Larco Museum - Tour

Uncover the treasures of thousands of years of Peruvian history at the intriguing Larco Museum, a privately owned institution that is a must-see when in Lima. Housed in an immaculately preserved colonial villa built over a seventh-century pyramid, this is a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big city as well as a highly entertaining and educational visit.

You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the Larco Museum, located in the picturesque Pueblo Libre neighbourhood. The museum was the brainchild of Rafael Larco Hoyle, an engineer, archaeologist and all-round philanthropist, who founded it in 1926. Today, it houses priceless collections of ceramics, jewellery, ornaments, textiles and much more. Unusually for a museum, virtually its entire collection of more than 45,000 items can be viewed.

The Gold and Silver Gallery showcases the largest collection of jewellery used by many notable rulers of pre-colonial Peru. It comprises a collection of crowns, earrings, nose ornaments, garments, masks and vases, finely wrought in gold and decorated with semi-precious stones.

The Lithic, Metal and Erotic galleries house rare works ancient civilisations such as the Mochica, Lambayeque, Chimu, and Inca cultures. Many of these peoples represented their daily lives in ceramics, hence the preponderance of archaeological artefacts. The museum shop has an excellent selection of souvenirs while the highly regarded colonial-style café is an ideal place to enjoy a moment of peace or to appreciate what you gave just seen.