Lima Travel Forum

Thanks for suggesting I use an ATM card when I visit Peru and Bolivia. I went to my local bank to activate it for overseas usage today. My card does not have the Visa logo but Maestro and Cirrus. Will I be able to use them in Lima and La Paz?

Also , I would like to try the local food. What is popularly sold in the markets and stalls? Is the staple food potatoes or rice? What snacks are usually consumed? How much should I allocate for food a day?

Thanks.

Thanks for suggesting I use an ATM card when I visit Peru and Bolivia. I went to my local bank to activate it for overseas usage today. My card does not have the Visa logo but Maestro and Cirrus. Will I be able to use them in Lima and La Paz?

Also , I would like to try the local food. What is popularly sold in the markets and stalls? Is the staple food potatoes or rice? What snacks are usually consumed? How much should I allocate for food a day?

Thanks.

I shall be flying into Lima in mid February and would like to know whether I will have problems changing UK pound into the local currency. I notice that US$ and Euro are mentioned always but not GBPounds. What is the exchange like? Also will I able to change them in Bolivia as I shall also be visiting La Paz.

What will the weather be like in February/March? Will there be any rain? We will be visiting the Inca ruins, Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines and La Paz, Lake Titicaca and the Oruro Carnival in Bolivia.I know it is summer but will it be cold in these places.

As this will be my first time in S. America I hope to pick up a sovenir or two.
Are items made of apaca wool cheapwer in Peru or Bolivia?

Thanks, fellow vters.

Hi, my friend and I are looking for an apartment near La Universidad del Pacifico that we can rent and live in for five months (end of July - middle december). We will be studying at the University as international visiting students for one semester to improve our spanish.

If anybody knows a good way to search for an apartment, or knows of a place we can stay, your advice will be much appreciated!

Thank you,
Emma

We are going to Peru in May, with 1 day available for sight-seeing in Lima. We are not going with any tour company in Peru. However, we would like to get a 1 day tour for Lima - group tour or private tour, anything is fine. Can somebody suggest a good tour company for that.

We are staying in a hotel in Miraflores and don't understand any Spanish. Let me know if you think that we should instead get in touch with the hotel for a tour.

Also, how much would be a reasonable price for such a tour?

I will be travelling to Cusco on 01-22-09. I was wondering whether I should book a hotel in Cusco or Machu Picchu. I will be departing Cusco on 01-27-09 at 8:00am and I am wondering how easy it will be if I was to take a train from Machu Picchu back to Cusco in order to make my flight. Thank you.

Would like to take 2 adult daughters to Peru, especially Machu Picchu as the destination. Is it possible for non-Spanish speaking women to make arrangements with an agency in Peru to put together a trip which includes Machu Picchu, extra days un Cusco, a couple of days in Lima, Lake Titicaca and possibly the Nazca lines? Are the distances too great and would they require in country fligts? Any agency recommendations? We would book our own flight to Lima. This Mom will be covering most of the expense so I'm looking for budget, but safe rooms and tours.

When visiting Peru, I'm possibly going to be in Lima for 6 days at the most. How sane is it to rent a car as compared to taxi/public transportation and my own 2 feet for this time period? Just curiouse.

Hi Everyone,

My plane lands in Lima at 5:25am and I've read that it takes about 1.5 hours to clear customs, baggage, etc... Does anyone know approximately how long it takes to check in and clear security for outgoing flights? More specifically, I would like to book a flight to Cusco as early as possible on the same day but I would also like to leave myself with a comfortable amount of time in between flights in case of any unexpected complications.

The realistic flight times to Cusco are: 09:25, 11:25, 12:10, 12:20, and 13:15.

Can anyone advise on a safe flight time?

Thanks!

Hey everyone!Need a clean,safe and cheap hostel in trujillo near the plaza. Any suggestions?? I'd really appreciate it.Need it ASAP!!

Hola a todos! Necesito un hostal limpio,seguro y barato en Trujillo cerca a la plaza. Algunas sugerencias?? Se los agradecería. ASAP porfa!!

Isa

Hi,

My flight from the U.S. arrives in Lima very, very early ... like 4:30a! I'm planning on taking an overnight bus later that day from Lima to Arequipa. Should I go ahead and rent a hotel room, hoping they'll let me check in around 6:00a, get some rest, see a bit of Lima, and then hop on my bus south?

Also, it seems that many of the overnight buses between cities (Lima-Arequipa, Arequipa-Puno, Puno-Cusco) arrive extremely early in the morning. I'm curious to know what other travelers have done in this situation. Arrange super early arrival with hotels? Drop off bags at hotels and wander the empty morning streets?

Thanks!

I am considering booking a tour online with a travel agency in Lima called Rundomundo, with offices in Miraflores. Can anybody comment on its reliability? Thanks so much.

hello,
I have posted this question already sometime ago, nevertheless I feel to try again hoping this time in a better luck.
I am searching an economic car rental in lima, to drive up to the north of peru for a week, visiting the incas sightseens there.
I know I should be looking for that on the spot, however my idea is to find a relatively old car, rented by the week with unlimited milage, for a budget price.
If anyone of the local VT members and experienced travelers have any hints, I'll appreciate if you let me know.
Thanks for your collaboration

Hi,
Does anyone know someone who is willing to be private tour guide/translator for a few days in Lima/Peru February?
I tried finding the contacts on nhoolb's page but had no luck.
Also, how much would I expect to pay? I saw someone advertising on ebay for US$50/day but was hoping for a bit cheaper.

Hi Everyone,

In January I will be traveling to La Paz via Lima. This is my first time visiting South America and I was wondering if any (Peru/Bolivia) veterans can answer these questions:

- Currently return flights from Lima-Cusco are around $450US (with LAN, about $650 with TACA) - is this a reasonable fair? Would it be better to book in advance or possible find a last-minute/standby at Lima's airport?

- Does anyone have any good/bad experiences with Loki hostels (Lima, Cusco or La Paz)?

- Is it safe to walk around Lima/Cusco alone in the early morning? Afternoon? I have read some horror stories about creative muggings and thieves cutting pockets and bag-straps - is this common?

- Can anyone recommend a good hostel or cheap hotel near MP (I forgot the name of the town nearby..)?

Thanks!

Hey there! I was wondering if I could get some opinons on the safetly levels of the Barranco district in Lima. I have heard mixed reviews and while I would expect it's nt as bright and shiny (and western!) as Miraflores, it seems like a really neat place.

On another note... am looking to rent a house in Lima (in one of the districts mentioned) so if you have any advice I would be glad to hear it!

Hi I'm a guy from Denmark, who is arriving to Lima December the 31.

My question is: where and with whom am I going to celebrate new years eve?

Any ideas?

Kind regards

Alluruz

hi...i need to get from Lima (or south of peu or Bolivia)to Buenos Aires around Jan 23 (as i have a flight back to NY leaving BA jan 25th)... after searching on the internet, the cheapest flights i can find for this one way trip are around $370 US dollars...
can i find a flight for cheaper?!?! has anyone purchsed similar ticket recently??
please let me know any tips ...thanks!!!

julia

I understand there will be many cell phone vendors. We want to rent a cell phone for 14 days (can't use ours). Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with the companies? Anything I should be aware of? We will be traveling to Cusco, Juliaca, and Arequipa. Also, what would be considered a reasonable rate?

anyone can give me some useful information about renting a car in lima to travel north for visiting the sightseens of that region, like: Trujillo, Chiclayo etc.
If you have done it, may you tell me if driving by car on that road is an easy ride or I should expect problems at every mile?
Can you suggest some reliable and economic rent company in lima to make a forfait deal?
How many days do you think it will take me to make such a trip?
Please tell me everything you know, I just had this travelling inspiration and I like to know if it is feasable.
Thanks for your precious collaboration.

Hi there,

On my December/January tour of Peru and Bolivia, I have a full day in Lima between flights (December 27: arriving from Cuzco at 9 am and leaving for La Paz at 9 pm). Its my only chance to see Lima and I would much rather do stuff for my 10 free or so hours. Can you recommend options for me to see the city? At this point, I am looking either for a good city tour that offers me an opportunity to see the sites, try some good Limeno food or the paragliding tour. Can anyone recommend tour operators? Thanks!

Hello.
Looking for cheap one way tickets from Lima to Bogota in early 2009.
Seems really hard to find anything cheaper than LAN Peru. They charge about
440usd incl taxes on their cheapest alternative. Avianca and some other big companies charges moe than 500usd.
I realize that this is not wery expensive but I am just wondering if there are any low price companies on this route or to any city not far from Bogota.

Hi everyone,

I need to book bus tickets from Cruz del Sur, but on their website, I always encounter the following problem: I find the right bus, log in, select my seat, fill in passenger's information etc. then I click on buy now and type in credit card informations. When I go to process my booking, after about 30 seconds there's always a message saying "denied operation". I don't know what to do. I wrote to Cruz del Sur, but they couldn't help me... I really need to book the tickets. Does anyone know what I could do? The credit card is good - and I type in all the necessary information - but it seems to be a problem there...

Do you know an agency that would book tickets for the Cruz del Sur bus? Could they also select a specific seat (as you can on the Cruz del sur website)?

Thank you very much in advance.

Best regards,
Kiki

hello, a quick question for whoever have related feedbacks:
I am interested in booking a room at the "peruhome hotel", a real bargain which goes with the colour of my travelling trousers, the location in which it is found (miraflores) and the style of the place(colonial), looks fine but if you have any comments, please let me know.
Thanks for your collaboration

We will be flying to Lima in November. We are to meet someone at the traffic circle Ovalo De Higuereta. Should we take a "combi" bus or a taxi. We will be travling with backpacks. The small combi bus sound like fun but we are not sure if they stop at the airport and which one do we take? Should we have coins ready or will they take a small bill?
Has anyone been through that traffic circle and are there coffee shops in the circle or near there?

Can you rent a cell phone in Lima by the week? Or can I buy for a cell phone like a pre-paid cell phone where I buy a phone and it comes with prepaid time?

Will be in Lima for a whole day and a half. Can anyone reply the 3-5 must see places or things to do in the city. Thanks.

Staying at the Swissotel taking a side trip to Cuzco. Hotel wants to charge $50 for transportation to Airport and return to the Swissotel. My question would it be cheaper to take a taxi and approximately what would be the cost? Or would it be easier and less headache to get the hotel to provide the transfer?

Hi I fly to Lima from San Jose CR on 2nd Nov.

going to stay in Lima for 4 days them head to Machu Picchu , however i want to go to nazca, arequipa then on to Puno, Titicaca and bolivia..

Is it easy to get a bus to all of these? also any suggestions would help! i have just booked a hostel in Lima...

Dan

Hello,
We are going to Peru this holiday season to visit the family of my wife, and to show them our kid, who was born in december last year. Well, to the question:
Do anyone know if you can use a European (Swedish) cell-phone in peru? I had an idea about bringing my phone and get a refill-card while I'm there. Greatful for replies.