Lima Things to Do Tips by cruisingbug

Owned by a friend of my husband's stepmother, so we got in for free, with a nice tour by Ivan. Admission is usually quite high - S./30 (about $10) according to our guide book.

The Gold Museum is a large collection of mostly pre-Inca gold pieces from around Peru. Formerly set up to dazzle (i.e. all the gold together), since the death of its collector (Miguel Mujica Gallo) it is now organized more archeologically, grouped according to civilization. In most instances, gold wasn't valued too highly by these civilizations in the way it was by the Spaniards. Exotic Amazonian feathers were more highly treasured than abundant, utilitarian gold.

Of course, the main draw now, though, is the gold pieces such as the Tumi in the picture. These were sharp blades used for brain surgery by coastal pre-Incan peoples, often with a decorated handle. Only one window in the whole museum actually contains Inca gold - which was removed by the conquistadors and mostly lost to the world.

Also on-site is a vast weapons collection (which you must pass through to get to the gold) and a big game trophy head collection.

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Address: Av. Alonso de Molina 1100, Monterrico
Directions: Take a cab - it's out of the way

Barranco is a pretty, historic area of Lima, with good examples of Spanish colonial architecture. One attraction is the "Bridge of Sighs," a wooden bridge built over a tree-lined walkway.

From the bridge, you can take a left and walk past an old church, now owned by Rotary International, I believe. The walkway ends at a lookout point over the Pacific.

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Directions: South Of Miraflores

I was reminded slightly of our trip to see the Sistine Chapel. Everyone takes this tour to see the bones in the catacombs, but first you're taken all 'round the church before finally heading underground.

We were told we'd have an English speaking guide, but that was unfortunately not the case. However, you didn't need to speak much Spanish to understand bones, and lots of 'em.

I believe the number was 25,000 bodies found in the catacombs, and more yet undiscovered (they're not going down any further). The bones have been arranged according to type (sections with all leg bones, arm bones, skulls) and in "artistic" arrangements.

Entrance is 5 soles. The tour took about an hour.

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Address: Calle Ancash, At The Corner With Lampa
Directions: Just Next To The Plaza Mayor

During your tour of San Francisco, before you get to the anticipated catacombs, you wind around the upstairs convent area. At the far end of the refectory (dining room), is a floor-to-ceiling depiction of the Last Supper. It was painted by a Belgian, and shows Jesus and apostles dining on cuy (roast guinea pig) and drinking chicha, adding some definitely Peruvian aspects to the scene.

Entrance to San Francisco, which includes a guided tour (most likely in Spanish, although some English guides were apparently available), is 5 soles.

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Address: Calle Ancash, At The Corner With Lampa
Directions: Just Next To The Plaza Mayor