Lima’s Barranco District in One Afternoon: Itinerary + Map
Barranco is Lima’s vibrant bohemian neighborhood. Perhaps the most prominent feature that draws visitors is its eclectic collection of art galleries and colorful street art, especially along Bajada de Baños, a narrow ravine that gently slopes down to the ocean. But the district also has a collection of Republican style “casonas,” mansions built in the 18th and 19th century as seaside retreats for Lima’s elite, as well as elegant plazas that open to the cliffside.
To me, Barranco feels local and relaxed, with a slower pace and more everyday neighborhood life than Miraflores, where we based ourselves during our visit. Barranco’s highlights are all concentrated within a small walkable area, making it easy to explore in one quick afternoon. This is how we spent our afternoon in Barranco.
Quick tips
Walkability:
The tourist areas of Barranco are very compact, and everything in this itinerary is within short walking distances from each other (see map below). The total walking amount added up to around 2 miles / 3.2 km, 45 minutes.
Safety:
Barranco is safe, especially during the day and in the main areas near the Bridge of Sighs and the Malecón. At night, you might feel less “safety in crowds” compared to the busy Miraflores.
Where to stay:
With its proximity to a major highway that allows fast transit to other districts, you can consider basing yourself in Barranco. However, for the first-time visitor to Lima, I recommend staying in neighboring Miraflores since you’ll be right in the midst of many food spots and attractions. Plus, Miraflores is a central location for visiting other districts like the historic center.
Transit:
If you’re staying in Miraflores, you can walk to Barranco, which is what we did (~30 minutes one-way, and overall pleasant except for crossing a relatively large car street and bridge). Alternatively, an Uber ride is short and cheap (10-15 minutes, ~13-16 soles or ~$4-5).
Itinerary
* The timing below is approximate – we took it slow and lingered where it felt right. You can easily stretch this into a full afternoon if you'd like.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch (Canta Rana for ceviche, or Isolina for traditional Peruvian comfort)
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Federico Villarreal Park and Bridge of Sighs
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Stroll down and admire the art along Bajada de los Baños
3:30 PM - 3:50 PM: Walk along the beach at Playa Barranco
3:50 PM - 4:30 PM: Come back uphill to Alameda Sáenz Peña
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Peaceful ocean views at Malecón de Barranco (clifftop)
Google map of itinerary, modified to mark the path down Bajada de los Baños (Google marked it as in repair) to Playa de Barranco, as well as my estimate of total walking distance.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch (Canta Rana for ceviche, or Isolina for traditional Peruvian comfort)
Canta Rana is a cevichería that’s been around for 35 years, with a distinct, old-school decor consisting of walls covered with frames and ceilings covered with flags. The eclectic, slightly hectic aesthetic is definitely there. The place doesn’t take reservations, and we had to wait around 15 minutes to get a table (on a Monday).
The eclectic decor of Canta Rana.
Classic fish ceviche from Canta Rana.
We ordered the fish ceviche, which was excellent, super fresh and the seaweed was a great touch (that said though, we still found the ones at Punto Azul in Miraflores the best we had in Lima). We also tried the squid-ink risotto, but, I’m not sure whether it was a mistake, the dish was quite under-seasoned. So, if you do go, definitely order the ceviche but maybe skip the risotto. Overall, the prices were mid-range (see menu here), around 45 soles or ~$13 USD for a fish ceviche.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for traditional Peruvian comfort food in an upscale-casual setting, Isolina is right down the street (they take reservations). Founded by chef José del Castillo and named after his mother, Isolina specializes in generous portions of food and was featured in lists for top restaurants in Latin America. It’s a pricer place than higher Canta Rana. We chose to go to Canta Rana instead of here since we wanted something more casual, but if we spent more time in Barranco, we would definitely have checked it out.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Federico Villarreal Park and Bridge of Sighs
Only a three minute walk from Canta Rana is the tiered, leafy Federico Villarreal Park. The park is home to the Hermitage of Barranco, an old church that has been closed since an earthquake in 1974, and it slopes down to the Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros). Coming from the restaurant puts you at the upper level of the park, with a panoramic view over the area.
Top of Federico Villarreal Park, with Bridge of Sighs in the background.
The Bridge of Sighs, so named because of its reputation as a meeting point for lovers, is a wooden pedestrian bridge built in the late 1800s. It’s said that if you make a wish while holding your breath across the bridge (44 meters, or 144 ft in length), your wish will come true. Of course, it’s worth trying, if not for your wish, then to test your lung capacity :)
Bridge of Sighs looking towards Federico Villarreal Park, with the Hermitage of Barranco on the left.
All around the surrounding area, there are buildings that feature murals, some spanning entire facades, so definitely make sure to walk around and take them in.
Mural at Paseo Chabuca Granda
Mural by Jade Rivera, a well-known Peruvian mural artist.
Murals on the stairs heading to Bajada de los Baños.
We didn’t make it to Plaza de Armas this time, but I still put it on the map and recommend adding it to your walk. Just across the Bridge of Sighs, it’s Barranco’s central square and home to the Municipal Library. It’s an easy stop if you have a few extra minutes.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Stroll down and admire the art along Bajada de los Baños
Right below Bridge of Sighs is Bajada de los Baños, a little pedestrian walkway that takes you directly down to the beach. Bajada de los Baños is situated along a natural ravine that fishermen once used to reach the beach.
Tree-covered, mural-lined Bajada de los Baños.
This was probably my favorite part of the district, as it truly showcases Barranco’s bohemian character and its murals. The walls of the entire walkway are covered with colorful murals of all kinds, and weathered wooden houses with open-air terraces line the path, some of them operating as small art studios or cafes.
Mural along Bajada de los Baños. This colorful one was especially prominent for me.
Porch of Grada Galería, at the beginning of Bajada de los Baños.
Interior collection of Grada Galería.
Who doesn’t love the combination well-worn stairs combined with colorful street art?
I also really like the atmosphere of the walk – the brick path, the murals, the wooden buildings, and the leafy trees that shadow the walkway, all together form a charming, slightly sea-worn vibe.
Wooden houses that line the path.
3:30 PM - 3:50 PM: Walk along the beach at Playa Barranco
In Lima, it’s easy to get to the cliff side, getting down to the proper beach is actually not that simple since you have to find specific pedestrian ramps, then cross the highway. But here, getting down to the beach is very easy. Once you go down Bajada de los Baños, there’s a path along the cliff and then a bridge across the highway to the beach side.
Cliff path after Bajada de los Baños.
Bridge connecting cliff path to the beachfront.
In the summer, street stalls line the walkway along the beach. But we were there in the middle of winter in August, so most of the street stalls were closed, and the area had an overall foggy and cold feel. We didn’t spend too much time there because of these reasons, but the winter ocean breeze was nice.
If you’d like a proper stop though, you can check out Cala, an upscale restaurant right on the beach, with a bar and oceanfront seating.
Barranco beachfront walkway.
3:50 PM - 4:30 PM: Come back uphill to Alameda Sáenz Peña
After the beach, we walked back uphill the same way through Bajada de los Baños (you can also grab an Uber up if you don’t want the climb), making stops along the way to look more at the murals. We headed straight to Alameda Sáenz Peña, a 10 minute walk from the top of the ravine.
Alameda Sáenz Peña is a leafy promenade with a small plaza at the end that overlooks the cliff. Along the avenue is where you can see a lot of the Republican-style casonas or mansions. The vibe here felt quite different from the Bajada de los Baños side, with a bit more European elegance.
Plaza on Alameda Sáenz Peña that looks out to the ocean.
At the end of Alameda Sáenz Peña — I loved the burst of magenta flowers.
We walked around to mostly take in the view, though art galleries, boutique hotels, and cafes line the street.
A Republican-era mansion on the corner of Av. Sáenz Peña and Av. San Martín, now operating as Hotel B.
4:20 PM - 5:00 PM: Peaceful ocean views at Malecón de Barranco (clifftop)
We ended the afternoon at the Malecón de Barranco, the clifftop park with winding, maze-like paths lined with hedges and park benches. Compared to the Malecón in Miraflores, this one feels much calmer and quieter, less of a tourist hub or lively gathering spot, and more of a true neighborhood park.
When the sky is clear, you can see the sunset from here. Though it was cloudy the day we went, it was still a beautiful, peaceful way to end the day.
The winding paths of the Malecón de Barranco.
Looking for more Lima itineraries? Check out my guides for Miraflores and the Historic Center!
I’m also working on an overall guide for Lima (where to stay, what to eat, where to go), coming soon!
Got a layover through Panama City? Check out my Panama City layover itinerary!
