Lima, capital of Peru, was the chief city of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. There is a great selection of museums in Lima, including some of the best in Peru. The Indian markets are great too!

Lima At A Glance

Day 1 Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Day at Leisure

Day 2 Breakfast at the hotel, then half day group city tour. Visit the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of Peru, Govermment Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral and the House of the 'Oidor'. Continuing our tour, we will see other colonial architectural jewels, such as Torre Tagle Palace , Osambela House, finishing with a visit to Larco Herrera, Archaeological or Gold Museum.

Day 3 Breakfast at the hotel .At time indicated, transfer to the airport.

Price per person in US$ till Dec. 31, 2012:

Private tours are also available.

Other options to add to package

RAFAEL LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM
This is a museum for the pottery specialist, gives an excellent overview on the developement of Peruvian cultures. Gold and silver objets, weavings and mummies, the greatest numbers of exhibits stem from the MOCHICA period (AD 400-800) and the Cupisnique period dating back to 1000 BC. The NAZCA, CHIMU, and INCA periods are also well represented. There is also an erotica section of Nazca culture in a separate building. http://museolarco.perucultural.org.pe/

MUSEO NACIONAL DE ANTROPOLOGIA Y ARQUEOLOGIA
One of the best museums in Lima and should be high on the list of anyone at all interested in the archeology of PERU. The collection is well laid out and traces the prehistory of Peru chronologically from the earlist archeological sites to arrival of the Spaniards. CHAVIN stone carvings, NAZCA ceramics and PARACAS weavings are all displayed here along with collections showing the best artifacts of all the major Peruvian Cultures. http://museonacional.perucultural.org.pe/ingles/index.htm

PACHACAMAC
Crossing sand dunes 20 miles south of Lima we visit the pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac, one of the most important temples of ancient America. It was the largest city on the coast. The ruins encircle the top of a low hill, the crest of which was crowned with a Temple of the Sun, a large pyramid built in 1350 of sun-baked bricks.

INDIAN MARKET
visit one of the big Indian markets in the city to stock up on handicrafts before you leave

PALOMINO ISLANDS
The excursión to the Palomino Islands is the best alternative for nature lovers. On this tour, you can watch the Ocean´s wildlife, without traveling to Paracas and Ballestas Islands located in Pisco, 250 Kms. south of Lima. On the route from San Lorenzo Island to Palomino Islands, you will watch fishing boats, guano sea birds and Humbolt penguins. At approximately 10:40 am, you will arrive to Palomino Islands, the furthest point of this boat trip, where we can find a large colony of sea lions and seals. For about one hour, you will be able to swim freely among them, thanks to the lack of predators. Around 11:40 am, the cruise vessel will sail back to the Port of Callao and you will watch the many impressive reefs and cliffs. A snack will be served before arriving at the port.

CARAL
The Sacred City of Caral in Peru, the oldest centre of civilization in the Americas, was recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee, during the 33rd session of the Commitee, held at Sevilla, Spain in 2009

This 5000-year-old, 626-hectare, archaeological site of the Sacred City of Caral , is situated on a dry desert terrace overlooking the green valley of the Supe River, 180 Kms. north of Lima. It dates back to the Late Archaic Period of the Central Andes and is the oldest centre of civilization in the Americas and of the first in the world, together with Mesopotamia, India, China and Egypt. Exceptionally well-preserved, the site is impressive in terms of its design and the complexity of its architecture, especially its monumental stone and earthen platform mounts and sunken circular courts.

The city of Caral is formed by a group of buildings that show us the great scientific, technological and artistic advances achieved by its inhabitants. The outstanding development was carried out in a totally isolated environment, compared to the exchange of goods and knowledge of the old world civilizations that had a constant interaction system among them.This civilization was created in the Supe Valley, between the years 3000 and 2500 b.c., on the base of a group of communities located in urban settlements. This organization model influenced the development of future civilizations in Peru.

This full day tour is suggested for groups. It is pretty expensive for just 1 or 2 people because of the distance involved