Barranco
Lima's bohemian quarter: painted houses, murals and the Bridge of Sighs.
Duration
2 hrs – 4 hrs
Best time
Late afternoon
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
Barranco was a seaside resort for Lima's wealthy families in the nineteenth century, linked to the centre by a tramway. The district then declined, and artists and writers moved in during the 1980s — it is the quarter of Chabuca Granda and criollo music.
The Bridge of Sighs, in timber, spans a ravine running down to the sea; tradition has it that crossing while holding your breath grants a wish. Below it, the Bajada de los Baños drops to the beach between coloured houses and murals.
Getting there
South of Miraflores, ten minutes by taxi or forty minutes on foot along the Malecón.
What to bring
- Swimsuit
Rules on site
The district is lively in the evening on the main streets and quieter in the side ones: take a ride-hail home rather than walking. Street taxis are not recommended in Lima.