offer something special that range from the newly rejuvinated Financial District within the San Isidro District where you will also find the pre-Columbian ruins known as Huallamarca. The Chorrillo District is home to some of Lima's best beaches and the 650-acre Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge. The main cruise port within the Callao District was the most important port in Peru from the days of colonial rule and offers several museums a nice beach area and a colorful town full of colonial buildings.


    Archeological Sites

    One of the more popular things to do in Lima is to plan on trying some type of Archaeological Tour. There are numerous fascinating sites in and around Lima that include places such as Caral or the Mother City, the geoglyphs called the Nazca Lines as well as the ruins at Pachacamac where you will find the Itshma Temple and the House of the Chosen Women complex. If you are in Lima you can visit the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History to view more than 100,000 artifacts that spans over 3,000 years and you can stroll through the ruins of Huaca Pucllana in the Miraplores District as well as Huaca Huallamarca which are situated within the San Isidro District.


    More Lima Attractions

    There are several attractions that are the perfect thing to do in Lima when you are interested in learning more about the Peruvian culture over thousands of years as well as superb open space that includes something for everyone in the family. Your options range from visiting the Parque de la Reserva where you will find the Magic Water Circuit of fountains that dance to a choreographed show of lights and music to viewing incredible artifacts made of gold, silver and gilt copper at the Miguel Mujica Gallo. Other interesting places to stroll through are the Larco Museum that contains 45,000 pieces of artifact dating back over 3,000 years and the Lima Art Museum highlights the intricate artwork of Peru over the same time period.


    Day Trips from Lima

    There are several interesting Day Trips from Lima that make for a great thing to do in Lima for nature and lovers of the outdoors. There are exciting excursions to Huanano Falls where while hiking you will view ruins from the past before reaching a 100-foot waterfall that you can rappel down the face. Other options include sailing to the Ballestas Islands which are commonly referred to as the Peruvian Galapagos where you will find Humboldt penguins and hundreds of bird species or you can take a swim at the Palomino Islands where you can share your swimming experience with numerous sea lions.

    Map of Lima Attractions