Where history, culture and cuisine converge
Christened the ‘City of Kings’ by its founder the conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Lima was once South America’s richest city and today, as Peru’s capital, it remains one of the largest financial hubs in Latin America with a population of 9 million people.
Located on Peru’s desert coastline, Lima’s urban metropolis sprawl lies in a valley created by three rivers, the Chillon, Rimac and Lurin, fronting the Pacific ocean and was once part of the Incan empire in the 15th century before the conquistadores defeated them. As such there remains today some pre-Colombian buildings hidden amongst colonial landmarks and the city’s modern façade of apartment buildings, which paints an accurate profile of many of Peru’s cities where the ancient, old and contemporary sit jumbled up together.
Lima’s charms aren’t immediately obvious but with one of our expert local guides with their insider knowledge, the city’s secrets and sophistication will be revealed. In particular, Lima excels in its museum culture and history as well as its gastronomic and fine dining experiences that have earned this cosmopolitan the reputation of “culinary capital of South America”. So, it may have once been called the City of Kings, however now Lima more or less belongs to the chefs.
Highlights
Go on a voyage through the evolution of ceviche, discovering a variety of unique interpretations of this iconic Peruvian delight along the way
Stroll through the charming bohemian neighbourhood of Barranco, stopping at different eateries and local restaurants
Visit Lima’s Art Museum (MALI) and experience the most iconic pieces through a curator’s eyes
Go cycling along the seafront in Lima, below the towering cliffs of Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro
Spend some time at a ceramic workshop where you’ll learn about the art and history of ceramic-making with a local expert
Delfina Russo
Travel Designer
Lima is a city where centuries of history meet a thriving modern culture, offering a unique blend of ancient ruins, colonial landmarks and cutting-edge gastronomy.
Delfina Russo
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Lima
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of Peru
Arequipa
Built mostly from white volcanic rock, the ‘white city’ has panoramic views of the majestic Andes mountains. Be sure to visit the Santa Catalina Convent, and wander its winding, atmospheric alley ways.
Discover moreAusangate Trekking
Walk in the footsteps of Peru’s ancient civilisations across ever-changing landscapes until you reach the mighty Ausugate mountain. Known as rainbow mountain due to its unusual colourful, striped clay earth.
Discover moreChachapoyas
Chachapoyas, or the ‘Warriors of the Clouds’ as they were once known, lived high up in the Andean cloud forests. Today you can discover the fascinating Kuelap fortress, famous for its circular architecture.
Discover moreChoquequirao
Venture off the beaten track for a taste of the Incan Empire away from the crowds. Meaning ‘Cradle of Gold’ in Quechuan it’s thought to be an Ican religious centre.
Discover moreColca Canyon
Deeper than the Grand Canyon and home to the mighty Andean Condor. The region is steeped in ancient culture and peppered with traditional villages.
Discover moreCusco
A charming, quaint city with an exceptionally rich and diverse history. Wander cobbled lanes, visit the imposing cathedral and sit back and relax on a terrace overlooking the bustling Plaza de Armas.
Discover moreLake Titicaca
The world's highest navigable lake, where azure waters seem to touch the cloudless sky. Meet locals who live on reed islands and birdwatch as evening sets in, before retiring to your lakeside hotel.
Discover moreLares Trail
With high passes and incan steps to descend, the Lares trek can be challenging. However, coupled with the beauty of the Sacred Valley and the many meaningful cultural connections to be had - it’s one of our favourite routes.
Discover moreLuxury train journeys in Peru
Peru’s fleet of stylish trains are the perfect way to explore the country; from Machu Picchu and Cusco, across to the vast waters of Lake Titicaca and then onto the high Andes for Arequipa and the Colca Canyon.
Discover moreMachu Picchu
Ancient Incan ruins, perched high in the cloud forest and only accessible by train or on foot. These impressive ruins give visitors a fascinating insight into the Incan Empire.
Discover moreManu Amazon Biosphere
Considered one of Latin America’s most important natural wildernesses. Crammed with over 1000 species of bird, 200 species of mammal and tens of thousands of flowering plants.
Discover moreNorthern Peru Amazon Cruises
Cruise down the rivers and waterways of the mighty Peruvian Amazon. Keep a lookout for pink dolphins and flocks of rawkus scarlet macaws.
Discover moreParacas and Nazca
Delve into the mystery of the Nazca lines before soaking up the natural wonders of the Ballestas Islands. Adventure on speed boat from Paracas and uncover Peru's answer to the Galapagos Islands.
Discover moreSacred Valley
Steeped in history and ancient ruins. A place for adventurers who want to hike, bike or horse ride across winding village tracks with the imposing Andes mountains all around.
Discover moreSalkantay - Lodge to Lodge
An epic 7 day trek across Peru’s breathtaking landscapes; pass by glaciers, fields of otherworldly boulders shrouded in fog, lush wooded areas, intriguing archeological sites and charming traditional villages.
Discover moreSouthern Peruvian Amazon
Home to the pristine Tambopata National Reserve, this is a wildlife lover's dream. Uncover nocturnal creatures on night time walks and visit tree top lookouts and canopy walkways.
Discover moreThe Inca Trail
A beautiful trail across the Andes ending at Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate, before the site has opened to the public and just as the sun rises. The mists clear and reveal the wondrous ancient ruins.
Discover moreThe Northern Beaches
Where the arid desert landscapes of Northern Peru meet the Pacific Ocean you’ll find a collection of chic beach hangouts and a paradise for surfers and kitesurfers.
Discover moreTrujillo and Chiclayo
The impressive pre-Columbian archaeological sites in this region are not to be missed. Vast adobe complexes and ornate pyramids, tombs and several engaging museums.
Discover moreMeet your Latin America team
When to visit
Peru’s capital, Lima, has enough to keep you entertained whatever the weather. However, the most pleasant time to visit is between November and May when the days are sunny and temperate.
City exploring
December–March
Coastal escape
January–March
Park life
September–October
Plan your trip to Lima
Whatever you want from your adventure in Lima, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
The moment we contacted Jacada and talked with the representative I knew this company was differential. We took time to work through the agenda, accommodations and expectations. Before the trip we were contacted about making dinner reservations as well as going over the itinerary to make sure we were all set. We were also given ideas on books to read…
Jacada helped us to plan ideal gateway to Peru and Bolivia and it was amazing. The planning was done on very professional level, with some small personal touches what made this trip memorable! Thank you Delfina, Melanie and the team!
James was wonderful! So helpful and courteous. I will definitely consider Jacada when we have future travel needs
We had several truly personalized and unforgettable experiences that were combined with extraordinary helpful and informative guides.
The trip was an amazing experience. The hotels, guides, excursions, transportation and restaurants were perfectly curated and arranged. Jacada handled every detail so that we could fully enjoy the trip and not worry about any of the logistics.
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.