Lima Half-Day Tour: Historic Center & Miraflores Small Group
Description
Small group tour with max 8 people in English only. After driving from Barranco and Miraflores, the tour begins at Plaza San Martín, a historic gateway to the city center. We’ll visit the impressive San Francisco Church and its famous catacombs, offering a glimpse into Lima's colonial past. Then, enjoy a churro criollo at a popular local spot, a taste of the city's culinary heritage. Next, we’ll explore the Plaza de Armas, admiring the exterior of the Government Palace, Lima Cathedral, and Santo Domingo Convent before heading back. As we reach Miraflores, we’ll also pass by Huaca Pucllana, an ancient pre-Inca site amidst the modern city. The tour will conclude at the scenic Malecón in Miraflores, with stunning ocean views from the Parque del Amor known for its romantic ambiance and beautiful sculptures inspired by Barcelona's Park Güell. This tour perfectly blends history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes, offering a memorable experience of Lima’s top landmarks in just 4 hours.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Plaza San Martín is a grand, historic square in central Lima, inaugurated in 1921 to celebrate Peru’s independence. At its center stands a bronze statue of General José de San Martín. Surrounded by elegant neoclassical buildings, such as the Gran Hotel Bolívar, the plaza is a lively hub that blends colonial charm with early 20th-century architecture, making it a key landmark in Lima.
The San Francisco Convent is a striking example of colonial Baroque architecture in Lima, known for its ornate facade and rich history. Inside, the convent houses a vast library and impressive religious art. Its most famous feature is the underground catacombs, once used as a burial site. These catacombs contain the remains of an estimated 25,000 people, making them a unique and eerie glimpse into Lima’s past, offering visitors a fascinating journey into the city’s colonial and religious heritage.
We will stop to enjoy a delicious Peruvian churro.
The main square of Peru's capital, home to the Cathedral of Lima and the Government Palace, and nearby Santo Domingo Convent.
We will pas by Huaca Pucllana, an ancient pre-Inca archaeological site located in the heart of modern Lima. Built around 500 AD by the Lima culture, it consists of a large adobe pyramid made from small, handmade bricks. The site served as an important ceremonial and administrative center. Today, Huaca Pucllana offers a unique contrast between ancient history and the surrounding urban landscape, providing insight into the early civilizations that once thrived along Peru’s central coast.
Parque del Amor, or the Park of Love, is a scenic spot in Miraflores overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Known for its vibrant mosaics and romantic sculptures, including the iconic statue *El Beso* (The Kiss) by Víctor Delfín, the park is a popular destination for couples. Its curving walls, adorned with colorful tiles and love-themed quotes, create a whimsical atmosphere. The park’s clifftop location offers stunning ocean views, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy Lima’s coastline.
Enjoy scenic views over the Pacific Ocean
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up from Dédalo shop (Barranco) is at 09:30. Pick up from hotel Naia Miraflores (Miraflores) is at 09:50 We only pick up and drop off from these two locations. Please be on time, as we won't wait for latecomers, under no circumstance. If you select Barranco as a pick up/drop off location, please consider 4h door-to-door, while with the Miraflores the total duration will be around 3h30.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We will ask you to provide your passport number and date of entry to Peru before the tour and for all the tour participants (through an online form). Sending this information allow us to exonerate yourself from the 18% local tax as it confirms you're real visitors, and not living in the country. If you want to be exonerated from the tax, it's really important to send us your passport number and date of entry at least 1 day before the tour. You don't need to bring your passport to the tour.
- If you select Barranco as a pick up/drop off location, please consider 4h door-to-door, while with the Miraflores the total duration will be around 3h30.
- To enter San Francisco Church, you may be requested to cover your shoulders and not be wearing shorts and flip flops.
- The total tour duration includes the travel time to/from the Historic Center, as well as the time spent walking or driving from one sight to the other
- The visit to the Catacombs is not recommended for travelers who suffer from claustrophobia
Reviews(34)
Valeria is an excellent guide; she is very pleasant and kind.
Muchas gracias! Nos alegra mucho saber que disfrutaron el tour con Valeria – es una de las mejores y se merece cada elogio. ¡Esperamos verlos de nuevo pronto!
Valeria did a great job of giving us the historical information and showing us key points of interest. Plus she found us some churros because of some delayed flights, so that was a great treat.
What a lovely note – thank you! Valeria has a real knack for making every tour feel personal, and that churros moment is just so her. We're glad a travel hiccup turned into a highlight! Hope to see you back with us soon.
Valerie was great and made us feel very comfortable and was super knowledgeable about the history and building we visited! The transportation was comfortable and felt safe!
Thanks for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the experience with Valerie. Her passion for history and storytelling truly makes each visit special. We’re glad you felt comfortable and safe throughout the tour. Hope to see you again soon!
We had a wonderful tour of Lima. We saw all the main highlights and got so much historical perspective. We would never have learned so much on our own. Sheila was a fabulous guide, so knowledgeable and friendly! Highly recommended
We’re delighted that you had such a great tour of Lima and that you were able to see all the main highlights with plenty of historical perspective. It’s especially rewarding to hear that the experience helped you learn and appreciate so much more than you could have on your own.
Very practical meeting point in Miraflores from where the operator takes you on a 3h30 tour around the Hsitoric Center and Mireflores. The guide Valeria was super nice and the tour well designed. Highly recommend! Oh and there's churros!
We’re really glad the meeting point in Miraflores was so convenient for you! It’s great to hear that the 3.5-hour tour through the Historic Center and Miraflores felt well-designed and perfectly balanced. And of course — the churros always steal the show! 🍫 A big thank you for the kind words about Valeria. She’ll be thrilled to know you found her super nice and that she helped make the experience so enjoyable. We’ll make sure she sees your feedback.
It was my first time in Lima and we had only one day. Valeria was aou guide and she was extremely knowledgeable and kind and engaging and made us appreciate the city in just 4 hours.
Thank you so much for this lovely review! 😊 We’re so happy to hear that your first time in Lima was such a great experience, even with only one day to explore! It makes us really proud that Valeria was able to show you so much of the city in just 4 hours. She’ll be delighted to read how knowledgeable, kind, and engaging you found her — exactly the kind of guide we love having on our team. Thank you for trusting us with your limited time in Lima. It means a lot that we could help you appreciate the city and leave you with wonderful memories.
David was excellent. Very knowledgeable and personable. First time in Peru. Great introduction to Lima and very much appreciated. He even bought us churros, which were wonderful and not like the ones we’ve had in the US. His driver was also excellent in navigating the insanity of Lima traffic. The drivers in Peru make those in Italy and Albania seem like Sunday drivers in the US.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your first experience in Peru was such a memorable one, and that David helped make it a great introduction to Lima. His passion for sharing the culture, history, and flavors of the city truly shines, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We really appreciate you choosing to explore with us and hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Peru! 🇵🇪
We had such a wonderful time on our tour of Lima! Our guide, Valeria, was absolutely fantastic, so knowledgeable, friendly, and full of energy. She made the entire experience feel personal and engaging, sharing interesting history and local insights that we never would have learned on our own. She went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and enjoying every moment. You can tell she truly loves what she does, and it made a huge difference in our experience. Our driver was also great, everything ran smoothly and stress-free. This was one of the highlights of our trip, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Lima. If you get Valeria as your guide, you’re in for an unforgettable experience!
Thank you so much for this incredible review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience in Lima was such a highlight of your trip. Valeria will be especially happy to read your kind words—she truly puts her heart into every tour, and it’s wonderful to know that her passion, knowledge, and energy made your experience so memorable. Thank you again for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again for another unforgettable adventure in Peru!
Great private tour of Lima. Valeria is very knowledgeable and has a great personality! We really enjoyed spending time with her and our driver, and visiting the highlights of Lima.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed your private tour of Lima. Valeria truly loves sharing her knowledge and the spirit of the city, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to her and your driver. It means a lot to us that you enjoyed visiting the highlights of Lima with our team. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Peru!
Sheyla is the coolest and most brilliant guide! Loved the tour!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour and that Sheyla made the experience so memorable. We’ll be sure to share your compliments with her. We hope to welcome you again soon! 😊
