Lima & the Coast

Lima, Peru’s capital, looks out over the Pacific from the top of its sea cliffs and is the gateway to almost every trip to the country: most international flights land here, and flights to Cusco, Arequipa and Juliaca leave from here. It is worth staying at least a day for the colonial historic center, the clifftop boardwalks of Miraflores and Barranco and a food scene that is famous worldwide.

Top things to do in Lima

• Historic center. Founded in 1535, Lima was the capital of Spanish South America and its center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Plaza Mayor with the cathedral and the Government Palace, carved wooden balconies and the San Francisco monastery, with its catacombs.
• Miraflores boardwalk. Clifftop parks above the Costa Verde, with the Parque del Amor and paragliders soaring over the ocean.
• Barranco. The bohemian district: colorful mansions, street art, the Bridge of Sighs and sunsets over the Pacific.
• Huaca Pucllana. A pre-Inca adobe pyramid built by the Lima culture, right in the middle of Miraflores.
• Larco Museum. It holds a superb collection of pre-Columbian pottery and metalwork.
• Eat. Ceviche at lunchtime, causa, ají de gallina, lomo saltado, anticuchos and a pisco sour.

How to get to Lima and from the airport to your hotel

Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) is in Callao, about 20 km (12 miles) from Miraflores: roughly 50 minutes by road, a lot longer at rush hour. Turn down the informal taxis at the exit; a pre-booked transfer is the safer option.

Flights and timetables change, so always check with your airline. Viajes D’MARC runs the private Lima airport ⇄ Miraflores transfer, from US$30 (S/ 105) per vehicle: your driver meets you at the exit, helps with your luggage and takes you along the Costa Verde to your hotel in Miraflores, Barranco or San Isidro, or back to the airport. It is the only service we offer in Lima.

How many days in Lima

One full day is enough for the historic center in the morning and Miraflores or Barranco in the afternoon, with a long lunch in between. With two days you can add a museum, Huaca Pucllana or a trip down the coast. Many travelers spend a night here on arrival or before their flight home.

Getting around Lima

Lima is huge and traffic is heavy. Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro, where most visitors stay, are close to each other and easy to explore on foot or by bike along the boardwalk. For the historic center, 30 to 45 minutes by car, use ride-hailing apps or a reputable taxi company rather than hailing one in the street. The Metropolitano, a bus with its own dedicated lane, links Barranco and Miraflores with the center.

Weather and best time to visit

Lima is at sea level and it almost never rains. December to April is summer: sunny, hot days. From May to November a gray sea mist covers the sky and the garúa, a very fine drizzle, sets in; it is cool and humid, but the city is fine to visit all year. That gray winter coincides with the dry season in the Andes, so our guide to the best time to visit Cusco helps you plan the whole trip.

Practical tips and day trips along the coast

• Safety: as in any big city, keep an eye on your phone and bag, do not flash valuables and avoid hailing taxis in the street at night.
• Money and clothes: ATMs are easy to find in the tourist districts; carry small notes in soles. Bring a light jacket from May to November and sunscreen in summer.
• The coast: the Pachacámac sanctuary is about an hour south; Paracas and the Ballestas Islands are 3 to 4 hours away; and Caral, one of the oldest cities in the Americas, is about 3 to 4 hours north. We do not run tours in Lima or on the coast: book them with a local operator and confirm times and prices.

Combine Lima with Cusco and the south

From Lima, most travelers fly on to Cusco. Going from sea level to 3,399 m (11,150 ft) in just over an hour is a big jump, so many head straight from the airport to the lower Sacred Valley with the Cusco airport ⇄ Sacred Valley transfer, or into town with the Cusco airport ⇄ hotel transfer. Before you fly, read our altitude sickness guide and the Cusco airport guide.

The Cusco and Machu Picchu essentials package includes private transport throughout, and the 11-day grand tour of southern Peru starts in Lima and continues through Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Frequently asked questions