Lima Transportation

Getting to Lima

AIRPORT
When flying into Lima you arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport (www.lap.com.pe), which is located in Callao, 10 mi/16 km or 30 minutes northwest of the Miraflores district of Lima.  Domestic flights from Lima, and all international flights arriving to or leaving from Peru, transit through this airport. However, keep in mind that with traffic it can sometimes take up to an hour to reach the airport, if not more when departing from Miraflores.

Airport authorities also recommend arriving 3 hours ahead of an international flight or 2 hours prior to a national departure. This is because airlines have a tendency to overbook domestic flights, so it is important to arrive early to ensure your reserved seat is available. As a precaution, be sure to reconfirm your flight with the airline 72-24 hours prior to departure; payment and reservation do not always guarantee a seat if you arrive late for check in!

Getting There
There are no bus services that go directly to the airport or even have a stop located on airport grounds.  As a result, we recommend you take a taxi or arrange a shuttle service from your hotel.  A taxi generally costs $17 to/from Miraflores and $10 from the center of Lima. It is safer to take an official taxi from directly outside the arrivals hall rather than an unofficial from further away.  If in doubt, ask the taxi driver to display his license and write down the car’s license plate, or book with an official company (which can sometimes be cheaper) located in the main arrivals hall. Greentaxi and Taxi Seguro are two recommended options.

Departure Tax
A departure tax fee (TUUA) must be paid at the airport as well, at the airport payment teller window located on the second floor just before security screening. This is a different location from where you check in with your airline and deposit your luggage, giving you another reason to arrive early as you will need to line up twice. As of May 2009, the departure tax cost US $31 or S/. 97.19 for international departures and US$ 5.84 or S/. 18.31 for local ones.

Airport Services
A variety of conveniences can be found at Lima’s international airport, including car rental agencies, Interbank and GlobalNet ATMs, Peruvian post office, luggage storage, gift shops, cellphone rental stalls, restaurants, internet cafes and VIP rooms.
In addition, information stalls recognised by their name ‘iPeru’ can be found throughout the arrivals hall at the airport.  These stalls are provided by the private corporation Lima Airport Partners and are intended to provide general travel information to visitors.

Internet and Telephone
Recently the Lima airport became Wi-Fi compatible. However, these services are not free. Wi-Fi cards can be bought at the coffee shops located in Peru Plaza, in the domestic and international terminals and in the Telefónica public call center, which is on the second level. Telephone booths are located throughout the airport, with the highest concentration being in the Telefónica office.

Luggage Storage
The following is information about luggage storage as of September 2009:
Luggage Storage: Big Luggage (check-in luggage type) S/. 14 (each piece) per day
Lockers: S/. 28 (all you can fit)per day, [80 cms tall 1m depth approx]
Lockers and storage per hour: Locker: S/. 7 Luggage Storage: S/. 3.50
Any additional info or further update call: (511) 517 3217 Airport Luggage Department
*All prices in Peruvian Nuevos Soles

Bus

Unlike many other Latin American cities, Lima does not have a central bus terminal.  Instead, there are groupings of smaller terminals spread around the city that a few bus companies share between each other.  This can make price comparison and spur of the moment departures rather difficult.

As always, be sure to watch out for bag snatchers, pick pockets, or other forms of thievery.  Keep hold of your luggage at all times.  Sometimes a departure tax of a few soles is required, depending on the city terminal from which you are departing.  A staff member is usually stationed at the entrance to the departure platform to check your ticket and ensure you have paid.  Departure tax stalls are generally found next to or in front of this exit, within the main terminal.

It can also get very cold during bus journeys and the provided blanket is rarely enough.  Be sure to bring a coat, scarf, and/or thick socks to wear during the journey, especially when travelling eastward to destinations like Puno or Cuzco.

The three main companies with the most destinations in Peru are Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, and Ormeño.

The three main companies with the most destinations in Peru are Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, and Ormeño.

Cruz del Sur (Services north, south and central Peru)
Sales Office - Jr Quilca 531, Lima center Tel 424 6158.
Bus Station - Av Javier Prado Este 1109, San Isidro Tel 225 6163
http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe

Oltursa (Services north and south Peru)
Sales Office - Coronel Inclán 131 2nd floor, Miraflores Tel 445 - 8141
Bus Station - Av. Aramburú 1160, San Isidro Tel 225 – 4499
http://www.oltursa.com.pe/

Ormeño (Services north, south and central Peru)
Jr Quilca 531, Lima center Tel 424 6158.
Av Javier Prado Este 1109, San Isidro Tel 225 6163
http://www.grupo-ormeno.com

Getting around Lima

Taxi
Taxi rides in Lima are not metered, so it is important to negotiate the price to your destination before getting into the taxi.  Also beware of price gouging: make sure the agreed upon price is for the ride, and not per person. Generally a ride anywhere in Lima can cost between 3 soles for a local (intra-district) ride to a maximum of 18 soles across districts. Be warned that taxis will honk (a lot) to get your attention – just ignore them, they do it to everyone but even more when they see a foreigner and think there’s a chance of a commission!

Rapired: 715-3300
http://www.rapired.com.pe  

Taxi Seguro: 330-2795
http://www.taxiseguro.com.pe

Greentaxi: 484-4001
http://www.taxigreen.com.pe

Taxi Real: 470-6263
http://www.taxireal.com/

Public Transport
There are several types of public transport: big buses, medium-sized micros, and combis, which are small white vans packed with up to 20 people. Usually you can stop them at any point, though it’s easier at the end of a block or at traffic lights. If a bus or combi is not full enough the driver will go slower in the hope more people hop in, so take a cab if you are in a hurry. In a combi you usually pay from 0.50 to 1.80 soles. On the side of every bus or van you will find written the names of the major avenidas it travels along. If these don’t make sense to you, simply ask the conductor about the quarter (neighborhood) you want. He will either wave you in or direct you to another bus. Be careful, as he may wave you in, even if the bus does not actually go where you want.

These buses and combis stop virtually anywhere along the line you want them to, though can sometimes miss your stop if you do not warn the driver or serviceman loudly enough. Say ‘baja’ and then the destination, when you’re within a block or two of that location.  Although inexpensive, this system is seemingly unorganized and is characterized by the lack of formality. Because combi rides can be confusing and a bit hectic, do not try this unless you have manageable Spanish.  Instead, opt for a taxi which costs proportionally more but is still a bargain if it saves you time and stress.