Historic & Coastal Lima: From Catacombs to Clifftops
Lima pairs a UNESCO-listed colonial core with dramatic Pacific cliffs, and this itinerary joins the two. Explore the bone-lined catacombs of San Francisco, wander Barranco's mural-splashed lanes, stand atop a 1,500-year-old adobe pyramid and finish on the Miraflores clifftops. Here is how to see historic and coastal Lima in one day, with the best-rated tours to book.
At a glance
- 1Centro Histórico & San Francisco catacombs
- 2Barranco's bohemian art walk
- 3Huaca Pucllana adobe pyramid
- 4Miraflores clifftop malecón
Morning: the Centro Histórico and catacombs
Begin in Lima's colonial heart, a UNESCO World Heritage site of balconied mansions around the Plaza Mayor. The unmissable stop is the Monastery of San Francisco, whose catacombs hold the bones of an estimated 25,000 people arranged in geometric wells beneath the church. Guided walking tours from about $20 cover the square, cathedral and catacombs in half a day; the catacombs are a timed visit, so book ahead.
