What To See In The Capital Of Peru – Lima

Lima is the capital of Peru, with a population of around 10 million people. Some of its neighbourhoods are less safe, but you probably won’t get there at all. Parts of the city like Miraflores, San Isidro and the historic centre are very nice and definitely worth a visit. We recommend staying here for at least a short time and visiting some of the places. Here you can admire both the most modern quarter of the city and its centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surfers will love the perfect waves on the beaches below Parque Antonio Raimondi. Foodies will enjoy one of the many excellent restaurants in the centre.

How to get to Lima from the airport

Once you arrive in Lima, there are several options for getting to the city centre from the airport. It depends on what time of day you arrive in Lima. If your flight lands at night, stay right by the airport and transfer to the city centre the next day.

The cheapest and safest options are two. The first is the official airport bus, the Airport Express, which runs from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm. This bus makes several stops at the most touristy locations in Lima. One ride to the Miraflores district costs US$8. The bus is very comfortable, with good Wi-Fi, air conditioning, USB ports and comfortable seats. For up-to-date prices, stop schedules, visit www.airportexpresslima.com, where you can also purchase a ticket.

Another safe option is UBER. The price for a ride to the Miraflores district is $9. However, book UBER at the parking lot in front of the airport. It’s best to go as far as the exit where there are plenty of taxi drivers.

The last option is a taxi or pre-arranged transfer from your hotel. Here you need to take into account that it is a very expensive option. Taxi drivers will simply rip you off and you will pay much more money than the actual price. We therefore do not recommend this option.

ACCOMMODATION

As mentioned above, if you are arriving at night or leaving early in the morning, it is better to stay right by the airport. However, the airport is not exactly in a safe neighbourhood, so we really don’t recommend leaving the airport area and hitting the streets on your own.

Near to aeropuerto

Either book a room at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Hotel, which is right in the parking lot in front of the airport (quite expensive, though), or use our recommended accommodation 600 meters from the airport and take an UBER or taxi to get there. UBER will set you back just USD 1.3. You’ll have to haggle a lot for a taxi, but you’ll go from the original offer of 25 USD to 5 USD.

The accommodation we used is called Hospedaje el viajero – Aeropuerto. The rooms are clean, a fine breakfast is included and it costs only 17 USD for one night for two. Wi-Fi works well, the only minor downside is the shared bathrooms. You can find the accommodation at www.booking.com, or you can also contact them on +51 997 904 820. In the morning, you can then take an UBER directly from the accommodation to the centre, or you can walk to the airport and take the aforementioned bus from there.

In Lima

Probably the best and safest place to stay in the city is Miraflores. It is a modern residential area full of shops, restaurants and parks. Here, we can recommend from personal experience the Peruvian Family Hostal Miraflores, which offers spacious and clean rooms with private bathrooms and fast Wi-Fi. The accommodation is a short walk from a bus stop, supermarket and plenty of restaurants. The sea is about 30 minutes’ walk away. Along the way, you will discover all the most interesting parts of the area. You will pay 20 USD for one night here. You can contact the accommodation on +51 995 012 569 or book through www.booking.com.

WHAT TO SEE IN LIMA

Parque del Amor and Parque Antonio Raimondi

In the Miraflores district, we highly recommend a visit to Parque del Amor and Parque Antonio Raimondi, where you’ll have a spectacular view of the Pacific coast. You can walk all the way to Makaha and Waikiki beaches. From our recommended accommodation you can walk here along Av. Arequipa, where you can visit the Indian Market, Parque John F. Kennedy and sample some good food at Mercado San Ramón.

If you have some time to spare, the Huaca Pucllana pyramid, built of unbaked bricks more than 2,000 years ago, is within walking distance. A visit to the pyramid will cost you 4 USD and take less than 2 hours.

Lima city centre

About 300 meters from the recommended accommodation is the bus stop of the Expreso bus lines, which act as a kind of modern public transport around Lima. The buses run in their own lanes, so you won’t get stuck in traffic. They’re cheap, fast, safe and get you almost everywhere.

From the Angamos stop above, take the Expreso 4 line to the historic center of the city. You’ll only go 3 stops before getting off at Estación Central. Before your ride, you have to buy a card for 4.5 PEN at the vending machine at the stop, which you then use to top up your credit for future rides. One ride costs from 2.5-3.6 PEN.

From the Estación Central stop, head north along Jirón de La Unión Street. Along the way you’ll see beautiful historic buildings and, at the end of the street, the Plaza de Armas de Lima itself, which is home to the Government Palace and Lima Cathedral.

Historic buildings

In the vicinity of the square, the Basílica y Convento de San Francisco, the Convento de Santo Domingo and the Iglesia Las Nazarenas are still worth a visit.

If you head in the other direction from the Estación Central stop. Through the beautiful Parque de la Exposición you will reach the Circuito Mágico del Agua. For just 4 PEN, sell yourself through the park, which is the largest water fountain complex in the world. The charm of this place is most appreciated in the evening, when various shows take place and the fountains are beautifully lit.

What else to visit?

Other neighbourhoods you can safely enjoy visiting in Lima are San Isidro and Barranco. The San Isidro area is a very modern business district filled with the headquarters of various global companies, banks, luxury shops, hotels and restaurants. The Barranco district, on the other hand, is a bohemian part of town full of art, small cafes, and above all a very relaxed atmosphere. Both of these districts are in close proximity to the Miraflores area, so if you have more time here, don’t hesitate to head here.

TIPS FOR VISITING

If you like vegetarian and vegan food, don’t miss the Raw Café and Holy Plants in the Miraflores district. Believe me, you’ll want to keep coming back for their food.

If you don’t feel like taking local transport yet, use the UBER app to get around town. It’s cheap, safe, fast and available all over the city at any time of day.

WATCH OUT IN LIMA

As in probably all major cities in Latin America, watch out for theft, both on transport and on the street. If you’re standing at an intersection in downtown with your phone in your hand, chances are someone on a motorcycle or bicycle will soon pass by and snatch your phone out of your hand. Just be careful, don’t leave things lying around unattended and nothing will happen to you. If you go to the aforementioned Basílica y Convento de San Francisco, don’t continue east from there, but take the same route back to the centre. A little beyond this building begins the Barrios Altos district, which is not exactly safe for tourists.