Museo de la Nación

printer iconPrintemail iconEmailfavorites iconSave to Favorites

Peru’s largest museum, and cheaper to see than the private collections, is Museo de la Nación (Javier Prado Este 2465, tel. 01/476-9873, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Tues.–Sun., US$4, US$3 students), in the east Lima suburb of San Borja.

Though criticized for a rambling organization, this museum has a great chronological layout, which makes it perhaps Lima’s most understandable and educational museum. There are three levels of exhibits showcasing Peru’s entire archaeological history, from Chavín stone carvings and Paracas weavings all the way to the Inca.

There are good models of Machu Picchu, the Nasca Lines, and the Lords of Sipán tomb excavated near Chiclayo in 1987, one of the great finds of Latin American archaeology.

This is a full-blown version of Peru’s culture for the history hungry. A more condensed alternative is the Museo Nacional de Arqueología.

© Ross Wehner and Renée del Gaudio from Moon Peru, 3rd Edition

Buy Moon Travel Guides

Loading books
loading
For more Moon travel information, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter for updates on new travel guide releases, travel tips and trip ideas for those seeking adventure or relaxation, and expert advice from our on-the-go Moon travel authors.

Find Activities>>

Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.