The most touristic district of Lima

Lima, the capital of Peru, is a huge city. It has an area of ​​2,672 square kilometers. It has 8,575 million inhabitants within its 43 districts. Of all of them, the most touristy is definitely Miraflores.

In Miraflores are the best hotels in the city. There are inexpensive and luxurious services. There are also the most famous restaurants. Also the bars and clubs with the best fun. That is why the majority of foreign visitors arrive there.

Miraflores is a coastal district that extends over 9.62 square kilometers. It has a population of 99,337 inhabitants, most of them middle and upper-middle class professionals.

The district has one of the lowest insecurity rates in the city. Tourists who arrive there can walk the streets at all hours safely.

Miraflores stands out for its beautiful boardwalk, its modern buildings, its clean parks and tourist attractions such as: Huaca Pucllana, Kennedy Park, Larcomar, Parque del Amor, Malecón de Miraflores, Ricardo Palma cultural center and more.

Location

The Miraflores district is located west of the city of Lima, about 9.6 kilometers from the city center. It borders the districts of Surquillo, San Isidro, Barranco, Santiago de Surco and a strip of sea with beautiful views. It is located only 80 meters above sea level.

Map

The battle of Miraflores

In 1881 during the War of the Pacific that faced Peru and Chile, Miraflores was set on fire. Chilean troops looted the city, which had to be progressively rebuilt throughout the 20th century. By then the district was an arid region in whose sea, surrounded by high cliffs, there were a few families of fishermen.

In the past Miraflores was inhabited by collectors and fishermen like the Lima culture who built the huaca Pucllana, one of the emblems of the city. Later the place became part of the Huari culture and, finally, of the Inca empire. In 1535 the Spanish founded the city of Lima and Miraflores became part of Magdalena in the colonial city of Lima.

On January 2, 1857, the Miraflores district was officially declared. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was made up of the current districts of Lince, San Isidro, La Victoria, Surco, Surquillo, San Luis and San Borja. However, throughout that century these districts became independent until they now cover an area of ​​approximately 900 hectares. In the 21st century it is the most modern district of Lima. It has 5-star hotels and endless tourist services. It is the face that tourists who visit Lima see.

Tourist attractions

The Huaca Pucllana – This set of pyramids made mainly of adobe belonged to the Lima culture (from 200 AD to 700 AD). Its main structure has patios, squares, enclosures and a building up to 25 meters high. It is currently the most investigated archaeological site in Lima. It is one of the few located in the heart of an urban area surrounded by buildings.

Kennedy Park – Miraflores has dozens of large, clean parks full of green areas. Of all the most famous is Kennedy Park, also called ‘Miraflores Central Park’. There are several aspects that make the park a special space such as: the large number of cats that live there, the presentations of local artists, the sale of Lima desserts, its modern underground parking and more. In one of its corners, the Virgen Milagrosa parish stands out.

The Miraflores boardwalk – Miraflores has five kilometers of coastline. From its extensive and modern boardwalks you can see beautiful postcards of the sea. You can also practice adventure sports such as surfing, paragliding, running and more. The boardwalks have security 24 hours a day. One of the most famous spaces on the boardwalk is the ‘Love Park’, a place where lovers often go.

Larcomar – At the end of the famous Larco avenue is the most beautiful shopping center in Lima. The Larcomar shopping center is a very popular space for tourists and locals. It covers an area of ​​45 thousand square meters with impressive views of the sea. On site there are modern stores with the most famous and sophisticated brands in the country including movie theaters, food courts and more. Since its creation in 1998, Larcomar has become a modern entertainment space.

Ricardo Palma Cultural Center – This site is the nucleus of culture and art in the Miraflores district. There is the municipal library, art rooms, spaces for exhibitions and various activities such as cinema and theater for children and adults. Its name is in homage to Ricardo Palma Soriano, Peruvian writer and librarian famous for his work ‘Peruvian Traditions’. The cultural center is located on Avenida José Larco 770.

Transport

The Miraflores district has wide and modern avenues that connect with the other districts of Lima. One of the most important is Arequipa Avenue, which runs for 7 kilometers through districts such as Miraflores, San Isidro, Lince and Cercado de Lima (Downtown). Arequipa avenue can be traveled by bicycle as it has a modern bicycle lane.

Miraflores has several taxi services but also public service transport such as, for example, the ‘Blue Corridor’ line, whose buses cross the entire Arequipa avenue. The cost of the trip is only 1 sol 50 cents (0.5 dollar). There are also other means of transport that run through the main avenues and streets of the district.

Shops

Miraflores is one of the most commercial districts of Lima. Its avenues have stores of the main clothing brands, fast food, sneakers, restaurants, cafes, bars and more. One of the most commercial points is Kennedy Park and its surroundings.

It is worth highlighting the shopping center ‘Indian market‘ where there are handicraft shops that offer products from the coast, mountains and jungle of Peru. This place, a favorite with tourists, is located at 5321 Petit Thouars avenue.

How safe is it?

Miraflores is one of the Lima districts with the fewest cases of common crime. There is surveillance of the ‘serenazgo’ of the district 24 hours a day. Even so, it is advisable to take the necessary precautions such as avoiding wearing expensive watches or traveling with large sums of cash.

How’s the weather?

Miraflores has a humid temperate climate with four seasons during the year: summer (from December 22 to March 21) with temperatures of 29ºC. at 19 ° C. Autumn (from March 22 to June 21) with temperatures of 20ºC. at 15 ° C. Winter (from June 22 to September 22) with temperatures of 18ºC. at 12 ° C. And spring (from September 23 to December 21) with temperatures of 22ºC. at 16ºC.

Miraflores Photos

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Learn more about Miraflores

Miraflores has some of the best 5-star hotels in the city of Lima. The JW Marriot Hotel Lima, the Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, the Crowne Plaza Lima, the Belmond Miraflores Park and more stand out.

Some of the best restaurants in Miraflores are: Rosa Náutica (international food), Señorío de Sulco (Peruvian food), Trattoria di Mambrino (Italian food), Pescados Capitales (seafood), Rincón Gaucho (meat and grills), the chifa Kuo Wha Gardens (Chinese food) and more.

One of the most famous activities in Miraflores is paragliding. In the Raimondi park, next to the Love Park there is a paraport where you can practice this sport. The opening hours are from 10.30 in the morning to 5.30 in the afternoon. The cost is 260 Peruvian soles (74 dollars per tourist).

Some tips

The nights of Miraflores are characterized by the joy in its discos and bars. In the vicinity of Kennedy Park is Calle de las Pizzas, famous for its nightclubs and bars where hundreds of young people gather looking for the perfect ‘spree’.

Miraflores has several spaces where culture is breathed. In addition to the Ricardo Palma cultural center, the following stand out: the Mariscal Andrés Avelino Cáceres museum, the site museum in Parque Reducto Nº2 and the Huaca Pucllana site museum.

Besides Miraflores, the other tourist districts of Lima are: Barranco and Cercado de Lima. There are other of the most popular lodgings for visitors. The city of Lima, along with Cusco, are the most visited regions of Peru.