The Miraflores Lima, Peru District

Last Updated on August 16, 2021 by James Bustamante

Miraflores in Lima, Peru will undoubtedly be one of your stops when you visit the capital city. This is a rather upscale district that is roughly 6.2 miles (10 km) from Lima’s city center. 

Miraflores was one of the original areas that were established by the Spanish (but not formalized) right after the foundation of Lima. There are several important historic events that happened in the now upscale district. For example, during the War of the Pacific, Miraflores was the setting for one of the most important battles between the invading Chileans and Peruvians.  This is precisely where Lima gets the nickname of “La Ciudad Heroica” or “The Heroic City”. 

The History of Miraflores, Lima Peru

The district of Miraflores was officially established on January 2nd, 1857.  Francisco Pizarro originally established Lima in the year 1535 when it became a Spanish colony so Miraflores took some time to formalize. The history of the district of Miraflores is as old as the history of the occupation of the Peruvian coastline.

The first people to live here were hunter-gatherers and fishermen.  This is apparent when you look at the ruins left by the Lima culture which are scattered throughout the area. One such example is the Huaca Pucllana ruins which can be part of a tour. 

The Origins Of Miraflores

In The XX century, Miraflores was still a small seaside town with a small population of 1,200 people. It wasn’t until the construction of the Avenida Arequipa that connected the district with the rest of the city that Miraflores began to grow and flourish. The following 40 years allowed this Lima district to become an important commercial and residential area.

Next up was the construction of the Via Expressa and the Costa Verde beach circuit. Both of these roads helped Miraflores continue to grow in the ’60s when it was becoming a more attractive place to live. 

It was not until the 90’s when the Miraflores municipality began to further make this district more attractive by adding parks and making sure the streets were clean. Now it is one of the most popular places to live or start a business in Lima, Peru. Miraflores is also considered one of the safest districts to live in. 

For the most part, up until the 19th century Miraflores had been known as a town where you would go when you wanted to visit the beach and relax. Peruvians would head to the seaside town to enjoy the water, relax and go fishing. As the heroic city of Lima began to grow throughout the years, Miraflores eventually became one of the largest, most popular, and important districts in Lima. 

Where is Miraflores?

So if you are coming to Lima, where can you find the district of Miraflores? From the Jorge Chavez International airport in Lima, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to get to Miraflores, this will depend on how much traffic there is. The typical route is to leave the airport in el Callao until the driver gets to Avenida La Marina in the San Miguel district.

Near to Avenida Universitaria, the driver will make a right until they reach the beach circuit road below the cliffs. At this point, the car will drive across the beach circuit until you reach the Miraflores district.

The driver will head to whichever area the hotel is located at, most commonly it will be around Avenida Alcanfores. This is the area where most of the hotels will be located as well as restaurants and stores. 

What Can I Do in Miraflores, Lima Peru?

From walking around in the endless parks that face the ocean to tasting some of the most exquisite gastronomy around the world, Miraflores has plenty to do for any and all types of travelers. 

Take a Walk on The “Malecon de Miraflores”

There is a long boardwalk known as the “Malecon de Miraflores” which stretches throughout most of the districts and then onto the rest of the coastline. In total there are around 6.2 miles of amazing Pacific ocean views for travelers to see. 

Generally, travelers will walk from the Larcomar shopping down the “Malecon de la Reserva” all the way to the lighthouse. In the other direction, travelers can walk to Armendariz Avenue and into the Bohemian district of Barranco where they can visit art galleries. 

Where Can I Go Paragliding in Miraflores?

You can go paragliding in the Malecon or boardwalk in Miraflores, this is literally a 5-minute walk from the Larcomar commercial center. Normally, you would not think of activity this adventurous in the city. This is where the variety that the district of Miraflores, Lima comes into play.

The cliffs in Miraflores that overlook the Pacific ocean provide good conditions for this type of activity. A wide area to take off would be the parks on the “Malecon” and you can land thereafter you are finished with the experience as well. There is also the option to land right near the beach. This high flying activity will definitely provide one of the best views of the district. 

Surfing in Miraflores, Lima Peru

Along the coastline that runs through Miraflores, you’ll find a large surfing culture. You can catch people from very early in the morning paddling past the shoreline and onto some good waves. There are primarily two surfer-friendly beaches in the district, Makaha and Waikiki beach.

You can also find a plethora of surfing schools for you to choose from in case you want to take that first lesson. The waves are relatively easy-going, both beaches are said to be for beginners.  There are bigger and better waves in other points of the coastline, it stretches for more than 6 miles though. 

Visit Parque Kennedy (Kennedy Park)

The popular Parque Kennedy is usually the main attraction due to its centric location in Miraflores. Right around the park, you will find popular bars, delicious restaurants, fast food, hotels, travel agencies, department stores, and much more. If you happen to be crossing through Kennedy Park on a weekend, you might be able to see street performers in the miniature colosseum. 

Parque Kennedy is also famous for the hundreds of stray cats that have decided to call the park home. It started as a place where people would drop off unwanted cats and quickly became a characteristic of the location. Some people will refer to Kennedy park as “Parque de Los Gatos” or Cat Park. 

We recommend visiting Parque Kennedy when you feel like relaxing and just taking in the Miraflores sights. You can enjoy a tasty treat from one of the street vendors as you watch street performers in the afternoons. There is even a section where merchants bring antiques in the hopes of making a sale, you’d be surprised by some of the interesting items you can find here. 

Going To The Huaca Pucllana

The Huaca Pucllana is a set of pre-Incan ruins in Lima, Peru. The site is located at the heart of Miraflores, it provides quite the contrast between the pyramidal pre-Incan structures and the surrounding modern buildings. The Huaca Pucllana also has a traditional Peruvian restaurant by the same name right next to it.

It can be considered an upscale location with a nice view of the ancient structures, this makes it a perfect place to enjoy a traditional Pisco sour or dine on Lomo Saltado. We recommend going on the tour of the Huaca Pucllana first and then moving on to the restaurant. You probably wouldn’t want to tour a Pyramid after a few Pisco Sours. 

Visit The Larcomar Shopping Center

Maybe we should have led off with this activity since several on our list use the Larcomar Shopping center as a landmark. This impressive multi-story shopping center is situated on the cliffs in Miraflores. It offers ample views of the Pacific ocean, stores to go shopping, and top-rated restaurants to dine at.

This outside mall even has a movie theater and a regular theater in case you wanted to catch a play. Within Larcomar you will find large international chain stores and some more local brand stores as well.

If you want to dine while looking at the ocean but don’t want to spend a lot of money in one of the upscale restaurants, there is a food court with everything from Mcdonalds to KFC and some Peruvian fast-food chains as well. 

Buy Souvenirs From The Inka Markets

Who doesn’t like shopping for locally sourced souvenirs during a trip? Well, if you are looking to do a little souvenir shopping while in Miraflores you can head to the Inka markets located in Petit Thouars Avenue. You won’t just find one market but several where you can walk the halls as you look for Alpaca or silver products.

You will find many locally sourced products that have their origin in the Peruvian highlands, Amazon rainforest, and parts of Lima. Shopping in Lima for souvenirs really is not that much more expensive than buying the same products in: Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, or Puno.

Visit Museums and Art Galleries in Miraflores

If you have already been to Peru you know that most of the most important museums and art galleries in Lima are actually located in the city center. There are a few very interesting museums in Miraflores, Lima you’ll want to visit while there though. 

You can start at the Miraflores Ricardo Palma Museum. The museum is the actual writer’s old house that has been converted to a place of national heritage. Next up, you can head to the Amano Pre-Columbian Textile museum to see Yoshitaro Amano’s private collections. You will also find some interesting archaeological treasures during the visit.

Try Peruvian Food

Lima is known around the world as having some of the best food options to try. Peru is now and has been for some time the winner of the best culinary destination in the world. This is not just us saying it,  according to the World travel awards Peru has won 8 years in a row.

Miraflores is at the center of this by housing some of the best restaurants in the world. If you are a foodie and simply must dine in one of these world-class restaurants make sure to make your reservation ahead of your trip. Restaurants like Maido and Central have long waiting lists and you would not want to waste this opportunity. 

You won’t need to spend a lot of money to have a delicious Peruvian meal though. There are a plethora of mid and low-priced restaurants that serve some of the most delicious dishes you have ever tried. Have a taste of the local ceviche, Lomo Saltado, Aji de Gallina, or any of the other Peruvian dishes you have to try.

Having a Drink in Miraflores, Lima Peru

What’s one of the best things to do in the evenings in Miraflores? Most locals and travelers will agree that Miraflores has some great places to go and have a drink. Some restaurants will be open late and have good bar options, you will also see a wide array of bars along with Avenida Pardo, Larcomar, Avenida Larco, and near Kennedy Park.

Try the local cocktails made from Pisco and see how the experts show off how to make Pisco Sour. There is nothing like a relaxing evening with a good cocktail after a full day of touring the city. 

Conclusion

From a tourist’s perspective Miraflores in Lima, Peru will be the most popular district to spend time in. The swanky district is near the most amazing coastal views of the Pacific Ocean. You can literally walk down the “Malecon” and catch people paragliding, dancing, exercising, and much more, while you hear the crashing waves below.

It is also a great place to do some quality shopping thanks to all the nearby stores, from Alpaca to leather products and everything in between. The food is absolutely amazing in the country and Miraflores happens to have some of the best restaurants in the world. So if you are a foodie, Miraflores is a great place to walk around and find a good restaurant. 

Cover Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos