Lima 5-Day Itinerary

Activities

1. 10:00 **LIM airport arrival + Uber to Miraflores** 1.5h

   Jorge Chávez Airport (LIM) arrival. **Uber/Beat ONLY ($12-18, 30-50 min) — NEVER street taxi (kidnapping risk)**. Check-in Miraflores hotel.

   Cost: Uber $12-18 TIP: Uber/Beat/InDriver apps only. Authorized taxi $25-35 (Taxi Verde at airport). New terminal opened 2025.
2. 13:00 **Lunch at La Mar Cebichería (canonical ceviche, queue 60 min)** 2.5h

   Gastón Acurio's iconic ceviche restaurant. Lunch only — closes 17:00. Ceviche Mixto + Tiradito + Sudado + Pisco Sour. Queue 30-60 min standard.

   Cost: $20-50 TIP: Arrive 12:30 for opening. No reservations. Cash + card.
3. 16:00 **Malecón Pacific cliffs walk + Parque del Amor + Larcomar** 2.5h

   Malecón 8km cliff walk along Pacific Ocean. Parque del Amor (lovers' park + sculpture). Larcomar cliffside shopping mall + sunset views.

   Cost: Free + shopping discretionary TIP: Sunset 1h before pretty. Iconic Pacific views + paragliders overhead.
4. 19:00 **Larco Museum (open till 22:00)** 2.5h

   World's most comprehensive pre-Columbian art collection + Inca + Moche + Chimú gold + ceramics + erotic art annex. Café Larco in gardens for sunset dinner.

   Cost: S/35 ($9) TIP: Only major museum open late (till 22:00). Café Larco dinner in gardens.
5. 22:00 **Pisco Sour evening at Carnaval bar (World's 50 Best Bars)** 1.5h

   Carnaval (San Isidro, World's 50 Best Bars #18 in 2023) — Pisco-based cocktails + Peruvian ingredients showcase. 21+ only.

   Cost: $15-40 TIP: Reservation weekends. Smart casual. Pisco flight $15-25.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 **Uber to Centro Histórico Plaza Mayor** 2h

   Uber from Miraflores ($5-8, 25 min). Plaza Mayor (founded 1535 by Pizarro) + Cathedral (Pizarro's tomb) + Government Palace.

   Cost: Uber $5-8 + Cathedral S/15 ($4) TIP: Watch valuables. Pizarro's tomb in cathedral. Day only — leave before dark.
2. 11:00 **San Francisco Catacombs + Casa Aliaga** 2h

   San Francisco Monastery + catacombs (25,000 skulls underground, 1546-1808) + Casa Aliaga (1535 oldest continuously inhabited house in Western Hemisphere).

   Cost: S/20 + S/30 ($14) TIP: Catacombs spooky but iconic. Casa Aliaga reservation 1 day ahead.
3. 13:30 **Lunch at Hotel Bolívar (Pisco Sour 1924 birthplace)** 1.5h

   1924 Hotel Bolívar (Plaza San Martín) claims Pisco Sour invention. Lunch + Pisco Sour S/30 ($8) historic setting (Hemingway, Ava Gardner stayed).

   Cost: $20-40 + Pisco Sour TIP: Day only — Centro Histórico unsafe at night. Iconic Pisco Sour.
4. 15:30 **Huaca Pucllana pre-Inca pyramid in middle of Miraflores** 2h

   Uber back to Miraflores ($5-8). Huaca Pucllana — 1,500-year-old pre-Inca adobe pyramid in middle of upscale Miraflores. Guided tour 45 min.

   Cost: S/15 ($4) TIP: Surreal — ancient pyramid surrounded by modern condos. Night-time visit (till 22) with restaurant Huaca Pucllana.
5. 18:00 **Magic Water Circuit (Parque de la Reserva sunset)** 1.5h

   13 fountains synchronized to music + sunset to 22:00. Largest fountain complex in the world. S/4 ($1) entry. Walking distance from Plaza Bolognesi.

   Cost: S/4 TIP: Best after sunset 19-21. Family + photo-friendly.
6. 20:00 **Anticuchería Grimanesa Vargas (Netflix Chef's Table)** 2h

   Doña Grimanesa Vargas' anticuchería (beef heart skewers, S/12-18 each) + picarones donuts. Netflix Chef's Table featured.

   Cost: $5-15 TIP: Cash only. Queue 20-40 min. 18-23 hours only (Mon closed).

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 **Uber to Barranco + Puente de los Suspiros walk** 2.5h

   10-min Uber from Miraflores ($3-5). Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs, 1876) + colorful street art + MATE (Mario Testino museum, $9) + boutique shops.

   Cost: Uber $3 + MATE $9 TIP: Most photogenic + Instagrammable Lima neighborhood. Bohemian artistic vibe.
2. 13:00 **Lunch at Isolina Taberna Peruana (Barranco creole)** 2h

   Modern Peruvian creole canonical. Lomo Saltado tradicional + Ají de Gallina + family-style portions (1 for 2-4 people). World's 50 Best Discovery.

   Cost: $30-60 TIP: Reservation 1 week ahead. Family-style order. Smart casual.
3. 16:00 **Pacific Cliff paragliding (Costa Verde) optional** 1.5h

   Pacific Cliff paragliding from Miraflores ($80, 10 min flight). Optional but iconic Lima experience. Free Cliff sunset walking if not flying.

   Cost: $80 paragliding or free walking TIP: Pre-book online. Reservation Lima Paragliding Club. Sunset best timing.
4. 18:30 **Sunset dinner at Cala Restaurant (Costa Verde beach)** 2.5h

   Pacific Ocean cliffside dining on Costa Verde beach. Sunset views + ceviche + paella + beach club bar evenings.

   Cost: $30-70 TIP: Reservation for sunset table 1 week ahead. Most photogenic Lima sunset dinner.
5. 21:30 **OPTIONAL Splurge: Central restaurant ($300-500, book 3 months ahead)** 4h

   World's #1 restaurant 2023 (Central by Virgilio Martínez). 16-course altitude-themed tasting. **Book 3 months ahead** — fills within hours.

   Cost: $300-500 per person TIP: Reservation centralrestaurante.com.pe day-90 midnight. Smart attire mandatory. Replace Cala dinner with Central.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 05:30 **Bus to Paracas (4h drive south)** 4h drive

   Cruz del Sur premium bus or Peru Hop tourist bus to Paracas (4h drive south, $30-150). Cruz del Sur runs reclining seats + WiFi + meal service. Peru Hop is tourist-focused — hop-on hop-off with English guide + stops at desert viewpoints. Or all-inclusive Lima day-tour ($80-150).

   Cost: $30-150 TIP: Cruz del Sur premium bus $40-60 (best for solo independents). Peru Hop tourist bus $80-150 with stops + guide (best for first-timers). Avoid 'colectivo' shared van — uncomfortable.
2. 10:00 **Islas Ballestas boat tour ('Galápagos of Peru')** 2.5h

   2-hour boat tour to Islas Ballestas — sea lions colonies (200+ visible), Humboldt penguins, dolphins, 1,000+ seabird species, Candelabro Paracas geoglyph (180m hillside drawing visible only from sea, age + meaning unknown). $30-50 standard fare.

   Cost: $30-50 boat tour TIP: Boats every 1h from Paracas marina. Wear waterproof shell (sea spray + bird guano falls) + sun hat + binoculars. Morning departures preferred — calmer sea.
3. 13:30 **Lunch + Paracas National Reserve red beach** 3h

   Lunch at Paracas marina restaurants ($15-30, fresh seafood + ceviche straight off the boat). Paracas National Reserve red sand beach (Playa Roja) tour with guide ($30-50) — desert meeting Pacific Ocean, dramatic photography.

   Cost: $45-80 lunch + tour TIP: Red sand beach iconic photo at golden hour. Combine with national reserve tour including Cathedral Rock + Lagunillas fishing village.
4. 17:00 **Huacachina desert oasis sunset + sandboarding (optional)** 3h

   Huacachina (Ica, 1h further south) is genuine desert oasis surrounded by Sahara-like dunes. Sandboarding ($30-50, beginner-friendly) + dune buggy ride + sunset photography ($40-70 combo). Iconic Lawrence of Arabia-style desert experience.

   Cost: $40-70 dune buggy + sandboard TIP: Optional add-on if returning Lima same day (exhausting). Better: overnight Ica/Huacachina at Hotel El Huacachinero ($60-150) or Mossone ($150-300) for sunrise + sunset.
5. 20:00 **Return to Lima** 4h

   4h drive return to Lima via Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop. Late return 23:30-00:30 — full-day exhausting itinerary.

   Cost: Included in bus or tour TIP: Exhausting day. Strongly consider overnight in Paracas (Hotel Paracas Luxury Collection $200-450) or Ica if Day 5 plans Nazca Lines flight.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 **Pachacamac pre-Inca archaeological site (40 km south)** 3h

   Pachacamac pyramids + temples (200-500 AD, predates Inca by 1,000 years). Sun Temple + Acllawasi (Chosen Women's quarters) + Pachacamac Museum (Wari + Ichma + Inca artifacts). 1h drive from Lima — significantly less altitude challenge than Cusco-era ruins.

   Cost: $50-80 day tour or DIY $20 entry + Uber $40 RT TIP: Tour easier with guide. Wear sun hat + comfortable closed-toe shoes (loose sand). Combine with Mamacona for full afternoon.
2. 13:00 **Mercado de Surquillo No. 1 lunch + market tour** 2.5h

   Lima's most popular tourist-friendly local market. 2nd floor ceviche stalls ($3-12 vs $20-50 at La Mar) + 100+ Peruvian potato varieties + Andean fruits (lúcuma, chirimoya, tumbo). Cooking class tour optional via Skyepicurean ($80-120) or Marcelo Batata ($60-100).

   Cost: $10-120 (cooking class optional) TIP: Watch valuables. 2nd floor ceviche cheap + fresh. Cash only. Best mornings 9-13.
3. 16:00 **Pacific Cliff paragliding (Costa Verde Miraflores)** 1.5h

   Pacific Cliff paragliding from Miraflores ($80, 10-min tandem flight with instructor). Iconic Lima Pacific cliff experience — free fall over Pacific Ocean. Family + couple-friendly, no experience needed.

   Cost: $80 paragliding TIP: Pre-book online via Lima Paragliding Club. Sunset best timing (wind-dependent — confirms morning of). Free Cliff sunset walking if not flying.
4. 18:30 **Farewell dinner + departure** 2.5h

   Farewell dinner at Astrid y Gastón Casa Moreyra ($80-150, Gastón Acurio flagship, 18th-century mansion) or budget at Punto Azul ($10-25 ceviche). Airport via Uber.

   Cost: $10-150 dinner + Uber $15 TIP: Allow 3h before international flight (LIM new terminal 2025). Astrid y Gastón reservation 1 week. International departures concentrate late evening.

Meal Recommendations