Top 11 Historical Tours in Lima

1.Lima’s Vibrant Heritage: Exploring the City’s Landmarks Half-day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 581 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Spend about 3.5 hours seeing Lima with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. Visit Love Park, view Huaca Pucllana, explore the Cathedral and Santo Domingo Convent, and walk the Main Square. Pickup is offered in Miraflores, San Isidro, and Barranco, with some itinerary changes on cathedral-closure days.

“The experience was awesome! Victor, the Guide, provided very helpful and meaningful information about the attractions and the history of the city. The car was comfortable, and I think that the tour's duration is good - I was able to visit some other points again on the evening, after the lunch.”

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2.Historic Center Street Food, Market, and Eateries Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 216 reviews · 4 hours · from $69

Spend four hours walking Lima’s Historic Center with an English-speaking guide such as Marcos, Aura, or Valeria. Taste anticuchos, chilcanos, churros, picarones, market fruit, and chifa specialties, while seeing Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, San Francisco, and Barrio Chino. Expect plenty of food, several short walks, and no vegetarian or vegan alternatives.

“YUM! This tour was informative and really tasty. Shainy (sorry if I spelt it wrong) was fantastic and gave us interesting information about the culture and the history of the foods. Went away very full.”

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3.Historic Downtown, Miraflores & Catacombs Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $75Top rated

Explore Lima with a private guide such as María, Sofía, Alexandra, or William. Walk Miraflores, see San Isidro’s olive trees, visit colonial plazas and the Cathedral, then tour San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Private transport, snacks, and a drink are included, with morning, afternoon, and early evening departures.

“This was one of the best city tours we've ever taken. John, our driver, safely maneuvered the insane Lima traffic with skill, ease and great attitude! Alexandra was extremely well informed and directed us with true joy through her city. She was interesting and fun to be with. She was also flexible, altering our tour a little to spend more time in a specific location that we wanted to hear more about. She rerouted us to avoid too many steps for me. Great guide!”

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4.Lima Peru Sea Lions, History and Palomino Callao Islands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · from $72

From La Punta in Callao, you’ll take a speedboat around San Lorenzo, Frontón, Cavinzas, and Palomino Islands. Expect wild sea lions, Humboldt penguins, guano birds, rock formations, and stories about Peru. Rodrigo or Diego may guide the small group. A wetsuit, snacks, and water are included, but snorkeling gear and transportation are extra.

“Great experience, have told various other people about this trip recommending they go when in Lima!! Seeing penguins and sea lions in their natural environment was priceless. Getting the opportunity to swim with the sea lions was absolutely amazing. Thank you so much!!”

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5.Lima´s Vibrant Heritage & Larco Museum of Cultures Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $69

Spend four hours tracing Lima’s colonial past at Santo Domingo and the Cathedral, then viewing ancient Peruvian art at Larco Museum. Guides such as Suzanne, Gabriel, and Daniel explain the art and history in clear English, with hotel pickup from Miraflores or San Isidro.

“Booked as a 2.30 (around 5 hrs )30 hrs before message sent moved to 9.00, the tour lasted 4hrs. That said all to plan with Gabriel excellant very clear English. Went to places with a guide that the tourist would not be able to. Even with reduced time good value if you add admissions, taxis. The Larco museum is interesting. So we paid £37.00+ tips”

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6.Historic Downtown, Miraflores & Catacombs Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 4 hours · from $75

You’ll ride with a private guide through Lima’s historic center, San Isidro, and Miraflores. Visit San Francisco Convent and Catacombs, see colonial balconies and Huaca Pucllana, stroll El Olivar, and finish at Love Park and Larcomar. Guides speak English, Spanish, or Portuguese, with hotel pickup included.

“Esperábamos conocer mucho mas de Miraflores. Solo visitamos el paseo del amor y de ahí pasamos al centro. En el centro fuimos directo a la iglesia de las Catacumbas y de ahí finalizó en la Plaza Mayor. Osea , mucho título , para solo visitar tres puntos. La realidad que hay mejores tours que este.”

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7.Historical, Colonial, and Modern City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 21 reviews · 4 hours · from $40

See three sides of Lima in four hours with a bilingual English or Spanish guide. Visit San Francisco Convent and its catacombs, view Pucllana Pyramid, and pass through San Isidro, Miraflores, and Larcomar. Hotel pickup and return are included for stays in Miraflores or San Isidro.

“Estubo Bueno, pero faltò entusiasmo al guía, transmitir ánimo y emociòn en todo lo que explicò, parecía cansado de repetir y repetir su repertorio. El recorrido valio la pena, pero con otro guia hubiera sido fantastico”

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8.Full-Day Lima: a Culinary, Historic & Traditional City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 8 hours · from $170

Spend eight hours with a small group of up to six, visiting Lima’s market, historic center, and Barranco. You’ll taste cacao, pisco cocktails, ceviche, and picarones, watch a chef prepare ceviche, and travel by minivan from a Miraflores or San Isidro hotel. English and Spanish guides are available.

“Guide was great. Food was exceptional and the owner of the restaurant showed great personal attention.”

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9.LIMA WALKING TOUR CATACOMBS FROM MIRAFLORES, HISTORICAL CENTER, WINES+BUS

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 8 reviews

Travel from Miraflores by local bus into Lima’s historic center, then walk from Plaza San Martín to Plaza Mayor, Lima Cathedral, Santo Domingo, and San Francisco’s catacombs. A live English or Spanish guide, often Fabio, adds context, while a short pisco and wine tasting closes the route.

“Fantastische tour. Onze gids was Favio en hij was eerder op de afgesproken plek dan wij. Hij stuurde netjes een appje waarin hij zich voorstelde en dat hij er al was. Hij was zo welbespraakt en liet ons alle ins en outs van Lima zien. Mijn vriendin woont in Lima en zij kreeg alsmaar nieuwe dingen te horen, dus ook voor haar was dit als nieuw. Favio wist zoveel over de historie te vertellen, je kon zien dat hij gepassioneerd was over zijn stad. Hij wist je echt te boeien. Voor ons was dit meer dan het geld waard. We hebben meer tours gedaan in verschillende steden, maar nog nooit…”

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10.Enjoy Lima Walking Historic Center, Plaza San Martin and Plaza de Armas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $40

Meet your English or Spanish-speaking guide at Gran Hotel Bolívar for a two-hour walk through Lima’s historic center. See Plaza San Martín, Jirón de la Unión, Plaza de Armas, Government Palace, the Cathedral, San Francisco Church, Chabuca Granda Boulevard, and Parque La Muralla. Tickets and transport are not included.

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11.Historic Center Walking Tour with Pisco Sour Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $25Best value

Join official guide Cristian for a two-hour walk from Plaza San Martín through Lima’s Historic Center. See colonial churches, grand squares, government buildings, and old commercial streets, then learn about pisco and mix several Pisco Sour-style drinks. The tour is offered in English or Spanish.

“Very nice walking tour! Cristian was very informative and pleasant, he answered all our questions and gave us many tips.”

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