Miraflores is the most tourist-friendly part of Lima, Peru. It makes for a great place to stay for a few days before heading off to Cusco, Paracas, Huacachina, or wherever your adventure is taking you. 

Miraflores is known for being a very safe district for tourists to stay while still giving you a look into the vibrant culture of any other South American capital. Miraflores is full of unique things to see, restaurants to try, and beautiful coastal views.

In this post I dive into everything you’ll need to know about visiting Miraflores as a first time visitor. 

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Why Stay in Miraflores?

As previously mentioned, Miraflores is one of the safest parts of Lima. It’s where you’ll want to make your home base to explore the city before going to your next destination.

If you are arriving to Lima by flight, it is going to be a 40 minute drive from the Jorge Chavez Airport.

You may consider getting a hotel close to the airport (especially if you have a late flight) to save time or money, but it really isn’t recommended for tourists. Especially for your first time visiting Peru, you should stay in Miraflores.

To get to Miraflores from the airport you’ll have to take a taxi.

Green Taxi to Get From the Airport to Miraflores

To get from the Lima Airport to Miraflores we used Green Taxi. 

Green Taxi is a company that’s conveniently located inside the airport. So it’s a safer alternative to an Uber. With Uber, you’d have to go outside the airport boundaries to get picked up which isn’t ideal. 

When you land and leave your terminal, you’ll want to start heading towards baggage claim. You will see doors straight ahead leading you outside. Go out these doors and walk to your left where you’ll see tons of booths set up. These are all the different taxi companies.

You will see a booth labeled “Green Taxi”. All you have to do is walk up to the booth, and tell the workers you want to go to Miraflores. A ride should cost around 80-85 soles or $20-25 USD. You will pay at the booth.

Once you pay, the workers will point you to your driver and the driver will lead you to their vehicle. The driver will ask for the address you need to be taken to and you can easily just show them the address on your phone if you don’t speak Spanish very well. So make sure you have the address of your accommodation pulled up and ready to go.

How to Get Around Miraflores

Miraflores is very walkable. No matter where you’re staying, you can easily walk to nice restaurants, markets, and to the area’s top attractions. 

There is no need to have a rental a car in Miraflores. Or on your entire trip to Peru for that matter. Especially if you’re coming to the country for the first time.

Roads in Lima can be very confusing and locals tend to drive pretty chaotically. There are practically no rules of the road.

Especially since you can easily get around Miraflores by foot, there’s no reason to have a rental car in Lima.

Using Uber in Miraflores

With the exception of using Uber from the airport, it is widely used as a safe and reliable way to get from place to place in Miraflores and in other cities throughout the country.

When you need to hitch a ride to get to a place you can’t walk to such as back to the airport or to a bus station, I would recommend using Uber instead of a taxi.

Ubers around Peru are usually pretty inexpensive and tourists can easily get ripped off by taxis. Uber is nice because you have a set price that you pay beforehand, and you don’t have to do any negotiating in a foreign language. Plus, getting a taxi can be stressful. It’s way easier to order a ride through your phone. 

Getting to the Bus Stations from Miraflores

I’m sure many of you reading this have plans to visit other parts of Peru, not just Lima. And one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel far distances within the country is by taking the bus.

Cruz Del Sur is a popular bus company among tourists that have routes to all different kinds of destinations around Peru.

Cruz Del Sur is my favorite but MovilBus and Civa are other popular companies you can choose. All three companies have bus stations about a 15-20 minute drive from Miraflores so it’s super convenient to stay here if you plan on taking buses out of Lima. 

You can easily take an Uber from Miraflores to whichever bus station you want.

How Much Time Do I Need in Miraflores?

I’d recommend staying for no longer than 5 days in Miraflores. It does kind of depend on what you want to do with your time in Peru but for us, we wanted to spend most of our time in other destinations such as Huaraz and Cusco.

So unless you’re really into the city life or trying upscale restaurants, I’d recommend a 3 day stay in Miraflores. You can hit all of the main attractions in the area and have some time to relax too all within these 3 days.

Do I Need to Know Spanish in Miraflores?

It’s very helpful to know at least a little bit of Spanish while you’re staying in Miraflores. I’m talking about simple things like greetings, please, thank you, numbers, etc. But you don’t need to be fluent to get by. 

Especially in a district like this, you will run into people who speak English. Like workers at the supermarkets or restaurants. They are used to English-speaking tourists and a lot of them can communicate in English. However, since you are in a Spanish speaking country, I recommend trying to communicate in Spanish first if you can. 

Things to Do in Miraflores

There are so many fun things to do in Miraflores. Below I’ll outline just a few of the top sights that you don’t want to miss.

Kennedy Park

Kennedy Park is one of the best and free places to check out when you’re in the area. It’s a beautiful city park situated in the heart of the district.

It’s a great place to relax for a few hours and pet some adorable cats. Yes, you heard that right. Kennedy Park is home to dozens of cats who live there day and night.

My partner and I are huge cat lovers so we ended up coming to Kennedy Park every day while we were staying in Miraflores. The cats are super friendly and are used to people coming by and petting them. Some will come right up to you and sit on your lap! 

Parque Del Amor 

Parque Del Amor is another must-see place in Miraflores. It is pretty touristy, but it’s worth a visit. 

This park is situated atop a cliff overlooking the ocean with beautiful mosaic walls built around the park. It’s fun to walk around and admire the artwork and the views of the coast.

Huaca Pucllana

Who knew you didn’t even need to leave Lima to see ancient ruins? Although not as impressive as Machu Picchu, the Huaca Pucllana is something neat to check out that was actually built long before the Incas built Machu Picchu. 

This site features a massive stepped pyramid constructed from thousands of hand-molded adobe bricks.

You can visit Huaca Pucllana with a guided tour for 15 soles (about $4 USD) per person. This is a great budget-friendly attraction that’s worth checking out if it’s your first time in Miraflores.

Where to Eat in Miraflores

Peru is full of unique cuisine and if one of your favorite things to do is try new foods when you travel, then you are going to love Miraflores. 

There are dozens of nice restaurants in the area that will give you an authentic taste of Peruvian cuisine. 

Keep in mind, especially for tourists, food poisoning can be a huge issue in Peru. It’s recommended to avoid street food and only eat at reputable restaurants. But overall, Miraflores is known to be a pretty safe place for tourists to go out to eat. 

Best Restaurants in Miraflores

• Maido: Maido is one of Lima’s most famous restaurants and regularly ranks among the best restaurants in the world. Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura blends Japanese techniques with Peruvian ingredients. This is a high-end establishment with strict sourcing and preparation standards. So it’s not exactly budget-friendly, but if you want to splurge on a good meal, this is the place. 
• La Mar Cevichería Peruana: This is another higher end restaurant famous for Peru’s national dish: ceviche. This is the best place in the district to get authentic ceviche. The restaurant focuses on fresh, locally sourced seafood. They work directly with fishermen and local producers to ensure quality and sustainability. 
• La Rosa Nautica: This is the most scenic restaurant in Lima. It’s located at the end of a long pier along the coast over the Pacific Ocean. So not only will you get a delicious meal, but an unforgettable view as you dine. The menu focuses on seafood and Peruvian cuisine like ceviche and lomo saltado.
• Panchita: Panchita is a little bit more of a budget-friendly option in Miraflores. They specialize in Peruvian comfort food. You’ll find hearty grilled meats here with the most popular, anticuchos, which are skewers of marinated meat grilled over an open flame. Panchita focuses on fully cooked traditional dishes rather than raw seafood.

Where to Grocery Shop in Miraflores

I have a sensitive stomach so I try to make as much as my own food as possible when I travel. This can be difficult at times, but I do usually make it a priority to cook myself healthy meals that I know will go over well with my digestion.

So if anyone else is in a similar situation, I highly recommend checking out the supermarket Wong.

Wong is basically like a Walmart. They have groceries, household products, beauty products, and even a pharmacy. They have a location just down the road from Kennedy Park so it’s super accessible for tourists. Click here for a pin to their location.

I was able to find tons of gluten-free products and healthy snacks that were similar to what I was used to eating back in the US. Before taking the bus to other cities in Peru like Huaraz or Paracas, I stocked up on food from Wong so I’d have meals I could eat in places where I couldn’t find those products.

Where to Stay in Miraflores

You can find a place to stay in Miraflores that’s suitable for any kind of budget. You’ll find a wide range of cheap no-frills hostels, to luxurious apartments on a skyscraper overlooking the ocean. 

Budget Hostels

• Tripper Monkey Hostel: This hostel has the cheapest private rooms you’ll find in Miraflores. It’s a quiet place so if you’re not looking for a party hostel this is perfect. The owners are so accommodating and helpful too.
• Flying Dog Hostel: This is a top rated hostel located right next to Kennedy Park. Expect a vibrant atmosphere where you can meet travelers from all over the world. If you want to stay near the top attractions in Miraflores then Flying Dog is an excellent choice.
• Dragonfly Hostels Miraflores: Another more quiet option outside the busy streets of Miraflores. Whether you want to socialize, chill, or need an area to work, you’ll find everything you need here. There is a large kitchen if you want to cook your own meals.

Mid-Range Hotels

• Hotel Límade: Hotel Límade is a modern boutique hotel located in the heart of Miraflores. There is an on-site restaurant and a rooftop bar with city views, making it a relaxing place to unwind after exploring the district.
• Casa Suyay: This charming hotel is within easy walking distance of many of Miraflores’ best restaurants, shops, and attractions. Casa Suyay also offers a complimentary breakfast buffet with more options than most hotels in the area.
• Hotel Boulevard: Hotel Boulevard is located a bit outside of central Miraflores, but it offers several amenities such as a rooftop pool, fitness center, and an on-site restaurant.

Luxury Hotels

• Pullman Lima Miraflores: Pullman Lima Miraflores is an upscale hotel with amenities such as a rooftop pool and bar, and on-site restaurant. It’s located near many of Miraflores’ top attractions.
• Hilton Garden Inn: Another modern hotel situated along the Malecón cliffs within walking distance to the ocean. The Hilton Garden Inn offers stylish rooms and an eccentric rooftop pool and bar on the 18th floor overlooking the city.
• Casa Andina Premium: Casa Andina is a comfortable and centrally located hotel. It’s within walking distances to several of Miraflores’ top restaurants, but also offers an on-site restaurant (Alma Restaurant & Bar) which serves several authentic Peruvian dishes.

And that will conclude my complete first time visitors guide to Miraflores in Lima, Peru! Wherever your travels throughout the country take you, you’ll want to make Miraflores your base for your first few days in Peru. I hope this guide gave you all the information you need to know before visiting and thank you so much for reading!