Find a Hotel in Cercado de Lima

You’ve long suspected that Peru has so much more to offer the fastidious traveler than just the mountain ruins of Machu Picchu—and in Lima, Peru, you have a chance to find out exactly how right you are. This bright, eclectic city is a seamless marriage of the proudly historical and the joyfully modern, and Lima downtown hotels put you directly in the center of the fun.

What is Lima, Peru known for?

Among Lima’s numerous points of attraction and distraction, two elements stand out as particular sources of local pride: Cuisine and history. Peru’s year-round growing season means that plentiful, fresh ingredients are always available. A variety of local produce can be found in Lima’s many outdoor markets, where you are likely to find fruits and vegetables you’ve never tasted before. Be bold and sample something new. Throughout the city, an assortment of traditional South American eateries offer down-home Peruvian dishes. You’re likely to find hearty comfort foods based on corn, potatoes, or peppers, as well as the rightfully ubiquitous ceviche popular throughout the city. Isolina Taberna Peruana is a delightful starting-place for classic Peruvian meals. Lima also plays host to some of the most cutting-edge and innovative modern cuisine in the world, so be sure to satisfy your gourmand palate at creative, upscale establishments like IK. Here you will find reimagined Peruvian fusion dishes as piquant to the mind as they are to the tongue.

Peru’s long and eclectic history can be seen in Lima’s Spanish-style architecture, its pre-Columbian archaeological treasures, and its cultural diversity. Immerse yourself in Peru’s heritage, as colorful as a traditional Quechua shawl, at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History, where artifacts spanning thousands of years detail the influence of various people groups on Peru’s formation. The Larco Museum showcases pre-Columbian artifacts, most notably pottery, and includes a unique erotic art collection. Gaze at the Spanish Baroque architecture, browse the catacombs and ossuary, and stroll the extensive grounds of the Convento de San Francisco. Look up, down, or sideways in Lima, and you are sure to find visually stunning examples of art and architecture from throughout its storied history.

When is the best time to visit Lima, Peru?

As a thriving cosmopolitan center and one of the biggest cities in South America, Lima is home to all the arts, culture, industry, and entertainment expected of an urban hot spot—and as a city not far south of the equator, its climate stays balmy and welcoming all year long. Fewer rainfalls during the dry “winter” season (May through October) make it an ideal time to relax on Lima’s beaches or walk along its dramatic Milaflores cliffs. Exquisite parks are another way to enjoy Lima’s dry season. Hotel Swan is minutes away from the Park of the Reserve, a beautiful neoclassical park with a “Magic Water Tour” of fountains and light shows offered for a small fee. Lima’s wetter (and less expensive) offseason is perfect for finding cheap hotels in downtown Lima and spending days indoors exploring museums, missions, and cocktail lounges. Hotel Inka Path is conveniently close to the Casa Grau Naval Museum and many other indoor attractions.

A city as bustling and vibrant as Lima can leave you unsure of where to begin, so let Travelocity guide you toward downtown Lima hotels and all the best this South American hot spot has to offer.