What currency is used in Lima?

Lima uses the Peruvian sol (PEN).

What is the emergency number in Lima?

In Lima, call 105 (police), 116 (fire), 106 (ambulance).

How much does a day in Lima cost?

Roughly $30-50 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $80-140 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Lima?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Lima without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Lima travel guide

Peru

A Pacific capital on desert clifftops, and one of the great food cities of South America. Many travellers pass through on the way to Cusco, but it repays a few days of its own.

Essentials

Language: Spanish; Quechua is co-official and widely spoken in the Andes, and English is common in Miraflores hotels and restaurants
Currency: Peruvian sol (PEN)
Plugs: Types A and C, 220 V
Emergency number: 105 (police), 116 (fire), 106 (ambulance)
Tipping: Around 10 percent in sit-down restaurants is customary; taxi drivers are not usually tipped.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $30-50, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $80-140, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Lima

Miraflores: clifftop parks along the Malecón, with ocean views and plenty of restaurants.
Barranco: the bohemian district of old mansions, galleries and bars.
Centro Histórico: the Plaza Mayor, colonial balconies and the San Francisco monastery catacombs.

Getting around Lima

The Metropolitano rapid bus links Barranco and Miraflores with the centre, and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way around otherwise. Traffic is heavy, so allow extra time.

Best time to visit Lima

December to April, the sunny summer; from June to October the sky is often grey.

Top things to do in Lima

Visit Huaca Pucllana, an adobe pyramid that rises between apartment blocks in Miraflores
See the pre-Columbian ceramics and goldwork at the Museo Larco in Pueblo Libre
Walk Barranco's Puente de los Suspiros and the steps down to the sea at sunset
Watch the illuminated fountains of the Circuito Mágico del Agua in the evening
Try surfing or paragliding along the Costa Verde below the Miraflores cliffs

What to eat in Lima

Ceviche: raw fish cured in lime juice with chilli and red onion, served with sweet potato and corn
Lomo saltado: stir-fried beef with onion and tomato, served with chips and rice
Anticuchos: grilled skewers of marinated beef heart, a favourite evening street food
Pisco sour: a cocktail of grape brandy, lime, sugar and egg white

Day trips from Lima

Pachacámac: a vast pre-Inca temple complex in the desert, about an hour south
Islas Palomino: a boat trip from Callao to swim with sea lions, around half a day
Paracas and the Ballestas Islands: seabirds and desert coast, three to four hours south by coach, so better with a night

Local etiquette

Lunch is the main meal, and many cevicherías close by late afternoon. A handshake, or a single cheek kiss among friends, is the usual greeting.

Staying connected

Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel SIM cards are sold in malls and phone shops (bring your passport), eSIMs work, and Wi-Fi is common in cafés and hostels.

Staying safe

Phone snatching happens on busy streets and from car windows, so keep your phone out of sight near the kerb. Use ride-hailing apps rather than unmarked street taxis, and know that Lima sits in an earthquake zone.

A local tip

Eat ceviche at lunchtime, as Limeños do, at a busy cevichería rather than at dinner.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Lima on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Lima for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Lima, you could be one of the first hosts.

Join free

Questions about Lima

What currency is used in Lima?: Lima uses the Peruvian sol (PEN).
What is the emergency number in Lima?: In Lima, call 105 (police), 116 (fire), 106 (ambulance).
When is the best time to visit Lima?: December to April, the sunny summer; from June to October the sky is often grey.
How much does a day in Lima cost?: Roughly $30-50 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $80-140 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Lima?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Lima without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

More guides in Latin America

All Latin America guides · Every city guide