Lima is the capital of Peru in South America and is often referred to as the ‘city of the kings’.

It may not be top of your list to visit but there are some amazing sights and things to do.  Lima is quite a cultured city with cathedrals and historical palaces to explore.

In nearby Cusco, you can visit the famous market Pisac to sample the local dishes and barter for local souvenirs.  Urubamba is also close enough for a visit - it’s known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas and you can explore the Incan ruins to your heart’s content and learn about their ancient history.

In Peru, you can take a river trip down the Amazon river, admiring the tropical rainforest, and even fish for piranhas.  There are also opportunities to swim with dolphins, an ambition shared by many.

Heir to a rich colonial tradition and ancient cultures, Perú is a magical venue that harbours one of the richest biodiversities found on our planet. It’s a melting pot of diverse cultures that together forge the promise of a better future.

Lima: Perú’s capital city

Lima is Perú’s capital as well as its biggest city. It has a very interesting blend of Asian, African, European descendants. The ethnic groups like Quechua, the Aymara and the Mestizos, Perúvians of mixed Spanish and Amerindian descent make up the larger part of the population.

Heritage

The beautiful Spanish architecture is evident everywhere you go; The Plaza Mayor, the Roman Catholic Basilica Cathedral of Lima built in the sixteenth century, the Presidential palace and the Convento de San Francisco catacombs, and so on. Lima’s three museums are the National Museum of Anthropology, Archeology, and History, Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the Nation.

Beaches

The most frequented beaches are located a little away from Lima. The most well-known ones are in the districts of Santa María del Mar, Punta Hermosa, Punta Negra, San Bartolo and Pucusana.

Cuisine

Although Lima offers varied cuisine, the most popular cuisine is Criollo and the Perúvian-Chinese fusion, chifa. Criollo is traditional food. It is mostly based fish and shellfish. Chifa is Mandarin for “chi fan”, meaning ‘to eat rice’.

Their national drink is pisco, a clear brandy that has been popular for centuries. Made from white Muscat grapes that were brought in by the Spaniards way back in the 16th century, it probably got its name from the port town of Pisco.