Presbitero Maestro
Presbitero Maestro
4.5
About
Also called "Noches de Luna Llena", this is the oldest cemetery in South America and night tours are offered through Turibus and a few other agencies. It is operated by SBLM and is a top tourist attraction in Lima.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
141 reviews
Excellent
77
Very good
47
Average
15
Poor
2
Terrible
0
airlink9972
Memphis, TN1,885 contributions
Apr 2013 • Solo
I love visiting cemeteries. Often they are a great way to enjoy the artwork and symbolism.
It was hard to find a tour to Presbitero Mastro, but if you want to visit, do so with HAKU tours!
Two pieces of advice, keep up with the admission ticket. Several times while in the cemetery, was stopped and asked to see the ticket. The reason why is there has been damage and vandals in the cemetery and the current groundkeepers want to make sure that no harm is done. The second thing is to wait to pull your camera out after going inside the cemetery and not near the entrance (according to guides, the groundkeepers will some time want to charge you).
The tomb stones are truly amazing. The work that went into some of the graves will amaze you.
There is even a section where those who were tall and larger than average are buried.
There are over 20 Peruvian presidents buried here.
The hall of hero is amazing! It's only opened in limited times, but still peek inside to admire the greatness.
If you want to view a different side of Lima past history, this is a must!
It was hard to find a tour to Presbitero Mastro, but if you want to visit, do so with HAKU tours!
Two pieces of advice, keep up with the admission ticket. Several times while in the cemetery, was stopped and asked to see the ticket. The reason why is there has been damage and vandals in the cemetery and the current groundkeepers want to make sure that no harm is done. The second thing is to wait to pull your camera out after going inside the cemetery and not near the entrance (according to guides, the groundkeepers will some time want to charge you).
The tomb stones are truly amazing. The work that went into some of the graves will amaze you.
There is even a section where those who were tall and larger than average are buried.
There are over 20 Peruvian presidents buried here.
The hall of hero is amazing! It's only opened in limited times, but still peek inside to admire the greatness.
If you want to view a different side of Lima past history, this is a must!
Written May 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HoustonMedic
Houston, TX249 contributions
Presbitero Maestro is one of the tours that I did and had the most fun (but not everyone agrees). This cemetery is the oldest cemetery in South America and is only available to see through a tour service. Tours are available only on certain days of the month. Through Turibus (which can be found in Larcomar, in Miraflores) tours are 50 soles (about $17 per person as of July 2010) and are the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. Another tour agency offers tours (I do not know the name) and can be found one block from Plaza de Armas in Centro de Lima (while looking into the Plaza and standing in front of the "Pizza Palace" in the corner of the Plaza de Armas, walk down the street to your left and it is on the right hand side); their tours are 20 soles (about $7 per person) and are available the last Thursday of the month (best to go there as soon as you get into the city and reserve your tickets).
This cemetery is in a pretty bad part of Lima (Barrios Altos), so when you arrive to the cemetery on the bus go straight into the cemetery (when you leave go straight to the bus). Barrios Altos is a district that locals try to avoid, so especially if you have expensive camera or video equipment make sure to be careful. When taking the tour with a camera, the best pictures are taken with no flash, a tripod, and a longer shutter speed (typical setup for night photography) unless you are taking photos with a person in the picture. While inside the cemetery, you are fairly safe but when I am there I try to stay within sight or sound of the tour group.
The tour is generally offered only in Spanish, although Turibus said they have an English guide that will be there (he wasn't...). The second tour agency (found in Plaza de Armas in Centro de Lima) is frequented by locals, so there will definitely be no English guide around. I have taken both and like the agency found in Centro de Lima more, only because it is cheaper, but is more difficult to reserve if you are a tourist.
The tours generally begin at 7pm and you will have around 2 hours (more or less) in the cemetery. Make sure to see where the heroes (such as Bolognesi) are found and the large display of the Italian artist (cannot recall his name) of which there is one such display in Peru and one in Italy.
This cemetery is in a pretty bad part of Lima (Barrios Altos), so when you arrive to the cemetery on the bus go straight into the cemetery (when you leave go straight to the bus). Barrios Altos is a district that locals try to avoid, so especially if you have expensive camera or video equipment make sure to be careful. When taking the tour with a camera, the best pictures are taken with no flash, a tripod, and a longer shutter speed (typical setup for night photography) unless you are taking photos with a person in the picture. While inside the cemetery, you are fairly safe but when I am there I try to stay within sight or sound of the tour group.
The tour is generally offered only in Spanish, although Turibus said they have an English guide that will be there (he wasn't...). The second tour agency (found in Plaza de Armas in Centro de Lima) is frequented by locals, so there will definitely be no English guide around. I have taken both and like the agency found in Centro de Lima more, only because it is cheaper, but is more difficult to reserve if you are a tourist.
The tours generally begin at 7pm and you will have around 2 hours (more or less) in the cemetery. Make sure to see where the heroes (such as Bolognesi) are found and the large display of the Italian artist (cannot recall his name) of which there is one such display in Peru and one in Italy.
Written July 28, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Potomac
Washington DC, DC97 contributions
Apr 2013 • Business
Buenos Aires' Recoleta cementary is a must in every trip to Bs. Aires. Yet, Presbitero Maestro is hardly known by foreigners, and even some locals. It is, though, an extraordinary piece of art and history. Walking among graves of national peruvian heros, you'll find astonishing sculptures. Only problem is that it is not located in a very safe, nice area: easy solution, arrange a trusted taxi to take you there and arrange a time (1 hour is normally enough) to pick you up back at the main gate.
Written July 18, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
teresa3000
Pennsylvania2,730 contributions
I visited Lima in May, 2010 and was very impresed with this tour. The tour is ran thorugh the local beneficient of Lima. Jr. Carabaya 641 Lima - Perú just downtown. I do not recall any English guide though, anyhow the place is great and you can see many architectural jewels and taste a piece of South American history. The tour is offered every Thursday and leaves downtown Lima at 7 p.m. We left on time and came back downtown around 10.30 p.m.
Many agencies ran this tour at a higher price. I paid around $3 roundtrip, Spanish speaking guide included.
Bring a flashlight, comfortable shoes you will walk a lot, and watch your step. There is a small bathroom on site.
Many agencies ran this tour at a higher price. I paid around $3 roundtrip, Spanish speaking guide included.
Bring a flashlight, comfortable shoes you will walk a lot, and watch your step. There is a small bathroom on site.
Written December 26, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larojasandra
Lima, Peru37 contributions
I had the opportunity to see a presentation here, it was great! all the actors were preforming in the middle of the cemetery, it was one of the most vivid thing I have ever lived.
Written January 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ada L
Lima, Peru14 contributions
Even though it is a Cementery from the XIIIV and XIX Century it is lijke a major museum as you can see all the beautiful sculptures. But it is way far from the city and located in an old neighborood .
Written July 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RTemple_Peru
Lima12 contributions
It depends if you are the kind of person who likes to see burial grounds, this is the one you must see, it has amazing shrines to see, they have also a night tour visit, for the ones who like "mystery things"
Written June 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AsIff
Indianapolis, IN93 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
I love cemeteries...the history the statues and the stories. I wanted to book a tour but we were unable to our last day in Lima. We ended up getting a car from our hotel and he waited on us while we were in the cemetery. Not realizing it was mother's day the area was packed with people. Flowers being sold everywhere. When we walked into the gates I was getting my camera out of my backpack and quickly told I couldn't take photos. Best guess was for privacy of the people bringing in flowers. I was able to sneak a few photos with my cell phone none with people in them ( I don't like photos with people typically anyway ) The place is huge. Beautiful statues and mausoleums, rows and rows of crypts and an amazing centerpiece building that was locked up. Absolutely worth a look if you have time. The tours I found out are usually done in the evening. Again best guess for the privacy of mourners. Every cemetery we go in we are very respectful of where we are.
Written May 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rebecca7894
Cleveland, OH94 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
I really enjoyed walking through this cemetery--it's visually interesting and the mausoleums are very dramatic. Although this place is pretty far off the beaten path from Barranco and Miraflores, it's worth a visit if you have time. Note that there are still people being buried here with a mix of cultures, etc. There is currently a small exhibit featuring post-mortem "memento mori" photos of children.
Written July 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
murdochl
Lima, Peru57 contributions
Oct 2016
The cemetery was not finished until 1807, thanks to the efforts of the Priest Matías Maestro. This multifaceted man, born in Vitoria (Spain) in 1776, came to Peru by the end of the 18th century to start a new business. In 1793, he became a Catholic Priest and since then he dedicated himself to “renewing” the churches and altarpieces with the latest fashion style: Neoclassical. He became General Director of Lima’s Public Beneficence Society in 1826 and died on January 7, 1835.
Written April 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fedecondal
Buenos Aires, Argentina16 contributions
Buenas noches, . Quisiera saber si está permitido tomar fotografías dentro del cementerio. Muchas gracias
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Presbitero Maestro Information
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Presbitero Maestro Photos | 69 |