Of all the parks along Lima’s scenic coastal strip, the Parque del Amor is arguably the most famous. And it’s certainly the most romantic.

Inaugurated on February 14 (Valentine’s Day), 1993, Lima’s “Love Park” was built to celebrate love in all its forms. This is most clearly represented by the park’s central sculpture, El Beso (The Kiss). Created by Peruvian artist Victor Delfín, El Beso shows a man and a woman wrapped in each other’s arms, locked in a passionate kiss.


The park is said to be inspired, at least in part, by Parc Güell in Barcelona, which was designed by Antoni Gaudí and opened to the public in 1926. Lima’s Parque del Amor is much smaller and far more modest, but it’s easy to see why the colorful mosaics along the undulating walls and benches are often compared to Gaudí’s mosaics in Barcelona.

Lines from various Peruvian poets are included within the mosaics found in Lima’s Parque del Amor. Among these romantic excerpts are:

• Amor es solo un pájaro que deambula (Love is only a bird that wanders) -- Rocío Romina Bances

• Mi sueño es una isla perdida (My dream is a lost island) -- Alberto Vega

• También amándonos conoceremos el dolor (Also loving we know the pain) -- Abelardo Sánchez León

• Canta amor mío, desnúdate bajo la lluvia (Sing my love, undress beneath the rain) -- Rodolfo Hinostroza

• Amor gran laberinto (Love, great labyrinth) -- Sebastián Salazar Bondy

• Tu estas por encima del infinito mar (You are above the infinite sea) -- Augusto Tamayo Vargas

The final line above is particularly appropriate considering the panoramic views of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean from the Parque del Amor and its cliff-top location. On a clear day, you can see all along the coast of Lima and far out to sea -- you can see surfers down below, boats on the horizon, and people paragliding from the nearby Parque Raimondi.

Inside the park itself, you’ll see lovers both young and old enjoying the romantic atmosphere. Newlyweds also head to the park to consecrate their marriage with a kiss in front of El Beso. On Valentine’s Day, meanwhile, expect big crowds of amorous couples, some of which will take place in the annual kissing competition, in which the longest kiss of the day takes all the plaudits.

Parque del Amor Location:

The Parque del Amor is located along the Malecón Cisneros in the Miraflores district of Lima. It’s a short walk south of Parque Raimondi (the paragliding hotspot) and about half a mile north along the coast from the Larcomar shopping complex.