But after many years of deterioration Lima began to recover with the beginning of the new millennium. Numerous years of hard work, from the municipality and its inhabitants, have turned some ‘barrios’ (shantytowns) into more or less pleasant districts, others stayed unbelievable poor without proper infrastructure. Here the city tried at least to improve living conditions, built hospitals, new schools and sporting areas - not enough, but at least a beginning.

Since 1995 the Municipality of Lima has been implementing a successful recovery plan for the historic centre of Lima, which was declared a ‘Cultural Patrimony of Humanity’ by the UNESCO in 1996. The Municipality of Lima ‘cleaned’ the city centre in an effort to remove many of the persistent street vendors (unfortunately there a still quite a lot left) and dodgy figures. Programs initiated by the government encouraged the citizens to be proud of their city, renovate buildings and ‘shape up’ streets and parks in an attempt to recuperate the city’s cultural heritage and of course to promote tourism. Also other mayor works in Limas historical centre like new illumination, remodelling of parks and plazas, the repaving of sidewalks with terra cotta, the planting of thousands of trees, more police presence on the streets and daily maintenance paid off. The city center is much safer and nicer to look at.

Around town, especially in the wealthier suburbs like Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco you can see changes every day. The district municipalities are anxious to improve their districts, but unfortunately a lot of old houses are demolished and skyscrapers built on their place. Streets are repaved, parks and green areas are carefully looked after and finally the security for Limeños and tourists is improved with special police forces. As well a good beginning is made, but there is still a lot to do...

Many small steps have been made to stop Lima’s deterioration. Nevertheless there is much more to do. And it seems that authorities and inhabitants are willing and able to do so. Today Lima with its hardly to cope with huge population, about one-third of Peru's inhabitants of which around 50% live in poverty, is the seat of the Peruvian government and houses most of Peru’s industry. Lima dominates the political, commercial and cultural life of the country and accommodates Peruvians and foreigners from different social and cultural backgrounds. Therefore Lima today has an amazing cosmopolitan atmosphere. The historic city center and districts among others like Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro have excellent cafes, bars and restaurants, which offer amazing Peruvian cuisine for fair prices and a nowhere else to find special charm for nothing. Huge shopping malls and fashionable shops let you forget that you actually in a 3rd world country. Numerous outstanding smaller and bigger museums, amazing ancient and historic buildings next to modern structures and the generally friendly and open ‘Limeños’ introduce you perfectly to the rich history and culture the city and the country has to offer.