Most people who choose to visit Lima tend to stay in the Miraflores district, one of Peru’s most pleasant and commercial neighborhoods. It is filled with things to do, so be sure to check out this list of the top 10 things to do in Miraflores before filling out our Traveler Form to start your booking process to Peru!
Table of Contents
- Parque Kennedy
- Restaurant/Bar hop
- Walk along the Malecon
- Parque del Amor
- Huaca Pucllana Ruins
- Larcomar
- Inka Market
- Surfing
- Paragliding
- Join a chocolate making class
Parque Kennedy
Named after President John F. Kennedy to honor the role he had in the Alliance for Progress for America, the Parque Kennedy is hard to miss when visiting Miraflores. This large park in the middle of Miraflores is also known as the “Cat Park”, because it is home to dozens of street cats that are taken care of by the park groundskeepers. Aside from friendly cats, you will likely encounter musicians playing instruments, artisans selling knitted products such as roses, and food carts selling Peruvian desserts such as picarones, churros, caramel apples, and delicious popcorn. Over the weekends in the summer, you may run into a flea market where people from all over Peru come and sell their handcrafted products.
Restaurant and Bar hopping in Miraflores
If you are debating on whether or not you should stay a night or two in Lima, then let me give you a reason on why you should: the food. Lima is known world-wide for its gastronomy and amazing restaurants, attracting foodies from all over the world. Since Miraflores is one of Lima’s most famous districts, many restaurants and bars are located in the area. From high-end restaurants to dive bars, Miraflores has it all. If you are in search of the most boutique restaurants, Miraflores is home to two of the top 50 best restaurants in Latin America; Maido and Rafael. Besides high-end gastronomic experiences, Calle de las Pizzas, Calle Berlin, and Calle Manuel Bonilla are a few streets that are worth strolling through to find some amazing restaurants and very cool bars.
Walk along the Malecon (Miraflores Boardwalk)
The Malecon in Lima is a long boardwalk from the San Isidro neighborhood to Barranco with most of its attractions located in Miraflores. This several-mile boardwalk is located near the cliff of Lima that overlooks the Pacific ocean and is made up of several parks that are home to green spaces, gorgeous flowers, and unique art. While walking along the Malecon in Lima during a clear sunny day, you will be able to see the Cruz de Chorrillos, paragliders, lighthouse, the Palomino Islands, and much more. One thing that you cannot miss (especially during the summer) is a sunset on the Malecon. If you want to see all of the Malecon sites in one day, then we would recommend taking a bike tour!
Parque del Amor (Lovers Park)
Located on the malecon of Lima, the Parque del Amor offers its visitors beautiful ocean views, an impressive sculpture, and is surrounded by mosaic art. This park is most famous for its “El Beso” statue showing a man and a woman sharing a kiss by the ocean, which was sculpted by Victor Delfin on February 14th of 1993. Considered to be one of the most romantic parks of Lima, enjoy the views with your special someone, lock your love for each other at a love gate, and watch the sunset at this picturesque park. Although its translation is the love park, this park is not just for couples as one could go alone, with friends, or family.
Huaca Pucllana Ruins
The Huaca Pucllana pyramid dates back 500 AD and was built by a pre-Incan coastal civilization. Huaca Pucllana was built with clay and adobe bricks and served several different purposes over the many many years. Lima’s Huaca is definitely something that you cannot miss! You can learn more about its history on a group or private guided tour that are offered in both Spanish and English. Another way to appreciate this beautiful archaeological site would be by dining next to them at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant which serves its guests traditional yet modern Peruvian cuisine. If you decide to make a reservation at the restaurant, make sure to request your table outside on the terrace at around sunset time, you will not regret it.
Larcomar
Lacomar is a mall, and you might think that you would want to stray away from shopping centers and popular clothing brands while traveling abroad, but this mall is special. You might ask “How so?,” well this mall is located on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean. You heard that right! Not visible while walking on the Malecon of Lima, you must go into the cliff to reach the mall. Larcomar offers its visitors beautiful views throughout the entire day and it has some really great restaurants. This mall is also the perfect place to run to if you forgot something to pack on your trip to Peru as you will be able to find almost anything at Lacomar.
Inka Markets
Located near the Parque Kennedy are a few different Indian markets that sell stunning handwoven textiles, handmade ceramics from the Cusco region, clothing made from alpaca, and the famous colorful chullos (Andean hats that people usually wear in their Machu Picchu pictures). These markets are a great place to hit up at the end of your trip for souvenirs, especially if you found a product in Cusco that you did not purchase but cannot stop thinking about. These markets are truly beautiful and are a wonderful display of the Peruvian culture, so try to take your time when strolling around. If you are comfortable with it, try to practice your bargaining skills as many of the vendors are willing to work with you to find the right price.
Surfing
It is said that surfing actually originated in the north of Peru around 2000 years ago. Not only is Peru historically known for its surfing, but also for the several different and challenging waves that it offers today (including the longest left wave in the world), Chicama. Many people from all over the world will travel to Peru for its world-class surfing scene. Whether you are a beginner or expert surfer, the Miraflores beach is a great and convenient place to get in some waves year round. Miraflores is home to many beaches that offer surfing to all levels with the beginners beach known as ‘Playa Makaha.’ Down by the rocky beaches are several trained instructors who will give lessons and also rent wetsuits and surfboards. Keep in mind that Peru’s coast is the Pacific ocean, so the water is cold and wetsuits are highly recommended.
*We recommend finding and choosing a reputable provider if you decide take surfing lessons in Lima
Paragliding
A great way to start or end your trip. If you are not terrified of heights and searching for adventure and undeniably stunning views, then paragliding in Lima is perfect for you! This activity is great for those who thrive off of a good adrenaline rush. Paragliders have the one up on typical tourists as they are able to see the beautiful colors of Lima in a completely different perspective. Typically paragliders are seen along the coast of Lima, and they do not stray far from that area since it is the windiest part of the city. If this activity is right for you then you can find most providers near the Larcomar mall or down by the Lima coast.
*We recommend finding and choosing a reputable provider if you decide to paraglide in Lima.
Join a chocolate making class
Do not skip out on the chocolate scene while in Peru! Peruvian chocolate has been voted the best chocolate in the world several times. A chocolate lover’s dream is located on the lower corner of Kennedy Park is the ChocoMuseo that has a bean to bar chocolate making workshop. During the workshop, you will prepare and try two drinks, learn about Peruvian chocolate, and make chocolate straight from a cacao bean. The workshop itself lasts two hours in group or private sessions and is available in Spanish or English at 11:00 am, 2:30 pm, and 5:00 pm. If you do not have enough time for the chocolate making workshop, it is still worth making a stop at the ChocoMuseo to buy some Peruvian chocolate.
Adding a day or two in Lima for your trip to Peru is definitely worth it! Are you ready to start planning your trip to Peru starting with Lima to explore Miraflores? Contact our team of experts who can customize a travel package that is perfect for you.
Carli is originally from El Paso, Texas, but grew up moving around several different states in the United States. Eager for change once again, she decided to make her biggest move to Lima, Peru after graduating from University. Since living in Peru, Carli has discovered that she is quite passionate about Lima’s restaurant scene, yoga, and meeting new people.
