Contact Us
Lima: +51 981 320 425
lima@pariwanahostel.com
Cusco: +51 941 047 044
cusco@pariwanahostel.com
A walking route through Lima’s Historic Center to discover squares, churches, convents, museums and streets full of history.
This route takes you to Lima’s Historic Center, one of the most important areas to understand the city’s history. Along the way, you’ll pass squares, pedestrian streets, churches, convents, public buildings, galleries, museums and spaces connected to colonial and republican Lima.
From Pariwana Hostel Lima, you can reach the starting point in two ways: by taking the Metropolitano to Colmena Station and walking a few blocks to Plaza San Martín, or by taking a taxi directly to the square.
Follow the map from your phone and use this guide as a quick reference to know what to look for in each part of the walk.
Option A: Metropolitano. Take the Metropolitano to Colmena Station. From there, walk about two blocks to Plaza San Martín, where the route begins.
Option B: Taxi. Take a taxi from Pariwana Lima to Plaza San Martín. This option is more direct and may be more comfortable if you have limited time.
1 | Start at Plaza San MartínBegin your walk at Plaza San Martín, one of the most important squares in the Historic Center. It’s a good place to get oriented before heading toward Lima’s oldest area. |
2 | Walk along Jirón de la UniónFollow Jirón de la Unión, a classic pedestrian street in downtown Lima. For many years, it was one of the city’s most elegant and busy streets. Today, it connects Plaza San Martín with Plaza Mayor. |
3 | Reach Plaza Mayor of LimaContinue to Plaza Mayor of Lima, founded on January 18, 1535. Around the square, you’ll find the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Municipal Palace. |
4 | Visit Pasaje Santa RosaHalf a block from the square, in front of the Cathedral, you’ll find Pasaje Santa Rosa, a colorful passage where you can also visit the Pancho Fierro Municipal Gallery, which usually has free entry. |
5 | See the Historic Library of the Municipal PalaceHead to the Historic Library of the Municipal Palace, specialized in Lima’s history and heritage archives. It’s an interesting stop if you want to understand the city beyond its main monuments. |
6 | Continue to Santo Domingo ConventThen continue to Santo Domingo Convent. The University of San Marcos operated here in the 16th century, and the remains of Saint Rose of Lima and Saint Martin de Porres, two of Lima’s most important saints, rest here. |
7 | Walk toward the Basilica and Convent of San FranciscoWalk along Jr. Áncash toward the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco. Here you’ll find the famous Catacombs, which served as a colonial cemetery until 1810 and can now be visited with a local guided tour. |
8 | Reach Alameda Chabuca GrandaContinue along Jr. Camaná until you reach the Rímac River, where you’ll find Alameda Chabuca Granda. It’s a good place to take a break and see another side of the Historic Center. |
9 | Walk behind the Government PalaceTurn toward Jr. Áncash and walk behind the Government Palace until you reach Jr. Lampa. This area connects several historic buildings and traditional downtown streets. |
10 | Visit the Central Museum - MUCENGo down toward Jr. Ucayali to visit the Central Museum - MUCEN, located in a former bank from the 1920s. Entry is free and it features rooms dedicated to pre-Columbian art, traditional art and painting. |
11 | Return toward Pariwana LimaTo return, you can walk along Jr. Lampa and Jr. Carabaya to Colmena Station and take the Metropolitano. If you prefer to return by taxi, a good pick-up area is Jr. Lampa, because it has more open and accessible spaces. |
Bring water, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. This route is best enjoyed during the day, ideally between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., so you can take advantage of natural light and find cultural spaces open.
The Historic Center is a busy area during the day, but keep your personal belongings in sight, avoid showing your phone unnecessarily and be especially careful in crowded areas. For the return, if it’s already late or you’re tired, consider taking a taxi from Jr. Lampa.