To make the most of Lima in just one day, you need a strategy. The Historic Center is beautiful, but going at 4:00 p.m. is a classic mistake: you get caught in rush hour and traffic becomes chaotic.
Having your own motorcycle makes an enormous difference. While tourists in taxis or buses lose hours stuck in traffic jams paying sky-high fares, you move with total freedom, dodge the traffic and park without any hassle.
Your day in Lima, stop by stop
Starting point: pick up your bike
You arrive at Lima Road's location at Av. 28 de Julio 823, Miraflores. Check-in, helmet on, and that moment when you start the engine and feel the whole city open up before you.
Breakfast in Barranco
Ride a few minutes south to Barranco to fuel up. Three options that never fail:
- El Pan de la Chola — sourdough bread, freshly roasted coffee and an avocado toast worth every bite. Industrial atmosphere, ideal for a quiet chat before heading out.
- Caleta Dolsa Coffee — for a fresher, beachier vibe: açaí bowls, Peruvian specialty coffee and great energy.
- Dédalo — an open secret: a colonial house with Peruvian art that hides a café in a beautiful courtyard at the back. The quietest corner for a drink before hitting the road.
To the Historic Center (the ideal time)
At this hour traffic to the center flows without problem — you ride calmly, without suffering any jam, feeling how the city's landscape changes under your wheels.
Must-see stop: the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco de Jesús El Grande, famous for its underground catacombs.
- General admission: approx. S/ 20 (students: S/ 10)
- The guided catacomb tour lasts approximately 45 minutes
- Tickets are sold directly at the convent's ticket office — no online reservation needed
- As you leave, take a 30-minute walk through the Barrio Chino (Calle Capón): the monumental arch, the aromas of Cantonese food and an atmosphere that takes you to another country without leaving Lima
- Then stop by Plaza Mayor to see the Cathedral and the Government Palace — arriving by motorcycle, you park nearby and save the taxi fare.
Lunch in Miraflores
Head back to Miraflores or San Isidro for a relaxed lunch and enjoy Peruvian gastronomy at its finest:
- La Mar Restaurante — Gastón Acurio's signature cevichería. Fresh catch of the day, mixed ceviche and seafood rice that never disappoint.
- Panchita — home-style Creole cooking: anticuchos, lomo saltado and generous portions.
Sunset on the Malecón & dessert by the sea
Before winding down, treat yourself to a full ride along the Malecón starting from Parque María Reiche: the sea in the background, palm trees swaying in the breeze, Miraflores' most residential neighborhoods gliding by, and paragliders floating over the cliffs. This is the Lima that stays with you.
- Buenavista Café — seated practically on the cliff edge, watching the sea and the paragliders, at surprisingly affordable prices.
- Helado de Lima — to end on a sweet note: authentic flavors with local fruits like lúcuma, passion fruit and cherimoya.
Tips Lima Road
Don't try to ride through the center. Leave the bike at a private parking garage and continue on foot.
In Lima, traffic can drastically change travel times. That's why we designed this route starting early in the morning.
There's no point spending the best hours of the day on the boardwalk and ending the route when it's already dark.
You don't have to wait for a taxi for every leg. You finish a visit, get back on your bike and decide what your next stop will be.
Which bike should I take for this route?
Route on Google Maps
Lima Road → Barranco (breakfast) → Historic Center & San Francisco Convent → La Mar (lunch) → Miraflores Boardwalk