My Wishlist
1.800.557.2841or Contact Your Travel Advisor
Panoramic aerial view of Lima, Peru Plaza de Armas

Lima Vacations and Tour Packages

Plaza de Armas

Overview

Take a trip to Lima on your Peru Vacation

The capital and largest city in Peru, Lima is located in the central part of the country. A melting pot of cultures, Lima offers a mixture of European, Andean, African and Asian influences to be enjoyed on a Peru vacation.

The city of Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Catholic feast day of Epiphany in 1535, earning it the nickname the “City of Kings”. The city became the capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru and grew into the continent’s richest town. Lima was devastated by an earthquake in 1746 but was rebuilt quickly and became the capital of Peru upon independence in 1821. The beginning of the 20th century witnessed a population boom as the city began to industrialize and people started to move from the countryside into Lima.

Today, Lima is the major point of entry for visitors on Peru tours and has a well-developed tourist infrastructure. The Historic Centre of Lima, made up of the districts of Lima and Rímac, is a massive draw for tourists and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The district houses colonial architecture and many churches that date from as early as the 16th century. Lima has been named the “Gastronomical Capital of the Americas” and is home to the highest concentration of museums in the country making the city a hub of Peruvian cultural activity.

At a Glance

Languages

Peruvian Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Asháninka

Currency

Peruvian Sol (PEN)

What do the experts say?

RuthAnne Leonty

RuthAnne Leonty

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
For a unique experience visit an indigenous village high in the Andes for a Pachamama ceremony. I was fortunate to participate in one and the warmth of the people and how simple they lived, really touched my heart.
RuthAnne Leonty

RuthAnne Leonty

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
Dress for all weather types, climate can range from very warm and humid in Lima to cool and rainy in Machu Picchu and very hot and dry in the Sacred Valley
Osvaldo Gonzalez

Osvaldo Gonzalez

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
May to October is the best time to visit as it is the dry season with sunny days, clear skies, ideal for trekking and enjoy the landscape. However like in all Latin countries, the weather is unpredictable, so be ready if any rain show up during a sunny day
Osvaldo Gonzalez

Osvaldo Gonzalez

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Everyone should make sure they try a Pisco sour - It's Peru’s national cocktail—a smooth, citrusy, and slightly foamy drink made with pisco, a type of grape brandy. It’s both refreshing and strong, with a sweet-tart balance and a signature foamy top from egg white.
Osvaldo Gonzalez

Osvaldo Gonzalez

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
It is astonishing how much incredible diversity of experiences can be packed into one country, Peru is full of deep cultural roots, a wide range of landscape, adventure and its delicious cuisine.

Highlights

The Plaza Mayor, also known as the Plaza de Armas, located in the heart of the city, is a very historical centre. Some of the highlights to be seen on a Peru vacation surrounding and close to the plaza include the Palacio de Gobierno (the Governor’s Palace), the official residence and office of Peru's president. The changing of the palace guards takes place each day exactly at noon here. The Cathedral was the city’s first church in 1535 and was rebuilt numerous times.  The Archbishop's Palace was originally built during the 1600s.  

The San Francisco Church and Monastery were built in the baroque style of the late 1600s. It is one of the best-preserved in lima. The monastery next to it has an outstanding collection of ancient religious texts, There is also a library plus it has catacombs which once were part of Lima's original cemeteries built under churches. There are around 75,000 bodies buried under the church alone.

Miraflores is a suburb of Lima and an upscale district located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It is where many major hotels are located on Peru tours. The Malecon is a 10-kilometre/6-mile stretch of parks situated along the cliffs. You will find statues created by famous Peruvian artists. One of the most popular spots is “Parque Kennedy” known to locals as the cat park, nicely laid out and full of hundreds of cats. The Pucllana Temple or Huaca is an adobe ceremonial centre built around 500 A.D.  

Most Popular Time to Travel

Know when to go.

Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
LimaPartly Cloudy
25°C / 76°F
4mm / 0.2"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.
-
Popularity rating

Travel Stories

Get inspired about Your Trip to Peru

Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.

With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.
Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
Newsletter signup visual
ExcellentBased on 5,183 Reviews
Verified
We just returned from an incredible 2-week trip to Brazil, and it exceeded every expectation. This was our first time using Goway, and RuthAnne absolutely knocked it out of the park. What Made It Special: Exceptional Guides - Every guide RuthAnne selected was outstanding. Our Rio guide was probably the best we've ever had anywhere in the world. Our Iguazu Falls guide was equally fantastic—knowledgeable, personable, and made the experience unforgettable. Every guide was excellent throughout our journey. Amazon Experience - The Amazon River portion was breathtaking. Incredible venue, exceptional staff, and truly memorable excursions. Perfect Planning - Every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Timing, accommodations, activities—everything flowed seamlessly. RuthAnne clearly knows Brazil inside and out and matched us with the perfect experiences for our family. We felt taken care of every step of the way. Bottom Line: We'll absolutely be using Goway again for our next adventure. Traveled as a family of four - would recommend for couples, families, or anyone seeking a hassle-free, world-class experience.Ethan Davenport
Verified
We just returned from a 2 week tour of South Africa, Zimbabwe(Victoria Falls) and Botswana, and had a fabulous time! This was the third tour I've used Goway, and as usual, it was such a positive experience! The accommodations that were booked were awesome! The hotels were luxurious, clean and the staff, all so warm and welcoming! Our travel agent, Vanessa Lloyd, did a fabulous job arranging everything, and was always available to answer my many questions! We'll be using them again, next year when we take a family trip to the Greek Islands and Turkey! They are always consistent in the quality of the hotels and experiences, and I highly recommend them for your travel needs!Fran Nitta Barnes
Verified
We are still on our journey in Italy. At Capri now and heading to the Amalfi Coast. So far, we can’t thank Goway enough for putting our itinerary together so quickly. Everything is going well and hope the next 10 days are perfect too. Gladys Vivian
Verified
Can't say enough good things about Goway Travel. From the very start, our travel rep, Harpreet, listened carefully to what we were hoping to see and do on our first trip to Japan. She asked great questions and then came back to us with a detailed itinerary packed with adventure and fun, and all within our travel budget. From the moment we took off from LAX, Harpreet had made sure we had every tour voucher, hotel voucher, plane ticket, train ticket, literally every detail covered. All we had to do was follow our itinerary. Also, Harpreet booked us into terrific hotels. Each one was spotlessly clean, comfortable, included a full (and delicious) breakfast and, most importantly, was centrally located to all of the activities she had planned for us. So everything was a 5 or 10-minute walk away. In three weeks' time we were able to visit six cities and so many fascinating shrines, temples, castles, imperial palaces - most of which were World Heritage sites. Harpreet also tucked in fabulous "experiences" like learning how to make sushi with a professional chef, enjoying a tea ceremony and watching graceful Geishas dance. My husband and I are seasoned travelers. But we don't speak Japanese and we really knew very little about the country. There is no way we would have been able to see and do all of the fascinating things we did in Japan if we hadn't chosen Goway Travel to be our guide. Many thanks for an unforgettable trip! Bobbi Fagone
Verified
Great country (Italy), great people and love the feel you get by just being you. Ingrid Aird did a great job with a pair of tours one private and one group. Organizing pickup from airport and flights. Hotel, Enterprise Hotel, after a bit of a rough start getting us into a proper room, was more than excellent.Thomas Helps
Verified
We were looking forward to a magical vacation in Greece, and Goway Travel delivered on all fronts. This is the second time that we have booked with them (the first being an incredible excursion in Thailand), and everything went along swimmingly. Only on one occasion did a tour go sideways, but our Goway specialist (Patrick) took care of it for us. When your tour involves many flights, numerous hotels, various tours, ferries, and transfers, it is nice to know that your travel specialist can handle it all. Goway (from Patrick to all the other staff involved) handled everything in such a professional manner. Thanks Goway for such an incredible experience in Greece. I look forward to another adventure in the near future!Jenny Friess
Verified
We recently returned from France - three cities in two weeks - and our trip was fantastic! Jacqueline helped us with a return to France with no worries and concerns. Drivers met us at every destination- hotels were superb and the individual tours memorable. This is a return vacation with Goway and we could not be more pleased. The customer service is top notch and all questions answered promptly. For us seniors, we appreciate all the thoughtfulness and consideration.ElizaGray
Verified
My clients had an amazing trip and they told me that the trip was better than expected. I want to thank Brent Morris who was very helpful in the planning stages. Job well done Goway & Brent it was great working with with you!!! Sole Barraza Sole
Verified
While researching suppliers for a clients Thailand honeymoon, I remembered being referred to GoWay by a longterm TA ….because they “get it right and get it done!” I had already started their training modules, so I put in a quote. Immediately, Taylor responded with a very thorough email and we decided to chat. I gave him my specifics and he again responded immediately and matched my client’s travel needs 100%. I found it comforting to speak with a country expert with the knowledge I needed. My clients booked their vacation and are very excited about their itinerary! Thank you Taylor for making this process seamless.Karla B
Verified
The most amazing experience with Goway!! Phoebe did an amazing job planing the best trip to Paris, Florence and Venice with a great mix of relaxing and adventure days. Will be recommending to other travellers. Always someone available which is great when you are travelling in different time zones. Overall cannot be more happy with our experience working with Goway Lauren Bouw
Follow Us On
instagramfacebook
Contact UsCustomer ServiceGeneral Inquiries
Featured in
Travel + LeisureAfarForbesSmithsonian
Accreditations & Memberships
USTOAASTA TOPASTATICOACTA
 
© Copyright 2026. Goway Travel