How To Spend a Day In Miraflores
Michael continues to travel, searching for new business opportunities and fantastic trip experiences to offer travelers. You can find Michael testing unique tours and hotels around LATAM. He enjoys getting up early and a hot cup of coffee before getting a good workout and starting the day.
Last Updated on September 25, 2024 by James Bustamante
If you want to learn how to spend the day in Miraflores, check out the activities and locations we have put together. Twenty-four hours in Lima’s most popular district might not be enough to cover everything there is to see, from trendy bars serving exotic Pisco sours to ancient pyramids, the Pacific coastline, beautiful parks, and famous restaurants offering delicious local cuisine.
Breakfast at a Local Spot
If you’re planning a day in Miraflores, food should be a priority. Peru, especially Lima, boasts some of the best restaurants in the world, with Miraflores being home to several of them. However, we don’t need to make reservations at the #1-rated restaurant in the world to get a delicious and filling breakfast. There are many great and affordable places to try out on your day in Miraflores.
Start your morning with a proper local breakfast. Skip the oatmeal or omelet and indulge in a delicious sandwich called “pan con chicharrón.” You can find this staple at many spots, but one popular choice is La Lucha Sanguchería.
La Lucha offers a variety of sandwiches, freshly squeezed juices from local fruits, and world-famous fries made with Huayro potatoes—small, starchy Peruvian potatoes that fry up with a perfectly crunchy exterior and soft interior.
My usual order here is a chicharrón sandwich (or turkey, if it’s a weekday), with fresh orange or granadilla juice. Granadilla, a sweet local passion fruit, is a must-try. I tend to skip the coffee here because it’s a bit too roasted and acidic for my taste.
Try The Local Organic Peruvian Coffee
Thanks to Peru’s varied elevations and climates, which are ideal for growing a wide range of crops, the country produces excellent organic coffee. The highlands and highland rainforests are perfect environments for coffee beans.
Peruvian coffee is known for its high quality, unique flavor profiles, and sustainable farming practices. Typically, it offers bright acidity, medium body, and sweet fruity or floral notes, often with hints of nuts or chocolate.
A great spot to enjoy espresso made with local beans is Puku Puku, a small café on Larco Avenue, just across from the famous Larcomar shopping center. They offer beans from various regions, including Chanchamayo and Vraem, near the highlands and the Amazon.
Take A Walk on The Miraflores Park System
After you’re caffeinated and ready to go for a walk, head to the Malecon Cisneros and the “Parque del Amor,” which translates to “the park of love.”
It boasts beautiful mosaics and a sculpture of two people kissing. This point marks the beginning of a walk down the Miraflores park system, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. You can walk this route in either direction for a few minutes to over an hour, depending on how far you want to walk. Since the parks are on a set of cliffs, this spot, in particular, is a great place to take photographs of the ocean below.
A good point of reference is to walk from the Larcomar shopping center, near the Puku Puku cafe, to the “Parque del Amor” and then to the lighthouse.
Let’s Explore Kennedy Park
Let’s head to the iconic Kennedy Park—a vibrant green space in the heart of Miraflores. Kennedy Park is known for its charm and lively atmosphere but primarily for its unique population of friendly stray cats. Take a walk through the Park and enjoy the ambiance, the street vendors, the many cats, and the sights and sounds of locals and visitors alike.
If you visit Kennedy Park in the morning or early afternoon, you’ll see many artists selling their paintings near the park entrances. If you visit late afternoon/evening, you’ll find vendors selling antiques towards the Park’s center area. During the day and evening hours, you’ll find performers scattered throughout the Park, from dancers to poets and even a local man who has been appearing with a trained monkey for years.
If you’re getting hungry from all the walking, don’t worry. The Park has a variety of food vendors offering savory and sweet desserts, like traditional Peruvian donuts called “Picarones.”
Time For A Pisco Sour
It is a little later in the day, and if you’re still thinking of how to spend the day in Miraflores, then it is time for the local cocktail called Pisco Sour. The Pisco sour is made with the Peruvian spirit called “Pisco” which comes from a local strain of grapes. The Pisco Sour has egg whites, bitters, Peruvian lime juice, and syrup. There are almost no wrong places in Miraflores to try the Peruvian cocktail, but I recommend trying one at the Marriott bar near Larcomar or at La Republica del Pisco.
Dinner At La Huaca Pucllana
Your day in Miraflores is incomplete until you try some of the local cuisines in one of Lima’s most interestingly located restaurants. La Huaca Pucllana is a restaurant located next to a pyramid with the same name. This pyramid was built by the pre-Inca Lima culture of the coast.
The restaurant has excellent views of the pyramid and is known for its delicious traditional Peruvian dishes. You can try the famous stir-fried beef (Lomo Saltado), the Aji de Gallina (Hen stewed in yellow hot pepper sauce), and several more. The Huaca Pucllana is also an excellent place to relax after a full day of exploring Miraflores, have a shot of Pisco, or go for another Pisco sour.
Alternatively, you can also book a Peruvian cooking class with your Peru tour package and learn how to make Pisco sours and Peruvian ceviche along with other local delicacies in one afternoon.
Booking A Hotel in Miraflores For The Night
If you plan on spending a full day and night in Miraflores, you’ll need accommodations. Lucky for you, Miraflores is a district with accommodations that fit all styles. From affordable hostels to 5-star luxury properties to Airbnb, you’ll have no problem finding something that fits your criteria, price or location.
If you are looking for something in the budget category, stay at a Casa Andina Standard or Tambo 2 de Mayo in Miraflores. Both of these local chains are centrally located in the district and within walking distance of Kennedy Park.
If you have a bigger budget, we have the 4-star or “select” hotels, like the Hilton Garden Inn with views of the Pacific Ocean or the Marriott Courtyard on Schell Street, just two blocks from Kennedy Park.
If you want a luxury experience in Miraflores, you’ll have options like the Miraflores Park hotel, which is right on the hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Casa Andina Premium, the JW Marriott, and the Iberostar on Malecon 28 de Julio. All of these hotels have large rooms, restaurants, and room service and are well located in the district.
For more information on accommodations in Miraflores, Cusco, Machu Picchu or the Amazon contact one of our expert local advisors and get a customized itinerary.
How To Get To Miraflores
Before figuring out how to spend a day in Miraflores, we first need to reach this centrally located Lima district. Getting to Miraflores from Jorge Chávez International Airport is easy and only takes 45 minutes (depending on traffic). Several taxi services are available right at the airport. Make sure only to hire a service that has a stand inside the airport, and don’t wait to exit the arrivals area to look for a cab. If you booked with Journey Machu Picchu, you will already have a driver and transportation ready to take you to Miraflores.
The drive starts a little slow as we pass all of the traffic surrounding the airport area, but it smooths out when we pass the highway that runs around the beach called “La Costa Verde.”
If you are in any other district of Lima, Miraflores is at most 20 minutes away.
Conclusion
I hope this blog post gave you some good pointers on how to spend a day in Miraflores. There are several other activities you can do, like parachuting off the Malecon de Miraflores, visiting the chocolate museum, or even taking a surfing lesson at the Costa Verde. If you need more ideas on what to do in Miraflores or want to know about other destinations in Peru, don’t hesitate to contact one of our travel advisors today.
