Thing to do
Puente de los Suspiros and Barranco
A walk through Barranco centred on the wooden Bridge of Sighs, first opened in 1876, with the Bajada de Baños path leading beneath it down to…
Malecón de Miraflores and Parque del Amor
A walk along the clifftop boardwalk of Miraflores to the Parque del Amor, opened in 1993, with Víctor Delfín's sculpture El Beso and mosaic walls of love poems.
At a glance
- Type
- Clifftop walk and park
- Area
- Miraflores, Lima, Peru
Good to know
- Free
- Sea views
- Sculpture
- Mosaic benches
Why we recommend it
The clifftop malecón of Miraflores is where Lima turns to face the Pacific, and a walk along it is one of the simplest pleasures of a visit to the city. It is not one promenade but a series of them along the top of the cliffs, named Malecón de la Marina, Malecón Cisneros, Malecón de la Reserva and Malecón 28 de Julio, and together they look out over the Bay of Lima and the stretch of coast known as the Costa Verde. The best-known stop is the Parque del Amor, officially named after the former mayor Alberto Andrade Carmona, which sits on the Malecón Cisneros.
The Parque del Amor opened on Valentine's Day, 14 February 1993. Its centrepiece is El Beso, The Kiss, a sculpture of an embracing couple by the Peruvian artist Víctor Delfín. Around it, walls are decorated in trencadís, the broken-tile mosaic technique inspired by Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell in Barcelona, and inlaid with phrases and poems about love in Spanish and Quechua. The benches and walls make it a popular place to sit and watch the sea.
From the park you look out over the coastline and the Villena Rey bridge. The malecón is also where Lima comes to exercise and play: paragliding and cycling are both popular along the cliffs, and on a clear afternoon you may see paragliders overhead. If you want to try a tandem flight yourself, book with a licensed operator rather than on impulse.
The walk itself is free and open to everyone. Late afternoon is a pleasant time to go, as the sun sets over the ocean to the west, and it is worth bringing an extra layer for the sea breeze. Restaurants are dotted along the promenade, so you can stop for a drink or a meal with a view.
A good route is to start at Larcomar, the shopping centre on the malecón, and walk along the clifftop to the Parque del Amor and beyond, then turn inland for dinner in central Miraflores. Allow an hour or so at an easy pace. Barranco, which borders Miraflores to the south, is a short taxi ride away and combines well with the malecón for an afternoon and evening along the coast.
Malecón de Miraflores and Parque del Amor FAQs
Where is the Parque del Amor?
On the Malecón Cisneros, part of the clifftop boardwalk of Miraflores.
When did it open?
On 14 February 1993, Valentine's Day.
What is the big sculpture?
El Beso, The Kiss, by the Peruvian artist Víctor Delfín.
What is written on the walls?
Phrases and poems about love in Spanish and Quechua, set in mosaic inspired by Gaudí's Park Güell.
Is it free?
Yes, the malecón and its parks are public spaces and free to visit.
When is the best time to go?
Late afternoon and sunset are the most popular times.
What else can you do on the malecón?
Paragliding and cycling are both popular, and there are restaurants along the promenade and the Larcomar shopping centre.
What can you see from the park?
The coastline and the Villena Rey bridge across one of the ravines.