Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Lima, Peru! We had a really nice time in Lima. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when visiting Lima Peru.
Love #1: Lima’s Historic Center
Lima has a great historic center. Starting with the San Francisco monastery, there’s a ton to see including the amazing artwork and the underground chambers. The historic center also has several museums and the Plaza Mayor. This should definitely be the first stop on your Lima visit.
Hate #1: Getting to Lima
Most international flights to Lima arrive very late at night. We arrived at one in the morning from Atlanta, and our departing flight leaves at 2:15 am. So while you won’t have jetlag because Lima is in the Eastern time zone, you’ll be exhausted from your late arrival on your travel day. Late departures also affect your last day as you’ll have to check out of your hotel room at noon, and then you have a good 12 hours before you leave for the airport. I recommend just getting an airport hotel for that last night, even though you won’t be spending the whole night there.
Love #2: Neighborhoods of Lima
Many Latin American cities have the historic center and that’s it. Lima actually has several cool neighborhoods to explore, including the historic center. We stayed in Miraflores near the beach. San Isidro is another cool neighborhood. Each Lima neighborhood has unique museums and attractions, plus lots of good restaurants!
Hate #2: Traffic in Lima
Like a lot of Latin countries, the traffic and the drivers in Lima are insane. I do not recommend driving yourself in Lima. There are plenty of taxis you can use to get around. Your hotel can also arrange drivers for you. It can also be dangerous as a pedestrian in Lima, so you really need to pay attention as you are walking around town. Even if the light is green for you to cross, make sure you look both ways because the drivers don’t always obey the traffic laws.
Love #3: City Beaches
While Lima is a major city and a cultural destination, there are also beaches right in the city, so you can also have a beach vacation! The water is a bit cold, but it’s nice to have some waterfront parks and activities to explore. With historic attractions, Peruvian culture, and natural attractions, a trip to Lima makes for a really well-rounded vacation.
Hate #3: Lima Peru Weather & UV Rays
Lima Peru weather is pretty nice all the time, so you’ll love that part. The coldest month is August, where it sometimes drops below 60-degrees. However, there’s a gray fog in the summer months. Regardless of when you visit Lima, you really need to be careful with the UV rays, which are very strong in Lima. Even if it’s cloudy out, make sure you are using lots of SPF to protect your skin.
Love #4: Lima Safety & Cleanliness
For a city of over ten million residents, we actually felt very safe in Lima. Obviously, use your travel smarts when it comes to traveling around at night, but we felt very safe exploring the different Lima neighborhoods during the day. Feel free to ask your hotel for any areas to avoid and any general safety advice. Lima is also very clean, which was a pleasant surprise.
What to Know Before You Visit Peru
Hate #4: Booking Hotels in Lima
We usually book our own travel, but when choosing your Lima accommodation, you can save a lot of money by using a travel agency. We only found this out because we had to change accommodation midway through our trip and a friend booked a room for us using a travel agent. It was about half as much as the prices we saw online. This isn’t something you would know ahead of time, but it can save you a lot of money during your Lima trip.
Love #5: Lima Peru Restaurants
Lima is the capital city of Peru, so there are a ton of good restaurants where you can sample Peruvian cuisine. The seafood is amazing, so make sure you try the ceviche at least once.
Hate #5: Don’t Flush Your Toilet Paper
This is actually pretty common in South America. The plumbing can’t handle toilet paper, so you have to throw it in the bin next to the toilet. This can be hard to remember, and definitely takes some getting used to if you’ve never had to do this before.
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If you can’t tell, it was kind of hard to come up with five “hates” about Lima because we really enjoyed our time there. Want more South America travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: