This affluent suburb is home to picturesque gardens, upscale boutiques and classy restaurants with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

Miraflores is one of the most affluent parts of Lima. The area attracts travellers and locals with its picturesque gardens, ocean-view plazas and exceptional restaurants and shops. There are many bars and clubs with an eclectic range of music ranging from South American specialties like salsa to Western hits from the charts. Although it is based outside of the city centre, there is so much to do in Miraflores that it seems like a city in itself, rather than a suburb. The area is very clean and secure there is even a police station with the sole purpose of caring for travellers.

Spend the day at the innovative shopping centre Larcomar. It has won awards for its inventive design, built into a cliff face overlooking the ocean. Enjoy the panoramic vista of the Pacific Ocean from the upscale boutiques. Dine at an exclusive restaurant with an excellent vista. Make your way to a discotheque after the sun dips below the horizon.

Enjoy a tranquil afternoon at the beach. Take a surfboard out onto the waves. Make your way to the town centre of Miraflores, by Parque Central (Central Park). Here, you will find an array of cafés and shops. Walk through charming pedestrianized side streets. Spend the afternoon in one of the area’s many green areas. Relax in the tranquil setting of Parque Kennedy. Take a look at the Church of Virgen Milagrosa in the centre of the park.

Visit the Huaca Pucllana, an ingenious mud-and-adobe temple built by the ancient Lima Culture centuries ago. Explore the intricate paths, buildings and temples in the complex. Take a guided tour in English to learn about the pre-Columbian civilizations that once ruled Lima.

The district, which covers around 3.7 square miles (9 square kilometres), was officially established in 1857. It is also known as Ciudad Heroica (Heroic City) because it was one of the main defensive forts in a war with Chile.

Miraflores is based by the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the southwest of Lima. It is surrounded by other districts, such as San Isidro to the north and Santiago de Surco in the east. Take a 6-mile (9.7-kilometre) taxi journey along the Via Expresa Highway from the centre of the city.