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Natural History Museum (UNMSM) Lima

4.4

·4k reviews·Jesús María, Peru

Discover Lima's prehistoric past at the UNMSM Natural History Museum, featuring giant fossils, an ecological garden, and whale skeletons. An affordabl...

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Weekday Mornings

Fewer crowds, more relaxed

CrowdLow

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Natural History Museum (UNMSM) Lima

Best Time

Weekday Mornings

Fewer crowds, more relaxed

CrowdLow

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Discover Lima's prehistoric past at the UNMSM Natural History Museum, featuring giant fossils, an ecological garden, and whale skeletons. An affordable educational adventure!

4.4

(4k reviews)

"Great museum with lots of information about prehistoric animals that lived in this side of the globe."

TIP

💰 Affordable Entry

Enjoy a great experience for a very small price of 10 S.

⏰ Check Closing Times

The museum closes early, so plan your visit accordingly to see all exhibits.

Quick Facts

Hours

Rating

4.4 · 4,463 reviews

Type

Museum

Address

Av. Gral. Juan Antonio Álvarez de Arenales 1256, Jesús María 15072, Peru

Website

museohn.unmsm.edu.pe

👶 Good for kids♿ Wheelchair accessible🚻 Accessible restroom

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Prehistoric Giants

Main Exhibition Hall

Marvel at the colossal remains of ancient creatures like Livyatan and Purussaurus. A must-see for paleontology enthusiasts!

Ecological Garden & Geology

Outdoor Area

Explore a neat ecological garden and geology hall, featuring complete whale skeletons and diverse flora.

Fossil and Mineral Collections

Exhibition Rooms

Discover a good collection of fossils, stones, insects, and taxidermy, offering insights into natural history.

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Planning Your Visit

Plan Your Visit: Hours & Tickets

The Natural History Museum (UNMSM) in Lima is a treasure trove of prehistoric wonders. While entry is affordable at 10 soles, check opening hours as they can close early. Some visitors note a lack of English explanations, so consider a translation app if needed.

Navigating the Museum

This museum offers a fascinating glimpse into paleontology and zoology, with impressive displays of prehistoric animals and fossils. While not modern, its charm lies in its classic presentation. Allocate about 1.5 hours for your visit.

Best Times

When

Weekday Mornings

Why

Fewer crowds, more relaxed

Crowd

Low

When

Afternoons (before closing)

Why

Catch the last exhibits

Crowd

Medium

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

📍The American museum of Natural History - The Gilder Center & Invisible Worlds exhibit Booked my ticket with @Fever 🫶🫶 Use the link in my bio to book! #feverambassador #amnh #nyctodo

@hrbrowngoes

153.2K likes • 802.7K views

💰 Affordable Entry

Enjoy a great experience for a very small price of 10 S.

⏰ Check Closing Times

The museum closes early, so plan your visit accordingly to see all exhibits.

A secret lab full of pickled animals?? ad You won't believe what you'll find in the basement of @Natural History Museum London … but you can find out this and more if you book the Spirits Tour (£25pp). You'll learn about the history of pickling specimens, and get to see iconic specimens including some from the London whale that was stranded in the Thames in 2006, and see Darwin's own specimens whi...

@hrhgeorgiana

118.9K likes • 914.6K views

African elephant. @nhmla diorama.

craigmcutler

106 likes • 0 views

🗣️ Language Barrier

Most information is in Spanish. Consider a translation app for a better understanding.

⏳ Time Your Visit

Allocate about 1.5 hours to explore the museum's collections.

안녕. 나 고 조리. 지구 최강의 생명체 보고왔다. 살면서 공룡 화석 한번 보고싶었는데 소원성취. T-rex #공룡 #공룡화석 #ucla

go_joe_lee17

52 likes • 0 views

Tips

from all over the internet

💰 Affordable Entry

Enjoy a great experience for a very small price of 10 S.

⏰ Check Closing Times

The museum closes early, so plan your visit accordingly to see all exhibits.

🗣️ Language Barrier

Most information is in Spanish. Consider a translation app for a better understanding.

⏳ Time Your Visit

Allocate about 1.5 hours to explore the museum's collections.

👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-Friendly Discoveries

A great place for kids to discover and learn about prehistoric animals and natural history.

What Travellers Say

4.4

(4k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Visitors praise the Natural History Museum (UNMSM) for its impressive collection of prehistoric animals and fossils, offering a great educational experience at a very affordable price. The outdoor garden and whale skeletons are also highlights. However, some note that the museum lacks modern updates and that most information is only in Spanish, which can be a barrier for non-Spanish speakers.

"Nice place to come and visit, really interesting, it could be great if they will put an explanation in English also 🙏🏻"

guy s

"Wonderful museum for anyone zoology and paleontology! Not too big but packed with the remains of giants: Livyatan, Perucetus, baleen whales, extinct turtles and the giant caiman Purussaurus. Furthermore, a neat and varied ecological garden and geology hall are exhibited outside of the main building, as are two complete whale skeletons (Sperm and Bryde's whales). Had a great time!"

Uri Wolkowski

"Nice old museum... it's not modern at all, but it is part of its charm. We visited it in an hour and a half. They have a cool section on prehistoric animals and another of reptiles... very neat. The only NEGATIVE aspect is that there is no staff in the exhibition rooms so kids were screaming and parents were like if that was OK... no bueno! But other than that it was a cool visit, and cheap 10 soles, yay!!"

rocio tamez

What People Like

Impressive prehistoric exhibits

Affordable entry fee

Ecological garden and whale skeletons

What People Dislike

Information only in Spanish

Dated facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

🚇 🗺️ Getting There

The museum is located in the Barrios Altos neighborhood. It's best to arrive by taxi. It's situated within the hospital grounds, so follow the indications to the museum area.

Taxis are recommended for reaching the museum in Barrios Altos. Public transport might be less direct for tourists.

Information on dedicated parking is scarce. Arriving by taxi is generally the most convenient option.

Yes, ride-sharing apps are a viable option for getting to the museum, offering convenience and potentially better pricing than traditional taxis.

It's located in the Barrios Altos neighborhood of Lima, near the dormitory master.

🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry

Admission is very affordable, costing only 10 soles per person.

Booking in advance is generally not required, and tickets can be purchased upon arrival.

The museum is typically open from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to noon. It's crucial to check current hours as they can close early.

While the general admission is very low, specific discount information for students or seniors is not widely available. The low price point makes it accessible for most visitors.

Information on accessibility is limited. Some areas might be challenging due to the museum's older infrastructure.

🎫 🧭 Onsite Experience

Highlights include impressive displays of prehistoric animals like Livyatan and Purussaurus, a varied ecological garden, a geology hall with whale skeletons, and collections of fossils, minerals, and taxidermy.

Most visitors spend about an hour and a half to two hours exploring the museum's exhibits.

Unfortunately, the majority of the information provided is in Spanish only. Visitors may want to use a translation app.

Guided tours are not commonly mentioned. Visitors typically explore at their own pace.

The museum is described as 'nice old museum' with a classic charm, though some areas could benefit from modernization. It can get noisy if children are not supervised.

📸 📸 Photography

Photography is generally allowed inside the museum, but it's always a good idea to check for any specific restrictions on flash photography or certain exhibits.

The large prehistoric skeletons, the diverse specimens in the ecological garden, and the detailed fossil and mineral displays offer great photographic opportunities.

The outdoor ecological garden with whale skeletons and the main hall featuring large prehistoric animal models are popular spots for photos.

Yes, with good lighting and composition, even smartphone cameras can capture impressive images of the exhibits.

Weekday mornings might offer fewer crowds, allowing for more unobstructed shots. The natural light in the outdoor garden is also pleasant.