Four Places to Visit in Lima Peru!

The Government Palace of Peru or the Palacio de Gobierno in Plaza Mayor houses the executive branch of the Peruvian Government and is also the official residence of the President of Peru.

Lima is the capital city of Peru and is filled with an endless amount of treasures to experience from the museums and archaeological sites located throughout the city, to the beautiful Pacific beaches with the adventure sports that take place along the boardwalks and cliffs of the Miraflores district. Lima is the place to visit to taste the famous Peruvian cuisine which can be found in some of the best rated restaurants in South America and Lima also offers multiple nightclubs for people eager to experience the pulsating nightlife!

Walking down a palm filled street in the San Isidro district of Lima, Peru.

All this can be found in Lima and makes for an authentic South American experience within a large bustling city! Lima is a huge metropolitan area located on the arid central Pacific Coast of Peru and is actually the second driest world capital after Cairo, Egypt. You can view pre-Columbian adobe pyramids and archaeological sites nestled next to high rise skyscrapers with tons of loud traffic pulsating through the streets below, while you can leisurely stroll through the streets viewing the colonial style architecture of the buildings along with the many Catholic Cathedrals dotted around the city.

The Huaca Huallamarca Adobe Pyramid is surrounded by modern constructions in Lima’s financial district San Isidro.

Lima has a population of almost 10 million people so it is the most populated city of Peru and is actually the third largest city in the Americas, following only behind Mexico City and Sao Paulo! Lima’s original name was actually Ciudad de los Reyes and was founded by Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador on January 18, 1535. After the Peruvian War of Independence that took place high in the Andes Mountains surrounding the city of Ayacucho, Lima became the capital of the Republic of Peru!

I love the blue eyes and red feet of this pigeon!

After experiencing the Ballestas Islands, better known as the Poor Man’s Galapagos and the Paracas National Reserve off the south central coast of Peru, it was nice to visit a sprawling urban city filled with people and chaotic traffic filled streets! It was definitely a different environment compared to the seaside village of Pisco and Paracas, the desert city of Ica and the peaceful oasis of Huacachina. Lima has so many wonderful things to experience, but if you are short on time, these are four places or activities that I recommend visiting while in Lima!

Read more about Lima on the Treasures of Traveling Website!

-- Luke Keeler