Barranco

Barranco is a historic residential district perched on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, about 20 minutes south of Lima's city center. Once a summer retreat for Lima's elite in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it fell into romantic decay and was eventually adopted by artists, musicians, and intellectuals. Today it's Lima's most culturally alive neighborhood — a compact grid of colorful republican-era houses, bougainvillea-draped walls, and museums that punch well above their weight.

Walking Barranco means wandering past the famous Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), a wooden pedestrian bridge with a legend attached — hold your breath while crossing and make a wish. The streets around it are covered in murals and lead down to a barranca (ravine) that opens onto a clifftop walkway with sweeping ocean views. The Bajada de Baños path winds down to a small beach. MATE, the Mario Testino Museum on the main plaza, showcases world-class fashion and portrait photography, and the DÉDALO artisan market is the best design shopping in the city. As evening falls, the restaurants and bars along Avenida Grau and Jiron Junín fill up — this is where Lima goes to eat, drink, and hear live music.

Barranco is small enough to explore on foot in a few hours, but most visitors end up staying much longer once they find a pisco sour they like. Come in the late afternoon to catch the golden light on the cliffs and stay for dinner — the seafood here rivals anything in Miraflores, and the atmosphere is far more local. Weekends bring more crowds and better live music; weekday evenings are quieter and easier for restaurants. Uber is the easiest way to get here, and the neighborhood is generally safe to walk around, though keep an eye on your phone after dark.