Lima Geography and Climate

The fifth largest city in South America – behind Mexico City, Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro – Lima is situated on a dry desert plain halfway down the arid coast of Peru between the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean to the West and the rising foothills of the Andean mountain range to the East.  Due to the multi-hour commutes that workers faced on a daily basis, city officials declared in 1970 that the city would no longer spread outward; however, the borders designating the limits of urban Lima continue to expand annually. Given that the city is situated on a long stretch of coastal desert, Lima is by and large a flat city, making inner and outer city bicycle tours an interesting option for the cycling inclined.

The urban area of Lima is located on mostly flat terrain in the Peruvian coastal plain, within the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac, and Lurín rivers. The city slopes up gently from the shores of the Pacific Ocean into valleys and mountain located as high as 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level. Within the city exist isolated hills which are not connected to the surrounding hill chains, such as El Agustino, San Cosme, El Pino, La Milla, Muleria and Pro hills. The San Cristobal hill in the Rimac district, which faces directly north of the downtown area, is the local extreme of an Andean hill outgrowth.

Lima’s climate is mild, despite being located in the Tropics. The city has a subtropical and desert climate, yet the microclimate created by the city’s proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean waters also makes the atmosphere very humid throughout the year. The year-round temperatures vary from cool to warm (in other words, neither cold nor very hot), and are characterized by a spring-like mildness.

Relative humidity is always very high, but particularly so in the mornings, and this often produces brief morning fog from June to December and persistent low fog that settles over the city from May to November.

Lima Winter

(May - December) The average daily temperatures in winter range from 12°C (54°F) to 20°C (68°F), and are usually accompanied by continuously overcast skies, fog, and mist. The all-time record low in the metropolitan area is 9°C (46°F).

Lima Summer

(December – April) The daily average temperatures in summer range from 19°C (66°F) to 29°C (84°F), and days are generally sunny, but still relatively humid. The maximum temperature recorded in the metropolitan area is 34°C (93°F).

As Lima is essentially located in a desert, rainfall is very low. The severely low rainfall impacts water supply in the city. Inland locations receive anywhere between 1 to 6 cm (2.4 in) of annual rainfall, which accumulates mainly during the winter months. The peak of the “rainy season,” which does not produce “rain” in the true sense of the word, comes in the form of a heavy mist (locally called “garúa” or “llovizna”) that condenses late at night or early in the morning.

Despite the predictability of Lima’s weather, it is always a good idea to get information about current conditions before your trip. We recommend you check out the latest conditions and forecasts with weather.com’s trip planner.