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.