Lima & Central Peru

Centered on Lima, South America's gastronomic capital, and extending to the ancient city of Caral, the Mantaro Valley and the central highlands around Ayacucho.

This region follows the Peruvian travel convention of the "Center" and, taken by whole regions, includes the Lima region (including Metropolitan Lima), the Constitutional Province of Callao, and five central highland regions: Junín, Pasco, Huánuco, Huancavelica and Ayacucho. Lima is the entry point for most international flights and the transit hub for travel across Peru. Highlights: Lima's historic center (a World Heritage Site) with the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and the catacombs of the Convent of San Francisco; the clifftop paths, arts districts and sunsets of Miraflores and Barranco; and Lima's status as South America's gastronomic capital, with world-renowned restaurants, ceviche and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) cuisine. The city and its outskirts also have pre-Inca sites such as Huaca Pucllana and Pachacamac, as well as the Larco Museum. About 3 hours' drive north of Lima, Caral is one of the oldest urban sites in the Americas (a World Heritage Site). East across the Andes lie Huancayo and the Mantaro Valley, reached along one of the highest railways in the world (the Central Railway). Ayacucho is famed for its many colonial-era churches and handicrafts, while Oxapampa and other places on the eastern slope form the transition zone from highlands to rainforest. Most visitors spend 2–3 days in Lima, plus a day trip to Caral; exploring the central highlands in depth takes 5–7 days. Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is the hub, Ayacucho has flights, and the highland cities are mostly reached by long-distance bus. Watch for altitude sickness in the highlands, and in Lima use licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps.

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Itineraries