Peru: Lima
Coming:
Fly- El Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez. From there you can take the Airport Express to Miraflores. They are an awesome company and make it extremely easy. Their staff is really helpful and will walk you through exactly what you need to do. If you’re staying elsewhere then just take a cab. It’s a bit pricey- and if you’re by yourself it might be cheaper to take airport express to Miraflores and take a cab from there, but it’ll still going to cost you.
Price- Airport Express $8 USD (S/. 25 PEN) one way $15 USD (S/. 48 PEN) round trip Cab to Barranco S/. 50-60 PEN ($ 15.50 $18.60 PEN) Cab to center S/. 40-50 PEN ($12.45 – $15.50 USD)
Bus – You can also bus in from Ecuador, or anywhere in Peru. Generally buses in Peru are very nice, as tourism is so prevalent- but to be honest I don’t know much about coming from the North. Compare different bus companies HERE, though.
Once here you can get around the various neighborhoods on foot, rent bikes, or take a cab if you’re traveling to different neighborhoods.
Price- Cab S/. 15-20 PEN ($4.67-$6.22 USD)
Sleeping:
Miraflores neighborhood- Where most of the tourists stay. It’s a fancy neighborhood with endless options for eating and drinking. It’s also near the beach. There’s a lot to do around here making it a very convenient place to stay.
The Prime Spot Backpackers Hostel is a really nice and chill hostel. The rooms and beds are really spacious and comfortable and the bathrooms are clean. The kitchen has decent cooking facilities and there is plenty of space to hang out. It’s a great location close to a big supermarket and a good area or Miraflores. They’ve got fast Wi-Fi and a helpful staff. If you’re looking for a party hostel, this is not it, though.
Overall- 9/10 Price- S/. 32.21 PEN ($10 USD) for a 10 bed mixed Average/Slightly above average for Lima
Barranco neighborhood- A bit more hipster and less touristy than Miraflores. Also some great bars and restaurants near here. I stayed in an AirBnb here and really enjoyed the neighborhood. Definitely recommend to come here, even if you’re not staying here.
Central- Central Lima is nice, but chaotic. It’s extremely noisy and really crowded. There are a few good spots and it’s nice to visit, but I wouldn’t recommend staying here just since it’s a bit harder to get to good food spots.
1900 Backpackers Hostel– Good price, clean facilities, decent Wi-Fi. I didn’t love the location very much. It’s a bit far from the main neighborhoods but at the same time there were some cool bars and a more local feel, despite all the hotels.
Overall – 7.5/10 (because of location) Price- S/. 26 PEN ($8 USD) for a 18 bed mixed dorm Cheap-Average price for Lima
AirBnb’s are a little more centrally located than in Cusco but a bit pricier. The more in advance you can book the better as there are much more options.
Eating:
Ceviche – This is the place to eat ceviche and seafood in general! With the Pacific Ocean at Lima’s fingertips, everything is fresh, fresh, fresh! Don’t pay for expensive ceviche at a fancy restaurant because it’s going to taste exactly the same as the delicious and cheap ceviche from the local markets. I literally stopped being vegetarian in Lima so I could try the ceviche.
But, if you’re looking for a little more upscale- try out El Mercado. Located in Miraflores this place has an unbeatable ambiance and great tasting food. The cocktails are expensive but delicious and the ceviche was on point.
Price- cocktails S/. 25-30 PEN ($8.50-$9.50USD), ceviche S/. 57-65 PEN ($18-$20)
Canta Ranita – a small market in Barranco, they open at one and will run out after a few hours so try to get there on time! We only got to try one since we got there so late but it was excellent
Sushi- Because of the large population of Japanese immigrants there is surprisingly great sushi in Lima. Edo in Miraflores was a recommendation by a good friend of mine, but ultimately too far from Barranco so we ate at Hosso, instead. Had some awesome sushi and delicious ramen.
La Panetteria – If you’re in the Barranco neighborhood then head here for coffee, pastries, breakfast or lunch. They have freshly baked bread and AMAZING food. The tea is a little bit pricey but it’s all very high quality and a really nice ambiance.
Doing: Rent bikes, head to the beach, drink beer.
Rent bikes from Mirabici at Larcomar mall. The mall is a really nice place to walk around with good views if you want to stop for a food or a snack (pricey, though) and you can ride along the Malecón which is a path along the coast and a lovely ride. Stop off and sit at a park bench to take in the views or sit in the grass and take in the beautiful weather of Lima.
Price- S/. 50 PEN ($15.50 USD) for the day (until 7 pm)
Beach- There are many beaches in Lima. Catch a wave or just watch the surfers from the beach. They weren’t the nicest beaches ever but, a beach is a beach!
If you like local craft beer and are staying Barranco then head to Barranco Beer Company for some good ones.
Staying: 2-3 days was enough for me! There were a few different areas of town to explore and I enjoyed my time there but was ready to go after a few days.
Going: If you’re coming from the north then your next stop should be Paracas- otherwise known as “The poor man’s Galapagos”. If you’re coming from the south then head up to Huaraz for some trekking. Others choose to head straight to Cusco from here.