The Garden of Museo Larco, Lima, Peru

With the return of epic travel on the horizon, it’s a time to make plans for the best of what will be again. One such place is where the garden is not the goal, but a welcome and surprising bonus, it’s the garden at  El Museo Larco (officially known as Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum, in Spanish: Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera).

On a bustling winter weekday in Lima, Peru.  A day when life is wonderful because the hustle isn’t yours and you are the inquisitive visitor.  You are where you want to be, and your mind can focus on the present, just being.

My Travelling solo in Lima, Peru was one of those days. I was luxuriating in the freedom and cultural experience of a bucket list country. It was a warm January, with local schools on vacation, and families enjoying their time together amid the usual city bustle.

Finding Museo Larco

I was lost. No google map, on foot, and looking for  the renowned El Museo Larco, famous for its collection highlighting 5000yrs. of ancient Peruvian history, with displays weaving the intricate relationship pre-Columbian societies maintained with nature via collections of Inca gold, silver and intricate woven textiles, and  Inca erotica in the form of pottery.

I had just left the National Museum, and was following the Blue Line.  This magical Blue line painted on the sidewalk was supposed to lead you from the National Museum to Museo Larco.

About a block from the museum,  in keeping with its mystical appearance which grew fainter as I followed, it disappeared.  I was dependent on the kindness of strangers. And they were kind.  Asking for Blue Line brought blank stares.  Asking for Museo Larco brought directions.

Finally, I made it to the big iron gates, leading to the 18th Century vice-royal building which houses the museum. The museum is built over a pre-Columbian pyramid. The gates were quickly opened by a security guard. Following the Bougainvillea trailing over white walls led to the ticket office.

Museo Larco Garden

It is not hard to see why this garden won the prize for best gardens in Peru in 2009. Containers overflowing with orange red Bougainvillea, bursting with colour against white plastered walls, a Latin feast. Each pot perfect in its placement.

The visitor follows the path leading to the enclosed court yard, and the Museum housing pre-Colombian erotica. I am no expert, but I got the impression that some of the clay figurines in various poses may have had a more clinical, or educational purpose, while others were more ceremonial.  How would you teach medicine, or sex education in the Ancient Peru?  Once you have perused the way the Inca did the wild thing, you circle around back to the inner courtyard.

Cacti in Containers

The vista can be viewed from the main museum terrace, and the restaurant. A fine intense collection of plants for your pleasure while dining. There are some unusual Cacti, which includes the Cereus perivianus, Monstrosus, a perennial used mostly as an ornamental, Cereus comarapanus Cárdenas, and Cleistocactus winteri or Golden Rat Tail.

This garden shows you what can be done with well placed containers, and a mixed grouping of plant families.  The contrast between the Golden Rat Tail and the Cereus peruvianus Monstrosus could not be more stark, but it worked giving a rich variety of textures.

The overhead trailing ferns raised the sightline giving a fuller garden experience especially for dining patrons, at the museum restaurant.

The well kept lawn enhances the added features of pre-Columbian style pottery.

Pre Columbian pottery adds character to the Garden at the museum. If you are lucky enough to be in the area, it is well worth the visit for so many reasons and I hope I have given you a few.

If you do go:

Museo Larco – Treasures from Ancient Peru

It is best to go early as it can get crowded by the afternoon.

Tickets can be had in advance.

Let me know what you think in the comments.