A Guide to the City Tours of Lima, Peru

While Peru is becoming more and more popular among international travelers, the capitol city of Lima has never been considered much of a destination. Cool and cloudy for months at a time, smoggy and dirty all year round, most people think of Lima as nothing more than a stopping off point, a place to change planes on the way to somewhere more exciting.

But recently there have been signs that this idea is changing. And certainly, there are many things to do and see in Lima. Not only does the city offer some of the finest shopping in the country, there are also museums, parks and zoos, cathedrals and archeological sites to fascinate the most jaded traveler.

One of the best ways to see Lima is with a guide. There is a lot to see, and if your time in the city is limited, a tour group is one of the best ways to see as much as possible. One of the better known tour organizations is Lima Tours. They offer a variety of themed tours in Lima, including a cathedral tour and a culinary tour that visits markets and restaurants. One of their most thrilling tours is the boat trip to Palominos Island, where you'll get the opportunity to see thousands of sea birds and Humboldt penguins, and also get up close and personal with the island's colony of sea lions.

One of the most popular city tour groups is the MiraBus. From their kiosk in Parque Kennedy in Miraflores, the company offers a variety of tours in and around Lima on board their distinctive double-decker buses. Their "Lima by Night" tour has proven so popular that they now offer three different evening options to tour the illuminated City of Kings. The original is still very popular, and includes a stop at Lima's world famous Magical Water Circuit, a complex of high tech dancing water fountains.

Looking for something a little greener? Try Bike Tours of Lima. This fun group provides the bike and helmet; you provide the pedal power on one of their variety of tours. They have routes that cover the historic city center of Lima, or you might choose an evening tour of the Miraflores party district.

If you'd rather see things on your own instead of with a group, talk to your taxi driver. Many taxi drivers will offer full day rates to drive you around to various parts of town. If you find a taxi driver that you like, this is a great way for you to get around and see the city without worrying about schedules or keeping up with the group