Lima Travel Guide

Lima, Peru — Travel Tips

Getting There By Air

Airlines flying to Lima from the UK include British Airways, American Airlines, LAN Airlines and Iberia.

Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM)
Tel: (01) 517 3100 or 3500 (customer service).
Website: www.lap.com.pe

Jorge Chávez International Airport is located 16km (10 miles) northwest of Lima. It is the international gateway to Peru and a hub for flights to other Andean countries, from North America and Europe.

Airport facilities
Banks and 24-hour bureau de change can be found in international arrivals and duty-free shops in the departure lounge. ATMs, cafés and restaurants are on the second level. There are shops, a post office, luggage lockers and even a hotel. Car hire operators include Budget and Hertz. Business-class travelers have access to four different executive and VIP lounges.

Transport to the city
Taxi is the easiest means of transport from the airport to the city center (journey time - 30 minutes to an hour). You can order official taxis from the desk outside arrivals. This is safer, and often cheaper, than taking an unlicensed taxi from one of the dozens waiting inside the airport gates that might overcharge you. Taxis do not have meters, so prices must be fixed in advance. El Urbanito runs an airport shuttle service, with drop offs at various hotels in the city; they have a counter in the airport. Local buses also run between the airport and the city center, but these can take up to two hours.

Approximate flight times to Lima
From London (via Miami) is 12 hours; from New York is 8 hours; from Los Angeles is 12 hours; from Toronto is 12 hours and from Sydney is 20 hours.

Getting There By Road

Road travel in Peru can be hazardous, due to reckless driving and the poor condition of the roads, many of which are dirt tracks. The main road artery of Peru, the Pan-American Highway, runs the length of Peru's coastline and is generally in good condition, as are the main routes up towards the Andes (but not within). Several roads are tolled. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on motorways and either 80kph (50mph) or 45kph (28mph) on smaller roads. Few Peruvians seem to stick to these limits. Foreign driving permits are valid for 30 days from the date of arrival. An International Driving Permit is required for longer stays. The Touring y Automóvil Club del Perú - TACP (tel: (01) 614 9999; www.touringperu.com.pe) can provide more information as well as driving permits.

Emergency breakdown services
TACP (tel: (01) 611 9999).

Routes to the city
The main roads in Peru are the north-south Pan-American Highway and the Marginal Jungle Highway, which runs from the northern jungle almost to the Bolivian border. From the coast, heading inland is the Central Highway, which starts in Lima and runs up to the central highlands and down to the Chanchamayo jungle valley.

Driving times to the city
From Cusco - 24 hours; Puno - 24 hours; Arequipa - 14 hours; Nazca - 6 hours.

Coach services
Ormeño, Avenida Javier Prado Este 1059, La Victoria (tel: (01) 472 1710; www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe), is one of the few reliable bus companies, offering regular weekly services to Quito (journey time - 30 hours) and Santiago (journey time - 54 hours). Many intercity buses leave from one of the main bus terminals between the Hotel Sheraton and Parque Universitario in Lima's center, or in the district of La Victoria along Avenida 28 de Julio and Prolongacion Huanuco. Other bus stations and companies are located in the suburbs. Cruz del Sur, Avenida Javier Prado 1109, San Isidro (tel: (01) 311 5050; www.cruzdelsur.com.pe), offers good, regular services to Cusco, Puno and Arequipa and other major destinations.

Getting There By Rail

Rail Services
The train from Huancayo to Lima (tel: (01) 226 6363; www.ferroviasperu.com.pe) arrives at the capital's Los Desamparados railway station. It is a 591km (367-mile) odyssey, passing 27 stations, crossing 57 bridges and passing through 67 tunnels (journey time - 12 hours). There are two services a month between April and November, and one during each of the rainy months of February and March. Trains usually depart from Lima on Friday morning and leave from Huancayo on Sunday evening.

Getting Around in Lima, Peru

Public Transport

With no urban train system in Lima, the cheapest and most colorful way to get around is to take a municipal bus, a privately owned microbus or a collective minibus (known as a combi or colectivo). The distances between the historic center and suburbs, such as Miraflores or Barranco, make walking difficult.

Buses cover every part of the city and most services run between 0600 and 2300 (some until 0100). There is no specific bus service provider, but the Municipality of Lima (tel: (01) 315 1300; www.munlima.gob.pe) is responsible for overseeing transport in Lima. Municipal buses and microbuses charge a flat rate. Tickets are purchased from the driver. The combis (small vans converted for passenger use) are faster and cover the main routes but charge slightly more and have a poor safety record.

Taxis

In Lima, taxis can be hailed from the street. These don't have meters, so the fare should be agreed before the prospective passenger gets in. Street taxis usually have a red and white sticker in the window - some are private cars being used to generate extra income. There are also some 24-hour licensed companies that accept advance reservations, such as Moli Taxi (tel: (01) 479 0030). It is a good idea for passengers to lock their doors when going through rough areas. Licensed taxis are usually yellow and will cost more than unlicensed taxis.

Driving in the City

Driving around Lima is a stressful experience, mainly because traffic moves at terrifying speeds and does not respect the road lanes. Traffic lanes and even traffic lights are routinely ignored, and horns are frequently used. One tip for drivers is to keep a wide berth between cars, as shunts from behind are extremely common and often costly. There is 24-hour parking available in most parts of the city - usually an open-air yard (playa). Parking meters are common in the suburbs of Miraflores and San Isidro.

Car Hire

Most car hire companies in Lima have offices at the airport, where everything can be arranged and the car picked up and dropped off. Drivers must be at least 23 to 25 years old. A valid driving license, identification and a credit card are required. The insurance policy may cover only minor damage and not major accidents, though extra cover is usually available.

The three main companies in Lima are Avis (tel: (01) 434 1111; www.avisperu.com), Budget (tel: (01) 442 8706; www.budgetperu.com) and Hertz (tel: (01) 512 0020; www.hertz.com). Car hire is expensive, reflecting the high cost of driving and Lima's accident rates.