Lima city tour and San Francisco Catacombs: 3.5 hours

Underground passages beneath a 17th-century convent hold the city's oldest secrets.

A 3.5-hour panoramic bus tour of Lima combines a guided ride through the city center with entry to the Catacombs of San Francisco. The tour passes Huaca Pucllana, the Magic Water Circuit, San Martín Square, and the Presidential Palace before stopping at the Church and Convent of San Francisco, where you descend into underground passages that held human remains for over 400 years. A live guide speaks English or Spanish. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Magic Water Circuitpassing by
2. San Martin Squarepassing by
3. Historic Centre of Limapassing by
4. Church and Convent of Saint Francis35m · entry included

Panoramic Lima city tour and catacombs

• Start in Miraflores district
• Panoramic stop at Huaca Pucllana
• Pass by Park of the Reserve
• View Palace of Justice
• See San Martín Square
• Walk through historic center streets
• Visit Church and Convent of Saint Francis
• Explore the Catacombs

The experience

The tour starts in Miraflores and heads toward the historic center, beginning with a panoramic stop at Huaca Pucllana, an archaeological site spanning 1,500 years of history. From the bus, you'll pass the Park of the Reserve and its Magic Water Circuit (the world's largest fountain complex in a public park and a Guinness World Record holder) before moving deeper into the city's colonial heart.

Once in the historic center, the bus carries you past the Palace of Justice, inaugurated in 1939 with neoclassical architecture modeled on Brussels, and San Martín Square, built in 1921 to mark Peru's independence centenary. A walking section follows through the pedestrian streets where the Presidential Palace, Metropolitan Municipality, Archbishop's Palace, and Lima Cathedral stand. The guide points out the government buildings and architectural details that define the city's colonial and republican periods.

The final stop is the Church and Convent of San Francisco, inaugurated in 1672 and now a museum of Peruvian viceregal art. You enter the catacombs: underground passages where human remains rest in vaults accumulated by the Franciscan order over more than 400 years. The convent also holds paintings, liturgical ornaments, and silverware spanning centuries of religious and artistic heritage. Entry to the catacombs is included. The guide remains with the group throughout.

What’s included

• A live guide in English or Spanish.
• entry tickets to the Catacombs of San Francisco.
• the panoramic bus ride through Miraflores, the historic center, and past the Magic Water Circuit.
• a walking tour through the pedestrian streets of the city center.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 14:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mirabus

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour on a fixed schedule, so the pace and stops are set. Book it if you want the main landmarks and the catacombs without building the day yourself, and if you're comfortable moving between the bus and walking sections. The live guide handles the history and architecture, so you listen rather than read plaques or use an app.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (4 to 10 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly are the San Francisco Catacombs and what will I see inside them?

The Catacombs of San Francisco are underground passages beneath the Church and Convent of San Francisco, a 1672 monument to Peruvian viceregal art. Human remains rest in vaults within these passages, a notable feature of the convent that has served as a museum since 1968, preserving the Franciscan order's historical and artistic collection accumulated over 400 years.

Does the tour include time to walk around the historic center on foot, or is it all from the bus?

The tour combines both. You ride the panoramic bus through most of the city center, passing the Palace of Justice, San Martín Square, and government buildings, then disembark for a walking section through the pedestrian streets of the historic center before heading to San Francisco for the catacombs visit.

What is the Magic Water Circuit and will I see it up close?

The Magic Water Circuit is the world's largest fountain complex in a public park, located in the Park of the Reserve and recognized with a Guinness World Record. You'll see it on a panoramic pass from the bus rather than a stop to walk around it.

How long does the entire tour take?

The tour runs 3.5 hours from start to finish, including the bus ride through the city, the walking section in the historic center, and the visit to the San Francisco Catacombs.