Lima beaches: Costa Verde and La Herradura

Road to Miraflores and Barranco Beaches. Photo: Isabel Guerra

Not only are many of Lima’s districts located by the coastal line, but also some of these districts have nice and very accessible beaches that are open to everyone all year.

Some of these beaches are lined up in a circuit called “Costa Verde”, easily accesible by car and in some cases even on foot.

The Costa Verde links beaches from the Limenian districts of San Miguel, San Isidro, Miraflores, Barranco and Chorrrillos.

Some of these beaches are surfable, located in Miraflores, all of them within a 15 minutes walk from each other: Redondo, Makaha, Waikiki and La Pampilla, all of them very close to the famous luxury restaurant La Rosa Nautica. You can take a taxi and easily get there, or, if you are staying at a hotel nearby, you may ask for directions to arrive walking.

Costa Verde Beaches. Photo: Martintoy.

However, it’s safer and certainly more confortable to hire a taxi to take you and pick you up, since there is no public transportation (means, “no buses”) that can take you there.

These beaches are mainly covered with large and small stones, so walking can be a bit difficult; and, depending of the time of the year and of the weather, too, the water may be polluted.

Usually, local authorities place either red, green or yellow flags, at very visible places, according to the sea conditions.

If you rent a car in Lima, you will find plenty of parking at these beaches, but be aware that Waikiki may be crowded.

Costa Verde is a long circuit that ends in La Herradura beach, in Chorrillos. But in the scenic route, some of the most recommendable beaches are Barranquito and Agua Dulce, in Barranco and Chorillos respectively, both with good infrastructure.

Agua Dulce Beach. Photo: Moonshot_Peru

Keep in mind that Agua Dulce can be very, very crowded during the summer, but its quiet waters are appealing and the landscape is superb. Just laze and sunbath, and if you can stay longer, enjoy a breathtaking sunsets view.

By the end of the circuit you will find La Herradura, once one of the most popular beaches in Lima, which now looks a bit abandoned, specially since public transportation stopped serving this route several years ago.

It is worth noting that La Herradura is a survivor. Many years ago, a Mayor tried to build a road to connect this beach with La Chira beach. The works were never finished, but the engineering works changed the face of this beach; and according to surfers, now the waves are not as good as they used to be.

However, La Herradura has as a marina crowded with bars, discos and restaurants, and it still continues as the most emblematic beach for surfers because its waves are still big and hard.

On of the most famous restaurants in La Herradura is El Salto Del Fraile, located at the top of a cliff. The place is named after a local legend that tells that a love-sick friar leaped to this death here, trying to run away from a forbidden love. While the food is not extraordinary, the service is good and the view is absolutely breathtaking. If you decide to eat here, you may want to try the causa stuffed with crab, or the salmón al horno (baked salmon).

Closing this adventure, here’s a video of La Herradura waves, made by Aquamemo.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvtf23f18qA&]