Lima, Peru Travel Tips : A Lima Travel Guide to the Essentials

​So you're getting ready for your Peru trip, and you'll be passing through Lima: Now, you need to get things organized and get everything booked. We are going to bring you a couple of tips, some Lima travel tips for how to manage your trip so everything is smooth sailing and you can enjoy your time in Peru. With more than a decade of experience running food tours in Lima, we’ve taken our shared knowledge and boiled it down to the essentials.

What to pack for Lima, Peru

​There are a couple of things to keep in mind. First of all, the temperatures, and in general, Lima's climate, are relatively mild. When you talk about your winter months, remember that we are in South America, and the coldest months are July, August, and September. Your warm summer months are January, February, and March. Many years, the warm weather can stay throughout most of May. 

Another thing to consider is that it doesn't really rain in Lima, so you don't need to worry about umbrellas or raincoats. When you go to the Andes, however, especially if you're coming during the rainy season in Cusco (Nov.-Apr.), you’ll want to plan accordingly.

In terms of clothing, layers will be your friend during a Lima trip. In the winter, the lower temperatures hover around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. And at the height of summer, the thermostat will reach 85 degrees but hardly dance above that. The transition between daytime and evening temperatures will fluctuate, so your layers will come in handy, and you can be prepared for it all. 
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One more point to consider is that it's a casual city overall. You’ll be fine in fairly simple clothing; however, for going out at night to nice restaurants in Lima for cocktails, you’ll want to dress up a bit. No extremes, though. You don't need a suit, but business casual, a nice pair of even flats, a cardigan, a blazer, or other details to give your casual look a more formal spin when you enjoy a lovely evening.

Where to Stay in Lima, Peru

There are three main districts you’ll want to evaluate while choosing accommodations in Lima: Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro. 

In Miraflores, hotels abound with a wide range of prices. Good restaurants and attractions are also abundant in this area. 

Barranco is bohemian, romantic, and excessively charming. You’ll find smaller boutique hotels on this side of Lima and a more artistic, laid-back vibe.  

San Isidro oscillates between its old-money residential feel and being the heart of Lima’s business district.  Great quality hotels, and it’s a very safe area. 

What to do in Lima, Peru?

We can boil this down to the three C's: the culture, the coast, and the cuisine. In terms of culture, the Larco Museum houses an enormous private collection of artifacts. The building and manicured lawn are worthy of a visit in themselves. Bonus: there’s a room dedicated to erotic huacos, or pre-Colombian ceramics. How often do you see that? The center of Lima is also full of history and boasts layers of architecture dripping around the main squares. It's like stepping into the past, many times over different periods. 

If we move on to the coast, you can take a beautiful stroll along the coast in Miraflores or Barranco. If you’re into adventure sports, paragliding, surfing, and biking are all options.
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And the cuisine, what’s to say that hasn’t already been said? Lima has been the world's culinary capital for several years, so you must book some excellent meals or join a Lima food tour!

Transportation in Lima, Peru

The airport is about 45 minutes from Callao, where the airport is located, to Miraflores. We recommend you either pre-arrange the airport transfer or get a taxi from the official taxi stands inside the airport at Arrivals. Avoid leaving the airport to get a taxi from the street in the area. It's just not the smartest thing to do in terms of security. 

Once in Miraflores or Barranco, apps like Uber or Cabify work well. In general, taxis in Lima are very cheap. Each taxi ride is $2 or $3 for a 15-minute ride. The transportation is so affordable that you don’t need to work out the public transport system. 

Currency and Paying in Peru

The official currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol or Soles. US Dollars are widely accepted as well as credit card payments. Use the apps mentioned above for taxis, but you will need some cash if you stop a taxi from the street. We recommend you exchange some Soles, especially for smaller stores and boutiques that may not take USD or credit cards. 

When it comes to tipping, cash is preferred. For restaurants, guides, and services, 10% would be a decent tip.

​Is Lima, Peru safe?

Lima is a city with over 11 million people. Like any place, you don't want to be dropping bills right and left, flashing big jewels around, or exploring poorly lit alleys where there’s not much foot traffic. It comes down to common sense and being aware of your surroundings, as in any big city.

When we talk about our well-being, tap water is another issue on many travelers’ minds. No, you don't want to drink tap water; however, at most restaurants, you will be offered bottled water or mineral water. Ice is fine to consume as it comes from filtered water at restaurants and commercial establishments.

Another tip, sunscreen. The sun is very strong in Peru, even during the winter months. So although it may seem cloudy or overcast, go the extra mile and put some sunscreen on because UV rays are very high. 

If you're thinking about going to Cusco, it's a good idea to consider pills for altitude sickness, or Soroche Pills, as they’re known locally. Take them before leaving for Cusco because once you make it to the Andes and the full impact of soaring to new heights has set in, you will want the pills to have kicked in already by that point. Clearly, don't take this as medical advice and consult your doctor before coming. 

​What to buy in Peru?

After your trip, you want to remember what a fantastic time you had and share the love once back home. There are a couple of Peruvian souvenirs that anyone would be happy to receive and even run the risk of staying with you.

In terms of flavor, Peruvian food has established the country as the culinary capital of the world many times over. The coffee is amazing, the chocolate is superb, and of course, the Pisco is sublime. Pisco is the national spirit of Peru, after all.

Another good idea for souvenirs is textiles! Anything with textiles, weaving, and baby alpaca are fantastic options to take home. They'll also be a fraction of the price compared to what these items sell for outside of Peru, and the quality is great. A bonus? They come from the place of origin, which is always a plus.

And lastly, if you're looking for handcrafts, you can find gorgeous ceramic bulls called the Torito de Pucará. These make for unique gifts as they are said to bring abundance to the home, as well as happiness and fertility for those looking to expand their families. They bring abundance in all its forms!

We hope you found these travel tips for Lima helpful. Now time to start planning. Have a wonderful trip to Peru!