Things to Do
You could take a dozen trips to Peru and never run out of things to do. The country itself is wildly diverse: the Amazon, the Andes, canyons, beaches, and some of the most famous ruins on earth. We hope this wedding is only your first visit.
For this trip, Lima itself has more than enough to fill your days. Here are our favorites, and we will keep adding to this page as the date gets closer.
Neighborhoods
Miraflores
Where you will be staying. Start with a walk along the malecón, the park-lined promenade on the cliffs above the Pacific, then wander inland toward Parque Kennedy and the streets around it, full of cafes, shops, and very good people watching.
Barranco
Lima’s bohemian district, a short ride south of Miraflores. Galleries, murals, bars, and the Bridge of Sighs. It is our favorite neighborhood to wander without a plan, and several of our restaurant picks live here.
The Historic Center
Grand colonial Lima, built when the city governed most of Spanish South America. The Plaza de Armas is surrounded by the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and the Archbishop’s Palace with its carved wooden balconies. From there, the pedestrian Jirón de la Unión leads to Plaza San Martín. Do not miss the Monastery of San Francisco and its catacombs.
Surquillo
Just east of Miraflores and refreshingly untouristy. Mercado No. 1, one of Lima’s great public markets, is the place to see how the city actually shops and eats.
Museums
Museo Larco
If you visit one museum in Lima, make it this one: a world class collection of pre-Columbian gold, silver, and ceramics in a flower-filled colonial mansion in Pueblo Libre. The garden cafe is a destination in itself.
MALI
The Museum of Art of Lima covers three thousand years of Peruvian art, from pre-Columbian to modern, in a beautiful building at Parque de la Exposición.
Museo Pedro de Osma
Colonial art in a gorgeous historic mansion in Barranco. Small, elegant, and easy to combine with an afternoon in the neighborhood.
MAC Lima
Barranco’s modern and contemporary art museum. Compact and well curated.
Craft Markets
The markets of Av. Petit Thouars
A few blocks from the Óvalo de Miraflores, several large craft markets sit side by side, led by the Inka Plaza and the Mercado Indio. Alpaca sweaters and scarves, textiles, ceramics, silver, carvings, and artwork from all over Peru at fair prices. Gentle haggling is expected, so compare a few stalls before you buy, and do not talk yourself out of something you will regret over a small difference. You will not leave empty handed.
Ruins
Huaca Pucllana
A 1,500 year old adobe pyramid rising, improbably, from the middle of Miraflores. Evening tours are atmospheric, and the restaurant at its base is excellent.
Pachacámac
A sprawling ceremonial complex about an hour south of the city, active for over two thousand years across several civilizations. A great half day for the archaeologically inclined.
Trips Beyond Lima
Thoughts on timing
Peru’s marquee destinations are real trips: Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, the Amazon. We would love for you to see them someday. That said, late February is the rainy season in the Andes, the classic Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance, and with a strong El Niño expected, mountain itineraries may be unreliable. We are happy to share thoughts either way; otherwise, save the Andes for a return visit in the dry season, roughly May through September.
Where February works well
If you want to extend this trip, the southern coast (Paracas, Ica, and the Huacachina dunes) usually stays dry and makes a wonderful two or three day add-on. The beaches of the far north around Máncora are in their summer prime, warm water and long days, though with a strong El Niño expected the north catches the heaviest rains, so keep an eye on the forecast before committing. The Amazon is a year-round destination: February is high water season, which means more of the forest can be explored by boat, just with more rain and more mosquitoes (see the vaccines note on the Travel page before you book).