Lima Historic Center Walking Tour: Small Group with Catacombs

Colonial palaces, wooden balconies, a cathedral, and catacombs from the 16th century underground

A half-day walking tour of Lima's Historic Center in a small group with a live guide in English or Spanish. You'll walk from the Plaza San Martín through Jirón de la Unión—the city's most atmospheric street—to the Plaza de Armas, the Presidential Palace, and the Monastery of San Francisco, where you descend into the catacombs beneath the church. Entrance to the catacombs is included, as is the guide; groups stay small enough that you're not herded through stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lima's historic city center

• Visit San Martin Square
• Walk along Jiron de la Union street
• Learn about a historic façade
• Stroll Ancash Street and visit Happy Inka Market
• Explore Plaza de Armas (Main Square)
• View Presidential Palace and changing of the guard
• See the Cathedral of Lima
• Visit Monastery of San Francisco and catacombs

The Experience

You start in one of Lima's main squares and walk the streets where the city actually moves. Jirón de la Unión is the spine of it—wooden balconies stacked on stone facades, churches with ornate altars visible from the street, shops and chicken restaurants running ground level. Your guide points out the architecture and explains what you're standing in front of: Spanish colonial design layered over centuries, the way the city still lives inside its own history. Before you reach the Plaza de Armas, you'll cut through Ancash Street to the Happy Inka Market, where local artisans sell indigenous carvings and textiles—a place to pick up something that actually came from Lima.

The Plaza de Armas itself is ringed with the earliest grand buildings in South America: palaces, mansions, residences built when Spain was still running the continent. Your guide walks you through the architecture and the colonial period that shaped it. You'll see the Cathedral and get a panoramic view of the Presidential Palace, where the changing of the guard happens daily—the guide explains what you're looking at and why it matters. Then you walk deeper into the old city on Ucayali and Lampa streets, still moving through neighborhoods where the guide can tell you how people actually lived here.

The Monastery of San Francisco is the landmark that stays with you. You walk into the church and then descend into the catacombs—underground burial chambers from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The guide explains what you're seeing: how the colonial church used this space, what it tells you about Lima during that period, the traditions and culture that shaped the city. It's the kind of detail that makes a half-day feel complete instead of rushed.

What’s included

• Professional local guide in English or Spanish.
• entrance tickets to the Monastery of San Francisco catacombs.
• small-group format.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by HAKU TOURS

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want a guided walk through Lima's Historic Center at a conversational pace—you'll see the Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, and San Francisco's catacombs without rushing between stops.

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Top questions

What's actually on Jirón de la Unión that makes it worth walking?

Jirón de la Unión is lined with wooden balconies, stone carvings, and monumental churches with ornate altars. The street is alive with traditional shops, local restaurants, and the everyday rhythm of Lima—it's the city's most atmospheric street and a core part of the tour.

Do I go inside the Monastery of San Francisco or just see it from outside?

You go inside the Monastery of San Francisco and descend into the catacombs beneath it. Entrance to the catacombs is included in the tour; your guide explains the colonial-era burial chambers and what they reveal about Lima's history during the 16th through 18th centuries.

How many people are usually in the group?

The tour runs as a small group, which means you're not walking with a crowd—the guide can actually talk to you and answer questions as you move through the Historic Center.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English or Spanish, depending on which option you choose at checkout.

Is there time to buy souvenirs during the tour?

Yes. Before reaching the Plaza de Armas, you'll stop at the Happy Inka Market on Ancash Street, where local artisans sell indigenous carvings, traditional textiles, and other handmade pieces—a chance to pick up something meaningful from Lima.

What should I bring or wear?

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes; bring a bottle of water. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and runs about three and a half hours on foot through the Historic Center.