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Lima is quickly becoming a favored destination for travel in Peru. In recent years, Lima has been overcoming its reputation for being a not so exciting place to be. Based on this preconception, most travelers opt to rush through Lima on their way to more enticing places such as Iquitos, Lake Titicaca, or Machu Picchu. However, as the epicenter of Peru's gastronomic boom and with emerging trendy neighborhoods and vibrant nightlife, passing up on Lima travel is getting harder to justify.
A good place to start exploration of Lima is in the neighborhoods of Miraflores and Barranco. In Miraflores is host to top hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums, as well as scenic parks and gardens. Parque Kennedy is the social heart of the district. Another main attraction is the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca archaeological site located in the middle of the district. The sea-side Parque Salazar is also worth a visit particularly during sunsets. Miraflores is also the unofficial capital for hang gliding and paragliding from cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. For travelers interested in shopping, the Larcomar shopping mall also boasts great views of the ocean, as well as a movie theaters, nightclubs, and an excellent selection of stores. Among the excellent restaurants in Miraflores are Saqra, La Rosa Nautica (beneath Larcomar), Alfresco, and Astrid & Gaston.
Barranco is just south of Miraflores, hosts a slightly more bohemian crowd, and is a great place to explore on a laidback afternoon or weekend. The neighborhood hosts a feria gastronómica (food fair) every weekend. Art galleries and museums are studded across the district. Streets lead down to several popular beaches. This is also the place to go to sample Lima's seafood specialties and to search for live music and other after-dark entertainment. One particularly popular site in Barranco is the Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs) that leads down to the ocean.
When in Lima, do as the locals and definitely visit the Magic Water Circuit, an attraction suitable for travelers of all ages. This recently inaugurated park is located in Parque Reserva near the downtown area of Lima and features a dozen or so water fountains brilliantly lit up in the evening. Night time shows combine water, lights, sounds, and images for an experience that engages all the senses.
Finally, there is the excellent Larco Museum, located about 25 minutes or so from Miraflores. The museum hosts an impressive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, numbering over 45,000, and certainly one of the best-presented in South America. Henry Arnault
