The Basics
City Name: Lima
Where is it located?: The capital of Peru, Lima sits on Peru’s coastline.
Why do people go there?: Lima is a huge, crowded, obnoxious city that often times overwhelms travelers instead of pulling them in. If you can get past the craziness of it all, you will find a very lively city, filled with both the old world and new world.
How do travelers get there?: Lima is a gateway city to South America and flights from abroad are generally cheap.
Currency: Nuevo Sol/Soles; Vernacular Sol or Soles
City Code: 1
Population: 9 million
Languages: Spanish
Travel Information
Neighborhoods: Plaza de Armas, Miraflores
Attractions: Plaza de Armas, Museo de Oro del Peru
Accommodations: Lima Hostels
Tourist Office: Peru Tourist Information
Off-the-beaten-path: Pachacamac
Health Issues: Altitude sickness, Cholera, hepatitis, malaria (Malaria exists in the lowlands), rabies, typhoid, yellow fever
Tips for Visiting
When to go: In Lima, weather is usually comfortable year-round.
Common Phrases: Chao = Goodbye. Ch’vere = Cool. Cuanto cuesta? = How much?. Donde esta? = Where is?. Como se llama? = What is your name?. Me llamo = My name is Chuta! = Shoot!
City Specific Events: Fiestas Patrias: July, Santa Rosa de Lima: August 30
How to get around?: Taxis are your best best for traveling around Lima, although there are cheap buses, which are generally packed beyond imagination.
Cheapest airport to fly into: The cheapest airport to fly into Lima is the Jorge Chavez International Airport.
Need more information?: Check out the Lima travel guide for more on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.
