Lima is Peru's vibrant capital and largest city, stretching along the Pacific coast where ancient civilizations once flourished.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Lima.
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Playa Miraflores (La Pampilla)
The main urban beach directly beneath the Miraflores cliffs, accessible via ramps and stairs from the malecón. La Pampilla is Lima's most popular urban beach and gets very crowded in summer. Facilities include restaurants, beach clubs, volleyball courts, and surf rentals. The dramatic backdrop of the 80m cliffs above makes it one of Lima's most iconic settings.
Editor’s tip. Come on weekdays to avoid summer crowds. The cliff backdrop makes for spectacular sunset photos looking back at Miraflores.
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Playa Barranco
Accessible via the famous Bajada de los Baños walkway descending from near the Bridge of Sighs, Barranco beach has a more intimate and bohemian character than the main Miraflores beach. Less crowded than La Pampilla, the beach is a popular surfing spot and the setting for several well-regarded seafood restaurants right on the shore.
Editor’s tip. Walk down Bajada de los Baños from the Bridge of Sighs for the most scenic beach access in Lima.
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Playa Costa Verde - Makaha
A well-regarded surf beach on the Costa Verde road, popular with Lima's surfing community for its consistent breaks. Less crowded than the main Miraflores beach, Makaha is preferred by local surfers. Several surf schools operate here offering lessons and board rentals.
Editor’s tip. Best for intermediate to advanced surfers. Several surf schools here for lessons.
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Playa Herradura
A large, horseshoe-shaped (herradura = horseshoe) bay in Chorrillos that is one of Lima's best swimming beaches, with calmer waters than the exposed Costa Verde. The bay's shape provides some protection from the strongest swells. Popular with local families, with a string of seafood restaurants and beach clubs along the shore.
Editor’s tip. One of Lima's best beaches for actual swimming. The seafood restaurants in the bay are excellent and affordable.
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Playa Agua Dulce
A wide, sandy beach in Chorrillos that is one of Lima's most popular public beaches with local families. Agua Dulce (Sweet Water) has good facilities, calmer waters, and a long sandy strip. The beach has some of the city's best food stalls and casual restaurants nearby, making it excellent for a full day.
Editor’s tip. Very popular with Lima families in summer. Go on a weekday for more space. Excellent cheap seafood from the beach stalls.
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Playa Punta Hermosa
Located 40km south of Lima, Punta Hermosa is Peru's premier surf beach and a popular day trip from the capital. The town is built around surfing, with world-class breaks including Pico Alto (one of the biggest waves in South America). Beyond surfing, the beach is beautiful with cleaner water than urban Lima beaches, and the surrounding cliffs are dramatic.
Editor’s tip. Best beach day trip from Lima for clean water and excellent surf. The coastal seafood restaurants are excellent.
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Playa Santa María del Mar
A beautiful bay with calmer waters and a smaller resort community 50km south of Lima. Santa María del Mar is considered one of the best beaches accessible from Lima for a day trip, with cleaner water, a proper sandy beach, and excellent seafood restaurants. Less developed than Punta Hermosa but with its own exclusive beach club.
Editor’s tip. The most pleasant beach day trip from Lima for families wanting calm water and a proper beach setting.
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.