Peru is a country located in western South America, bordering Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and the Pacific Ocean. It is a land of valleys, summits, and highlands, with the Andes and the Amazon as great symbols of its natural heritage, in which Machu Picchu stands out. Do you know what the capital of Peru is?
Lima, the capital city, retains the essence of its colonial past while exuding a vibrant modern energy. In winter, the weather is generally cloudy with light rain, while summers offer the best views on the horizon, accompanied by a refreshing sea breeze. The city features urban sprawl with new streets, quiet elegant corners among ancient buildings, and a night air scented with a unique essence that brings an incomparable tranquility.
Lima, the capital of Peru, has a population of 7,605,742 inhabitants (excluding the port of Callao). It houses about a quarter of the total Peruvian population and reflects the country's great ethnic and cultural diversity. Its millions of inhabitants are primarily a result of rural migration over the last few decades, especially since the 1960s. At the beginning of independence, it was predominantly composed of the old white population of Spanish, mestizo, Amerindian, and African origin from the viceroyalty period. With the establishment of the Republic, the city became a destination for European immigrants (mostly Italian, British, French, German, and other Central European) and, at the end of the 19th century, Asian immigrants (mainly Chinese and Japanese), further contributing to its ethnic diversity. Lima is ranked 27th among the most populated cities in the world.
The descendants of Europeans constitute the economically dominant segment of the population of Lima, Peru, being very active in the industry and finance sectors of the city. Most of them are descendants of Spaniards and Italians, but there are also significant numbers of Germans and other Central Europeans. Afro-Peruvians, who were initially brought to the region as slaves, are also an important group, despite their numerical minority, contributing to the city's ethnic diversity. During the 20th century, Lima also became home to Asian communities, particularly of Japanese and Chinese descent. The Japanese community in Lima is the second largest in South America after São Paulo. However, it is the descendants of migrants from the rest of the country (from the mid-20th century onwards), mostly mestizos, who currently make up the majority of Lima's population.
According to a survey conducted in 2008 by the Institute of Public Opinion of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, of the 503 respondents, 63% considered themselves mestizo, 22% Amerindian (Quechua, Amazonian, and Aymara), 7% white, 4% Afro-Peruvian, 1% Asian, and 3% did not specify or considered themselves from other groups.
One of the theories about the origin of the name of the city is that it comes from the Quechua word 'Limaq.' Its meaning is 'he who speaks' or 'he who has the ability to speak.' According to this theory, however, the name does not refer to the inhabitants of Lima, Peru, but to the Rímac River, which is known as 'the talkative river' because the stones dragged along its channel generate a sound similar to babbling.
The capital of the Republic of Peru is Lima, which was founded in 1535. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro founded Lima in 1535, choosing it as the capital due to its strategic location and its main port, Callao, which was a focal point on the coast of Peru and South America. Lima was the Spanish political, commercial, and ecclesiastical capital of South America and the headquarters of the Holy Inquisition. During colonial times, the city was considered the most important metropolis in Latin America.
Today, Lima is the economic and political center of the country and home to nearly 30% of Peru's total population. Its surviving Columbian and colonial buildings, along with temples, give the city a wonderful mix of architecture. The city center is where you can appreciate this blend by visiting landmarks such as the Cathedral, the Torre Tagle Palace, San Francisco, Santo Domingo, San Pedro and Las Nazarenas churches, and the beautiful nineteenth-century houses with stunning balconies. A little later, on the way to Miraflores, another important area of the city, you'll find the Huaca Pucllana, an impressive pre-Columbian ceremonial complex. Many consider it a very good starting point for the tour.
Lima, the capital of Peru, is located in the coastal desert region of the country, at the foot of the western slope of the central Andes. Although the Spanish settlement was originally situated in the Rímac River valley within the domains of Taulli Chugo, today it extends across vast desert areas and into other valleys. While the main square is located at an altitude of 161 meters above sea level, the district of Lurigancho reaches 950 meters above sea level.
Lima borders the coast from Km 50 of the North Pan-American Highway, near the Ancón District on the border with the Province of Huaral, to the District of Pucusana at Km 70 of the South Pan-American Highway, bordering the Province of Cañete. This gives it an extension of just over 130 km of coastline and beaches. To the east, it extends approximately to kilometer 50 of the Central Highway in the District of Chosica, bordering the Province of Huarochirí.
The Pan-American Highway connects Lima with several cities along the coast of Peru, Ecuador and Chile. To the east, the Central Highway allows communication with cities in the mountains and central jungle.
From the Jorge Chavez International Airport you can take flights to the most important cities of Peru and the world. It is located in the province of Callao, 40 minutes from the city of Lima.
The weather in Lima, Peru is unique due to its geographical location. It combines a virtual absence of precipitation with very high humidity and persistent cloud cover. Although located in a tropical zone at 12 degrees south latitude and almost at sea level, Lima surprises with its unusual characteristics. The central coast of Peru has a series of atypical microclimates due to the influence of the cold Humboldt Current from Antarctica, the proximity of the mountain range, and its tropical location, giving Lima a subtropical, desert, and humid climate at the same time.
It can be said that the weather in Lima, Peru is warm without excessive tropical heat or extreme cold that requires heating at home, except for very few winters. The average annual temperature ranges from 18.5 to 19°C, with an annual maximum of about 29°C. Summers, from December to April, have temperatures between 28 and 21 °C. Only during an El Niño phenomenon does the summer temperature exceed 31°C. Winters, from June to September, have temperatures between 19 and 12 °C, with historically recorded lows of 5 °C. The months of spring and fall (September, October and May) have mild temperatures ranging from 23 to 17°C.
In addition, relative humidity is extremely high, reaching up to 100%, resulting in persistent fog from June to December until the arrival of summer, when the clouds dissipate. Summers are sunny, humid and hot (December-April), while winters are cloudy and moderate (June-September). Rainfall is almost nonexistent, with an annual average of 7 mm, which is the lowest of any metropolitan area in the world. Lima receives only 1,284 hours of sunshine per year, with 28.6 hours in July and 179.1 hours in January, which are exceptionally low for its latitude.
The combination of these climatic phenomena is shown below:
| Weather | Station | Min Temp. | Max. Temp | Humidity |
| Summer (January - March) | Warm | 21 °C | 30° C | 70% |
| Fall (April - June) | Cold | 17° C | 22° C | 80% |
| Winter (July - September) | Cold | 14° C | 18° C | 95% |
| Spring (October - December) | Warm | 17° C | 24° C | 80% |
Read More: Weather in Lima Peru
Intense cultural activities and entertainment have characterized this city since the sixteenth century, and now he offers a number of museums and art galleries, as well as modern shopping centers and nightlife. Another interesting aspect of the city is its rich ethnic fusion that can be seen in his witty and funny people, in the tradition of the Lord of Miracles (Lord of Miracles), and also the wide range of culinary options.In 1991 UNESCO declared Lima Monument history of mankind, so the opportunity to visit this wonderful city is not lost.
Take a delicious Lima Tasty Tours:
Gastronomic visits that reveal Lima as the locals know it, with many samples in the markets. It offers a friendly relationship with customers, personalized options and internal access to less known culinary treasures. Tours are available in English.
Visit the archaeological complex of Pachacamac:
Located about 31 km southeast of the city center, the archaeological complex of Pachacamac is a pre-Columbian citadel with adobe and stone palaces and temple pyramids.
Explore the Museum Larco:
In a mansion of the viceroy of the eighteenth century, this museum offers one of the largest and best presented ceramic exhibits in Lima. Founded by the pre-Columbian collector Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1926, the collection includes more than 50,000 pots, with ceramic works from the Cupisnique, Chimú, Chancay, Nazca and Inca cultures.
Drop in the Church of Santo Domingo:
It is known as the final resting place for three important Peruvian saints: San Juan Macías, Santa Rosa de Lima and San Martín de Porres (the first black saint of the continent). The convent, an extensive complex full of courtyards lined with baroque paintings and clad in ancient Spanish tiles, contains the tombs of the saints.
To travel to Peru is to awaken dormant dreams, to connect with yourself, to enter 5 thousand years of living history. Get ready to master the waves on totora horses, surfboards and enjoy sunsets in oases with protective dunes. In the mountains, with the sound of quenas in the wind, you will breathe the pure air of the Andes and contemplate with devotion the harmony of man and nature in Machu Picchu. In the Peruvian jungle, the Amazon River will welcome you with pink dolphins and invite you to dance, to be free. To cross the regions of Peru is to enjoy a mestizo gastronomy, unique and recognized in the world. If your heart says yes, dare to visit.
Machu PicchuT Travel Agency offers the best itineraries for Peru tours, including popular destinations such as the Inca Trail and the magnificent citadel of Machu Picchu.
