Without direct flights connecting Brazil to Cusco, many of the travelers who embark towards the ruins of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu end up doing that pit stop in the country’s capital. When the interval between flights is short, the best way is to sit on the airport chairs and wait. But if you have eight hours of connecting time in Lima, you can take the opportunity to stretch your legs and take a stroll around the city. But then the question arises: where to go without running the risk of missing your time and flight?
Mandatory immigration in Lima
If you arrive in Lima from Brazil or any other nation, you will need to go through mandatory immigration in Peru, even if you are only going to stay in the country for a few hours. Therefore, it is a good idea to ask your airline staff if you can leave the boarding area and if you need to go through any procedures first (remove your suitcase, print your ticket for the next flight, etc.). Remember that any of these steps will take up a little bit of your connection time.
Immigration in Peru is not complicated and Brazilians have easy entry, only being able to present their identity card. Still, there may be queues when you arrive. Therefore, be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. If your final destination is Peru, you will probably have to collect your luggage and go through customs (again: check with an airline employee). If you go to another country, the bags are sent to your final destination.
Is it worth leaving Lima airport with less than 8 hours of connecting time?
It’s up to you. To know if you will have time, you need to consider the journey to and from the airport, which takes around 50 minutes each way to the city center. If there is traffic, which is very common in the Peruvian capital, it may take a little longer. Add to this the time for check-in, immigration and boarding on the way back to the airport, which is recommended to be at least two hours, and you can know more or less how much time you will have to enjoy it. I believe that to leave with peace of mind you need about four hours in addition to all the time spent traveling and airport procedures.
Leaving Lima airport
For those who want to take advantage of a connection in Lima, the best way to leave the airport is by taxi or Uber. The Jorge Chaves International Airport is not exactly in Lima, but in a neighboring city called Callao, and there is no direct public transport that connects the terminal to the city center. The good part is that travel is not expensive. An Uber to the center should cost around 30 new soles (R$35). If ordering transport through the app is not an option, you can hire the services of Green Táxi, a pre-paid taxi with a counter at the airport. The ride to the center costs 50 new soles.
If you have a lot of luggage, it’s worth renting a luggage storage before you go. It’s to the right of the arrivals hall and costs 32 soles for the whole day.
Hotels near Jorge Chávez International Airport
Depending on the time of your connection, you may prefer to go to a hotel to rest and wait for the next flight. In this case, the Holliday Inn – Lima Airport is very close to the airport and is recommended for its practicality, especially if you don’t even plan to get close to the center. Another with a similar advantage is the four-star Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport. For those with a more economical profile, another hotel close to the airport, but with much more affordable prices, is Casa del Viajero. And also the Sunset Hostel Airport.
Find out more: Where to stay in Lima – the best neighborhoods
Which currency to use?
You will need Novos Soles as soon as you enter Peru. It is possible to exchange directly at Lima airport, and the best way is to take US dollars and exchange it right there. You can exchange reais for soles easily, but as the demand for our money there is not very good, the conversion is bad, which makes exchanging for dollars more advantageous in this case, even putting into the account what we lost with the double conversion.
The exchange rate at the airport is usually not good, and the exchange offices there charge a fee. Therefore, if you are going to Cusco, only change what is necessary for your connection at the first moment. Soon you will be able to exchange more money in the center of Lima or Cusco. Another option, if you want to save time, is to exchange a small amount while still in Brazil.
What to do on a connection in Lima
Stroll through the Historic Center
Did you know that Lima was an important capital of Spanish America? This explains the number of grandiose buildings dating back to the colonial period in the historic center. The main point of this tour is the Plaza Mayor, where the Lima cathedral and the Government’s palacebut nearby is also the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco. You can take a guided tour of the building, which preserves almost intact a catacomb with more than 70 thousand human bones, in addition to the BCRP Museumwhich houses historical objects and Peruvian art.
In the center there are also numerous craft shops, perfect for taking last-minute souvenirs home. That’s where the picturesque Lima Central Marketwhich undoubtedly deserves a visit.
Read our full post about what to do in Lima
Take a walk along the seafront in the Miraflores neighborhood
Miraflores is the coolest neighborhood in Lima, with modern buildings and trendy restaurants. From the central square and the promenade that extends from it there is an incredible view of the Pacific below, which turns the walk into a very pleasant walk. To eat, stop by Calle de las Pizzas. It is also in Miraflores that one of the city’s main postcards is located, the Parque do Amor, which received its name because of the El Beso sculpture, right in the center of the square.
A tip on where to eat in Miraflores is the La Mar Cebichería restaurant.
Another good idea is to walk to the Huaca Pucllana archaeological site, the most important ceremonial center in pre-Hispanic Lima, but only if you have a lot of free time, as you can spend a few hours there. The site has a museum that displays the pieces found in the excavations.
Discover the Larco Museum
Located in the vibrant Pueblo Libre neighborhood, the Larco Museum is Lima’s most visited attraction. There are more than 45 thousand objects that tell the history of Peru, from pre-Inca civilizations to the republic. Entrance costs 30 soles. The museum is open every day, from 9am to 10pm.
After the visit, it’s worth eating or drinking something in one of the neighborhoods and restaurants nearby. This is one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Lima and still preserves historic houses and typical restaurants. If you pass by, be sure to have a pisco sour at Antigua Taberna de Queiroloa very traditional bar in operation since 1880.
