To start this tour, we will pick you up at your hotel if located in the center of Lima, at around 10 am. (We can pick you up from a cruise shuttle stop or the airport for an additional fee. The times are adaptable, as this is a private tour).
We will travel 30 km south of Lima passing through changing landscapes. From the beautiful views of the coast, we will head to a desert. After about 45 minutes, you will arrive at the archaeological site of Pachacamac, the main sanctuary of the Andean coast for more than 1500 years.
Pachacamac shelters the remains of more than 50 temples and buildings, the remains belonging to different ancient cultures from pre-Inca and Inca times. Besides the archaeological ruins, you will be amazed by the great views of the surrounding area including the Pacific Ocean.
You will also have a look at the collection of the modern Pachacamac museum, displaying various artifacts of the different cultures that used to occupy this sanctuary.
Afterward, we will head to a nearby local neighborhood, home to many artisans from Ayacucho. These people fled the violence of the guerrilla war of the 1980s and 1990s by moving to the outskirts of Lima.
In this neighborhood, local artisans continue to make traditional handicrafts and art.
Before we visit some of their workshops, we will have a delicious homemade and typical Peruvian lunch at the house of a local family. The menu is different every time, but it’s always authentic, fresh, and also a lot.
With a full stomach, you will visit a few workshops where talented artisans make textiles, ceramics, and other beautiful typical Peruvian handicrafts. Buying is not expected but if you’re interested in taking home some fair-trade Peruvian handicrafts, this is your chance!
In a place where the government is mostly absent, these people have built their community and are developing and maintaining the local economy with their traditions and art. They are working hard to keep their traditions alive.
This tour ends around 5:00 p.m. m. (again, the schedule is adaptable) at your hotel in Lima or another drop-off point for an additional fee. After this experience, you will feel very inspired, and maybe you will take home some authentic and fair trade souvenirs.
If you are interested, you can have a look at our other Lima Tours if you are planning on staying in the city for a few days.
The Pachacamac Archaeological site is situated in a natural area with different ecosystems and landscapes. Here, you will learn about biodiversity and its importance. Your entrance fee contributes to conservation projects in the area.
Apart from nature protection, this tour also works on social and cultural sustainability. You will visit different shops and participate in artisan workshops. Most people here have migrated to Lima from the Andes. Even though their traditions are an important part of the Peruvian culture, it tends to get lost due to racism and low income. Thanks to your visit, you will give value to the Andean artisan production and help fight against its disappearance. If you decide to buy something, here you can be sure that the artisans receive a fair price for the product. Fair-trade is given a lot of importance during this tour.
Part of your money paid for this experience will also go into different projects, such as cleaning campaigns, reforestation and social inclusion of vulnerable kids and women.
We can pick you up from hotels in central areas like Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco (or close-by) at no cost. While pick-up at other locations, cruise shuttle stop or airport are available for an additional fee.
A donation to the Artisan Cooperative will be made.
Moving across Lima certainly requires a certain level of caution, but don’t let this to discourage you from experiencing this very particular destination, as with the right attitude you won’t be bothered by the thought of not feeling safe. Tourists attract attention, that is a fact, so it is wise to travel ‘low profile’ and avoid showing valuable items (big cameras, flashy cellphones, bulky wallets, expensive watches). Also, keep an eye over your personal belongings at all times.
For questions about booking a tour, prices, preparation for your trip, health and safety or other themes, please check our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you can’t find your question & answer, email us and we’ll add it!
I’m an expert tour leader and founder of Social Andean Expedition, an initiative that provides solar energy to schools in vulnerable communities, through sustainable tourism programs. I graduated in Communications in Peru, and lived and studied in different Asian countries, where I worked as an advertiser, journalist and chef.
My long stay in other culturally rich countries encouraged me to take a deeper look into my own people, embrace my own culture, and return home to work for the less privileged in Peru.
I firmly believe in the transformative power of responsible tourism to strengthen the economies and dignity of the most vulnerable peoples of Peru, and I see the same values in RESPONSible Travel Peru.
