Lima full-day tour: Pachacamac, Barranco, San Francisco & waterpark

Five stops, one guide, one day: from Pacific wetlands to fountain shows

A full-day Lima tour with professional guide covers Pantanos de Villa wildlife refuge, the Pre-Inca oracle at Pachacamac, bohemian Barranco, downtown colonial monuments, the San Francisco Convent's catacombs, and the Magic Water Circuit light show. Guide and 2-course lunch are included. Hotel pickup is available at selected properties.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refugepassing by
2. Barranco1h
3. Marcahuasi1h
4. Church and Convent of Saint Francis1h · entry included
5. Magic Water Circuit1h · entry included

Explore Lima's key sites and attractions

• Drive through Pantanos de Villa
• Walk Pachacamac archaeological complex
• Lunch in Barranco district
• Visit downtown Lima monuments
• Tour Convent of San Francisco and catacombs
• Enjoy Magic Water Circuit show

The experience

The day starts at Pantanos de Villa, a protected wetland just outside the city where you observe the natural refuge before heading south to Pachacamac. This Pre-Inca and Inca oracle sits on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, and you walk through its terraced structures and temples: one of Lima's oldest inhabited sites, occupied for over a thousand years. From there you move into Barranco, the bohemian neighborhood where colonial and republican-era buildings line streets covered in street art. The guide walks you through the district's history and cozy plazas before lunch.

The afternoon takes you into downtown Lima to see the Government Palace, City Hall, and Cathedral among other colonial houses, then into the Church and Convent of San Francisco. This is where the tour goes underground: you enter the catacombs beneath the convent, a route through old library areas and burial chambers that reveal how the city was built in layers. The day ends at the Magic Water Circuit Park, where you watch the highest water fountain on record (a Guinness title) and a coordinated show of lights, water and music across multiple fountains. Your guide is with you throughout, and a 2-course lunch breaks the day in Barranco.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• transportation throughout the day.
• 2-course lunch in Barranco.
• entry to Pachacamac, San Francisco Convent and catacombs, and the Magic Water Circuit.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at selected properties.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lima Mentor

Is this one for you?Book this tour for your first or second day in Lima when you want the city's major layers (Pre-Inca, colonial, bohemian and modern) explained and connected in one outing. The fixed schedule and included lunch mean you move through five stops without arranging transport or timing yourself, and the guide handles the history so you see how each site fits into the next.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Pachacamac and why is it on this tour?

Pachacamac is a Pre-Inca and Inca oracle complex that overlooks the Pacific Ocean south of Lima. It was occupied for over a thousand years and contains terraced temples and structures. The tour includes a walk through the site so you see how the oracle functioned and how the city developed across centuries before the Spanish arrived.

Can I see the catacombs under San Francisco Church?

Yes. The Church and Convent of San Francisco tour includes a route through the old library, convent areas, and the catacombs beneath the building: burial chambers that show how Lima was constructed in layers over time.

What happens at the Magic Water Circuit?

The Magic Water Circuit is a park with multiple fountains, including the world's highest water fountain by Guinness record. You watch a coordinated show of lights, water and music. It is the final stop of the day and runs in the evening.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Yes, a 2-course lunch is included and served in Barranco, the bohemian district you visit mid-tour. This breaks the day and gives you time to experience the neighborhood's character.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected hotels in Lima. Confirm your hotel at checkout to verify pickup is available at your location.