What to Expect in Lima
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on July 21, 2023 by James Bustamante
It has been considered one of the most fun cities to visit during the Peruvian summer, so what to expect in Lima when you actually arrive? Don’t just visit Peru for the Machu Picchu hike.
Take a few days out to get to know this historical Latin American city. Let’s get into some of the details now.
Lima Along The Coast
Lima, the capital of Peru is located in the coastal region of the country. It has vast sandy and dry beaches along the coast and flaunts very high-quality gourmet cuisine.
Lima is actually able to boast in having some of the best restaurants in the world.
Lima In The Winter & Summer
What can you expect in Lima during the winter months? Well, these extend from May to December on normal years. Lima does not have very marked seasons in comparison to something like the USA.
The winters in Lima are not particularly cold, temperatures can dip to the low 50’s (12 celsius) however what really gets you during the winter would be the humidity.
Lima can have up to and higher than 90% humidity in the air during most of the winter making it feel colder than it really is.
Clothes can feel rather damp most of the time and things can quite moldy.
You can also expect to not see much of the sun for a few months. Lima’s nickname is “Lima la gris” or “Grey Lima” for good reason.
What you can expect from Lima during the Summer is completely different.
Temperatures are usually in the low 80’s and the days are always sunny. You probably won’t experience a rainy or cloudy day for the entire summer season.
The summer months make Lima much more lively, you’ll see people from all over the world visiting during the summer in order to travel around the coast.
Accommodations In Lima
For the most part, the majority of groups won’t initially plan to spend too many days in Lima. We feel this is quite a common mistake.
So what to expect in Lima Peru as a traveler wanting to spend a few nights in the capital city?
Well, there are quite a few activities that make the stay in Lima a worthwhile experience.
For starters, the Miraflores area is a great place to begin your journey. You will most likely be staying in Miraflores anyway since is a popular district among many travelers.
You can basically walk to find anything you’ll need during your stay. T
here are stores, supermarkets, both affordable and extravagant restaurants, movie theaters, museums, theaters, bars, nightclubs, etc.
If you need something you’ll more than likely find it in this cosmopolitan Lima district.
it is the most accessible district to be picked up for a Lima city tour, full of theaters, bars/pubs, and of course, some of the best restaurants in Lima, like Central or Maido.
Accommodations are provided by our travel agency however if you want to do this on your own there is no shortage of available hostels and hotels.
These can range from very cheap rates to 5-star hotel pricing. The variety ensures that you can find suitable accommodations for your price preference.
Lima to The Rest of Peru
Do you want to go from Lima to Machu Picchu? Well, from the district of Miraflores you can connect to the rest of Peru rather easily. The location is no more than 45 minutes from the airport.
One of the more popular activities you can expect to have in Lima is going on a full day city tour.
The full-day Lima city tour will take you around the districts of Miraflores, San Isidro (see the Huaca Pucllana), Barranco (the bohemian district), and the main square at the city center.
This cosmopolitan city has a very interesting architecture as well. It boasts massive, old cathedrals as well as smaller more local churches.
You can visit a set of catacombs located under one of these very old cathedrals as well.
While you are in Lima you can also take a few days to visit the southern towns.
In just few hours you can arrive to Ica where you’ll find the famous Huacachina lagoon.
While in Ica you can also take advantage of the massive sand dunes this region is known for and go sandboarding or ride dune buggies.
The Ballestas Islands in the Paracas national reserve are also worth the visit. Go on a boat ride to these islands and visit the local sea lion community.
All of these activities can be done in a single day or you can spend the night and take your time.
This next location to the south of Lima is also on most traveers bucket lists at one point or another.
The world famous Nazca lines have always been a source of mystery and happen to be right here in Peru.
If you plan on visiting these geophyphs make sure you set aside at least 2-3 days in your Machu Picchu travel package to make sure you have enough time to go from Lima to Nazca and see everything there is inbetween.
We usually recommend Lima to clients towards the end of the trip and after your Machu Picchu visit has culminated.
The primary reason to do this is so that you can get all the hiking and trekking done at the beginning of your Peru trip.
After you’ve traveled to Machu Picchu, gone through the Sacred Valley and photographed the Rainbow Mountain, a more relaxing time back at sea level in Lima might be one of the most relaxing experiences ever.
So visit the capital city and get to taste some delicious local cuisine and maybe doing a little bit of shopping from some of the locals and their products.
A suggested itinerary would be Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu for 5 days and then to visit Lima for 2-3 days. So again, “what to expect in Lima ? ” well a whole bunch of fun activities, great places to visit, amazing food, and warm, friendly people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lima
Where do tourists normally stay in Lima?
Miraflores in Lima, Peru is where most tourists stay during their stop at the capital.
Are there good restaurants in Lima?
Lima has some of the best restaurants in the world. Among these are Central and Maido.
Are hotels cheap in Lima?
Hotel prices in Lima range from the very affordable to the more expensive. You can find accommodations from $10/night at a hostel in Miraflores to luxury hotels costing $400/night in the same district.
What activities are there near Lima?
Aside from the Lima city tour you can venture outside and go to Ica, The Paracas nature reserve, The Nazca lines, Chincha, Huacachina lagoon, and several more.
How many days should I spend in Lima?
As a rule of thumb try to spend at least 3 days in the capital. Lima has quite a few activities such as the Lima city tour, visits to the Larco Museum, and several more.
Are there currently mask mandates in Lima?
Yes. There are current mask mandates in Peru as a whole.
