Are the San Francisco catacombs worth visiting?

Yes — the catacombs beneath the Monastery of San Francisco are one of Lima's most memorable sights, with the neatly stacked bones of thousands of colonial-era burials. Access is by guided visit only and slots are timed, so booking a tour that includes them in advance is the safest way in.

How do I get from central Lima to Miraflores and Barranco?

The colonial centre sits about 8 km north of Miraflores and Barranco — roughly 20 to 40 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. Many combined city tours link all three districts with transport included, so you can cover history and coast without arranging rides yourself.

Can you go paragliding over the Miraflores cliffs?

Yes. Tandem paragliding launches right from the clifftop malecón in Miraflores, giving first-timers a flight over the Pacific and the coastline with an instructor. Flights depend on wind conditions, so afternoons are most reliable and it's worth having a flexible time slot.

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Half day+ · Lima itinerary

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.

Midday: Barranco's bohemian art walk

Head south to Barranco, Lima's bohemian district of pastel mansions, street art and the wooden Bridge of Sighs. Walking tours trace the murals, galleries and the seaside malecón while unpacking the neighbourhood's poets and painters. Many combine Barranco with neighbouring Miraflores by foot or bike, and plenty add a café or pisco stop. Expect a relaxed two to three hours at a gentle pace.

Afternoon: Huaca Pucllana and the Miraflores cliffs

Back in Miraflores, tour Huaca Pucllana — a great adobe pyramid built by the Lima culture around 500 AD, marooned amid modern apartment blocks. Then walk the malecón, the clifftop park path above the Pacific where paragliders launch straight from the edge; a tandem flight over the coast is the day's adrenaline finale. Sunset from Parque del Amor caps the itinerary with the ocean glowing gold.