Callao-Lima Peru

1204 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Aqua Expeditions (56 Cruises)

Aria Amazone.

Aria Amazone

32 Passengers
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Azamara Club Cruises (29 Cruises)

Crystal Cruises (19 Cruises)

Holland America Line (28 Cruises)

HX Expeditions (149 Cruises)

MS Santa Cruz II.

MS Santa Cruz II

2664 tons
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Lindblad Expeditions (569 Cruises)

Delfin II.

Delfin II

43 Passengers
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National Geographic Delfina

National Geographic Delfina

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National Geographic Endeavour II

National Geographic Endeavour II

159 Passengers
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National Geographic Gemini

National Geographic Gemini

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National Geographic Islander II

National Geographic Islander II

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises (16 Cruises)

Scenic Cruises (20 Cruises)

Seabourn Cruise Line (28 Cruises)

Seabourn Quest.

Seabourn Quest

32000 tons
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Tauck Cruises (149 Cruises)

Santa Cruz II22

Santa Cruz II

90 Passengers
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Uniworld Boutique River Cruise (56 Cruises)

Aria Amazon.

Aria Amazon

59 Passengers
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Viking Ocean Cruises (35 Cruises)

Viking Octantis.

Viking Octantis

634 Passengers
30150 tons
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Port of Callao (Lima), Peru | Cruise Port Guide

The Pacific's morning mist — the garúa, as Peruvians call it — often wraps the arrival in Callao, the great port serving Lima, in a soft haze. The terminal sits within an industrial zone: the only way out is by shuttle, organized excursion, or authorized taxi, and reaching the Peruvian capital takes thirty to sixty minutes by road, depending on traffic. Don't let that preamble discourage anyone: waiting at the end of the trip is one of the finest colonial centres in the Americas, cliffs facing the ocean, and one of the most celebrated food scenes in the world.

The Historic Centre, Memory of the Viceroys

Around the Plaza Mayor, a World Heritage Site, Lima displays what once made it the capital of Spanish America: the Government Palace, the cathedral where conquistador Francisco Pizarro is buried, and the carved wooden balconies overhanging the ochre and yellow façades. A few streets away, the San Francisco Convent shows off its old library and its catacombs, where the bones of tens of thousands of Limeños are arranged in striking geometric patterns. Guides bring three centuries of viceregal rule back to life in a well-run morning.

Miraflores, the City Facing the Pacific

Cruise line shuttles generally drop passengers in Miraflores, a modern district perched atop the cliffs. The malecón, a promenade of parks suspended above the ocean, stretches on for kilometres: paragliders launching into the void, surfers at the foot of the cliffs, and the Monument to Love at the Parque del Amor. The Larcomar shopping centre, built right into the cliff face, combines shops with terraces overlooking the sea. It's the ideal drop-off point for exploring on your own: safe, open, and easy to navigate.

Barranco, the Artists' Quarter

South of Miraflores, Barranco cultivates a bohemian atmosphere: brightly coloured republican-era mansions, flower-lined lanes sloping down toward the sea, murals, and galleries. The Bridge of Sighs, a wooden footbridge steeped in romantic legend, spans a green ravine that leads down to the old fishermen's path. The cafés and pisco bars nearby invite a leisurely pause — the pisco sour, Peru's national cocktail, is served here exactly as it should be.

The Larco Museum, a Pre-Columbian Treasure

In the Pueblo Libre district, an 18th-century mansion surrounded by bougainvillea houses one of the finest pre-Columbian collections on the continent: Moche ceramics of striking realism, Paracas textiles, and gold and silver ornaments. The visible storage vaults, where thousands of pieces line glass-fronted shelves, are just as fascinating as the main galleries. Allow two hours, including the garden restaurant.

And Callao Itself?

The port isn't without interest of its own. The Real Felipe Fortress, an imposing 18th-century structure, once defended Spanish treasure against privateers; the Monumental Callao district, around Constitución street, has reinvented itself as an urban art hub with giant murals and galleries; and the La Punta headland lines up its seaside homes between two pebble beaches. These shorter visits suit passengers who'd rather skip the drive to the capital.

The Peruvian Table

No account of this stop would be complete without mentioning the food: ceviche with leche de tigre, causa with yellow chili, grilled anticuchos — Lima is regularly ranked among the world's culinary capitals, and even a simple meal at a neighbourhood cevichería confirms it. Several excursions include a cooking demonstration or a market visit; food lovers would be wrong to pass them up.

Back Along the Coastal Road

On the way back, the road runs along the grey-blue ocean where cormorants dive. Lima fades into its legendary mist, but the colours linger: the gold of the balconies, the red of the murals, the white of the pisco sour. This stop takes a bit of organizing; it pays off many times over, and hints at everything Peru still holds in reserve, from the Andes to Machu Picchu.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the Callao terminal, inside an industrial zone. You can only leave by shuttle, organised excursion or authorised taxi: walking out of the port is not an option.
Thirty to sixty minutes by road depending on traffic. Cruise shuttles usually drop passengers in Miraflores, the modern district set on the cliffs.
Either the historic centre around the Plaza Mayor, or Miraflores and Barranco. You have to choose: adding the colonial centre, the Larco Museum and the seafront districts into half a day means skimming everything.
The Plaza Mayor, a World Heritage site, with the government palace, the cathedral where Francisco Pizarro lies, and the carved wooden balconies. A few streets away, the San Francisco monastery and its catacombs, where bones are arranged in geometric patterns.
One of the finest pre-Columbian collections on the continent, housed in an 18th-century mansion in Pueblo Libre: Moche ceramics, Paracas textiles, gold and silver ornaments. Allow two hours, including the garden restaurant.
Yes, and it suits passengers who would rather skip the drive into the capital: the Real Felipe fortress, the Monumental Callao street-art district around Calle Constitución, and the La Punta headland between its two pebble beaches.
The Peruvian sol. Cards work everywhere in Miraflores and in museums; keep small sol notes for taxis, markets and tips.
Spanish. English is common in hotels, museums and Miraflores restaurants, much less so elsewhere. A few words of Spanish smooth everything.
Ceviche first, with its leche de tigre. Then causa with yellow chilli and grilled anticuchos. Lima ranks regularly among the world's great food capitals, and a neighbourhood cevichería proves the point.
Often grey. The garúa, a coastal mist, wraps the city for much of the year and rainfall is minimal. From December to March the sky clears and the heat returns.