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All Peru Lima Abtao Submarine Museum

Abtao Submarine Museum

The retired vessel is South America's first floating museum.

Lima, Peru

Added By
Tim Foster
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The submarine.   Santiagostucchi/cc by-sa 4.0
The submarine.   Santiagostucchi/cc by-sa 4.0
The Abtao.   timfoster5mpu / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the sub.   timfoster5mpu / Atlas Obscura User
Dive! Dive! Dive!   timfoster5mpu / Atlas Obscura User
Working State Canon.   timfoster5mpu / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The harbor in Lima’s Callao District is better known for the dockside Real Felipe Fortress, but walk a bit closer to the docks, and you’ll find an incredible submarine that serves as a museum.

The BAP Abtao (SS-42) was, until 1998, in service with the Peruvian Navy. After 48 years of service, it was decommissioned and turned into the first floating museum in South America.

Most the innards of the submarine are intact, so rather than walking through a glass case emporium, you can pull levers, raise periscopes, turn dials, and pretend to surreptitiously invade whichever country you fancy.

This museum will bring out the inner child in everyone, and because it's docked via a couple of ropes tied to the shore poles, you get to experience the gentle roll of the harbor to add to the experience.

Because this is a real submarine, if you are of a larger disposition, you may find the entry and exit a little challenging, but don't let that stop you. Squeezing through a real submarine hatch and down the ladder is the stuff of dreams for everyone, whether you're eight years old or eight years old at heart.

Related Tags

Museums Naval History Submarines

Know Before You Go

Walk toward the docks from the fort, and the naval museum is on the corner. Across the road, farther along, is the harbor entrance, where you'll see the State Canon marking the entrance to the museum. Entrance is cheap (as of 2019 it's 12 soles and five soles for kids).

Entry is only with the guide, so you can't cast off and actually invade Chile, but you can take as much time as you like playing at being a famous naval captain, and the dive simulation is worth the entry price alone.

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Added By

timfoster5mpu

Edited By

karead7, Kerry Wolfe

  • karead7
  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

July 25, 2019

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Sources
  • https://www.limaeasy.com/culture-guide/museums-lima/the-abtao-submarine-museum
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAP_Abtao_(SS-42)
Abtao Submarine Museum
Jorge Chavez 120-A
Callao
Lima
Peru
-12.060088, -77.151017
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Nearby Places

Fortaleza del Real Felipe

Lima, Peru

miles away

Larco Museum's Erotic Art

Lima, Peru

miles away

The Room of 10,000 Ancient Skulls

Lima, Peru

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lima

Lima

Peru

Places 21

Nearby Places

Fortaleza del Real Felipe

Lima, Peru

miles away

Larco Museum's Erotic Art

Lima, Peru

miles away

The Room of 10,000 Ancient Skulls

Lima, Peru

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lima

Lima

Peru

Places 21

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