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Lima Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Lima
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Lima Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Lima - Positioned halfway down the dry and dusty desert
coastline of Peru, the city of Lima is hemmed in by the Pacific
Ocean on the one side and the foothills of the Andes mountain range
on the other. A sprawling and chaotic city, the capital of Peru is
overcrowded, polluted and a noisy metropolis. The stark contrast
between poverty and wealth is most visible in the miles of dusty
shantytowns that stretch along the coast on either side of the
city, and the glitzy apartment and office buildings of the affluent
seaside suburbs.
During the days of Spanish
colonial rule the city was regarded as the most important and
prosperous city in Spanish America and was the finest in the
region, known as 'The City of Kings'. Today the splendour may have
paled, but Lima is still an animated and bustling city with an
exciting mix of nationalities and styles; a city crammed with
culture, a rich heritage and eight million people.
Lima dominates the country's political and commercial life
and is the major gateway to the rest of the country. The city
retains some of its original charm and has much to offer the
visitor. Some of Peru's best museums, restaurants and nightlife are
here, and the old colonial centre holds a certain elegance with its
beautiful churches and convents, graceful old mansions, central
plazas and classic colonial-style buildings. The outstanding art
and archaeology museums provide an excellent introduction to the
history and culture that visitors will come across in other parts
of the country.
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Lima
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Plaza Mayor and Plaza San Martin
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What is it? A long pedestrian street crowded with
shoppers, vendors and sightseers connects Lima's two main plazas to
each other. The heart of the old town is centred on the striking
Plaza Mayor, or Plaza de Armas, gracefully colonial with its bronze
fountain and old street lamps. It was once the central marketplace,
where bullfights were held during Spanish rule. Surrounding the
square are several notable buildings, including the grand Spanish
Baroque Cathedral, occupying the site of an ancient Inca temple and
housing the Museum of Religious Art and Treasures; the impressive
Government Palace where the changing of the guard takes place; the
Town Hall; and the Archbishop's Palace sporting a beautiful wooden
balcony. The Plaza San Martin is an impressive square with a hive
of activity surrounding its central fountains; a busy area of
shoe-shiners, soapbox speakers, street artists and the site for
political rallies and rioting workers.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
2. Museo de la Nación (National Museum)
Avenida Javier Prado Este, San Borja
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What is it? The superb anthropological and archaeological
National Museum contains excellent exhibits tracing the history of
Peru's ancient civilisations and provides an outstanding overview
of the archaeological richness of the country. It is the city's
largest and the country's most important museum and the
chronological layout guides visitors easily through the complicated
ancient history, highlighting the many conquering cultures and
their achievements, from the art and history of the original
inhabitants to the Inca Empire.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm
Phone:(0)1 476 9875 or 476 9882 |
3. Museo de Oro del Peru (Gold Museum)
Avenida Alonso de Molina, Monterrico
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What is it? Housed in a fortress-like building are the
safe-rooms crammed with treasures from the Inca civilisation and
their predecessors. The massive collection of gleaming gold,
ceremonial objects and jewellery compete for attention, and the
famous golden Tumi, the symbol of Peru, has been exhibited around
the world. The rest of the museum is just as interesting with
thousands of exquisite tapestries, pre-Incan weapons and wooden
staffs, masks, mummies, and clothing. There is also a vast display
of antique weapons and uniforms, a reminder of Peru's violent
past.
Hours of Operation: Daily 11.30am to 7pm
Phone:(0)1 345 1291, 345 1292 or 435 2917 |
Lima
holidays - Top Events
1. The Lord of the Miracles
From 2007-10-18
To 2007-10-28
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What is it? The Lord of the Miracles is the most
spectacular of Peru's thousands of religious festivals. The annual
24-hour procession through Lima honours the venerated image of a
black Christ, which was allegedly drawn by an Angolan slave on a
wall in colonial times, and has survived all attempts to erase it,
including an earthquake in 1746, which levelled all surrounding
buildings. The painting, weighing two tons, is carried aloft from
the church of Las Nazarenas across Lima to the church of La Merced
in Barrios Altos. The procession consists of tens of thousands of
believers, dressed in purple, singing hymns and praying. The route
is lined with vendors offering traditional sweets and dishes. The
festival also launches the Lima bullfight season at the Acho Arena
in which toreadors contend for the coveted 'Golden Cape of Our Lord
of Miracles'. Contact the Tourist Office on +51 (0)1 224 3279 or
+51 (01 224 3271/3125 or email infoperu@promperu.gob.pe
for more information.
Where is it? Streets of downtown Lima |
2. Fiesta de la Vendimia de Surco
From 2007-03-01
To 2007-03-31
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What is it? Peruvians celebrate their grape harvest in
fine style at the annual wine festival in Santiago de Surco, south
of Lima. Among the local vineyards the craft of winemaking in the
old way, from treading grapes by foot, through fermentation and
aging processes, are demonstrated. The festival also provides a
stage for local performers, a Queen of the Harvest is chosen, and
there are various processions, competitions and parties where
visitors are avidly taught to dance the Afro-Peruvian festejo. Make
sure to sample the delicious local sweets, called tejas, made of
pecans and candied fruits filled with caramel; and 'pisco', the
aromatic grape brandy unique to the region.
Where is it? Santiago de Surco |
3. Independence Day
From 2007-07-28
To 2007-07-29
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What is it? Peruvians celebrate the anniversary of their
independence from Spain with great patriotic gusto throughout the
country, but particularly in Lima, where flags fly high and the fun
starts the night before the official ceremonies with dancing and
folk music filling all the city's parks and plazas. The next
morning at dawn a 21-cannon salute marks the start of ceremonials,
which include a military parade downtown and a special service in
the Lima Cathedral. For more information phone tourist information
service on (01) 574 8000.
Where is it? Throughout the city |
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