Costa Verde beaches and surfing

The Costa Verde is the stretch of coast that runs beneath the cliffs of Lima, lined with beaches, surf spots, clubs and restaurants. The Circuito de Playas, the coastal road at the foot of the cliffs, runs for a little over 20 kilometres from Callao to Chorrillos, passing San Miguel, Magdalena, San Isidro, Miraflores and Barranco on the way. The circuit was built in the 1960s under the mayor Luis Bedoya Reyes and inaugurated on 15 December 1970, and many of the beaches were formed by sediment from its construction.

Below Miraflores, beaches such as Makaha, Redondo and La Pampilla are the focus for surfers. La Pampilla has hosted world surf tournaments and is used for everyday surfing too, and Barranco's beaches, including Los Yuyos, Las Cascadas, Los Pavos, Barranquito and Las Sombrillas, are among the most popular with the international surfing community. The shoreline is lined with nautical clubs, surf centres and restaurants, so it is easy to arrange a lesson or rent a board.

For a gentler outing, the cycle path that starts at Avenida Miguel Grau runs along the shore to Agua Dulce beach in Chorrillos, and the malecón above the cliffs is also popular with cyclists. Further north, the Parque Costa Verde in San Miguel opened in 2019 for the Pan American Games. Look out for La Rosa Náutica, the restaurant on a pier at jetty number 4 below Miraflores, which makes a good lunch stop.

Getting down to the beach from the clifftops is part of the experience. In Barranco, the Bajada de Baños runs beneath the Bridge of Sighs to the sea, and in Miraflores the Villena Rey bridge crosses the Bajada Balta, one of the ravines that lead down to the shore. A cable car from Parque Domodossola in Miraflores down to Redondo beach was contracted in 2022, so check whether it is operating when you visit.

The beaches are free and suit active travellers, families in summer and anyone who wants to see Lima from sea level. The Pacific here is cold and the surf can be strong, so swim only where others do and follow any flags or local advice. Bring sunscreen, as the sun can be fierce even on hazy days. Allow a half-day for a walk, a surf lesson or a bike ride and lunch.