Official Lima tour

This morning we were picked up at 9am for our official Lima city tour with Alberto — a five-hour deep dive into the history, architecture and stories of Peru’s capital.
Our first stop was the iconic Gran Hotel Bolívar, a place dripping with old-world charm and celebrity history, apparently Mick Jagger stayed here. From there we explored the heart of the historic centre, wandering through Plaza Mayor and the Plaza de Armas where grand colonial buildings, palm-lined squares and impressive government architecture set the scene.
We passed by the magnificent Basilica (Cathedral) and stepped inside Casa de Aliaga — one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Lima. Walking through its ornate rooms felt like stepping straight back in time.
Another highlight was the Basilica and Convento de San Francisco, famous for its beautiful architecture, historic library and underground catacombs (which we didn’t visit) — all incredibly impressive.
We finished at Museo Larco, home to fascinating artefacts that tell the story of Peru’s ancient civilisations, including some very unique and memorable exhibits.
Everything we saw today was genuinely impressive — the scale, the history, the detail — Lima’s historic centre really delivers.
The only challenge? It was very warm and humid… and unfortunately the air-conditioning on the bus wasn’t working. Let’s just say it made the “authentic Lima experience” feel even more real 😅
A fantastic way to round off our Lima visit with Alberto, and a great way to understand the layers of history behind this vibrant city.Read more