Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country’s arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it’s a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It’s home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations. The Plaza de Armas and the 16th-century cathedral are the heart of old Lima Centro.

Other Lima Centro landmarks include the baroque Convent of San Francisco and Torre Tagle Palace. Downtown, the Parque de la Reserva’s Magic Water Circuit features 13 interactive fountains choreographed to music and light. Lima’s barrios include Miraflores, where many of the bars and restaurants are, as well as the Malecón clifftop promenade overlooking the Pacific. San Isidro is a barrio with upscale shopping. The hip, seaside Barranco