Lima Off The Beaten Path: Local Communities And Cultural Immersion

With only 1 full day in Lima, we wanted to have an off-the-beaten path experience with the locals. That is exactly what we got and it was worth every penny. Alfredo showed us around for nearly 8 hours and during that time we didn't see another tourist anywhere. We felt more like visiting friends rather than tourists. We met really nice people and learned so much. This is the tour that gives back to the community. A perfect way to start our Peru adventure.

I can't say enough about the Lima Off the Beaten Path: Local Communities and Cultural Immersion Tour. This tour is a profound, educational, and deeply human journey into the real Lima. My guide, Alfredo, was truly exceptional. His knowledge of Lima's history, politics, and culture was vast, and he shared it with such passion that every fact came to life. However, beyond his expertise, Alfredo's kindness and compassion truly shone through. He created a welcoming and respectful environment that allowed for meaningful interactions with local residents. The highlight of the day was visiting a local community. I was welcomed into a family's home for a delicious homemade lunch, and I met inspiring individuals, such as a community leader who volunteers to feed children and the elderly. These were not just stops on a tour; they were genuine, heartfelt encounters that provided a unique perspective and a sense of hope. This tour is much more than just sightseeing; it's an opportunity for responsible cultural immersion that leaves a lasting impression. I am so grateful to have had this experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see the vibrant heart of Lima.

Be a little bit adventurous and go for it. A great day with Alfredo seeing the real Lima rather than the tourist sites. Visited the fishing port and market, the Christ of the Pacific, the largest cemetery in South America, lunch at a locals house and a visit to a neighbourhood house that cares for local children of single mothers. A great experience!

Great experience if you're interested in an authentic view of Lima with the chance to talk to locals

Wonderful day with Alfredo and his driver. The tour included SUCH interesting people and places, nothing like you would see in the tourist trap areas. We heard amazing stories of the lives of the people, shared a meal made by a local woman who had created her own food business and was a leader in her community, and visited a nonprofit working to improve the lives of children. The fishing area was interesting and, again, showed us the lives of working people in the city. Informative, safe, interesting, exhilarating day!

Alfredo took us on a trip way outside of the touristic side of Lima - to human settlements built from scratch by indigenous people of Peru. He was a very knowledgeable guide who gave us a thorough historical background of the places and the people. Another huge value of the trip was visiting the locals and learning about their ways of improving their lives there: from selling handcrafted items, through cooking for community kitchens to educating children and young women about their rights. Through joining the trip we were supporting the projects financially. The trip was very insightful and eye opening, completely crushing the stereotypes one might have about poorer neighbourhoods of South America. Without Alfredo we would never be able to see those places and meet the amazing people. If you’re a curious traveller, this trip is a must!

This tour company, tour and guide were 100% from start to end! The booking+payment was easy, the guide and driver arrived exactly on time (10min early) and the tour was fantastic! Truely authentic and alternative life in Lima. Alfredo the guide was friendly and warm. Along the drive to the cemetery he explained about the different neighbourhoods we travelled through and about life in Lima. The cemetery was indeed eye opening from its size to the story of how it was established. Next we went to see and learn about the human settlements which are the main part of the tour. We met our local guide, Evelyn, and then visited with 3 different woman who shared their personal story and how they formed their community and what it does. We had a homemade lunch at Ms Ninfa's home and got a chance to ask, and answer her, questions. After lunch we visited Evelyn's community centre and learnt about the amazing things it does. If you want to experience something truely unique and authentic, this tour is for you. I had an amazing experience! Thanks Alfredo!!

What a wonderful day in Lima. We were so looking forward to our day here and our time with Alfredo did not disappoint. So much to see and do, from a unique (and massive) cemetery, to visiting a local artisan, to a wonderful lunch in a local home to visits within the community. A full and rewarding day that we can heartily recommend.

I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to adventure into the less touristy areas of Lima and experience everyday life in Peru. The highlight for us was our lunch with señora Ninfa's house (best salsa I have ever experienced) and our visit to the education center run by a local non-profit organization Grupo Jugando Aprendo (Eveli is the coordinator is amazing, btw). Grupo Jugando Aprendo focuses on empowering and supporting child domestic workers in the area and they do an amazing job! Our tour guide, Alfredo, was also incredible and so knowledgeable. We would choose to go any tour that he is leading.

My wife, Lyndall, and I are lucky. We were born in Australia to loving parents and grew up in stable families. We have been lucky to receive a tertiary education and work in well paid jobs. And we have been fortunate to be able to travel and see some of the world with all its splendour and chaos and beauty and tragedy. So, when Lyndall found the immersion experience we had to do it. To see how 1/3 of the world's most vulnerable live and over 1 million people in Lima. Alfredo was an excellent guide. His English flawless and his manner courteous and respectful at all times. He politely and competently answered all our many questions and spoke with passion and sincerity about the work he was doing in the Human Settlements. The tour encompassed the fish markets where we meet the local fishermen and took a short ride on the water where we saw sea lions, pelicans, and birds diving for fish. From above the harbour, we got fleeting views of the rugged coast and back across the city. We also learned of Lima's dark history with invading colonists, Chili's occupation, and the late 20th century civil unrest. Then we visited the second largest cemetery in the world. In the dank, cool mist of the morning, it's silence was broken only by the baying dogs that live among the dead. At a house high on the slopes of the Human Settlements we met Balbina whose skill with the sewing needle was all that stood between her and desolation. Her products were made with care and love and brightly coloured in the tradition of her ancestors. Lunch was enjoyed with the wonderfully beautiful Neffi. A lovely meal of chicken, rice and beans. Neffi's smile belied the tragic life she had led but emitted a human spirit that was infectious. The final stop was at the after school centre which provided a safe environment for the children and helped with their homework. The overall plight of these people is daunting and almost beyond belief. But there was also hope and joy here. And a belief in the future that was uplifting and inspiring. I asked Alfredo "what should I take away from this experience? What should I tell the people back home? What can I learn?" Without hesitation, he turned to me and said, "remember they're all people, just like everyone else." A great experience and one which we would recommend to anyone visiting Lima that counts themselves among the 8 billion inhabitants of this world we share!

This tour was awesome. It definitely showed a side a Lima that the average North American tourist would not see without taking this type of tour. It was well worth the money and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to see some of the hardest working, modest and friendly people. Alfredo was an excellent guide. His explanations were clear and he is obviously very passionate about the the people his company is trying to help.

Very good way to see parts of Lima outside of the tourist bubble. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and I learnt a lot more about Lima with this trip.

We did not want another typical tourist tour of the City of Lima. We wanted to go where the locals were, not the rich locals, but the regular everyday working class Peruvian. I read the reviews of this tour. It sounded what my wife and I were looking for. By the way, we were visiting on a Princess Cruise that provided tours. We took one of the ship’s Lima tours. Since it was our first time to Lima, it was a good quick look at the traditional sites. Back to this tour. We met Alfredo right on time at 10am. Since the Cruise Ship Shuttles drop of at the park at Miraflores near Club Social Miraflores, we chose to meet at the JW Marriott (hotel was required for pick up on the TripAdvisor app). The Marriott is a half block from the Ship Shuttle bus drop off…super easy and there is a Starbucks there so don’t worry about needing to go into the hotel lobby. There is a driveway next to the Starbucks that is part of the Marriott. Alfredo and his driver pick you up at the driveway. Alfredo took us first with a local fishman on his panga/boat. We went out just past the point of the harbor and he brought us back to tour the local fish market. After the boat tour we went to a high view spot overlooking the beach. We headed East to the foothills of the Andes where we visited an amazing cemetery (blew my mind with all of the colors and stores). Alfredo than took us to have lunch with an amazing woman who has a kitchen that feeds local kids. We also went to see two or three other women who are helping serve the local community. It was so encouraging. I honestly had hoped for just a small taste of Lima, yet this tour exceeded all of my expectations. I will say this tour may not be for everyone. If you like white table clothe experiences, this is not the tour for you…unless you really want to grow and experience something new and beautiful…go for it. It was totally safe. 5 stars. I would give more if possible. One last note….there are some long stairs you may need to walk up to get to some of the families living up on the side of tall canyons.

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G We visited a local fishing community, the second biggest graveyard and immersed ourselves in a couple locals communities that welcome us in their home and center. We lived a full day of humility, gratitude, curiosity and met amazing locals. Grateful for a great day and experience that we will remember for ever. Our girls 12 and 9 had a great time, and saw how others children and communities live everyday. Don t hesitate you will love it. Alfredo is an authentic person that cared, love his community and willing to help. Thanks again for a memorable day!

The tour was educational and a very good way to see and learn how many of the people in Lima live outside of the tourist districts. It is very different than the other tours that are usually offered and we appreciated this rare opportunity. The guide was very knowledgeable and clearly know and cared about the people he took us to visit. Most of the places we went to were very high up and some of the roads were very narrow, on the edge of the mountain, and not all were paved. If you are uncomfortable with heights, this may not be a comfortable tour for you.

It was honestly one of the best tours I’ve done in my life. We were very much intrigued by the good reviews and were not let down. On the contrary our expectations were surpassed. Alfredo for starters is not only a very friendly person but also and incredible tour guide. The design of this day tour was just perfect. We started of with a very personal visit of Chorillos and its sights. We visited some of the most interesting places and received great background info about everything. It was all so well planned out that you could instantly give in to enjoying the moment to its fullest. Yet the second part of the tour knocked it out of the park. I believe that looking only at the beautiful and shiny side of a city like Lima with its 11M inhabitants leaves you with a distorted impression of reality. The only way of getting a glimpse of this other side is to get out and broaden your horizon. And that is what this incredible tour does. I don’t wanna give to much away (since that is for you to find out yourself) but hearing and feeling the daily routines of the not-so-privileged is imprinting for life. Plus the approach of responsible tourism and leaving a share to everyone seems very fair and appealing. 12/10 can recommend!

Went for a day tour on a business trip as a solo. It's a memorable trip that covered a visit to a community fisherman's centre by the pacific ocean, a visit on the hills surrounding Chorollillos village....what was an experience was a visit to the settlements surrounding lima, with a close interaction with its dwellers, an excellent lunch and a visit to an education centre supported by an NGO an your particpation to the tour....more than an education centre....imagine you're a child whose parents need to leave to go to work before you wake up and after you go to sleep...a community effort for the benefit of all which comes with a smile...no one can forget that experience full of humanity. While travelling solo increases the price, the immersion is total and I never felf unsafe anytime, but rather privileged in being able to interact.

This tour gave a view of Peru that tourists rarely see. It showed where the millions of poor live and survive, but also showed how they work together to help each other in their difficult situations. It also showed us sites like the 2nd largest graveyard in the world and how this is important to the people to remember and continue to care for those who have gone before. The lunch prepared at one of the homes was delicious. Alfredo was a wonderful guide and demonstrated the care and support he provides to these communities. Part of your fee is helping those who need it most!

I was sceptic to do this tour as it is a lot of money for three persons. But my daughter convinced me and I am not sorry for that. Our guide Alberto and his driver picked us up at our hotel and from there we were taken care of with such a good personal touch all day. All day long we where stuffed with interesting information and good scenaries. Albertos deep personal involvement in how these humble but driven people have it and that they should continously develop them self and their community, affected us in a very positive way. That we were lucky to see dolphins in the beginning of the short sea trip, was a big bonus.

A visit to to one of the poorest communities in Lima, yet filled with the most amazing, resilient, and gracious people. A pleasure to meet one of the artisans behind the local crafts, and have an opportunity to support her work directly. Also had the opportunity to be lunch guest of one of the residents. A truly humbling experience. Go, and experience Peru. You will be eternally grateful.

Our experience in choosing and booking this tour with Natalie was great. She kept in in touch and confirmed the pick up just before the tour - we had made the arrangements months in advance! Alfredo, our tour guide, could not have been better. His English was easy to understand and he was very easy going. The tour was exactly as it had been written. The experience was the highlight of our entire 38 day trip! We saw a side of Lima that is not publicized. Although depressing that people have to live this way, the tour was uplifting - a testament to humanity and our desire to build a good life. The people were open and lovely. We saw examples, and met some of the people in charge, of what the people are doing to improve their lives. They are doing this in adverse conditions - little or no water, electricity, lack of building supplies and a total change in environment from the highlands they fled from terrorists. Be sure to follow their guidelines and take water, sunscreen and a hat! Also, be prepared for stairs and uneven ground as the communities are built into the hills. This tour should not be missed!

I took this tour with my 14 year old daughter while my wife, a surgical nurse, was working at a Lima hospital as part of a mission conducting cardiovascular surgeries. Since I had taken her out of middle school for 5 days, I wanted our trip to have more value than the usual pictures at notable spots. We came across this tour and it seemed to fit perfect. We were picked up exactly on time at our hotel by Alfredo and our (very skilled) driver. We spent the next 6-7 hours on an experience that was engaging, educational, insightful and something neither of us will ever forget. We learned how the human settlements came to be, toured different areas, met several families in their homes, met children in the activity center and learned about how the NGO was helping the kids with education and opportunities for the future. This was not slum tourism, it was thoughtful and respectful, highlighting the sense of community and closeness, despite being financially poor. Alfredo was a fantastic guide and our driver was exceptional navigating through busy Lima boulevards and twisty dirt roads in the settlements. Thank you for an amazing day!

This tour will take you into the lives of the squatters’ communities outside of downtown Lima. We were overwhelmed by the vastness of the poverty which is mostly overlooked by the city dwellers. The experience is unforgettable. Alberto was an awesome guide who is also very involved in community projects to help these people.

Myself and my brother in-law Tony did this community tour after we had attended the “Dakar” event and was completely blown away. The conditions these people live in is a massive eye opener and made us reflect on how lucky we are. The humanity these people display is an inspiration. Our guide Alfredo was very knowledgeable and gave us great insights to the daily lives of the shanty town. Don’t miss this tour if in Lima!!

Last August I went with my girlfriend on the one day tour of the local communities. Alberto was our guide. He is a very kind guy and taught us several things about living in Lima, historical migrations and sendero luminoso. Our tour was very interesting 'cause it shows people a different side of Lima that you couldn't discover by yourself or through other traditional tours offered by other agencies. The sight at the Nueva Esperenza cemetery was amazing. We enjoyed the afternoon together with local people of Pamplona district, thanks to the help of Eveline, who is in charge for a charity social project and the construction of a ludoteca for children. Thanks again to all the staff of Alternative Perù for this great experience!!

It is really hard to put into words what we experienced on our Lima Local Communities Tour. It was very authentic, and we are so appreciative of the people who shared their day with us and allowing us a glimpse into their daily lives. Thank you Senora Balvina the artisan, Senora Tomasa who shared her home and lunch with us and to Evelie who's work on the community centre is coming together! I feel very blessed and honoured to have met such incredibly strong women. I highly recommend this tour if you want to really feel this part of Lima. Our tour guide Alberto was extremely knowledgeable, professional, kind, interesting, perceptive, and passionate about his role with this community. Thank you for this experience.

There is a basic difference between Traveler and Tourist. Tourists are mostly searching for fast entertainment. These ones should stay in the Miraflores enjoy all kind of kitsch entertainment that this place offers and listen the high class paranoid stories about criminals. But if you are a traveler who wants to see how the real life is organicalyy happening and be forever inspired from the amount of the dignity that will see, then please do this trip. Excellent in every aspect. Anna

<p>This was the very last tour of my stay in Peru and I am so glad that I took this tour before I left Peru. This was one of the major highlights of my trip. I was so glad that I got to visit some of the off the beaten paths and discovered some of the most beautiful and unknown areas. Every place that we visited was very eye-opening and I was very happy to meet with the local NGO social project leaders and the families in human settlements area. I learned so much in this one day and will definitely recommend anyone who wants to learn more about Peruvian locals outside of the major sites like the Machu Picchu and all. Don't get me wrong, I went to all those amazing famous sites and they were amazing but this tour was definitely one of a kind. My tour guide Alfredo was super awesome! I enjoyed every single minute for this tour! Please don't hesitate. Take this tour and I guarantee you will love it!</p>

Our guide was Diego. Went to out of the way places. Saw markets, fishermen, a fascinating huge cemetery and some shanty towns. Went into some homes there and ate lunch. Gives you an appreciation of how much of the world lives.Felt safe in these places, even though I would never venture in alone.

An excellent tour for any visitor to Lima who wants to gain an understanding of the real, living Latin American city beyond the tourist-centric neighborhoods. As we drove through the districts south of central Lima, our guide—a Lima native—patiently answered our endless questions about various businesses, local driving styles, the sidewalk markets, and lively street scenes. The sprawling Cementerio de Nueva Esperanza is a remarkable destination, worth a trip in itself. When we arrived, about 2 weeks after the Day of the Dead, the lovingly tended plots were still vibrant with bright decorations and fresh paint. Most impressive were our visits with locals. Residents of Pamplona Alta graciously welcomed us into their homes, offering us insight into daily life in one of Lima’s pueblos jóvenes. We learned a bit about how these neighborhoods sustain themselves through self-organized community projects—communal kitchens, infrastructure efforts, academic support programs, and student and labor rights education. Humbling, and eye-opening. We spent 4 days visiting Lima, and this was the best day by far. We won’t soon forget it.

<p>Very interesting tour with excellent guide, Elen. We saw both sides of life in Lima. Lunch with local family was an experience. The people, who have little, were happy and smiling. Our hostess made about 100 per month! Hazy skies made long distance viewing difficult, but still enjoyed it.</p>

<p>Evine was an excellent tour guide! Definitely not a visit to your typical tourist areas. It was very interesting to see how the locals live in the Pueblos Jovenes, and how they attempt to make a living sewing for the big companies. The women working together to make and sell their own crafts were a great example of the value of giving very small businesses starting money. The tour was very worthwhile.</p>

<p>This is the best day tour I have ever done and I highly recommend it to anyone who visits Peru. The driver and guide were excellent and took us to some amazing places where we met some inspiring people who are working hard to make life better for the people who live in the Human Settlements.</p>

<p>real good experience for my 14 year old daughter...</p>

<p>Simply AMAZING!!! This is a MUST do if you care about real life and true hard work and if you are looking to learn about the warmth, care, hardword and resilience of many people struggling to have a better life and give their families a better life. This tour is NOT DANGEROUS, do not let that stop you from taking it. Would be great for families but of course also for single travelers and groups. It is not only interesting as it shows you different site of the city the boat tour is really cool and the cementery is unbeliavable but it is eye opening and heart warming. It might easily change your life as it may change the way you see life. MUST DO.</p>

<p>Lima is, of course, a very modern city. But there is another story about where 40-50 of the population lives -- the Pueblos Jovenes or New City. This tour is eye-opening. Even though we have lived in and traveled to many Third World countries, we were not prepared for the vast expanse of the Pueblos Jovenes. The tour was well-organized and the lunch at the local house was educational. Highly recommend for travelers who want to get off the beaten path in their travels.</p>

<p>Our tour was modified for the date selected. The guides were excellent. Seeing the work of local artisans and their crafts as well as having lunch prepared by and shared with locals was a pleasant alternative to the usual tourist experience.</p>

<p>A truly amazing and moving experience meeting with underprivileged families in their homes located in the shanty towns clinging to the sides of the mountains surrounding Lima. A well structured and well thought-out tour led by a well informed and delightful for guide. Highly recommended.</p>

<p>A valuable tour. We visited 5 families in the human settlements of Lima. This was an eye opening experience. Not to be missed.</p>

This is a truly wonderful tour. On this tour, you will have many experiences and encounters that you would never get by just visiting ordinary tourist spots. I wanted many people to know about this tour, so I will briefly describe the flow of my experience on the day (I will not write in detail. Please participate and experience it for yourself). In the morning, we boarded a small boat at the fishing port and toured Lima and the surrounding area from the sea, and then drove up a steep hill near the coast to see the statue of Christ and saints at the top. After that, in the afternoon, we headed to the San Juan de Miraflores district. I was staying in the San Isidro district, but as we drove, the atmosphere of the city changed so much that it was hard to believe we were in the same country. This district did not have running water, and trucks sold water, and people lived by storing water in tanks. On the way there, we could see the city, such as the market, from the car window, and also visited the second largest cemetery in the world. In the same area, we visited the home of a person who was a victim of the terrorist attacks in the 1980s and heard about their devastation and hardships. It was heartbreaking to hear how difficult and painful it was. She does sewing and sells cute embroidery products that you can buy. We had lunch at a local person's home. This person also had a very hard time, and we learned how harsh the era of terrorism by the Communist Party, such as Sendero Luminoso, was. Finally, the tour ended with a visit to a school attended by many children. The above is the flow of my experience on the day, but as you can see, it was really packed, and by visiting many places and meeting many people and listening to their stories, you can gain a lot of knowledge. Our guide, Alfred, was a very kind and good young man who loved and cared about his community and the Quechua people who live there. And he spoke very polished English. I am not fluent in languages, but he spoke polite and beautiful English slowly, so it was no problem at all. Also, the main destination, San Juan de Miraflorens, is described by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and tourist guidebooks as "one of the most dangerous areas in Lima. You should never go there." However, thanks to Alfredo, I did not feel unsafe at all. Instead, I met many kind, earnest, and gentle people, listened to their current situations, learned how terrorism and social unrest cause people pain, and saw the enormous disparity between rich and poor, how that disparity divides the people, and how the wealthy even build physical walls to discriminate against others. I was able to see, hear, and learn a lot. I think this is an experience and knowledge that you can never get on a trip that just goes around tourist spots. It's a tour that you can learn and experience a lot, and I highly recommend it.