Caral

The region around the capital is located on the central Pacific coast. Lima, founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, is the main arrival point for international flights; its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988. Approximately 200 kilometers to the north, in the Supe Valley, lies the Sacred City of Caral, considered by UNESCO to be the oldest center of a civilization in the Americas.

Peru's capital lies on the Pacific coast and is the first stop for most travelers. Francisco Pizarro founded it in 1535; as the seat of the Viceroyalty, it became Spanish South America's most important city. Its historic center, with its cathedral, monasteries, and wooden balconies, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.For travelers, three districts are particularly important: the Centro Histórico with Plaza Mayor and the San Francisco Monastery, Miraflores with the Malecón along the cliffs and the adobe pyramid Huaca Pucllana, and Barranco, the bohemian district with galleries, murals, and the Puente de los Suspiros. In the Pueblo Libre district, the Museo Larco displays one of the country's great collections of pre-Columbian art.

The historic center of Lima is located in the districts of Lima and Rímac, on the Río Rímac. Its focal point is the Plaza Mayor, where Pizarro founded the city in 1535, bordered by the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace with its wooden balconies, and the Government Palace. UNESCO initially added the Monastery of San Francisco to its World Heritage List in 1988 and extended the entry in 1991 to include the entire old town.Two blocks from the Plaza lies the Basilica of San Francisco, featuring a library and catacombs that served as a burial site until the early 19th century. Visit the district during the day; the Foreign Office advises particular caution in the city center in the evenings.

Miraflores is the district where most travelers in Lima stay. It is located on the steep cliffs above the Pacific: Along the Malecón, parks and pathways stretch, and on the cliff, the Larcomar shopping center is built into the rock. The heart of the neighborhood is Parque Kennedy.Amidst residential blocks stands Huaca Pucllana, a seven-tiered adobe pyramid, which the Lima culture used as a ceremonial and administrative center between approximately 200 and 700 AD. You can visit it with a guided tour, and a small museum is included.

Barranco is located south of Miraflores on the coastal cliffs and was once a seaside resort for wealthy Limeños. In the early 20th century, writers and artists moved here; today, colorful houses, murals, galleries, cafes, and bars define the district. Barranco is Lima's nightlife district.Its landmark is the wooden Puente de los Suspiros, beneath which the cobbled Bajada de los Baños leads down to the sea. Barranco also houses the MATE photography museum by Mario Testino and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MAC). The Auswärtige Amt names Barranco, alongside Miraflores, as a district where evening thefts occur.