It has a total length of 38 blocks and crosses the districts of Lima, Lince, Jesús María, Magdalena del Mar and San Isidro.

Its name pays homage to former president of Peru, General Felipe Santiago Salaverry.

Built in the 1920s,[2] the avenue was inaugurated in a ceremony hosted in the Jorge Chávez Plaza by then president Oscar R. Benavides in October 1936.

[5] In 1971, as part of the Sesquicentennial of the Independence of Peru, the Parque de los Próceres was inaugurated, also being located in the avenue.

[5] The avenue runs across the district of Jesús María, and features several landmarks in its path, such as embassies, among others.