Jirón de la Unión Shopping Walk (Self Guided), Lima

Downtown Lima promises great shopping, riveting history and fantastic food. The lively center of Peru's capital city is as beautiful as it is fascinating. If shopping is the order of the day, explore Jiron de la Union, a long pedestrianized street lined with plenty of boutiques. There are clothing stores and shoe shops and the popular department store chain Saga Falabella also has a presence.

Break up your shopping expedition with some refreshments in one of the street's bars and restaurants or relax in either of the main squares that cap the road. At one end is the Plaza de Armas, where the city was born. This picturesque square is surrounded by several historic buildings, including the Cathedral of Lima and the Archbishop's Palace of Lima.

At the opposite end of Jiron de la Union is the Plaza San Martin. This wide public square was inaugurated in 1921 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Peru's independence. At its center is the Monument to José de San Martín, Peru’s liberator and a national hero. Both squares are great places to come for people watching.

Among the city's other historic landmarks to be found in the downtown area are the 16th-century Cathedral of La Merced and a monument to the former Peruvian president Ramon Castilla.