Why Honeymoon in Lima
Food is the reason. Lima's chefs have turned Peru's ingredients, from Amazon fruits to Andean potatoes and Pacific fish, into a cuisine that draws travelers from around the world. Central, run by Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, has topped the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Maido, Mitsuharu Tsumura's Nikkei restaurant, has long been a fixture near the top of Latin America's ranking.
Even without reservations at famous tables, eating in Lima is a joy. Cebicherías, sangucherías and family-run criollo taverns serve memorable meals at moderate prices.
Beyond food, there is plenty for a couple. Walk the clifftop parks at sunset, explore galleries in Barranco and visit the colonial churches of the center. Lima is also an easy gateway to the rest of the country.
When to Go
Lima has two moods rather than wet and dry seasons. December through April is summer, with sunshine, warm days in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit and locals heading to the beaches south of the city.
From about May through November, a gray marine layer called the garúa often covers the city. It rarely rains, but skies can stay overcast for days and temperatures drop into the 60s. It is still a good time to visit, especially because this is also the dry season in the Andes, ideal for Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Plan your Lima nights around your wider Peru route rather than the weather. Book top restaurants several weeks ahead, especially for weekend dinners.
Where to Stay
Miraflores is the most popular base. It has clifftop parks, the Larcomar shopping center, plenty of restaurants and easy taxis. Belmond Miraflores Park overlooks the ocean from the clifftop, with a rooftop pool. The JW Marriott Lima sits across from Larcomar with sea views.
Barranco is the romantic choice. Hotel B, a Relais & Châteaux property in a restored mansion, has art-filled rooms and is a short walk from galleries and bars. Smaller boutique hotels in old houses line the quiet streets.
San Isidro is calm and green. The Country Club Lima Hotel, a grand old property beside a golf course, has classic rooms and a well-known bar. Expect roughly $200 to $600 a night for good hotels, as an approximate guide.
Romantic Things to Do
Walk the Malecón, the clifftop promenade that runs through Miraflores. Stop at Parque del Amor, the Love Park, with its giant sculpture of an embracing couple. Watch paragliders float over the cliffs. Sunset over the Pacific is the classic moment.
In Barranco, cross the wooden Puente de los Suspiros, the Bridge of Sighs. Local legend says if you hold your breath and make a wish as you cross, it will come true. Visit MATE, the photography museum founded by Mario Testino. Browse the galleries.
Spend a morning at the Museo Larco, with its pre-Columbian collections and a pretty garden café. Explore the historic center's Plaza Mayor and the San Francisco monastery catacombs. At night, have dinner overlooking the illuminated adobe pyramid of Huaca Pucllana.
Getting There and Around
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) has nonstops from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Atlanta, Houston, New York, Newark and Los Angeles on airlines including LATAM, American, Delta and United. Flights take about 5.5 hours from Miami and 7.5 to 8 hours from New York. Many arrive late at night.
The drive to Miraflores or Barranco takes 45 minutes to well over an hour depending on traffic. Book an official airport taxi or a hotel transfer.
In the city, use app-based ride services such as Uber or Cabify, or taxis booked by your hotel or restaurant. Avoid hailing cars on the street. Miraflores and Barranco are walkable. A pleasant clifftop path links them in about 30 minutes.
Food and Drink
Make lunch a ritual. Limeños traditionally eat ceviche at midday when the fish is freshest, so head to a cebichería such as La Mar in Miraflores. Order ceviche, tiradito and a cold pisco sour.
For a big night, book a tasting menu. Central in Barranco focuses on ingredients from different altitudes across Peru. Maido blends Japanese and Peruvian cooking. Kjolle, Pía León's restaurant, shares a building with Central. Book well ahead for all of them.
For something homey, try Isolina in Barranco, a criollo tavern known for big plates of traditional dishes meant for sharing. Taste lomo saltado, ají de gallina and anticuchos, grilled skewers often sold from street carts in the evening. Finish with suspiro a la limeña, a rich caramel dessert.
Honeymoon Tips
- The US State Department rates Peru Level 2, exercise increased caution. In Lima, watch for phone snatching and pickpockets, keep valuables out of sight and use app or hotel taxis.
- Stay in Miraflores, Barranco or San Isidro, which are the most comfortable areas for visitors.
- Reserve top restaurants weeks ahead and confirm a day before.
- Drink bottled or filtered water.
- Pack layers. The garúa months feel cooler than the temperatures suggest.
- Spend a night or two in Lima at the start of your trip to recover from the flight before heading to the mountains.
