Experience – Lima, Peru: Miraflores
- Location: Parque El Faro – Miraflores 15074, Peru (Google Maps)
- Hours: All Day
- Recommended Time: 4 hours
- How to Arrive: By car, walking, biking
- Distance from Lima Airport: 19 km / 12 miles
- Ideal Month(s): April – September
Lima’s historic neighborhood of Miraflores is popular with travelers and locals alike—and with good reason. Located on a cliff high above the Pacific Ocean, about five miles south of the center of the city, Miraflores offers spectacular water views from a beachfront promenade, vibrant green parks laced with jogging trails, some of the city’s best restaurants and hotels, and upscale shopping in outdoor malls like such as Larcomar.
The neighborhood’s history is part of its proud reputation. During the Battle of Miraflores in 1881, locals made a brave stand against invading Chilean forces, earning the nickname, ciudad heroica (heroic city). Today, Miraflores is a peaceful retreat from the frenetic atmosphere of downtown Lima. Its clifftop paths attract strolling families, while surfers ride the waves below and paragliders soar high above on ocean breezes.
Things to do in Miraflores
Stroll the Malecón (Clifftop Walkway)
The best way to enjoy Miraflores is to walk along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The beach below, Playa Costa Verde, is popular with surfers, and for paragliders overhead. In the north part of Miraflores, the Malecón (clifftop walkway) leads visitors through a series of clifftop greenery to Parque del Amor (Love Park), famous for its colorful mosaic benches and El Beso (The Kiss), which is a huge statue of a romantically intertwined couple. Continuing through the park leads to Faro La Marina, a cliffside lighthouse with a 72-ft. iron tower & a light that can be seen for 18 nautical miles.
Browse traditional crafts at Mercado Indio
Mercado Indio is a traditional market that specializes in Peruvian handicrafts, including everything from woven textiles and ceramics to musical instruments and alpaca scarves. Mercado Indio is a fun place to hunt for treasure while visiting Miraflores.
Admire textiles at Museo Amano
Museo Amano showcases one of Peru’s most impressive collections of textiles. The strikingly patterned exhibits reflect the history and culture of nearly a dozen ancient Peruvian cultures, including the Incan culture.
Explore ancient ruins at Huaca Pucllana
Miraflores’ most important historic site is Huaca Pucllana, which once served as a ceremonial center for the Lima culture that inhabited this region around the fourth century CE. The main pyramid structure has largely been restored, but the remains stand in striking contrast to an otherwise modern Miraflores.
Eat Peruvian street food at Mercado 28
One of the most immersive cultural experiences in Miraflores is Mercado 28, a modern marketplace with vendors selling high-end street food, Peruvian craft beer, and Peruvian cocktails, such as the famous pisco sour. Given Peru is a haven for gastronomic lovers, and Lima is one of the few capital cities that has three restaurants listed in the World’s 50 best restaurants, Mercado 28 is a great intro to what Peruvian cuisine can offer.
Shop in Larcomar
Larcomar is the high-end shopping mall of Lima. You’ll find fancy boutiques and restaurants, outdoor cafés, a bowling alley, and even a movie theater. It’s fair to say shopping malls don’t get much prettier than Larcomar, which is located on a clifftop with the sea crashing below, and a sweeping view of coastal Lima.
Chill at Parque Kennedy and Parque Central
While Parque Kennedy and Parque Central aren’t oceanfront parks, they both offer lush green space to relax, grab a snack, get some shade, and check out local vendors’ artwork.
