Lima Overview

Fast Facts

Main Languages

Spanish and Quechua. Limean Spanish is much clearer in pronunciation than many of its counterparts and derives its uniqueness from subtle influences from immigrant communities of Italy, Andalusia, China, Japan and English. Immigrants from the Andean highlands have added their own flavor to Limean Spanish. Besides Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas, Aymara is also spoken and widely understood.

People

About 15% of Lima’s immigrants are white, 45 percent are natives and 37 percent are an Indo-European mix.  There are a small percentage of blacks and Asians as well. The last decade has witnessed a splurge of Andean immigrants pouring into the city for work but to no avail. This explains the rise of slums in the area.

Packing Tips/Clothing

Carry cash if you want to avoid standing in line outside your bank getting your traveler’s checks approved. Lima is warm and sunny so carry a sunscreen. It comes costlier at the beach. The city gets a bit chilly at sundown, so carrying a warm jacket will be wise. For trekking atop the ruins of Inca, a good pair of sneakers and a small backpack will come in handy. And just like always, travel light and try not to come of as too touristy.

When to Go

May through October is peak season for tourism in Lima. The months of July and August are perfect to visit the city. This is the time when the weather conditions are most favorable for a trek to the Inca ruins and visiting the Amazon basin. On the flipside, this is the time when finding accommodation and great hotel deals might be, a bit difficult.    

Climate & Geography

Lima is located in a desert with the Pacific Ocean in the west and an arid hilly terrain in the east. The city features a flat terrain with isolated hills scattered here and there such as the El Agustino and El Pino. The Rimac River flows a mere 15 kilometers away from the city centre and is a major source of drinking water and fuel for the hydroelectric dams.

It might be located in a desert but Lima features a moderate climate. Winter temperatures (June to December) fluctuate between 12°C to 20°C and the weather remains cloudy and a mild fog cover can be witnessed most mornings. Summers (December to April) are sunny and with average minimum and maximum temperatures being close to 19°C and 29°C respectively.

Lima receives very little rainfall and most of the summer showers come as leftovers from whatever the Andes manage to generate. Winter showers in Lima are more like drizzles that are a direct result of infrequent coastal upwelling and offshore Humboldt currents.        

Local Transport

Walk

The city can be divided into different areas or quarters where you can freely walk around, i.e. Centro in the North, which consists of the Plaza mayor, Plaza San martin, old churches, architectural landmarks and shopping areas; Pueblo Libre to the South West with its museums; Miraflores to the southwest, a popular tourist hangout, the place where the best of limas, restaurants, hotels and nightlife exists and Barranco – very bohemian and well-known for its nightlife.

Taxi

Taxis are a great way to move between quarters and will cost nothing more that a few Sols. A taxi ride from the airport to Miraflores will cost you somewhere around 35 Sols. Negotiate the fair well and don’t get inside the cab before you’ve arrive at a coomon fare. Shared cabs are a strict no-no!

Combi

Combis are small vans that can accommodate up to 20 persons at time. They come cheap but are really slow, as drivers often look for interested passengers along the way.

Colectivos

The routs for these aren’t publicized and you'll find them mentioned on their windshields. Colectivos provide express service on many major routes of Lima and cover distances greater than normal public transport.  

Currency & Exchange Services

Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN), 1 sole is equal to INR 16.6.

Exchanging money in Lima isn’t a problem as long as you have US Dollars and Euros. Other than these, you might run into problem inside the city. We suggest you exchange some cash back home before you embark for Lima as doing so on the Lima Airport might come at a ridiculously inflated cost. In case you have no other choice but to exchange money inside the city, we suggest you find a cambista. You might get duped her so take care. Look for a properly uniformed cambista and check and compare for rates before you make a decision. Lastly, get your bills stamped by them. This way you can be sure that the cambista isn’t going to give you counterfeit notes.

ATMs, of course are always the best bet!  

Voltage/Electricity

220 Volts…60 Hertz
 
Time Zone

GMT – 5 hours; IST + 00 hours 30 minutes

Phone Code

00-51-1-(phone no)