Lima, Peru — Activities
Lima Culture
Peruvian culture is part of everyday life, with frequent local festivals coloring the cultural canvass. Painting, dance and song belong to the people and are the way that different regions distinguish themselves. La Candelaria dance troupes of Puno or the marinera dancers from northern Peru, for example, can be seen at peñas (dance shows) all over Lima.
You can buy tickets from the booking agency Teleticket (tel: (01) 610 8888; www.teleticket.com.pe) or from venue box offices. The newspaper El Comercio (http://elcomercio.pe) has daily listings, which are best on Friday. The 'Que Hacer' section of the website has a full list of cultural activities in Lima. The Canal N news channel (channel eight) has a daily culture show called Sentidos, as well as Agenda, its full listings service.
Music
Museo de la Nación
Peru is on the international circuit for renowned foreign performers and orchestras, often sponsored by foreign cultural organizations. Since the Municipal Theater burned down in 2000, the National Symphony Orchestra performs at the Museo de la Nación. The National Ballet Company also performs here.
Avenida Javier Prado Este 2465
Tel: (01) 476 9878.
Website: www.inc.gob.pe
Teatro Segura
Opera shows are held at Teatro Segura. Traditional music is everywhere - from musica criolla, with its Spanish and African influences, to the irresistibly bouncy Latin chicha or technocumbia music, that blares out of buses.
Jiron Huancavelica 265
Tel: (01) 426 7189.
Theater
Teatro Municipal
Lima's active theater scene ranges from formal, classical performances to fringe shows in theater bars, with the majority of plays in Spanish. One of the most professional theaters in Lima is the atmospherically burnt-out Teatro Municipal.
Jiron Ica, Block 3
Dance
For the real dance experience in Lima, visitors should go to a peña (traditional dance show) in one of the small venues in Barranco, such as Manos Morenas, Las Guitarres, Los Balcones, La Estacion de Barranco, Las Brisas del Titicaca and Pericho's - all within walking distance of Plaza Mayor.
Lima Tours
Walking tours
Because of the pollution and the enormity of Lima, it is best to avoid lengthy walking tours. It is a good idea to concentrate on a small area and enjoy stopping off in local cafés for coffee and churros (cylindrical doughnuts). A good agent is Lima Tours.
Tel: (01) 619 6900.
Website: www.limatours.com.pe
Bus tours
Private bus tours through Lima Tours depart daily from the city center. These take in the main squares as well as key attractions, such as the cathedral, a colonial mansion and the Miraflores and San Isidro suburbs. Another option is the Urbanito bus tour, which departs several times an hour from the main square. Tours are in Spanish only and take approximately one hour and a half.
Lima Tours
Tel: (01) 619 6900.
Website: www.limatours.com.pe
Urbanito
Tel: (01) 424 3650.
Website: www.urbanito.com.pe
