Backpacker Guide 2026

Things to do in Lima for backpackers

Lima is the secret playground of South America. From world-class street food to the most intense football ritual on the continent-this is your 2026 guide.

Lima doesn't show up on many backpacker bucket lists, and that's exactly why it should be on yours. While Cusco gets the Instagram glory, Lima quietly offers something most South American capitals can't: a raw, unfiltered slice of local life.

Why Lima works for backpackers

Lima operates on a backpacker frequency. It’s walkable where it matters, dirt cheap where it counts, and alive in all the right ways. You'll find hostels that feel like communities, and street food that costs less than a coffee back home.

The essential Lima backpacker experience

1. Alianza Lima matchday experience

Here's what most travel blogs won't tell you: the most electric experience in Lima isn't at a museum. It's inside Estadio Alejandro Villanueva (Matute) on match day, surrounded by 35,000 fans who treat football like religion.

Alianza Lima is Peru's "pueblo" club. Attending a match isn't just watching a game-it's a ritual of singing, jumping, and pure passion. However, going solo can be intimidating for travelers.

That's where the Alianza Lima matchday experience comes in. We handle transport, tickets, and pre-game drinks with a local guide who knows the stadium culture, so you can soak up the madness safely.

2. Barranco street art tour

Barranco is the creative heartbeat of Lima. It's a bohemian district where colonial buildings become canvases for South America's best street artists. Walking here feels like flipping through an open-air gallery that explores indigenous resistance and local legends.

3. Miraflores cliff walk & surfing

The Malecón in Miraflores offers views that rival California. It's proof that the best things in Lima are free. Time your walk for sunset, or better yet, book a budget surf lesson at the base of the cliffs for about $20.

4. Pisco sour workshop

Peru’s national cocktail deserves respect. A proper Pisco Sour is a ritual of egg white foam, bitters, and grape brandy. Several hostels in Miraflores run workshops-it's the ultimate social skill to bring back home.

Practical info for your trip

Hostels: Stay in Miraflores or Barranco. Popular spots like Pariwana or Kokopelli fill up fast, so book ahead during the summer months (December–March).

Getting Around: Use the Metropolitano bus system for a cheap way to connect major districts. Avoid unlicensed taxis on the street.