Lima City Tour: Colonial Center, Catacombs & Miraflores Visit

3.20

(5 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Our morning started with a quick pick-up—no fuss, just a friendly wave from our guide outside the hotel. The city was already humming, street vendors selling tamales near the curb. First stop: Huaca Pucllana. I’d seen photos before, but standing in front of those ancient adobe walls—built over 1,500 years ago—you really feel how old Lima is. The air smelled faintly of dust and flowers from nearby gardens. Our guide shared stories about the Lima culture that built this place long before the Spanish arrived.

We cruised through downtown next, windows down to catch bits of music and chatter from the sidewalks. The Government Palace looked imposing as ever, with guards in crisp uniforms out front. We wandered around Plaza San Martin and then into Plaza Mayor—the heart of colonial Lima. There’s something about those wooden balconies and faded yellow mansions that makes you slow down for a second. Our guide pointed out tiny details I’d never have noticed alone—like the carved faces above doorways or the way sunlight hits the cathedral towers just before noon.

The Convent of San Francisco was a highlight for me. Inside, it’s cool and quiet, with rows of old books lining the library shelves (some so old they look like they’d crumble if you touched them). The catacombs below are another world entirely—dimly lit tunnels lined with bones, echoing footsteps all around. It’s eerie but fascinating; you can almost picture monks moving through here centuries ago.

We wrapped up by driving through El Olivar de San Isidro (those olive trees are older than most buildings in my hometown), then along Miraflores’ cliffs where paragliders drifted overhead. Larcomar shopping center was buzzing with locals grabbing coffee or just watching waves crash below. Four hours flew by—I barely noticed until we were back at my hotel.