If you dare to go off the beaten path, you’ll find Lima is a diverse city with various local cultures. Many of these have their roots in the Andes or the Amazon. But Lima also has its rich history and culture. As it is a coastal town, fishing has always played a very important role here. Do you want to learn more about the local Fishing Culture of Lima? Then this tour should be on your itinerary!
First of all, you will be picked up from your hotel, if located in a central area of Lima. We can also arrange pick-up from a cruise shuttle stop or the airport for an additional fee. We usually start this tour at 10 am, but as it is a private one, the starting hour can be adapted a bit to your personal preferences and needs.
After pick-up from your hotel, your guide takes you to one of Lima’s most traditional and colorful communities, the fishing district of Chorrillos. Here, you will visit an artisanal fish market and pier. (By the way, if you´re interested in fresh, local food, you might want to check out our blog about Sustainable Gastronomy). Local fishermen sell their catch of the day on this market and repair fishing nets and boats for their next adventure offshore. While they share their experiences and views on today’s challenges of artisanal fishing, your local guide shows you the incredible variety of Peruvian seafood. The latter is essential to the diets of both traditional and modern Peruvians.
If the weather allows it, we take a short boat ride to have a better and different view of Lima’s coastline. It’s a 20-minute ride along the coast in a fisherman’s boat that has been adapted to safely welcome visitors (it is equipped with life vests as well). The boat was made by a local boat builder, whom you’ll get to meet later on.
Afterward, you visit several locals of the fishing community. We leave the market and pier and walk through the historic streets of Chorrillos. Meanwhile, the guide explains the importance of this town to the history of Peru. On the way, we stop by the boat builder’s workshop so you can meet him, as promised. He will help you understand the intensive process of making an artisanal fishing boat.
After all of this input, we will take you to the house of one of the most traditional families in town. They still preserve many traditions from the first Spanish Peruvian settlers, locally known as “Criollos”. Their culture blended for more than two centuries with the indigenous, African and Asian traditions to create the unique coastal culture of Peru. They practice different “creole” traditions passed on from their ancestors to the next generations regarding music, food, and other cultural expressions.
In their small, family-owned restaurant, we will be treated to the best ceviche in Lima! Without a doubt, you will understand why all Peruvians are so proud of this delicious seafood dish. If you’re a real foodie or hobby cook, we can ask our hosts for a demonstration on how to prepare the best ceviche in town during this Fishing Culture of Lima experience.
After lunch, you’ll continue the tour up the iconic hills of Chorrillos known as Morro Solar, a big cluster of hills facing the Pacific Ocean. It was the site of an important 19th-century battle, which shaped the history of modern Peru. From one of its peaks, you have a unique view of the huge city of Lima and its vibrant residents.
You’ll leave Chorrillos after enjoying this panoramic view from the Morro Solar, and you should be back at your hotel around 2:30 pm. Again, we can adapt the schedule according to your wishes. Thank you for your interest in the Fishing Culture of Lima!
If you are planning on staying in Lima for a few days, check out our other Lima Tours as well.
First of all, this tour is a great occasion to sensitize visitors about the importance of the sea, the resources it provides us with and its fragility. The local fishermen also use part of the money we pay them for cleaning efforts, recycling initiatives and awareness campaigns.
Your visit provides an (additional) income to several local community members and also contributes to the fishermen’s cooperative at the artisanal fish market. These members mainly spend money in their own community and, as such, pass on those benefits to other locals. The traditional coastal culture of Peru is often neglected by tourists. Many are not even aware of its existence as Andean culture is mostly advertised abroad as traditional Peruvian culture. Visits by people from around the world undoubtedly nourish the locals’ pride in their trade and culture. This can have an important impact on the conservation of traditions but also on the communities’ and individuals’ self-esteem.
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.
It is not. Only for people with serious physical restrictions this tour is not recommended.
It is not a private tour but you can always request a private tour with us, if you wish so.
It can get quite hot in Lima, so make sure to bring a hat and suncream. From December to March, it is rainy season so if you visit at that time of the year, be prepared and bring a poncho or rainjacket.
If you want to take pictures of people during this Fishing Culture of Lima experience, yes, you can. Please always make sure to ask before and if they say no, it´s a no!
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 Alfredo, partner and expert tour leader at Alternative Peru, an educational and sustainable tourism company based in Lima; 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, I see the same values in Impactful Travel.
