If you thought Peru's capital only offered the best cosmopolitan activities, you're mistaken. Lima hides trails that are just as striking, or even more so, than other more famous places in the country. So you can see it with your own eyes, here's a list of the 10 best trekking routes from Lima. Cover photo by Sernanp.
1. Laguna Rapagna
A demanding hike, but the reward is one of the most beautiful Andean landscapes in Peru. Laguna Rapagna is located in the town of San Mateo, about four hours from Lima. The hike crosses Andean forests between the Copa and Chueco ravines, rising from 3500 to 4550 masl where the stunning Laguna Rapagna is found. To get there, you need to head from Lima to Chosica (buses depart from Av. Paseo Colón and the journey takes around 3 hours). From Chosica you take a shared taxi to the town of San Mateo which takes approximately 2 hours. The hike begins at Río Blanco and takes around 4 hours going up and 2 and a half hours coming down.
- Starting Point: San Mateo
- Difficulty: medium-high
- Number of Days: 1 to 2
- Distance: 7 km
- Maximum Elevation: 4550 masl
- Recommended Season: April to October (dry season)
2. Marcahuasi
One of the most well-known treks from Lima, Marcahuasi, also called "The House of the Protector", is a mysterious corner of the Lima province of Huarochirí. It's a plateau of 4 km² in the Andes Cordillera, decorated with lagoons and stone forests with strange anthropomorphic and animal shapes. To get there you need to head from Lima to Chosica, there are buses that depart from Av. Paseo Colón and take around 2 hours. From Chosica there are buses to San Pedro de Casta, where you begin a 3-hour hike to reach Marcahuasi. The place has camping sites and travelers usually spend one or two nights to explore this amazing place at leisure.
- Starting Point: San Pedro de Casta
- Difficulty: medium
- Number of Days: 1 to 2
- Distance: 5 km
- Maximum Elevation: 4000 masl
- Recommended Season: April to October (dry season)
3. Los Yuracochas
Dubbed the Lima's Vinicunca, the little-known Yuracochas mountain range bears a striking resemblance to the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain in Cusco. From its peaks you can see Nevado Rajuntay, Yuracocha lagoon, and all the beauty of the Peruvian highlands. To do this trek from Lima, you need to head for 3 hours toward the District of San Mateo, province of Huarochirí. It's recommended to spend the night here, so the next day you can start the 6-hour round-trip hike to Los Yuracochas.
- Starting Point: Arco de Ticlio
- Difficulty: medium-high
- Number of Days: 1 to 2
- Distance: 12 km round trip
- Maximum Elevation: 4800 masl
- Recommended Season: April to October (dry season)
4. Quilcamachay
Image by @harold.arango.santacruz
Located at 4,100 masl, Quilcamachay is a true ghost town in the Huachupampa district. The town, dating from the colonial period, was founded by ice harvesters who carried ice to Canta and eventually Lima. The hike crosses a grove of Puyas Raimondi, which is at 3600 masl until reaching Quilcamachay. Also known as the Ice Route, to get here you need to travel from Lima to Chosica, from where shared taxis leave to the town of Vicas. Then the hike takes 3 days round trip, camping at different points along the route.
- Starting Point: Vicas
- Difficulty: medium-high
- Number of Days: 2 to 3
- Distance: 14.2 km round trip
- Maximum Elevation: 4100 masl
- Recommended Season: April to October (dry season)
5. Lomas de Lúcumo
Lomas de Lúcumo is a beautiful day hike for those who need a dose of nature away from the big city. Between June and October, coastal fog gets trapped in the hills of this place, bathing the slopes with the moisture needed for abundant vegetation to thrive. The green color blends with the yellow of the Amancaes, transforming the landscape into a nature paradise. The park has two trails of different difficulty and duration, one of 2 hours and another of 4 hours, both round trip. To get there you can take a shared taxi along the Panamericana Sur to the Pachacámac turnoff. From here you can take a shared taxi that will drop you a couple of blocks from the entrance to Lomas de Lúcumo, at Quebrada Verde. Camping is also possible in the park.
- Starting Point: Pachacámac
- Difficulty: low-medium
- Number of Days: 1
- Distance: 3 and 7 km round trip
- Maximum Elevation: 621 masl
- Recommended Season: June to October
6. Toboganes de Songos
A semi-demanding hike but with a very entertaining reward, after 2 hours of climbing trails surrounded by lush greenery you reach a series of natural water slides with an extension exceeding 10 meters. It's very common to see adults and even children sliding at full speed down the slides into a refreshing pool of water. To get to Songos you can take a shared taxi from Lima heading toward Chosica, then get off at km 63 of the Central Highway and start the hike through the Songos settlement until you reach the slides.
- Starting Point: km 63 of the Central Highway
- Difficulty: low-medium
- Number of Days: 1
- Distance: 3 km
- Maximum Elevation: 2000 masl
- Recommended Season: April to October
Like Lomas de Lúcumo, Lomas de Lachay features stunning vegetation and is home to various bird species of all colors and sizes. The National Reserve has several trails, with the longest one, La Perdiz trail, passing through all the natural wonders of the area and taking about two and a half hours to walk. To get there you need to take one of the buses departing from Plaza Norte terminal heading to Huacho or Huaral, then get off at kilometer 105 of the North Panamericana Highway, where the entrance to Lomas de Lachay is located.
The largest waterfall near Lima. Antankallo is a natural gem in the Lima highlands, featuring a water drop of over 20 meters surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery. The trail crosses stone forests, hanging bridges and hills shaped like lions, and once you reach the cascade there are camping areas available. To get there from Lima you need to take one of the buses heading to Chosica and then get off at Echenique park, from here you can take a bus to Matucana. The hike to the waterfall takes around 3 hours round trip.
The farthest trekking route from Lima on this list, Nevado Huaytapallana is located 25 km northwest of the city of Huancayo, in the Junin department. The bus journey from Lima takes around 7 hours, but with the promise of an 
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