As part of my South America trip this coming November, going to have 2 full days in Lima.

Obviously, thats not enough time to do Machu Pichu or visit Cuzco.

Based on my own research, there's a decent number of things to do in and around Lima, such as Catedral De Lima, Pachacamac, Pucllana Pyramid, Museo de Oro & some of Plaza's. We're staying @ the Crowne Plaza which is in Miraflores, and we'll probably visit the Barranco District...

Anything else I should consider adding or changing around for our quick itinerary?

I've been to Lima a few times and actually like it a lot, it's not the most beautiful city in the world but in it's own way it has a lot of charm and there's plenty to occupy two days.

Pachacamac was a disappointment, I'm a big fan of ruins but compared to other sites I've been to this one was pretty boring. You can't get anywhere close to most of the structures so it's an hour or so of walking along a road in the desert and looking at some distant rocks... I'd move it pretty far down the list. (I did it independently, perhaps with a guide it would be more interesting).

Huaca Pucllana is a definite must see though, far more interesting, much easier to access. Pretty tasty restaurant at the site for a nice dinner.

Lima Centro has some impressive colonial buildings and I've spent several hours walking around. Convento de San Francisco is, imo, more interesting than the Catedral, although Pizarro's tomb in the Catedral is worth seeing as well. The areas around Lima Centro aren't the nicest so I'd suggest making that part of the trip during the day.

Museo de Oro is also a great pick, not just for the gold but for the arms museum in the same building as well. Several rooms packed full with weapons from all over the world.

Several smallish art museums worth going to as well, Museo de Art de Lima and the Museo de Arte Italiano are both on the southern end of Lima Centro. Pedro de Osma Museum in Barranco is worth an hour as well.

The food is amazing as well, the restaurant at Pucllana and Astrid y Gaston are amongst my favorites. Along with a fast-food-ish type place that sells anticuchos, I think it's called Pepe's or something close. The heart anticuchos are great for a cheap quick meal.

Enjoy! I haven't made it to the more popular destinations in South America yet in Argentina or Brazil so I can't compare but I've been to Peru several times in the last few years and have enjoyed everywhere I've been.

Superb, thanks for the input.

Researching a bit further confirmed what you said about Pachacamac, so I think I'll pass on that due to limited time. I think between the other things planned, still plenty to keep busy for 2 days.

You can't do Lima without trying a good seafood lunch. I have posted guidance on this in previous threads in this forum, which you can search easily enough. Briefly though, try any of the following restaurants: La Mar, Pescados Capitales, Los Cavenecia, Punta Sal, Segundo Muelle, Kapallaq. And there are many others.

Enjoy your stay.

http://www.peruinside.com/galeriah/ciragua/

This is a great evening out

Those are some amazing pics of the Water Circuit. Thats on my plan for one night, even if its a tourist trap, I dont care, its still cool and worth going to IMO.

There are also a lot of casinos in Miraflores that are nice, are smoke-free now, and have low table limits so you can get out without much damage if you're having a bad night. Eating your way around town is great fun too of course. Good city for food.

Visiting the catacombs in La Iglesia de San Francisco is fun unless your clausterphobic.

I wouldn't call it a tourist trap, more of a folly. When I went there were just a handful of Peruvians there and me.

If it is a tourist trap, at S/.4 entrance fee it is the cheapest tourist trap ever.

I'm sure you've read already about the Miraflores and Barranco districts. The former should remind you a lot of the USA in terms of the structured organization, cleanliness, and overall gentrified organization, and it's a comfortable if bit more expensive (on a Peruvian level) place to find some great food. The latter is the more colorful and bohemian district about 10 minutes public combi ride south from Miraflores. Both have pretty access to the Pacific clifftop boardwalk too, and are around 30-40 minutes direct from the historic center depending on traffic.

If you want to see something a little less traveled, try out Chorrillos. This district is another 5-10 minutes south of Barranco but feels like another world. It's quite nondescript in terms of a port area, but it's a fresh and calm breath of air for some of who have been in Lima for a while. You can walk up the little Morro Solar mountain (10 minutes from base to top, with stairs) in Chorrillos where you'll find the big cross that's lit up every night, a bunch of various other religious relics, and the newly inaugurated Cristo del Pacifico that will ring memories of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Take pictures of the incredible panoramic view of Lima, stroll along the boardwalk, chat with some lingering locals among the charming colorful streets, and grab a plate of super fresh ceviche along the port (20-25 soles per entree as of last weekend). About 3 hours is a good amount of time to allot.

Have fun!

Connie
Peru For Less

You cannot miss walking along the parks that line the cliff over the Pacific in Miraflores. Starting at Larcomar, walk north for a few miles through beautiful parks including Parque del Amor and El Faro. My favorite place to stroll in the world.

It always depends on your interests. IMHO I find Lima downtown a must, specially if you like culture, architecture and history. It's a Unesco World Heritage, and has lot of interesting sites, some already mentioned (Cathedral, San Francisco Catacombs, Museum of Inquisition (a museum not so popular but very very interesting, it shows the dark times of the colony and catholic religion).

A restaurant is a must. Yes, peruvian seafood is very rich. I hope you like our cebiche (ceviche, seviche, nobody knows). Cebiche is a latin american food, it's not exclusively peruvian, but we peruvians claim our is the best of course.

Miraflores (my neighborhood and Barranco are another musts. I recommend Barranco by night, specially the walk around Puente de los suspiros (Sighs Bridge).

If you want a folk night show, Brisas del Titicaca is an option. Food is not that great but the show is very good.

I read rajuabju enjoys the Water Circuit, though it's a tourist trap. That confirms my idea that tourist traps is something relative. Larcomar or Brisas may be considered also tourist traps. But it's a place to relax and if you enjoyed, that's good.

Lima suffers of heavy traffic, that gives a bad perception sometimes. But it has its jewels, like Bangkok or any crowded city. You will enjoy it.

Your hotel is well located, too

Though 2 days is a short time to include a full day outside of Lima, I'd mention Paracas National Reserve anyway, so you can evaluate or keep in mind. November is mid spring and there's a chance to get sunny days in the peruvian coast (winter is usually cloudy)

Paracas is a Quechua name, means �raining sand�, though usually the strong winds in that zone are also called paracas (those winds got a lot of sand from the desert). It is located 250km south of Lima. It's a peninsula and a bay, where it is the departure point to reach the Paracas National Reserve. It provides a sanctuary to 74 species of plants that grow in this extremely arid area, and to 216 species of birds, 16 types of mammals, 10 species of reptiles and 193 species of fish. Only protected natural marine area, it covers 3350 square kilometres, 65% of it sea and 35% land and islands.

The Paracas National Reserve provides an opportunity to easily watch resident and migratory birds, including flamencos, red-legged cormorants, Inca terns, Humboldt penguins, Guanay cormorant, etc. And Ballestas islands is the home of friendly sea lions. You may take rides on fast boats to get there.

The archaeology also is present at this zone. In 1925 archaeology team reported the find of hundreds of mummy bundles in the Paracas peninsula area, belonging th the Paracas ancient culture (7000BC) and a significant number of skulls that had trepanation marks. There's a little museum with part of this.
http://www.peru.travel/s_ftociudades...&ic=2&ids=1394




This place is called the Cathedral. The "bridge" you see in this picture does not exist anymore. It fell in the last 2007 earthquake. It still a beautiful beach.

I didn't know it had fallen down. I was there back in 2002 and I remember being amazed by the majestic view. I guess Mother Nature always wins.