The Natural History Museum showcases the flora and fauna of contemporary and prehistoric Peru. Managed by the San Marcos National University (hence the acronym MHN.UNMSM), the museum is an excellent educational activity for children.

If you have small children you’ll have a hard time going straight into the museum before viewing the sperm whale skeleton outside. There is also a Bryde’s whale.

This is the skull and model head of a smilodon, a prehistoric big cat.

Peru’s spectacled bear, known is popular culture as the breed of Paddington Bear.

A sea lion, pelicans, penguins and more seabirds make up the wildlife you’ll see at the Palomino Islands or in Ballestas Islands.

Sometimes called the “Titanic pleco,” one of the largest armored catfish in the world is native to the Amazon basin.

One of the museum’s main attractions is this dinosaur exhibit.

This hallway showcases birds from all of Peru’s distinct regions: coast, jungle and sierra. An Andean Condor, the world’s largest bird, soars above them all.

The reptile room has a caiman, anaconda, boa constrictor and all kinds of lizards. Enough said.

Outside is a small forest with diverse flora and a sustainable house, Ecohogar.

Another gallery is dedicated to Peru’s minerals, which may not be entertaining for even five minutes for my four-year-old, but is an immensely important field in this mining country.

Another of the museum’s top attractions is the giant purussaurus outside, a giant caiman from prehistoric Peru.

The museum sometimes offers night tours. Guides lead groups through the exhibits with flashlights, which sounds cooler than it is. At least if you have small children. It was fun, but difficult to keep their interest when they couldn’t see much. And of course most pictures don’t turn out.

Location and info

Museo de Historia Natural
Av. Arenales 1256, Jesus Maria
Admission: Children 5 soles, Adults 10 soles
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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The Natural History Museum is located on Arenales Avenue where the Jesus Maria and Lince districts meet downtown Lima, just north of the EsSalud hospital (“El Seguro”) and south of Parque de la Reserva.