7 Reasons Why Lima Should Be Your Next Family Vacation

Lima is a big cultural melting pot where you’ll find yourself navigating your way through cultures you may never have experienced before. You’ll find influences from the Andes in the food and fashion; you’ll find Peru’s afro-Peruvian roots in the music and food; and the colonial Spanish roots everywhere; and of course there are American and European influences as well. It’s a unique city that offers a look into one of the world’s most diverse cultures.

Lima is has become the gastronomical capital of Latin America, boasting some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world. If you’re a foodie family you’ll have some fun exploring all the different cuisines that Lima has to offer. You’ll find Peruvian food like ceviche, and then there are Peruvian fusion restaurants such as Japanese-Peruvian and Chinese-Peruvian, in addition to modern Peruvian food. There’s so many delicious options that every meal can be an adventure.

You don’t just have to go to Cusco to find Peruvian ruins. In and around the Lima area are some of South America’s oldest ruins, pre-dating the Incas. Caral, which is about two hours away from Lima, is one of the first known cities in all of South America, and makes for a great day trip to take the family on. If you don’t want to leave Lima, you don’t have to – go to Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, where an ancient adobe temple is surrounded by high rises and luxury apartments.

Learning how to surf is on pretty much everyone’s bucket-list, so why not do it while you’re in Lima? Just below Miraflores is one of Lima’s most learner-friendly breaks. You’ll find local surf instructors and plenty of boards and wetsuits to rent. Surfing makes for a great morning or day event while in Lima.

Lima’s boardwalk has everything so you never have to leave. It has Lima’s most beautiful and famous mall, a skatepark, tennis courts and some of Peru’s best restaurants. The main attraction is renting some bikes and riding along the boardwalk for the sunset.

Lima is Peru’s largest city, so there’s always something to do. You can watch live music in Barranco, go to a traditional Peruvian peña, visit a chocolate museum in Miraflores or go to a water park in the city center. No matter what you want to do, you can find it in Lima.

Lima was once the home of Spanish royalty in Peru and South America. Today, many of those colonial buildings still stand or have been restored to perfection. You can enjoy a tour of Lima’s historical center where you’ll find towering cathedrals, old churches and the oldest colonial building in Peru.