Bike Tour of Lima Through Miraflores, Barranco & Chorrillos Neighborhoods

So, traveling by bike to learn about the city was fast becoming my new favorite activity.  With the two bike tours of Santiago, Chile, I was feeling more comfortable with this mode of transit so I figured why not do the Bike Tour of Lima? I think I could have used the wine from Santiago to chill out my bike adventure.  It was Lima, so traffic and transit is definitely an adventure.

Park in Lima
Park in Lima

I would book the Bay Tour of Lima, Peru with Bike Tours of Lima -the cost of the 3 1/2 hour tour was approximately $30 which I thought was a great price.  The office was located in Miraflores and after meeting the other riders, the guide and signing all the paperwork, we were fitted with our bikes and helmets to begin the tour.  Our group would be six riders with a guide.

The first thing I noticed that the bike was easy to use, the second thing I noticed is that in Lima there are NO TRAFFIC RULES for the road (or at least it seemed that way when I saw children running for their lives to cross the street with no cars stopping, no stop signs to help cross traffic and a general sense of playing a live game of Frogger) which made the bike tour of Lima that much more adventurous and slightly more fun (note that I did sign a legal release form!).

The guide was great to ensure that we were all safe in following him and gave good directions along the way.  Once we were clear of the busier parts of Miraflores, it was as if we were in deserted area with free reign of the streets in a leisurely ride past the mansions and expensive real estate.  We would visit the Barranco neighborhood which during the day was quiet but at night came alive with restaurants, bars and clubs. We would stop at the local church for a bit of history of the area and walk across the wooden Bridge of Sighs holding our breaths to make a wish.

Church in Barranco Lima Peru Bike Tour
Church in Barranco neighborhood of Lima, Peru

 

Bridge of Sighs - Barranco nieghborhood Lima Peru Bike Tour
Bridge of Sighs – Barranco – Lima, Peru

Continuing onward at a slow pace, we were able to take in the various architecture styles (new and old), the feel of the neighborhood and imagine the many artists who were influenced by this over the years.

Lima Bike Tour - Lima Peru blue building
A bit of color in Lima

 

Barranco Peruvian Art Entry Door in Lima Peru bike tour
The artistic entrance in Barranco neighborhood of Lima Peru

We would then navigate some of the busy streets again, this time crossing in groups (the frog would have done better with a buffer frog friend in the game) as we entered the coastal neighborhood of Chorrillos.  Stopping at two points along the way for more history and stories – we could see (a bit smoggy though) the fishing piers and beaches below from the path.

Pedestrian Walkway in Lima Peru - Bike Tour Lima
Fancy a stroll or smooth riding along the bay of Lima?
Everything in one place - fishing boat, pier and market below
Everything in one place – fishing boat, pier and market below

The first stop in the garden we couldn’t see too much but did the guide did get yelled at by an old man who I may have hit with my bike when he didn’t move on the sidewalk and we were riding in pairs with me in the middle.  OK, i did say sorry when my left handlebar slightly hit him, but if you see six bikes side by side on the sidewalk coming at you of tourists, wouldn’t you maybe move a bit to the side to avoid the possibility of a clumsy rider like me?

The gardens in Barranco - Bike Tour Lima
The gardens in Barranco were lovely to see on the Bike Tour Lima

We would take a break for a snack at a local bar with our bikes locked up, it was a nice time to get to know the other travelers and talk about where we’ve been in South America and where we were going.

Bike Tour of Lima - Peruvian locals in a bar
The local enjoy a drink while our bikes are locked up

Our last stop would be the park that reminded me of Park Guell in Barcelona with its tile work along the seating area.

Reminds me of Park Guell - Bike Tour of Lima Peru
Reminds me of Park Guell but is in Lima, Peru with views of the Bay

The main focal point was an interesting sculpture “The Kiss” or as the locals like to say it reminds them of Shrek. You make the call – here is what Shrek looks like….

Me & Shrek in Times Square, NYC
Me & Shrek in Times Square, NYC

Here is the sculpture in Lima….either way it is memorable.

Sculpture "The Kiss" Lima - Bike Tour of Lima
Visiting the Sculpture “The Kiss” Lima during our Bike Tour of Lima – Not seeing the whole “Shrek” image

Touring a city by bike has become on of my favorite activities of late.  You are able to cover much ground in a short amount of time, burn some calories (not all the food & wine consumed calories though) and then can go back later to revisit on your own time.  The guides really love to show you their city and regale you with the history, the stories and their spin on it all. There is definitely more to Lima than I thought there was, the bike tour changed my perception of the city which was a pleasant surprise.