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 at a local market, where you can engage with traditional vendors and fully immerse yourself in Peruvian culture.
  • Villa el Salvador - At Haku Tours, the aim is to showcase “the real Lima”. Ascend the renowned yellow stairs and navigate through narrow paths to reach the hilltops, where…
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
(161 Ratings)
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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
U4769zglucie_
Aug 25, 2025
Important tour to do in Lima - It was a great tour. I can imagine even that it could be longer and cover bigger part of Villa El Salvador, but overall it was a great and important experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pioneer23290991580
Aug 25, 2025
Highly recommended - Very interesting and rewarding experience, my guide Giovanna shared information and stories of the community and the whole Lima. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Monica
Aug 24, 2025
Shanty tour - We had Giovanna as our tour guide and Mr M as our driver . They were truly amazing! We walked around the local market and visited a local neighborhood. We were lucky to see the real and traditional side of Peru! It’s definitely worth it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alex
Aug 13, 2025
The best way to see Lima - This tour was the best part of my Lima adventure. The organization and care from the company is unmatched. Leo did an amazing job as my guide. All the locals knew and loved him. I would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deborahaa1188dp
Aug 3, 2025
Meaningful and Inspiring Shanti Tour with José – Highly Recommended! - We had a fantastic experience today on our Shanti Tour through Lima with our guide, José. He picked us up from our hotel right on time, and from the beginning, we felt well taken care of. Our first stop was Villa El Salvador, where we visited a local market. This was a great and authentic experience – we spoke with local vendors, had the chance to try some products, and could even buy something if we wanted. It really gave us a feel for the local atmosphere. After that, we headed to Velo Horizonte, where we visited several social projects that are supported by this tour. These included a school for children, a center for the elderly, and a community soup kitchen. Each visit was informative and eye-opening. José explained everything very clearly and gave us a deep insight into the daily life and challenges in the area. He spoke excellent English and was able to answer all our questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. His calm and respectful manner made the whole experience even more meaningful. This tour goes beyond traditional sightseeing – it offers real perspective and supports important local initiatives. We left with a lot to think about and a deep appreciation for the community work being done. 100% recommended – amazing guide, great service, and a tour that truly makes a difference!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $40
up to 10 guests
2 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).