Lima is a vibrant city which was once the heart of Spain’s South American empire. The modern city is a huge metropolis, which is brimming with culture and a history dating back to the Incas.

Lima can be found halfway along Peru’s Pacific coastline and as well as stunning beaches, the city offers contrasting and imposing mountains as its backdrop. The main square of the city was recently named a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

The capital city has a number of sightseeing and entertainment options, which range from beautiful churches and historical museums to pretty seaside suburbs and a few remaining Inca ruins. It is also a gateway to the stunning Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon jungle.

The city is a myriad of cultures. Many of the population merely scrap a living together, even in the richest of districts; it’s not uncommon to see signs of poverty at every corner. This hardship may account for the locals’ philosophical outlook, in a city where political and financial instability is rife; it does not help to take things too seriously.

In recent years, the city of Lima has experienced dramatic economic development and because of this, the city has seen a hotel boom. You will have a wide choice of hotels to choose from, ranging from the most luxurious hotels to basic a more basic accommodation.

The centre of the city is home to a large number of hotels and has seen many international chains such as Sheraton and Marriott being built. Miraflores is one of the more popular districts in which visitors choose to stay. Barranco is well known for being one of the liveliest and most beautiful districts of the city and is home to many small and simple hotels, which are suitable for those travelling on a tight budget.

The best time to travel to Lima is during the summer months where you are virtually guaranteed sunshine all the time, making Lima a great getaway destination if you are looking to escape the winter blues in the northern hemisphere. It is however also the busiest time of year, so hotels should be booked in advance.

Lima’s ancient history is not very well documented, but there are records of a fisherman’s village in the area, which was once home to very religious families. These families were soon forced out by the Maranga and the Aramburu tribes.

Lima’s ancient culture was developed by three groups of people: the Collas, coming from Canta and Huarochiri; the Huanchos, who followed the Rimac River to reach the settlement; and the Huallas, who entered into Lima through Carabayllo. When the Incas arrived, they respected these other tribes’ buildings, way of living and religion. All four tribes lived peacefully for many years and led Lima into the modern world.

The actual city of Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535. The new found city slowly reached its peak, and throughout the 17^th and 18^th centuries, it became the seat of the political and military power represented by the viceroy as well as being the most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru.

In 1746, many important and monumental buildings were damaged or destroyed in a terrible earthquake. The City of Kings' cultural estate and stunning architecture were the only structure to remain standing and unharmed. All of the buildings were later rebuilt and during the late 18^th century, Lima’s architectural and political importance in Latin America was equalled only by Mexico City.

General Jose de San Martin proclaimed the independence of Peru on July 28, 1821. Immediately after this declaration, Lima started to develop as a city. A railroad was implemented between the cities of Lima and Callao, a first for South America. It was also during this period that gas-light and the telegraph were installed and more importantly, black slavery was abolished.

Lima continued to develop over the next century, but towards the end of the 20^th century, the city saw its fair share of crisis. In 1996, the Japanese embassy and its staff were held hostage, a situation which finally ended in April 1997, when Peruvian armed forces stormed the building and rescued the 72 hostages. One hostage died of medical complications, while two soldiers and all 14 kidnappers were killed in action.

Today, the city has become a popular destination for tourists and has seen many resorts and hotels been built. The city is very well developed, but it still holds much of its ancient charm.

Lima’s seasons are opposite to those of the United States and Europe, and the city only really experiences two seasons: summer, from December through to April, and winter, from May to November.

The average temperature in the summer is around 25ºC, while in the winter, you will rarely see temperatures reach higher than about 15ºC. Winter is often grey, dull and very misty, but you will rarely experience any rainfall. The majority of the sun can be seen in the summer, although there can also be very light rain showers in the evenings. The best time to visit Lima is in the summer, as temperatures rarely get unbearably hot and the sun shines almost every day.