The Circuito Mágico del Agua (which roughly translates to Magic Water Circuit) at the Parque de la Reserva – you may also see it referred to as the Parque de las Aguas – was my favorite thing we did in Lima. The park holds the record for largest fountain complex in the world and exploring its 13 fountains – including one that includes a music, video, and laser show three times a night – is a must-do. If you’re not sold yet, keep on reading for all the info you need on visiting the Parque de la Reserva fountains.
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There are nightly fountain shows at the Parque de la Reserva!
The highlight of any visit to the Circuito Mágico del Agua watching the nightly Parque de la Reserva water show at the Fantasy Fountain. Located near the main entrance, the long, narrow row of jets comes to life three times nightly with a show that includes dancing water, music, lights, lasers, and projections highlighting Peruvian culture and history. Shows are at 7:15, 8:15, and 9:30 every night. The crowds tend to thin out for the later shows, especially during the week.
You can walk through a tunnel of water in the Parque de las Aguas
The Tunnel of Surprises consists of tons of jets shooting water in an arc over a walkway you can pass through. It was my second favorite fountain at the Parque de la Reserva, though we did get a little bit of spray. Try to pick a less crowded day to truly enjoy this attraction because it gets crowded in the tunnel and visitors are expected to keep moving.
You can test your luck in a water maze
One of the more entertaining fountains was the semi-interactive Dream Maze. In this fountain, jets of water taller than your average adult are arranged in concentric circles. The pattern would be pretty in and of itself, but it’s made even better by the fact that the jets occasionally lower or disappear so that people can walk into the maze of water. Once the water returns to its full height, they’re trapped there to watch the patterns. If you’re brave enough to enter the maze, just beware that you may get wet. Unless you plow through the jets of water, you probably won’t get soaked, but there’s a decent chance of getting splashed or sprayed by one of the jets. All 13 of the fountains are well-worth checking out.
The other fountains are just as mesmerizing
My favorite fountain at the Circuito Mágico del Agua wasn’t even one of the interactive ones. I love all things rainbow colored (blame ’90s Lisa Frank school supplies, probably) so the large and appropriately-named Rainbow Fountain with rows of jets lit up in the colors of the rainbow was perfect for me. There’s also a really cool pyramid fountain called the Harmony Fountain with water streams making geometric patterns.
It holds a Guinness world record
The Parque de la Reserva claims the Guinness Book of World Records title for largest collection of fountains in a public park. With thirteen installations, you can spend a whole evening exploring and enjoying the atmosphere.
There are topiaries too
If you’ve read my guide to the Flower & Garden Festival at Disney World, you know I love a good topiary. The Parque de la Reserva has some good ones too. I loved the teapot one, which was also a fountain pouring water into a topiary tea cup. There was also a cool row of heart-shaped arches, where – you guessed it – many selfies were being taken.
It’s a cheap attraction in Lima
It only costs 4 soles for adults – that’s less than $1.50 USD – and kids under 4 and adults over 65 get in free. It’s a great, affordable activity for the whole family!
Kids love the Parque de la Reserva too!
Not only do little kids get in to the Circuito Magico del Agua free, there’s a whole fountain for children under the age of 10 to play in called the Fuente de los Niños. They can run through the water jets and get nice and wet while the adults stay nice and dry off to the side.
It’s a perfect way to spend an evening in Lima
The fountains are definitely better after dark so you can enjoy the lights – and the fountain show – so it’s the perfect way to end a day in Lima. You can hit the museums and other attractions during the day, grab dinner, and then head over to the park. It’s open until 10:30 pm, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the fountains. You can even book a tour that takes you through the park and includes dinner and a show at a local club.
There’s some history there too
The park celebrates the reservists from a long-ago war, but it also contains changing displays highlighting Peru’s history and culture. There are also monuments that pre-dated the fountain park – including one that now has colored fountains in front of it.
Tips for visiting the Parque de la Reserva fountains
- Try to visit on a weekday if you can. Weekdays can be a bit crowded.
- Don’t miss the second part of the park. There’s a tunnel running under the Av. Petit Thouars that connects the main area to a smaller one. Two of my favorite fountains – Harmony and Rainbow – are located in the smaller section and we almost missed out on them because we didn’t see the tunnel at first.
- If you don’t want to get wet, either avoid the interactive fountains like the Tunnel and Maze ones, or bring a light rain jacket (this one is my go-to because of how little room it takes up in my bag).
- Give yourself plenty of time if you plan to watch one of the water shows. Traffic in the area can be daunting, getting through the entrance takes a bit, and you’ll want to snag a spot with a good view.
Where is the Circuito Mágico del Agua in Lima?
The Parque de la Reserva is located very close to the National Stadium in central Lima. The park takes up several blocks between the Av. Arequipa and the Av. Paseo de la República. It’s in between the historic district and Miraflores, so it makes a great activity to do on your way back from the Plaza de Armas if you’re staying in Miraflores – which is where most of the top Lima hotels are. It’s a few kilometers away, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to walk from Miraflores.
There’s a Metropolitano station at the National Stadium right around the corner if you’re taking public transportation. If you’re navigating on your own, beware that searching for Parque de la Reserva on Google Maps pops up another park on the Av. Canadá- that is not the right park and you’ll be sorely disappointed if you end up there.
What are the Parque de la Reserva hours?
The Circuito Magico del Agua is open from 3pm-10:30pm Tuesday-Sunday. Be sure to make room in your Lima itinerary for a visit.
If you’re looking for other things to do in Lima, check out my guide to the Huaca Pucllana ruins right in Miraflores!
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Kris is a girl whose suitcase never rests. Follow her adventures around the United States, abroad, and to her beloved Disney parks. Traveling the world, camera in hand, and sharing all of her best adventures is her ultimate dream. 