How to get in Lima - Go Lima? |
| By plane Jorge Chavez International Airport. Lima is well connected with most cities in South America. There are regular flights to Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Newark, Atlanta and Houston in the US. There are daily flights from Amsterdam, Madrid, Miami, Bogotá, Medellín, Quito, Santiago de Chile and Toronto as well. These airlines fly to or from Lima as of March 2009: Aerolíneas Argentinas (Bogotá, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza) Aeroméxico (Mexico City) Air Canada (Toronto-Pearson) Air Comet (Madrid) American Airlines (Miami) Avianca (Bogotá) Continental Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental, Newark) Copa Airlines (Panama City) Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) Iberia (Madrid) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) LAN Airlines [3](Los Angeles, New York-JFK, Santiago) LAN Perú (Arequipa, Bogotá, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Cajamarca, Cali (Begins August 2009), Caracas, Cartagena de Indias, Chiclayo, Cordoba, Cusco, Guayaquil, Iquitos, Iquique, Juliaca, La Paz, Los Angeles, Madrid, Medellín, Mexico City, Miami, Piura, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Punta Cana (Begins September 2009) Quito, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santiago, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Tacna, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes) LC Busre (Andahuaylas, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Chimbote, Huancayo, Huánuco, Huaraz) Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale) Star Perú (Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Tarapoto) TACA [4] Lacsa (Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, San José (CR)) TACA Peru (Asunción, Bogotá, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Caracas, Cusco, Havana, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, La Paz, Medellín, Montevideo, Quito, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, San José (CR), San Salvador, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santiago, São Paulo-Guarulhos) TAM Airlines (São Paulo-Guarulhos) Lima is the hub for most domestic flights and is served by: LAN Peru, LC Busre, TACA Peru, and Star Peru. Arrival at the airport can be chaotic. Most flights from overseas arrive in clumps either early in the morning or very late at night, which means that getting through immigration and customs can be tremendously time consuming; the difference between arrival at the gate and exiting customs can range from 20 to 90 minutes. The area immediately outside of customs is typically crowded, full of people waiting for arriving passengers (it's not uncommon for entire families to show up to greet a returning family member), including pre-booked car and taxi services holding up signs with passengers' names; in recent years, a large area where passengers can stand freely and scan the crowd to look for people and not be accosted has been cordoned off in front of customs exit. The airport is a 20-40 minute drive from San Isidro or Miraflores. The Best Western hotel in the Miraflores section, as well as several others, offers free airport pickup; check with your hotel regarding this service. If arranged ahead of time, a driver from the hotel will stand in the large crowd of people holding a sign with your name. They may need to have you wait just outside the airport for 5 to 10 minutes as they get their car; this is normal. Don't worry about standing outside the airport alone for this; it's well-lit at night and security guards are prevalent. Be wary of the taxi drivers at the airport: if you need transportation at the airport you should avoid using the "informal" taxis outside of it that will accost you, and either hire it inside the customs reception area (at somewhat inflated fees, as these companies, currently Green Taxi, CMV, and Mitsui, pay a premium to locate their desk there), or book taxi service ahead of time with a reputable company (they will be waiting for you outside customs), which will be a fair bit cheaper (a ride to Miraflores should run you $25-30 USD)(July 2009). Its best to use a Certified Ground Transportation supplier so you can always be on the safe side. There is also an Express bus to Centro and Miraflores leaving from the Arrival hall; ask at the airport information desk. Car rental is available at the airport via Hertz, Budget, and National, but unless you have experienced driving in extremely challenging third-world environments you should avoid driving yourself in Lima. If you're set on driving yourself, take cabs for a day or so and see what navigating Lima traffic is like before making that decision. [edit] By bus Unlike many other cities in Peru, Lima doesn't have a big bus terminal (though one is currently under construction, as of May 2009). Most companies are in La Victoria, not Lima's nicest neighbourhood. However, most are just on the outskirts, where it's a bit safer. More expensive express buses tend to run from terminals by the inner ringroad (Av. Javier Prado and Paseo de la Republica). Regular buses run up and down the Panamerican Highway and inland: South: Pisco, Ica, Nazca, Arequipa & Tacna North: Huaraz, Chimbote, Trujillo, Chiclayo & Piura East: Iquitos, Madre de Dios, Puno [edit] Companies and Terminals Some bus companies and the locations of their terminals are: Cruz del Sur The most popular company with tourists Northern Terminal [5] (terminal closest to the Main Square): Jr Quilca 531, Lima. Serves: Arequipa Ica Cusco Puno Chiclayo Trujillo Pisco Southern Terminal (terminal closest to Miraflores - i.e. closest to most backpackers but you will still need to take a taxi: Av Javier Prado Este 1109, San Isidro. Serves: Arequipa Tacna Cusco La Paz Ormeño Javier Prado Este 1059 (San Isidro). Local destinations but also international destinations, for example: Santiago de Chile Buenos Aires La Paz Quito Bogota Caracas Ormeño is in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest land route (Caracas to Buenos Aires via Lima) Expreso Cial Av. Republica de Panama Movil Tours Av. Paseo de la Republica 749. Serves northern Peru destinations only CIVA Corner of Av. 28 de Julio and Paseo de la República 575, La Victoria Tepsa Javier Prado Este 1091, La Victoria Oltursa Av. Aramburú 1160, San Isidro Flores Paseo de La República 627, La Victoria |
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