Getting to Lima
Lima is the primary international gateway to Peru and other Andean countries and is thus convenient and easy to reach from almost all international destinations. It can be reached by air, sea and road; however, flying into the citys Jorge Chavez International Airport is one of the easiest ways to arrive.
By car
The Pan American Highway is Perus main international highway, which runs along the coastline, connecting the north to the south.
It is possible to drive from Ecuador to Lima using the Pan American Highway, which connects with Nazca, Arequipa and Tumbes. From here, travellers can continue on to Lima. From La Paz in Bolivia, travellers can also drive into Peru and connect with the Pan American Highway at Puno before making their way towards Lima. Travellers from Chile can also connect to the Pan American Highway at Tacna and then continue to Lima.
The Pan American Highway is in good condition and routes are clearly signposted in Spanish, but English speaking drivers should have no problems finding their way. Distances are long and driving can become a little tedious after a while.
Local roads are mostly in good condition, but there are places which have pot holes large enough to damage the suspension of your car. It is best to travel with a group if you plan to drive, as there is safety in numbers.
By bus
Long distance buses connect Lima to all major Peruvian cities. The coach services are fairly regular and although journeys can be long, it is a cheap way of getting from one end of Peru to the other. It takes about 6 hours to get from Lima to Nazca; 14 hours to Arequipa; 24 hours to Cusco; and 24 hours to Puno.
There are international bus services, on a regular weekly basis, to Bogota in Colombia; Quito in Ecuador; and Santiago in Chile. The journeys can be quite long and tiring, taking approximately 80 hours to get to Bogota; 30 hours to Quito; and 54 hours to Santiago. Foreign travellers must carry their passports with them even if they are travelling within Peru.
By boat
Many international cruise liners dock at Callao, Limas port town, which is only 15kms from downtown Lima. Princess Cruise Liners and the Seven Sea Liners are frequent visitors to the docks at Callao. Radisson Seven Sea Cruises arranges for cruises from Los Angeles and Sydney into Callao.
It is also possible to get on to a riverboat or a freight ship to get here from Columbia or Brazil to Iquitos. While this may sound very adventurous, it can also be very dangerous. Once you arrive at Iquitos, you can take a bus to Lima.
By air
The Jorge Chavez International Airport is about 20 minutes from downtown Lima and handles both international and domestic flights. International flights from major cities in Europe; the United States; Canada; South, North and Central America; Asia; and the United Kingdom all have flights to Lima.
Major airlines operating regular, direct or connecting, flights to Peru include American Airlines, Air Canada, Alitalia, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, KLM, United Airlines and many others. Flying time from Lima to New York is about 9 hours; 5 hours to Miami; 6 hours to Los Angeles; 12 hours Madrid; 14 hours to Frankfurt; 15 hours to London; and 20 hours to Tokyo.
The airport facilities are among the best in South America and the airport has been rated as one of the most modern in the region. Facilities at the airport include the first-rate Peru Plaza shopping centre, banks, ATMs, car rental outlets, a post office, public telephones, restaurants, left luggage and a tourist information desk.
Taxis
Public yellow cabs do not have meters, and prices should be negotiated beforehand. Lima has several companies that run private cabs and these are usually more reliable. Tourists should use the taxis that can be found in front of hotels, as these are generally private cabs. Prices and conditions of taxis vary tremendously, with private cabs being the most expensive. Yellow public cabs and private cabs can be stopped anywhere in Lima.