Gay Lima Lima City Guide

Lima is a marvel. A sprawling city in a sprawling desert on the edge of the Pacific, this city has ancient roots but it’s all about looking forward, not back. Lima is inarguably the gastronomic capital of South America, but it’s not just the food that’s thrilling. Although they embrace their rich history, Limeños are risk-taking in their creative endeavours. This electrifying mix is palpable in the art, the style, the people – and the gay movement. Latin America’s first gay rights organization was founded in Lima way back in 1982. No small feat in such a macho, conservative and Catholic country. Anti-discrimination laws are on the books and same-sex civil unions are (fingers crossed) on the horizon. While most gays don’t yet publicly identify, there is a sizable openly gay community in Lima. With a World Heritage Site colonial centre and more inhabitants than NYC, the art and fashion scenes are buzzing. Perched on cliffs overlooking the water, Lima offers sweeping ocean views. Pity the travellers who take a cursory pass through this bustling, sophisticated city on their way to Machu Picchu. Their loss. Looking for the ultimate Lima gay guide? Mr Hudson has got you covered.

The best hotels in Lima

Let’s start this gay Lima travel guide with a roundup of the best hotels in Lima. If you prefer your hotel to feel more like the mansion of a wealthy and eclectic art collector, book a room at Hotel B. Set in a French belle époque mansion built in 1914, the luxury hotel houses 200 pieces of carefully curated and arresting art that veers from graphic prints to painting to photography. High atop the dramatic cliffs, the Belmond Hotel’s views of the Pacific and understated elegance are hard to beat. So are the oversized rooms and lavish buffet breakfast. With just nine rooms in a revamped 1940s mansion, Atemporal calls itself a ‘hotelito’ and specializes in a unique combo of old-school service and cosiness. Call for a chauffeured house car or hang out in your unique room furnished with Peruvian artefacts, books, and photos. Villa Barranco has a similar aesthetic with eight bedrooms, a wooden spiral staircase, communal gardens, bountiful views of the ocean and a collection of quirky delightful objects waiting to be discovered inside medicine cabinets and other nooks and crannies where you wouldn’t expect to find them. If you’re looking for the right hotel in the right location at the right price, try Calima Boutique Hotel in the happening Miraflores district. Tasteful rooms, free breakfast, and staff that will go the mile for you make this a standout in the three-star category.