Our Destinations
THE CITY OF LIMA
Lima Information. Lima was founded in 1535 and in a short period
of time became the most important city in the Americas. Today,
there are more than eight million inhabitants, and the city
shelters immigrants from all corners of the globe, which has
transformed it into a mixed city par excellence. In the historic
centre, placed by UNESCO on the World Cultural Heritage List,
you can visit splendid samples of Colonial architecture like the
Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Convent of San
Francisco as well as fantastically wood carven balconies. Lima
is also an inexhaustible source of culture, demonstrated by the
existence of numerous and varied museums like the National
Museum of Archeology, Anthropology, and History and the Rafael
Larco Herrera Archeological Museum, which guards priceless Incan
and pre-Incan treasures. Situated in the heart of the city are
great archeological monuments such as the Huallamarca Huaca or
the Pucllana Huaca. And, on the outskirts of Lima facing the
ocean is Pachacamac, the most important pre-Incan sanctuary on
the coast, built in the third century A.D. Some of the other
great attractions are the beaches where you can do all types of
aquatic sports, enjoy the sun, or simply gaze at the mesmerizing
beauty of the Pacific Ocean.
During this trip, you must also remember to sample one of the
best cuisines in the world. The city offers a wide variety of
restaurants and inviting locales where you will be able to taste
delicious dishes, the result of the mixing of European, African,
Asian, and Andean cuisines.
Lima is a destination that offers something for everyone. 105
kilometers north of the city, you find the Lomas of Lachay
National Reserve where the desert mountains turn green between
July and November due to the winds that carry the fog from the
ocean to create an abundance of humidity. This natural enclave
is home to foxes, deer, and uncountable numbers of birds as well
as a large amount of wild flowers.
Farther north, in the middle of the desert, lies the sacred city
of Caral that, according to recent research, would be the oldest
civilization center in the Americas at 5,000 years of age. It is
said that the Churín hot springs, 207 kilometers northeast of
Lima, can cure people with its mineral waters. Located a little
higher than 2,000 meters, this lovely inter-Andean valley also
contains diverse archeological remains and an excellent climate.
Towards the center, you find the Marcahuasi mesa, a location
much visited by mystics, nature lovers, and people connected to
the esoteric. The gigantic granite rock formations, naturally
created, that are similar to many types of figures give this
place an overwhelming aspect.
And to the south, there is the province of Cañete where it is
possible to experience rural, archeological, and adventure
tourism, mainly in the city of Lunahuaná.
