Lima, Peru: 10 Essential Travel Tips
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Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is considered to be the political, cultural, and financial centre of the country. Lima is the main international hub of Peru and is most likely a stop for you if you are on your way to other Peruvian destinations like Machu Picchu and the Amazon. Are you looking to spend a few days in the Peruvian capital? In this post, I share 10 essential travel tips for first time visitors to Lima, Peru!
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<3 Dominique
1) Exercise big city safety precautions.
I am a city girl with city girl instincts. Sometimes, I take for granted that not all my readers come from one of the largest cities in the Americas.
Lima, Peru is the eighth most populous city in the Americas. Like most big cities anywhere in the world, it may seem chaotic if that’s not your norm. I felt completely safe in Lima. Serious crime there rarely involves tourists. Even so, I exercised big city precaution while I was there. Opportunistic, petty crime (like theft) can happen anywhere and Lima is no exception.
The Thrill of Pursuit’s tips for navigating big cities as a solo female traveller:
- Avoid being flashy and leave valuables in the hotel safe.
- Be aware of your surroundings and belongings.
- Don’t leave your wallet or electronics in an exposed pocket.
- Avoid public intoxication.
- Use a ride-hailing app when traveling after dark.
- If you must walk after dark, choose the route that is well-lit and with people around.
- When you do need your phone, use it away from the curb and busy traffic. I also keep my phone close to my body when I use it in a busy area. Alternatively, if you feel uncomfortable using your phone out in the streets, step into a shop to use it.
2) Install useful apps before you arrive.
You must present a Peruvian government ID to purchase a SIM card in Peru. To stay connected, I recommend looking into installing an eSIM before you arrive.
Also, ride-hailing apps in Lima are generally more reliable, secure, and affordable than taxis. A bonus too is that you do not need to negotiate the fare.
The following ride-hailing apps are used in Lima:
- Uber
- Cabify
3) Understand the geography of Lima, Peru.
Lima is the third largest city in South America. If you have limited time in the city, you should familiarise yourself with the most visitor friendly neighbourhoods. Lima traffic is absolutely horrible, it would be inefficient to meander into other neighbourhoods outside of the ones named in this section without a purpose.
Central Lima (Cercado de Lima)
The neighbourhood of Lima contains the historic centre. Locals refer to the historic centre as Cercado de Lima or Centro Histórico to avoid confusion. Cercado de Lima truly is the centre of all of Lima. There, you can find iconic landmarks such as Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, and Lima Cathedral. The historic centre of Lima, Peru is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Lima is to Peruvian colonial history as Cusco is to Inca Empire history.
Miraflores
Most first time visitors to Lima, Peru end up staying in the Miraflores neighbourhood. Miraflores is often characterised as chic, modern, and elegant. You can find a high concentration of luxury hotel and restaurants here and all are in close proximity to the Pacific Coast. Miraflores is known for its oceanfront cliffs and beautiful parks.
Barranco
If Miraflores is chic and elegant, then Barranco is the hip, artistic, and bohemian younger sibling. At least, Barranco felt like it attracted a younger crowd. Barranco is vibrant with numerous art galleries and some world-class restaurants. This neighbourhood offers the best nightlife.
San Isidro
This is Lima’s financial district. You can find corporate offices, embassies, and some of the city’s most exclusive residential areas in San Isidro. It is known for having the best public green spaces and parks in Lima, Peru.
4) Decide on where to stay in Lima, Peru.
In the previous section, I provided a summary of some of Lima’s best neighbourhoods for first time visitors. Each neighbourhood has its own personality and vibe. Based on this, choose the neighbourhood that would best suit your vibe and what you would like to see in Lima.
Most first-time visitors stay in Miraflores because it is centrally located.
Where to stay in Miraflores
- For budget travellers, check out La Luna Inn, Casa Pucllna Miraflores, or El Tambo I.
- If you’re working with a mid-range budget, check out Girasoles Hotel or Casa Andina Standard Benavides.
- For those looking for a more luxurious experience, check out Hotel Antigua Miraflores or Quinta Miraflores Boutique Hotel.
Most return visitors prefer Barranco because it has more of a community vibe (in comparison to Miraflores).
Where to stay in Barranco
- For budget travellers, check out Passion Hostel – Barranco, Beraja Family Hostel, or Lima Wari Hotel Boutique.
- If you’re working with a mid-range budget, check out Hotel Park Suites, Andara Boutique Hotel or Viajero Lima – Barranco Hostel.
- For those looking for a more luxurious experience, check out Casa Republica Barranco Boutique Hotel, Hotel B or Second Home Peru.
Alternatively, Pueblo Libre and Magdalena del Mar are also safe and centrally located neighbourhoods in Lima. They offer a quieter and local middle class residential experience in comparison to Miraflores and Barranco.
Where to stay in Pueblo Libre or Magdalena del Mar
- There are plenty of apartments available for short term rental in both Pueblo Libre and Magdalena del Mar.
- Since I prefer to stay in hotels, I recommend checking out Surya Lima.
San Isidro is another nice neighbourhood with plenty of public parks and hotels. It’s not as touristic as Miraflores and Barranco but it’s not as residential as Pueblo Libre and Magdalena del Mar. It’s figuratively and literally in the middle (with Puebla Libre and Magdalene del Mar to its north and Miraflores and Barranco to its south). San Isidro offers a glimpse of how the affluent of Lima live which is different from the vibes of Puebla Libre and Magdalena del Mar.
Where to stay in San Isidro
- For budget travellers, check out ARTE HOTEL Lima, Hotel El Marqués, or Casa Bella Boutique Hotel San Isidro.
- If you’re working with a mid-ranged budget, check out Casa Andina Premium San Isidro or El Golf Hotel Boutique.
- For a more luxurious experience, check out Swissotel Lima or Country Club Lima Hotel.
I do not recommend staying in Cercado de Lima as it is not very walkable at night.
5) Consider how many days you have to spend in Lima, Peru.
The recommended number of days to allocate to your Lima visit is a subjective one.
If you are only interested in seeing Lima’s iconic sites, two days would be sufficient. Spending three days in Lima would allow you to see the iconic sites and either spend a free day to travel deeper into one of the neighbourhoods or go on day trip. Staying beyond three days would allow visitors to really experience the culinary scene, explore locales at a more relaxed pace (travel deeper beyond the surface, if you will) and go on multiple awesome day trips.
6) Plan your itinerary by proximity.
Lima, Peru is a huge, sprawling city. Traffic is horrible and some of the city’s top attractions are located on opposite ends of the city. To spend the least amount of time in traffic, I recommend planning your day-to-day in Lima based on which sites are close to each other. Then once you have a generally idea of where everything is located, commit to spending at least half a day in each of those parts of the city.
7) Plan for how you’re getting around.
Lima is pretty walkable… if you’re staying within the borders of one neighbourhood. As a whole, Lima is not very pedestrian-friendly. When travelling between neighbourhoods in Lima, my preferred means of transportation was Uber. Ride-hailing apps are generally safer than taxis and don’t require negotiation over the fare price.
8) Understand the weather.
Lima, Peru is unlike any other city that I have ever visited in terms of the climate and weather. It is situated in a desert but right at the Pacific Coast. And if Lima’s proximity to the ocean has you thinking of sunny, coastal days, think again. There was always this haze over the city but it wasn’t smog.Later, I came to understand that Lima has a persistent winter fog called garúa. Lima is generally not considered a sunny city.
Lima is covered in garúa during the winter months which is usually between May and November. These months can have less than 50 hours of sun in total! The winters can be described as breezy, humid, and overcast. All this to say, you should level set expectations for how (not) sunny the Pacific Coast is going to be.
The summer months between December and April are sunny, hot, and HUMID. Summer sunsets are colourful turning the skies orange, pink, and red around 7pm. The locals call this “cielo de brujas” (the witches’ sky).
Generally, temperatures rarely fall below 12°C/54°F or rise above 30°C/86°F.
9) Pack the essentials.
Because of the wild fluctuations in weather throughout the day, I recommend dressing in layers while in Lima, Peru. Rainfall is pretty rare so a rain jacket and umbrella aren’t necessary.
In addition, I recommend bringing the following with you as you explore the city:
- Sunscreen. While Lima is overcast for seven months(!) of the year, UV levels can still be high. Remember to protect yourself.
- Toilet paper. Not all establishments offer toilet paper. I recommend keeping emergency toilet paper with you. Also, remember that TP goes in the bin and not the toilet.
- Sanitiser. Just in case establishments run out of soap too. This is clutch for avoiding digestive issues as you eat your way through Lima.
- Small bills and denominations. Many small businesses and artisans will only accept cash. Small bills also come in handy for when you need to pay to use the toilets.
10) Exercise food safety
While Lima, Peru may be an international culinary destination, I think it is worth pointing out to be careful when purchasing street food.
I would personally go where the locals are lining up. I would also opt for street food that is being cooked in heat (picarones, anyone?). Street ceviche is a hard no for me.
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Comments and questions are always welcome. If you have any corrections or questions about your visit to Lima, Peru, leave a comment below!
