Cheap things to do in Lima
Clifftop walks, market ceviche and cheap cold beers in Miraflores and beyond
This is Lima for people who eat well without a reservation and would rather spend money on an extra ceviche than a fancy hotel bar. Three days cover the Malecón cliffs, Barranco's painted streets, Surquillo's chefs' market and a 1,500-year-old pyramid that costs less than a cab ride. You'll be on your feet most of the time, which is exactly the point.
Day 1: Malecón ride, crafts, fountains
Cycle the Malecón, eat ceviche at Barra Maretazo, browse Mercado Indio's stalls, see the Magic Water Circuit lit up and finish with soup at Siete Sopas.
- 9:30 AM
Cycle or Run the Malecón
Rent a bike in Miraflores and ride the flat clifftop path past Parque del Amor south to Barranco.
Map - 12:30 PM
Barra Maretazo
No-frills cevichería near Parque Kennedy; ceviche is a lunch dish, so order the mixto and a leche de tigre.
Map - 2:30 PM
Mercado Indio (Av. Petit Thouars craft markets)
Blocks of craft stalls on Av. Petit Thouars: alpaca knits, retablos and carved gourds; compare before buying.
Map - 6:30 PM
Magic Water Circuit
Thirteen fountains in Parque de la Reserva lit for evening shows; a few soles, Wednesday to Sunday only.
Map - 8:30 PM
Siete Sopas Miraflores
Each weekday has its own soup at this Petit Thouars soup house; a cheap, filling end to a long day.
Map
Day 2: Surf, pyramid and cheap pizza
Catch a beginner surf lesson at Makaha, eat ceviche at the no-frills Barra Chalaca, tour the Huaca Pucllana adobe pyramid, and finish the day on a very honest pizza at Calavera.
- 10:30 AM
Surfing at Makaha and Punta Roquitas
Beginner-friendly coastal breaks under cliffs with equipment rental and group lessons, followed by ceviche lunch.
Map - 12:30 PM
Barra Chalaca
Casual Peruvian spot, top-rated ceviche and seafood without the fine-dining price tag.
Map - 2:30 PM
Huaca Pucllana
1,500-year-old adobe pyramid rising from Miraflores streets with guided tours and floodlit evening restaurant views.
Map - 7:30 PM
Calavera Pizzería
Cheapest sit-down dinner in the area, solid pizza at $ prices, ideal for a thrifty evening meal.
Map
Day 3: Barranco, Surquillo market and MALI
Walk Barranco's pastel streets and the Bajada to the sea, then cross into Surquillo for cheap ceviche at Al Toke Pez and a market cook-up, see the pre-Columbian galleries at MALI, and finish with a neo-Nikkei dinner at FAN.
- 10:30 AM
Barranco on foot
Bohemian quarter with pastel mansions, wooden Bridge of Sighs, sea-view Bajada walk, murals and Dédalo design shop.
Map - 12:30 PM
Al Toke Pez
Al Toke Pez is a tiny counter spot beloved for dirt-cheap fresh ceviche and seafood, the real Surquillo deal.
Map - 2:30 PM
Surquillo Market + Cooking Class
Wander the chefs' market with 100 potato varieties and Amazonian fruits, the cook-a-ceviche session makes it hands-on and memorable.
Map - 4:30 PM
MALI, Museo de Arte de Lima
Pre-Columbian to modern Peruvian art in a grand 19th-century exhibition palace, strong on colonial painting.
Map - 7:30 PM
FAN - neo nikkei restaurant
FAN neo-nikkei is solid value for a sit-down Peruvian dinner, good food without the $$$ price tag of flashier spots nearby.
Map
Where to stay
Pariwana Hostel Lima
The cheapest bed in the plan's core area, social hostel atmosphere and a short walk to both the Malecón and Huaca Pucllana.
ibis Lima Larco Miraflores
Budget-priced ibis right on Larco, central to every day of this plan and reliably clean without any fuss.
Make Lima your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Mercado de Surquillo: a few days ahead
- Lady Bee: a few days ahead
- Paracas: a few days ahead
- Islas Palomino: a few days ahead
- Parapente Miraflores: a few days ahead
- Los Inkas Golf Club: weeks ahead
Skip these
- Treating Lima as just a layover. The food capital deserves three days minimum.
- Larcomar as a destination: it is a mall in a cliff, fine for coffee with a view, while the malecón either side is the attraction.
- Concierge priced tours: the same Palomino Islands trip sells online for about US$77 and through one luxury hotel for US$210.
- The Gold Museum has a long running authenticity debate. Larco and MALI are better uses of the same hours.
The full Lima travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around