1

Well, according to me the best choice for a day trip from Lima is the sacred city of Caral, some 200 kms north of the capital. It is a wonderful 50 hectares well-preserved complex of temples dating back to 2000BCE, perhaps the oldest settlement in the Americas.
Other options:
_Chosica and Matucana, just 60-70 kms from Lima, is a popular tourist destination for the inhabitants of Lima that want to enjoy some sunshine and to eat in the local tipiacl restaurants
_Marcahuasi, one of the less-known wonders of Perù with its strange rock formations. It's not so easy to get there, as it lacks infrastructures. You must take a "combi" or "colectivo" to Chosica, and from there to San Pedro de Casta(3.300 m.a.s.l) where starts a 4km hike to access the site.

Hope you'll find the informations useful, and sorry for my bad english, I' m Italian...
Bye

2

Visit the Pachacamac archaeological site, just south of the urban area. Getting there by public transportation is tricky, though feasible. You may want to hire a taxi, not just to take you there but to drive around once inside (the site is large). If you do go on your own, take a water bottle and a hat (for sun protection).

Note that there are two other ancient sites well within the suburban Lima area (they're quite small, but worth seeing). One is Huallamarca, in San Isidro, and the other (I forget the name) is in Miraflores.

3

The one in Miraflores is Huaca Pucllana. Consider also visiting el "Circuito Mágico de Aguas" (fountains, lightshows, music) in the Parque de la Reserva near the National Stadium. Open from 16:00 until about 22:00. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

4

Some great trips from Lima:

• Chosica
• Pasamayo and the Eco Truly Park (http://www.ecotrulypark.org)
• Lurin Valley
• Lunahuana and the rafting/kayaking
• Pisco and the pisco bodegas
• Paracas with its national reserve and Ballestas Islands
• Palomino Islands just off Lima from the port of Callao
• Daytrip to the Chorrillos district just beyond Barranco
• Canta and Obrajillo, verdant green Andean foothills
• Rupac ruins (not for the faint of heart)
• Ancon beaches up north

5

if you like to surf, just head down to the beach (playa makaja) below larcromar (big mall overlooking ocean in miraflores) and there should be a couple surf schools set up there-waves have been awesome this year so far.
if you are looking for nightlife, check out barranco-la noche is a chill place, its at the end of the pedestrian street off the main plaza of barranco
and check out the center of lima-especially the catacombs are cool, esp if you havent been to europe
I agree markahuasi is neat, but the roads are a bit terrifying-my combi lacked brakes, and they used a rock instead....also itll be iffy if you make it back in time....

6

Thanks everyone, I can't believe the amount of responses I've received!

7

Hi Oceanbeach78. Good options in Lima are visit the Historical Centre (the catacombs, the cathedral), the Museums (Museo del Oro, Museo Metropolitano and Museo Larco), the Paseo de las Aguas and LarcoMar. Also, it is possible to take a 3-hour tour to the Palomino islands to see sea wolves.

I suggest you contact iPeru, the National TourisT Information Office run by the Peruvian Tourism Board (PromPerú) to iperulima@promperu.gob.pe, www.peru.travel, or their 24-hour line: (+51 1) 574-8000, to obtain info about routes, destinations, activities, a registered companies. Also they can give you the record of complaints of the company you choose before to pay them in advance. iPeru service is totally free of charge.