Kennedy Park in Miraflores, Central Park of Lima — Peru

1. History

Kennedy Park Miraflores | In pre-colombian times of the Peruvian coast, the indigenous people used to practice a large-scale agrarian economy, although there was a lack of water, therefore, they did their best to solve this issue by building water channels to bring the water from the Andes and use them for irrigation.

The Rímac Valley, including the Kennedy Park area in Miraflores, was part of large agricultural areas where indigenous societies grew corn, cotton, beans, pumpkins, peanuts, yuccas, etc.

The Spanish arrived in Lima in 1535 and maintained the agricultural condition of the entire Miraflores area, but in many cases, native plantations were changed by European crops; thus, the entire Miraflores area during the colonial period became mainly grape and sugar cane plantations.

On January the 2nd, 1857, the political creation of the Miraflores district was finally carried out, under the government of President Ramón Castilla.

Durante el período republicano, Perú tuvo 8 guerras, 4 de ellas fueron ganadas, 3 empates y 1 perdido— Guerra del Pacífico (Perú vs. Chile, 1879-1883); una de las últimas batallas de la Guerra del Pacifico, sucedió en el distrito de Miraflores (Parque Kennedy), en donde los lugareños construyeron muchas trincheras o reductos de guerra para defender Lima contra los chilenos.

During the republican period, Peru had 8 wars, 4 of them were won, 3 draws, and 1 lost— The War of Pacific (Peru vs. Chile, 1879-1883); One of the last battles of that war, happened in the district of Miraflores (Kennedy Park), where the locals built many trenches or war redoubts to defend Lima against the Chileans.

Parque Kennedy Miraflores

Este evento bélico se llama “La Batalla de Miraflores” y ocurrió el 18 de enero de 1881; así que ahora sabes, que si te hospedas por el área del Parque Kennedy, fue un ¡Campo de Guerra!

This warlike event is called The Battle of Miraflores and it occurred on January 18th, 1881; So now you know, that if you stayed around the Kennedy Park area, it was a War Camp!


2. Description

Today, the park occupies an area of approximately 22,000 m², it is highly visited by many locals and tourists due to its history, location and infrastructure; In this place you will find restaurants, street food, bars, shops, banks, hotels, hostels, small information points for tourists, etc.


3. Why is it called Kennedy Park?

El nombre oficial de este lugar era Parque Central de Miraflores, pero en la década de los 60 del siglo XX, el Parque Central se dividido en dos áreas verdes públicos:

The official name of this place was Parque Central de Miraflores, but in the 1960s, the Central Park was divided into two public green parks:

  1. El Parque 7 de junio , which commemorates one of the most important battles in Peruvian history and the day of the National Flag.
  2. El Parque Kennedy, in honor of the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, for the role that he played, in the political movement called Alliance for Progress, in the middle of the 20th century.

Sin embargo, a finales de siglo XX, la Municipalidad de Miraflores ha restaurado el nombre original Parque Central de Miraflores, pero aun así la mayoría de la gente lo llama coloquialmente Parque Kennedy.

However, at the end of the 20th century, the Municipality of Miraflores has restored the original name of this place: Parque Central de Miraflores, but even so, most people colloquially call it Parque Kennedy.


4. Location

It is located teh avenues: Diagonal Angamos, José Larco and Schell street; if you are in Miraflores, you can go there on foot.


5. Schedule

It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


6. Price

This place is 100% Free.


7. What to see in this park?

If you feel like, you can visit this park on your own, the park is super safe, clean and orderly; at this place you will find:

  1. Roundabout—Ovalo Miraflores.
  2. Street Cats
  3. The Catholic Church of Virgen Milagrosa
  4. The amphitheater—El Anfiteatro Chabuca Granda.
  5. Small plazas where you can find everything from crafts, paintings, etc.

8. What to do in Kennedy Park?

8.1 Walking

Thanks to its enormous expanse of green areas, beautiful gardens of colorful flowers and lush trees, this beautiful space has become one of the lungs of the city preferred by the locals and the tourists as well.

8.2 Jogging

There is a specific pedestrian corridor where locals and even tourist can exercise in the morning or any time!

8.3 Resting

Are you bored in your hotel room? Then come to this Park which is fully implemented with benches, the park itself is quite and safe!

8.4 Taste the street food

Taste some traditional culinary, you can even find some car vendors that offer clean street food, such as the great a Butifarra, a sandwich of Peruvian-style ham with yellow aji pepper, red onion, lettuce and mayonnaise on French bread, the also offer delicious Churros and Picarones.

8.5 Shopping Handicrafts

Make your way to the big handicraft Mercado known as Mercado Indio, you can find many souvenirs, hats, t-shirts or anything that is very local; it is very close to the park.

8.6 Dancing on Weekends at Chabuca Granda Amphitheater

On weekends, you can enjoy excellent music in the amphitheater where they play different rhythms for couples where everyone can go and participate even if you are single, this amphitheater offers different artistic and cultural activities such as local or latin music(cha cha, boleros and salsa), choirs, poetry, etc.

8.7 Make your Kids happy!

If you stay in Miraflores with your kids, there is no need to take them to an amusement park rides instead you can just make your way to Kennedy Park and there is a playground in the middle of the park, dedicated for the little ones with varios games, it is free!

8.8 Visit the Virgen Milagrosa Church!

It was built in 1939, designed by Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski, where you can see stained glass windows with images of the life of Jesus and many catholic saints!

8.9 Walk with cats at Kennedy Park!

In many cities in Peru, you will see many street dogs however at this Park you won´t see any! instead, you will see many Cats of all sizes, breeds and colors that you can observe, pet and even feed them.
In many cities in Peru, you will see many street dogs however at this Park you won´t see any! Instead, you will see many Cats of all sizes, breeds and colors that you can observe, pet and even feed them.

8.10 Visit the Local Artists at Paseo de los Pintores

There are many local artists such as sculptors and painters who meet in the middle of this park to sell their works, local painters pracitice a type of Art known as Costumbrismo a visual interpretation of day-to-day practices created by Pacho Fierro at the end of the 19th century.

8.11 Visit Calle de las Pizzas, Oops sorry! No more Calle de las Pizzas

There used to be a cool Street next to this park where mainly Italian food would be offered starting the 70s, but unfortunately the last decade it became a street for also selling drugs, this was the main reason why the city hall of Miraflores has shut down the street the beginning of 2019 and it is nowadays on restoration. It won´t be again Pizza street! Although you can still find some good bars and discos for having some local drinks like pisco sours!

8.12 BOOK our FREE walking tour of Lima leaving from Kennedy Park!

If you have just arrived in Peru, you are staying in Miraflores and you don’t know how to get to the historic center, don’t worry!; You can join our Free Lima walking tours, starting from Miraflores, we will show you how to get to the center of Lima by local bus, the most emblematic places of the historic center of Lima and what to eat in Lima.

How to book?

If you are not very good at orientation or you don’t like to explore this city on your own, let our authorized guides by DIRCETUR of Lima, show you the historic center on foot for free, at the end of the tour you can leave a donation according to the service; for more details and booking visit Free Tour Lima, check out our amazing comments here. You can also see thousands of pictures and followers on our Instagram and Facebook.

Note for Peruvians: At the moment the free tours are only for non peruvian tourists. If you are Peruvian, book classic city tour of colonial and modern Lima.

To Consider: If you leave from Miraflores to the center of Lima with us, you will spend 3.50 Soles per person, because we will take the Metro-Bus (Metropolitano); However, if you take a taxi from Miraflores to the center of Lima, you will spend in between 30 and 40 Soles— (12 to 14 USD), in another words, with us you will save money.


9. The best restaurants in Kennedy Park


10. The best bars in Kennedy Park


11. How to get to Kennedy Park in Miraflores?

11.1 From Lima historical center:

If you are in Lima historical center, look for the Metro-Bus station called Metropolitano (we recommend you go to Jirón de la Unión or Colmena bus station), then take line “C” heading from north to south and get off at Ricardo Palma station, walk for about 5 minutes towards Kennedy Park— the price of the bus ticket is 3.20 Soles pp.

11.2 From Barranco:

If you are in Barranco, look for the Metro-Bus station called Metropolitano (we recommend you go to Bulevar bus station), then take line “C” heading from south to north and get off at Ricardo Palma station, walk for about 5 minutes towards Kennedy Park— the price of the bus ticket is 3.20 Soles pp.

11.3 From other districts:

Please take a taxi or uber, we suggest you haggle the price of the taxi fare, don’t be afraid, haggling in Peru is part of our culture.


12. Nearby places


13. Curious fact

13.1 Why are there many cats in this Park?

Hace muchos años habían muchas ratas y ratones que vivian en este parque, por lo que para resolver el problema, la gente de Miraflores empezó a dejar sus gatos en este parque y de alguna manera funcionó; pero con el tiempo, los gatos se multiplicaron y convirtieron a este parque en su hogar.

Many years ago there were many rats and mice that lived in this park, so to solve the problem, the people of Miraflores started leaving their cats in this park so that the cats can hunt them and somehow it worked out; but over the time, the cats multiplied and made this park their home.


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