Barranco

The heart of the neighborhood is Plaza San Francisco, where you’ll find the Church and Convent of Saint Francis as well as a variety of cafes, galleries, bars, and restaurants. Head downhill toward the waterfront, and you'll find fantastical murals, a popular sunset lookout point, and bars and restaurants that stay open late.

Barranco is full of footpaths and is best explored on a walking or biking tour. You can opt for half- or full-day tours, or combine a visit to Barranco with a stop in the upscale Miraflores shopping district or the nearby Pachacamac Archaeological Center.

• The neighborhood is arranged on a slope; wear comfortable shoes if you plan to explore.

• Barranco is full of photo ops, so bring a camera if you want to capture the brightly painted colonial buildings and colorful street art.

• The neighborhood hosts a variety of street fairs and music festivals.

Barranco is located on Lima’s coast, south of Miraflores and north of Chorrillos. To reach the area via public transportation, take the Ruta Troncal line of the city’s electric express bus, El Metropolitano.

Barranco is a neighborhood that offers plenty of daytime activities as well as vibrant nightlife. The neighborhood hosts street fairs and music festivals nearly every weekend. Lima is temperate for much of the year, but summers can be extremely hot, and winters feel colder than you’d think based on the average temperatures. A dense morning fog rolls in from December to April.

Famous for its independent art scene, Barranco also has outstanding museums. The Lima Contemporary Art Museum (MAC Lima) features modern and contemporary local and international art dating from 1950 onward. The Pedro de Osma Museum, housed in an early 20th-century mansion with lovely gardens, has one of Peru’s best painting collections. Museo Mario Testino (MATE) displays the famous Peruvian fashion photographer’s works alongside images by some international artists.