Lima is the culinary capital of South America — Central and Maido rank among the world's best restaurants, while the historic center and Miraflores offer coastal charm.
Lima is the culinary capital of South America -- Central, Maido, and Astrid y Gaston rank among the world's best restaurants, while the historic center around Plaza de Armas features Spanish colonial architecture and Miraflores offers coastal cliffside charm. Peru's capital sits on the Pacific coast with pre-Columbian ruins in the city center at Huaca Pucllana, a vibrant street food scene from ceviche to anticuchos, and easy connections to Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon rainforest.
December through April is summer with warmer temperatures around 25-30 degrees C and less coastal fog. May through November is the cooler garua season with overcast skies (the famous Lima gray) but comfortable 18-22 degrees C for sightseeing. Flight prices are fairly consistent year-round with slight peaks around July and December holidays. January through March has the most sunshine and best beach weather. The Mistura food festival happens in September.
LATAM operates from Lima with extensive domestic and international networks across South America, North America, and Europe. Avianca connects via Bogota to its network. Sky Airlines and JetSMART provide budget South American routes. American, Delta, and United serve Lima from US hubs. Air France, Iberia, and KLM offer European connections. Copa connects via Panama City. British Airways operates seasonal London routes. Air Canada serves Lima from Toronto.
Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) is 11 km from the city center in Callao with taxi and bus connections taking 30-45 minutes to Miraflores. A new terminal is under construction to increase capacity. The airport is centrally located between Miraflores, San Isidro, and the historic center. Uber and airport taxis are affordable at 40-70 PEN (10-18 USD) to Miraflores. The airport has a duty-free zone but limited dining options. The Airport Express bus runs to Miraflores for 15 PEN.
Lima offers world-class food at budget prices -- a menu ejecutivo (set lunch) costs 10-20 PEN (-6). The Miraflores boardwalk and Parque del Amor are free with stunning ocean views. Take local buses for 1-2 PEN instead of taxis. The Larco Museum has affordable entry ( USD) with a world-class pre-Columbian collection of gold and erotic pottery. Ceviche at a local cevicheria costs 15-25 PEN. The Free Walking Tour of the historic center is excellent and runs daily.
Lima has no metro system covering the tourist areas -- the Metropolitano BRT bus system runs north-south through the city with dedicated lanes and is the fastest public transport option. Single fares cost 3.20 PEN with the Tarjeta Limacard. The Lima Metro (electric train) has one line serving the southeastern suburbs but is less useful for tourists. Uber and taxi apps like Cabify and Beat are the most convenient way to get around at 10-30 PEN for most trips within Miraflores, San Isidro, and Barranco. Taxis are abundant but always negotiate the fare before riding or use an app to avoid scams. The city is very spread out and walking between districts is impractical due to distance. The Costa Verde coastal highway connects Miraflores to the historic center and the airport. The Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro areas are walkable within each district.
Miraflores is the best area for tourists with the malecón, restaurants, and hotels from $40-100 USD per night. Barranco offers bohemian charm with boutique hotels from $40-80 USD. San Isidro is the business district with upscale hotels from $50-120 USD. The Historic Center offers budget options from $10-40 USD near the Plaza de Armas. Budget hostels in Miraflores from $5-15 USD.