Discover the city of Lima: The complete guide for the modern traveler

Covid Restrictions

As of October 27, 2022, Peru is not in a State of Emergency for the Covid 19 virus, which means that it is not mandatory to present a vaccination card, molecular test or other documentation. In addition, it is not necessary to present a sworn statement of your health status. What is recommended is the optional use of masks and healthy practices to avoid Covid 19 infection.

If you are a foreigner I suggest you check this information in the official pages of your country, you can also contact the consulates or embassies of Peru in your country or consult this page as we constantly update the information on Covid 19 in Peru.

Arriving at the airport

For many travelers their journey begins at Jorge Chavez International Airport, which is located in the constitutional province of Callao, adjacent to the province of Lima.

Jorge Chavez International Airport serves as the main point of entry and exit for international and domestic travelers, which means that from this airport you can take flights out of the country and travel within the country.

Withdrawing money

If you need to withdraw money, you will find at the airport the Interbank bank and ATMs of BBVA Continental, Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP), Interbank (Global Net) and Scotiabank.

If you are a foreigner, I suggest you contact your bank to know the banks or financial institutions where you can withdraw money in Peru, as well as to know the commissions involved in withdrawing money in each bank.

Exchange Houses

Remember that the official currency in Peru is the nuevo sol, so if you wish to change money from dollars and/or euros to soles, you can find two exchange houses at Jorge Chavez International Airport: Money Exchange IBK and World Xchange. Normally the exchange rate of these exchange houses located inside the airport does not benefit the traveler much compared to the exchange rate of the exchange houses near your accommodation or in central areas of the city.

The authorized and best known exchange houses throughout Peru are: Wertern Union, Peru Money, Moneygram, Money Exchange, among others. In addition, near the Plaza San Martin in the Historic Center of Lima you will find many authorized exchange houses, most of which have a favorable exchange rate for the traveler.

Suggestions

Arrive ONLY with dollars or euros in Peru so that you can exchange them for soles, most exchange houses only accept to exchange dollars and/or euros to soles or vice versa, it is not very common to see exchange houses that have other types of currencies than those mentioned above.

Most commercial establishments in Peru do not receive dollars and/or euros, this with the intention of avoiding scams or disputes regarding the exchange rate, so they prefer not to receive currencies other than soles (Peruvian currency).

Important information

In Peru, unfortunately, banknotes and coins are still counterfeited, S/. 100 soles (USD 26.28 dollars) are the most commonly counterfeited, which is why I suggest you verify that they are authentic when you receive your money, especially when you change dollars and / or euros to soles in unauthorized places. For example, in Lima there are many people who are outside banks or exchange houses that offer currency exchange, using this service is a bit risky, since these people are not authorized and you can be a victim of fraud, because to provide this type of service you must have a physical location among other requirements.

On the other hand, many times bills of S/ 200 soles (USD 53 dollars) are the least received in stores and stores, since there are not many of these bills in circulation and people doubt their authenticity.

In conclusion, I suggest that you only receive bills of: S/. 10, 20, 50 soles.

Wifi at the airport

If you want to communicate immediately with your family or friends, at Jorge Chavez International Airport they offer free wifi for 24 hours, you just have to register on their website, which you will find by clicking on it to connect to the network.

SIM Card

If you are a foreigner and want to have internet on your cell phone for your entire stay in Peru, at Jorge Chavez Airport you can buy a sim card with a Peruvian number, the prices of these products at the airport are not the cheapest but if you need them urgently you can buy them there.

On the other hand, if you have time and you are a budget traveler, I suggest you buy the sim card very close to your accommodation, because outside the airport the prices are cheaper.

To buy a sim card you only need your passport or other valid travel document.

The phone companies that sell sim cards in Peru are: Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel. The stores of these companies can be found all over Peru, I suggest you use Google Maps to help you find the closest point of sale to your accommodation or location.

Transportation from Jorge Chávez Airport

Public transportation (the most economical option)

Unlike many countries, in Peru there is no integrated system of public transportation to and from Jorge Chavez International Airport with connection to various cities in Lima.

Remember that Jorge Chavez International Airport is located in the province of Callao, an area adjacent to the city of Lima, so to reach the most tourist areas of Lima, such as Miraflores, Barranco and the Historic Center of Lima (located in the Cercado de Lima), you will have to use public or private transportation.

The public transportation that we recommend for its safety, since it departs from the facilities of Jorge Chavez International Airport, is the bus company Airport Express Lima, which has the following routes: Airport – Miraflores and Miraflores – Airport. The price of these routes start at S/. 15 soles (USD 4 dollars) per person, you can carry luggage and have wifi.

Unfortunately, it only goes to and from the district of Miraflores, so for other districts or neighborhoods of Lima I suggest private transportation.

For more information on ticket costs, schedules and authorized stops, I suggest you see the official website of Airport Express Lima by clicking here.

Private transportation

Cab

Hiring the cab services of the companies located inside the Jorge Chavez International Airport is the most recommended for security reasons. Inside the airport you will find 3 transportation companies that offer private transportation services to any destination, these are: Cab Directo, Taxi 365 and Taxi Green. You will see the modules of these cabs immediately after picking up your luggage at the airport.

The price of the cab service will depend on the destination, for Miraflores the approximate amount is between S/. 60 to 80 soles (USD 16 to 21 dollars), for the district of Barranco, normally exceeds S/. 70 soles (USD 18 dollars) and, with destination to the Historic Center of Lima from S/. 50 soles (USD 13 dollars).

Cab applications

Other of the safest ways that I recommend, apart from cabs inside the airport, are the use of cabs through cell phone applications, such as: Taxi Satelital and Taxi Directo for long distances and, Uber, Indriver, Cabify, among others, for short distances. Although the safest in Lima, especially when you don’t know much about the area, are the applications of Taxi Satelital and Taxi Directo.

Rent a car

This is a highly recommended option for travelers who wish to explore the city of Lima on their own and at their own time. At Jorge Chavez International Airport you can rent a car through Budget and Hertz. You will see the car rental booths immediately after picking up your luggage at the airport. In addition, you will find the cars in the parking lot of Jorge Chavez International Airport.

Regarding the driver’s license

The Peruvian Ministry of Transportation and Communications authorizes foreign citizens who enter the Peruvian territory for tourism and recreational purposes to drive vehicles only for a period of 6 months, counted from their entry to Peru, but for this, it is required to have a valid driver’s license.

You do not need to do any previous procedure to validate your driver’s license, but it is very important that when you are driving a car in Peruvian territory you have the ownership card of the vehicle, the corresponding insurance, your valid driver’s license and your passport or other travel document, because if any traffic police asks you for this documentation you must have it at that moment.

Lodging in Lima

In the districts where most national and international tourists stay to enjoy the city of Lima, are the neighborhoods of Miraflores, Barranco and the Historic Center of Lima. In these neighborhoods you can find many accommodation options, such as hotels, hostel’s, airbnb’s and more.

The website I recommend to see and choose the best hostel’s is, without a doubt, HostelWorld. I used to use this site a lot when I traveled around Europe and Peru alone, as it allows you to save money and meet people from all over the world in your travels.

For tourists traveling as a couple, with friends, families and/or children and want privacy, I suggest you use the Airbnb platform, where you can find endless accommodation options, from rooms, whole apartments, houses, cabins and much more.

Public transportation in the City of Lima

Public transportation in the city of Lima and in all of Peru is a bit complicated to explain, but here is some information that can help you to get around the City of Kings.

The most popular means of public transportation in Lima are the following:

The buses, micros and combis of Lima

Buses, micros and combis are the most abundant means of urban transportation in the city of Lima, most of which are managed by private companies. The routes are several and are generated by the companies according to the permitted zones.

Although buses, micros and combis are a very popular form of public transportation and which you will see in all tourist and not so touristy areas of Lima, these means have advantages and disadvantages, here I show them to you:

Advantages

Very cheap prices, between S/. 1 to 3 soles (USD 0.26 to 0.78 dollars) per person. You do not need any card to use this means of transportation, only cash.

For short distances it is a very good option, but for long distances I suggest taking cabs or your own transportation because you will lose a lot of time in traffic, especially during rush hours (from 6:00 to 8:00 am and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm).

Disadvantages

It is not the best option for long distances for that is better to choose cabs or private car.

Some of these buses do not have established schedules and stops and you only have to ask the locals about the place and time where they stop to pick up passengers.

Some of these buses are in very bad conditions, but still they are in circulation.

Recommendations

The routes are usually known by the locals, so I suggest you ask the locals near the area. It is also very useful to ask the drivers or the so-called ”cobradores”, who are the people who usually collect the fares and who usually shout the routes and the places where the buses pass so that passengers get on the bus, they travel on the bus and are also assistants of the drivers.

It is also very useful the mobile application Moovit, this application has many years in the market and usually works very well for bus routes, trains, bicycles and more.

Always carry coins of S/. 1 sol, S/. 2 soles and S/. 5 soles and even cents of soles, ask a local for the approximate fare.

Try not to use your cell phone or other electronic objects of great value and, if you do, try to do it with caution, since in Lima, as in any city in Latin America, the fight against citizen insecurity continues.

The Metropolitano of Lima

The Metropolitano is a bus network administered by the Municipality of Lima and, unlike the previous option, this means of transportation is more organized since it has authorized bus stops and boarding stations where you can wait in complete safety.

The Metropolitano has 3 major sections, so it runs through the north, center and south of Lima in a single route. In the North it passes through the districts of Rímac, San Martín de Porres and Independencia, in the Center it passes through the Cercado de Lima, Centro Histórico de Lima and Breña, and in the South it passes through the districts of La Victoria, Lince, San Isidro, Surquillo, Miraflores, Barranco and Chorrillos.

This is a highly recommended option for national and international tourists who have a low budget, do not wish to spend a lot on transportation and wish to visit the most popular tourist areas of Lima, since the Metropolitano runs through the Historic Center of Lima, Miraflores and Barranco.

The Metropolitano stations closest to the Historic Center of Lima, Miraflores and Barranco are:

To the Historic Center of Lima

The closest Metropolitano station to the Plaza de Armas in the Historic Center of Lima is the Jiron de la Union station, which is located in the downtown area of Lima.

To the neighborhood of Miraflores

The closest stations to Parque Kennedy, Larcomar Shopping Center and Costa Verde de Miraflores are the Ricardo Palma, Benavides and 28 de Julio stations, which are located in the south of Lima.

To the neighborhood of Barranco

The closest station to Bulevar de Barranco, Puente de los Suspiros and Circuito de Playas in the Barranco neighborhood is Bulevar station, in the south of Lima.

For more information about the Metropolitano stations I suggest you visit their official website: http://www.metropolitano.com.pe/

How much does the Metropolitano fare cost?

The cost of the general fare is S/. 2.50 soles ( USD 0.65 dollars) per adult person, with the payment of this fare you can use the trunk route (North, Center and South of Lima), remember to buy the entrance card beforehand. For university students and people with disabilities the price of the ticket is lower, for this you have to get a special card, which you can request at the Card Attention Centers (CAT), which you will find in the main stations of the Metropolitano.

How to obtain the Metropolitano card?

To obtain the general fare cards, you just have to go to any of the Metropolitano stations, where you will find yellow machines, where you can recharge your cards and buy them.

For special fare cards (for children, university students and people with disabilities) or to obtain specialized cards (with names and personal data) you must go to the Card Attention Center (CAT), which you will find in the main stations of the Metropolitano.

How do I use the Metropolitano?

In order to use this means of transportation you will have to buy a general card inside any of the Metropolitano stations, the cost of this card is S/. 4.50 soles ( USD 3.5 dollars).

Do not forget to recharge your card to enter the stations, you can recharge it every time you take a bus or with the amount you want depending on the regularity with which you use El Metropolitano.

The best thing about this card is that you can also use it for the Electric Train (Line 1) of Lima and for the use of the Corredores de Lima.

If you find yourself in an emergency and you do not locate your card, you can ask one of the Metropolitano users to help you enter the station with his card and you will pay the amount of your ticket to this user. This only works for general cards, since special cards (for children, university students and people with disabilities) and specialized cards (with names and personal data) are for personal use.

Advantages of using the Metropolitano

They have pre-established stations and routes, you can wait at the boarding stations with total security.

Its boarding stations are in the mobile application Moovit, this application shows you the routes of buses, train, Metropolitano and more.

More organized than other means of transportation, you will also find at the boarding stations several Metropolitano workers, whom you can consult about the stations, cards and recharges.

The Metropolitano has its own corridor, so you can avoid Lima traffic, especially during rush hours (from 6:00 to 8:00 am and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm).

Disadvantages of using the Metropolitano

Many times during rush hours (from 6:00 to 8:00 am and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm), you will find many Metropolitano users at the different boarding stations, so you will have to wait between 10 to 20 minutes to get on the buses, and the buses are full of passengers at this time.

More information about El Metropolitano

For more information about El Metropolitano I suggest you visit its official website: http://www.metropolitano.com.pe/

The Lima Electric Train

The Lima Electric Train or also called Line 1 of the Lima Metro, is the most used means of public transportation in the city of Lima, since it runs through the most populous districts, such as San Juan de Lurigancho, Cercado de Lima, Villa Maria del Triunfo and Villa El Salvador, thus covering the north, center and south of Lima in a single stretch.

Most popular and touristic stations of the Lima Electric Train

El Angel and Prebístero Maestro Stations

The Electric Train also has stations in front of the El Angel and Prebístero Maestro cemeteries, which are considered the oldest and most historic in Lima and where day and night tours are offered.

Gamarra Station

In addition, the Electric Train has the Gamarra Station, where the Gamarra Textile Market is located, one of the most important in Lima due to its hundreds of stores, galleries, warehouses and clothing areas.

La Cultura Station

Finally, the Cultura station, which is so named because it is located right in front of the National Theater of Lima and the Ministry of Culture of Peru, places where important theatrical groups perform, fairs such as Ruraq Maki, among many cultural and educational events.

For more information about the stations of the Lima Electric Train, visit the official website: https://www.lineauno.pe/estaciones/

How much does the Lima Electric Train fare cost?

The general fare is S/. 1.50 soles ( USD 0.35 dollars) per adult person, with the payment of this fare you can travel the North, Center and South of Lima in a single section.

For children, university students and high school students the cost of the ticket is S/. 0.75 soles (USD 0.20 dollars) and for this, you will have to request a special card at the train stations of Pumacahua, Jorge Chavez, San Borja Sur, Los Postes and El Angel.

How to obtain the Lima Electric Train card?

To get the general fare traveler cards, you just have to go to any of the stations of the Tren Eléctrico Line 1, there you will find green machines, where in addition to recharge your card you can buy one. The cost of this card is S/. 5 soles ( USD 3.8 dollars).

How do I use the Lima Electric Train?

To use this means of transportation you will have to buy a general card inside any of the train stations, the cost of this card is S/. 5 soles (USD 3.8 dollars).

Do not forget to recharge your card to enter the boarding stations, you can recharge it every time you use the service or with the amount you want depending on the regularity with which you use the Electric Train or Lima Metro.

Advantages of the use of the Lima Electric Train

They have pre-established stations and routes, you can wait at the boarding stations with total security.

More organized than other means of transportation, you will also find at the boarding stations several workers of the Electric Train, whom you can consult about the stations, cards and recharges.

Disadvantages of using Lima’s Electric Train

Many times during rush hours (from 6:00 to 8:00 am and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm), you will find many users of the Electric Train in the different stations, so, in order to enter the stations you will have to wait between 10 to 20 minutes, in addition, the train cars at this time are full of passengers.

More information about the Electric Train

For more information about the Electric Train or Metro de Lima Line 1, I suggest you to visit its official website: https://www.lineauno.pe/

Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Lima Corridors

The Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Corridors are a network of buses administered by the Municipality of Lima that, unlike other conventional buses administered by private companies, have authorized stops, signposted routes, connections between corridors at some stops and, in addition, many of them have their own lane, thus improving their circulation and avoiding the traffic of the City of Lima.

Blue Corridor

The Blue Corridor buses provide 4 services or routes, which are called: 301, 302, 303 and 306. These routes or services depart from the district of Rimac and Miraflores, crossing the districts of Cercado de Lima (Abancay Avenue), Lince and San Isidro. The routes are differentiated by their stops and distances; some go as far as San Isidro and others as far as Miraflores.

Additional information

For additional information on routes and stops, I suggest you check the Services section , located on the upper right hand side of the official website of the Corredor Azul: https://corredorazul.pe/

Purple Corridor

The Purple Corridor buses, like the Blue Corridor, provide 4 services or routes, which are called: 404, 405, 409 and 412. These routes or services depart from the districts of San Juan de Lurigancho and Magdalena, crossing the districts of Rímac, Cercado de Lima (Avenida Abancay), Jesús María and San Isidro. The routes are differentiated by their stops and distances, some go as far as Jesús María and others as far as San Isidro.

Additional information

For additional information on routes and stops, I suggest you check the Services section , located on the upper right hand side of the official website of the Corredor Morado: https://corredormorado.pe/

Red Corridor

The Red Corridor buses provide 4 services or routes, which are called: 201, 204, 206 and 209. These routes or services run through various districts of Lima, such as La Perla in Callao, San Miguel, Magdalena del Mar, San Isidro, Lince, San Borja, La Molina, Ate, Pachacamac, among other areas and districts, being the Red Corridor the most extensive of all. The routes are differentiated by stops and distances.

For additional information on routes and stops, I suggest you check the Services section , which is located on the upper right side of the Red Corridor official website: https://corredorrojo.pe/

Yellow Corridor

The Yellow Corridor buses provide only 2 services or routes, which are called: 101 and 107. These routes have several stops near the Jorge Chávez International Airport and also near the popular Parque Zonal de Huáscar in the district of Villa el Salvador. The Corredor Amarillo passes through the most important highways in the city of Lima, such as Vía Expresa Amarilla, Panamericana Norte and Vía Evitamiento.

How much does the Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Corridorfare cost?

The cost of the general fare is S/. 1.50 and 2 soles ( USD 0.50 dollars) per adult person, with the payment of this fare you can use the route of the Corridor you choose, if you transfer to another corridor, you will have to pay the amount corresponding to that new fare.

There are other preferential fares for children, university students and people with disabilities, but for this, you must obtain a special card, which you can request at the Card Attention Centers (CAT), which you will find in the main stations of the Metropolitano.

How to obtain the Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Corridorcard?

To obtain the general fare cards, you just have to go to any of the Metropolitano stations, where you will find yellow machines, where you can recharge your cards and buy Lima Pass cards.

For special fare cards (for children, university students and people with disabilities) or to obtain specialized cards (with names and personal data), you must go to the Card Service Center (CAT), which you will find at the main Metropolitano stations and other authorized locations.

How do I use the Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Corridor?

In case you do not have a Lima Pass card, the most usual way to take this transport is to pay directly in cash the amount of the ticket to the bus driver, who will give you a card so that you can pass it through a small machine, after entering you must return the card to the driver.

If you are a frequent user, I suggest you purchase the Lima Pass card, which you can buy at the Metropolitano stations, the cost of this card is S/. 4.50 soles ( USD 3.5 dollars), you can recharge it every time you take a bus or with the amount you want depending on the regularity with which you use the Corredor.

The best thing about this card is that you can also use it for the Electric Train (Line 1) of Lima and for the Metropolitano.

Advantages of using the Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Corridors

They have pre-established stations and routes.

Their boarding stations can be found in the Moovit mobile application , this application shows you the routes of buses, train, Metropolitano and more.

The Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Corridor has its own corridor, so you can avoid Lima traffic, especially during rush hours (from 6:00 to 8:00 am and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm).

Disadvantages of using the Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow Corridor

Many times during rush hours (from 6:00 to 8:00 am and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm), you will find many users of the Corridor at the different bus stops, so you will have to wait between 10 to 20 minutes to get on the buses, and the buses are full of passengers during rush hour.