Lima Shanty Town Tour: Experience Local Life and Culture in Lima's Crowded Districts

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Lima’s shanty towns on this unique anthropologist-led tour. Experience daily life, meet friendly locals, challenge preconceptions, and support community development projects.

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Market May 12 - Experience the vibrant pulse of the city by visiting a local market. Engage with traditional vendors and fully immerse yourself in the rich Peruvian culture.
  • Villa el Salvador - Haku Tours invites you to explore the “Real Lima” through a genuine cultural exchange. Begin your adventure by ascending the iconic yellow stairs and…
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Private transport
  • Small group
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Bottled water
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a unique anthropological adventure as you immerse yourself in the routine practices and responsibilities of residents in one of Lima’s most densely populated neighborhoods.
Throughout this journey, you’ll encounter some of the most hospitable individuals from the various neighborhoods we’ll explore. This enlightening expedition overturns usual…

Location
Av. José Larco 724
Avenida José Larco
Dear client, if you don't need pick up, you can meet us at our office located at Av. Jose Larco 724, Miraflores.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(172 Ratings)
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Janet
Jan 19, 2026
Shanty Town Tour - Very interesting to see another side of Lima. Mauricio was very interesting and very knowledgeable about the area and history of the area.
Review provided by Viator
F8371uqbill
Jan 13, 2026
Do not hesitate - Amazing start to finish Literally couldn’t ask for more
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ashleyb196
Jan 9, 2026
A whole other side of Lima - A really amazing experience. Shows you a whole other side of Lima. Guide was knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Do not pet the dogs you see, some were visibly covered in fleas.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nerissa_p
Dec 23, 2025
Interesting and eye opening - Wonderful way to see another side of the city that isn’t the popular to tourists. To see the poorer but more interesting parts.
Review provided by Viator
Jessica_s
Dec 1, 2025
We took a tour to visit... - We took a tour to visit one of the poverty-stricken areas in Lima, and it turned out to be a truly meaningful experience. The tour was eye-opening and gave us a real look at how many Peruvians live outside of the typical tourist zones. The guides were informative, respectful to the community, and made sure we understood the history, challenges, and strength of the people who live there. I was honestly surprised that more visitors don’t choose to take this tour. It’s an important reminder of the realities behind a city that most people only see from the tourist perspective. Being involved, learning, and witnessing daily life in these neighborhoods gave us a deeper understanding and appreciation for the culture and resilience of the Peruvian people. It’s an experience I’m grateful we had.
Review provided by Viator
Emmanuelle1988
Nov 1, 2025
Amazing experience - Amazing experience to meet 'real' people and connect with locals, who are so lovely, welcoming and kind. César shared a lot of his knowledge about this area and this was an unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bcarasik
Oct 25, 2025
An inspiring look at real life in Peru - We took a half day tour to Villa El Salvador with guide Silvana and driver Luis of Haku Tours. The community is a barrio on the southern edge of Lima. It was founded by squatters decades ago and had to organize for official recognition and services. We sampled some traditional healing beverages, and then met with Acensia Tuanama, who runs a community kitchen (“olla”) that was founded to provide food during the covid pandemic and still serves the community. Silvana has a wealth of local information to share as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elisabeth_e
Oct 19, 2025
A must for everybody visiting Lima -Shanty Tour at El Salvador - Shanty tour. Anyone visiting Lima should book this tour. Normally we don't book tours, but so we could also visit a neighborhood that we wouldn't have seen alone. We visited a market and a soup kitchen. We have often visited markets on our own, but never before have we tasted homemade medicine from natural products. Paola our tour guide was welcomed by the market people like a friend. And then the soup kitchen. What can I say, we were too deeply impressed by the incredible strength of the women there. We were welcomed there like friends and learned all kinds of things about everyday life in El Salvador. A 100 percent recommendation for this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Dumitrache_l
Oct 17, 2025
Very interesting tour! Thank you Silvana! - Experience other side of Lima and meet extraordinary and dedicated people working for the comunity..
Review provided by Viator
Patricia_d
Sep 11, 2025
Excellently guided adventure - This is a fascinating tour into an outer neighborhood of Lima. Our guide, Giovanna, is a local and is very fun and informative. The market is amazing. We highly recommend this tour for a different adventure in Lima.
Review provided by Viator
From $40
up to 10 guests
2 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).