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Peru: Arrival, travel agencies and maps in Lima

The taxi or the bus from the airport - tourist information offices and tours - books and maps - bus companies in Lima - airlines in Lima

by Michael Palomino (April 2007)

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from: Dilwyn Jenkins: The rough guide to Peru; Rough Guides, New York London, Delhi; 6th edition September 2006; www.roughguides.com

Click for Lima, Peru Forecast

Arrival, information and city transport

You will either arrive in Lima by plane, landing at the Jorge Chavez airport, 7km northwest of the city center, by bus, most of which arrive in the older, more central areas of town, or perhaps by train from the Andes right into the city center, if and when the service ever reopens. Driving into the city is really only for the adventurous, as the roads are highly congested with sometimes frustrating traffic levels plus the general madness of fellow drivers, which will either turn you insane or into an equally skillful but unpredictable road hog. Wherever you arrive, it can be a disorienting experience, as there are few landmarks to register the direction of the center of town.

[Telephone dialing code for Lima is 01, international 0051-1].

Arrival by air

After landing at the modern, bustling Jorge Chavez airport (flight inquiries T. 5950666, main number for international and T. 5745529 for domestic), the quickest way into the city is by taxi, which will take around 45 minutes to Lima Centro or downtown Miraflores. [When you leave the airport there are some taxi driver waiting for customers urging you into their taxi, but you can chose]. The simplest way is to book an official taxi [with registration number on the car e.g. the little yellow taxis] (to most parts of Lima for $15) from the taxi kiosk inside the terminal. If you don't use this service, remember it is very important to fix the price in Peruvian soles with the driver before getting in. It can be in US$, if you need, but what you want to avoid is thinking you're paying soles only to find (p.86) out the driver wants the same number of notes, but in US$. An unofficial taxi to Lima Centro or Miraflores [without registration number] can usually be found for between $5 and $8 if you're prepared to haggle and shop around during daylight hours. Some taxis wait two road lanes away from the terminal building, within the gates; they are usually official radio taxis and negotiate their price ($5-10 should be enough to get you to most parts of central Lima or Miraflores). Take extra care looking for a taxi around the airport perimeter and on the road into Lima, as there have been thefts in these areas. A cheaper and generally efficient alternative is to take the airport express bus that usually leaves from outside domestic arrivals doors, some heading for Miraflores, others for Lima Centro via Tacna; tickets are $5 per person.

If you need to change money at the airport, there are counters (24hr; reasonably competitive rates) located close to the entry to the flight departure lounges, but you'll get better rates in the center of Lima or Miraflores. [So change only little on the airport and you will change afterwards in town more] (S.87).


Tourist information offices and tours

Tourist information offices in Lima are plentiful but rather dispersed.

-- The main public municipalidad office of Información Turística [Tourist Information], C Los Escribanos 145, Plaza Mayor (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm; T. 3151300 ext 1542) in Lima Centro, provides good information and occasionally maps. The Municipal Tourist Division, at the Palacio Municipal (T. 3151505, 3151541 or 3151542), specialized in information on the center of Lima and has five useful suggested routes to explore the city.

In Miraflores, there are

-- tourist information point, based in the central Parque 7 de Junio (daily 9am-2pm & 2.30-7pm), rather small

-- Central de Información y Promoción Turística, Avenida Larco 770 (p.87) (Mon-Fri 9am-1pm & 2-5pm; T. 4463959 ext 114, www.miraflores.gob.pe and www.regionlima.gob.pe),
usually has leaflets, information and some maps of Lima and around

-- South American Explorers' Club (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Wed until 8pm; e-mail limaclub@saexplorers.org, see p.124) has good information, including maps, listings and travel reports, available to its members.

More tourist offices:

-- office of Información y Asistencia al Turista from i-peru, Jirón Jorge Basadre 610 in San Isidro (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm until 8pm on Wed; T. 4211227 or 4211627, e-mail iperulima@promperu.gob.pe),
also has a range of information sheets on regions and cities of Peru, but their main function is providing assistance for tourists if they have serious complaints or wish to take legal actions against Peruvian tourism operators who have failed to fulfill their contracts; they also have an office in the main hall at the airport (T. 5748000) (p.88).

Some of the commercial tour companies (see p.120) are also geared up for offering good tourist information, notably Fertur Peru and Lima Vision, who both provide city tours. The Peru Guide, published in Peru monthly by Lima Editora S.A., Avenida Benavides 1180 (T. 6104242, e-mail info@comunica2sac.com), gives up-to-date information on most things in Lima, from scheduled tours and treks to hotels, shopping, events and practical advice; it's readily available in hotels, tour and travel agents and information offices (p.121).


General informations about traveling in Peru

-- Fertur Peru, Jirón Junin 211, Lima Centro, Lima, t. 4260188, Fax 4271958, e-mail fertur1@ferturperu.com, www.ferturperu.tripod.com, or in Miraflores at [Jirón] Schell 485, T. 4451974, e-mail fertur2@ferturperu.com

-- Infoperu, Jirón de La Unión 1066, office 2, T. 4310117, e-mail info@infoperu.com.pe, www.infoperu.com
run by two very helpful and knowledgeable ladies.

-- Lima Tours, [Avenida] Pardo y Aliaga 698,  San Isidro, Lima, T. 2222525, 4247560 or 4245110, Fax 3304488, www.limatours.com.pe

-- Turpuno Viajes, [Jirón] Belén 1040, near Plaza San Martín, T. 6196915, e-mail info@turpuno.com, www.turpuno.com

-- Lima Vision, [Jirón] Jr. Chiclayo 444, Miraflores, Lima, T. 4475323 or 4470482, Fax 4469969, e-mail limavision@limavision.com, www.limavision.com
who do a variety of city tours, Pachacamac, Nasca and Cusco

-- Marili Tours, [Jirón] Diez Canseco 392, Miraflores, Lima, T. 4440889, 2410142 or 2410384, e-mail marili@amauta.rcp.net.pe
who have guides and go to most of Peru, including Cusco, Madre de Dios, Puno and the northern desert region

-- Overland Expeditions, Jirón Emilio Fernandez 640, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4247762
who specialize in the Lachay Reserve [in Huaura province of Lima department]

-- Paracas Tours, Avenida Rivera Navarette 723, San Isidro, Lima, T. 2222621, e-mail paracas@paracastours.com.pe
small office but very professional air ticketing service

-- Peruvian Life, [Jirón] C Diez Canseco 337, [Lima Central?] T. 4448825, Fax 4463246, e-mail peruvian@peru.itete.com.pe

-- Peruvian Safaris, Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, [Lima Centro, Lima], 1334, T. 4316330

-- Rainforest Expeditions, [Jirón] Aramburu 166-4b, Miraflores, Lima, T. 2214182 or 9638759, Fax 4218183, www.perunature.com

-- TEBAC, Jirón Huascar 1152, Jesus Maria, T. 4232515
who specialize in trips to Marcahuasi (p.120)


Information about trekking in Peru

For trekking advice and trail maps, visit the

-- Trekking and Backpacking Club, Jirón Huascar 1152, Jesus Maria, Lima, T. 4232515, e-mail tebec@yahoo.com, www.angelfire.com/mi2/tebec,

or the

-- South American Explorers' Club (see p.45-46).

Of the trekking companies, most run trips to the Cordillera Blanca, around the Cusco area and along the Inca Trail; some of the best are listed below:


Trekking and biking companies

-- Expediciones Mayuc, [Jirón] Conquistadores 199, San Isidro, Lima, T. 4225988
One of Peru's best and longest established operators.

-- Explorandes, [Jirón] San Fernando 320, Miraflores, Lima, T. 4450532 or 4458683, Fax 4454686
Itineraries to most areas of Peru, this company tailors trips to individual interests as well as pre-packaged expeditions. Another of Peru's best and longest established operators. e-mail postmast@explorandes.com.pe, www.explorandes.com

-- Incatrek, T. 2427843, e-mail incatrek@hotmail.com
This outfit sometimes runs tours to Tarma, Oxapampa, Pozuzo and Satipo.

-- Panaca Tours, Avenida Las Flores 695, Urb Santa Maria, Chosica, Lima 15, T. 3644057
Organizes mountain biking and has specialist guides. Offers a one-day option for Rimac Valley taking in Chosica, Ricardo Palma and Santa Eulalia ($40 a person).

-- Peru Expeditions, Avenida Arequipa 5241 Office 504, Miraflores, Lima, T. 4472057, Fax 4459683, e-mail asap@peru-expeditions.com, www.peru-expeditions.com
A professional, helpful company specializing in environmentally sound adventure travel in the Cusco region, they offer trekking, mountain biking and 4WD tours, and their leaders are experts in all kinds of adventure activities. Also worth checking are their associated web sites:

www.perumountainbike.com
www.peru4WD.net
www.incatreks.com
www.andesperu.com (p.121)


Information about rafting in Peru

For whitewater rafting around Cusco and Huaraz, contact Explorandes

-- Explorandes, [Jirón] San Fernando 320, Miraflores, Lima, T. 4450532 or 4458683, Fax 4454686
Itineraries to most areas of Peru, this company tailors trips to individual interests as well as pre-packaged expeditions. Another of Peru's best and longest established operators. e-mail postmast@explorandes.com.pe, www.explorandes.com


Information about cruising on the sea

Cruise boats to the Islas Palomino to see the marine mammals, quite a nice trip if the weather is clear, can be joined through

-- Ecocruceros, Avenida Arequipa 4960, of 202, Miraflores, Lima, T. 2426655, e-mail
ecocruceros@infonegocio.com.pe


Information about mountain climbing

For advice on mountain-climbing, try the

-- Club Andino, Avenida Paseo de la República 932, T. 2637319

the

-- Asociación de Andinismo de la Universidad de Lima,
based at the university on [Avenida] Javier Prado Este, T. 4376767, meet Wed evenings),

or at the

-- Ursus mountain equipment store, [Jirón] Los Pinos 508, Miraflores, Lima, T. 2545941


Information about rain forest expeditions

Rainforest Expeditions, which offer jungle expeditions, have an office at

-- Rainforest Expeditions, [Jirón] Aramburu 166-4b, Miraflores, Lima, T. 2214182 or 9638759, Fax 4218183, www.perunature.com (p.121)


Books and maps in Lima

English Books and maps

[Books are not so spread in South America as in Europe. Many people only see their school books and then never a book again. So one has to know precisely where to buy a book, because not every district center has got a book shop. Lima has got a "book street", this is Jirón Quilca in Lima Center. In the neighborhood is Avenida Nicolas de Pierola also with many book shops which is also in the Lima Center].

A few shops on Avenida Nicolas de Pierola stock English-language books (try the store at no. 689), and

-- The Book Exchange, just around the corner at [Jirón] Ocoña 211, sells or swaps second-hand paperbacks.

-- Epoca, Avenida José Pardo 399, Miraflores, has a good range of titles including many in English.

-- The ABC Bookstores at Colmena 689, are well supplied with all kinds of works in English, including books on Peru.

-- On the Jirón de la Unión, the Librería [book store] Ayza usually has some interesting publications and maps, while

-- in Miraflores the Librería Ibero, at both [Jirón] Larco 199 and Avenida Oscar Benavides 500 (previously Diagonal), generally have a wide range of books and magazines in English (p.119).


Map kiosks and map stores in Lima

[Maps are not to have in every book shop like in Europe. There are only some special shops for maps. Generally only military uses maps, normal Peruvian people have their family connections and know the positions and ways by sight. The bus system is NOT put into the town map. This is really stupid, because tourists have all to learn by sight and give out much money for taxis so there is not so much money left for other things - and taxi drivers are lucky that the tourists have no map with a bus system so tourists use more the taxi...]

Good maps about Lima and Perú you can have in the map kiosks:

-- kiosk on the corner of Jirón de La Union with the Plaza San Martín
-- kiosk on the corner [Jirón] El Viajero del [Jirón] Sr. Quispe Condori (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, T. 4235436)

These kiosks are specialized in guidebooks and maps for Lima and Peru. [In these little kiosks the sellers have stored more than you can think, detailed maps in a scale of 1:50,000 about half Peru is possible!]

The best city map is the Lima Guía "Inca" de Lima Metropolitan ($13), but it is increasingly difficult to obtain and the last edition was in 2001; newer, equally good and more readily available from the stalls around Plaza San Martín and most bookshops, the Lima Por 4 is a collection of Lima street maps in four districts (p.88).

Some map stores are indicated here:

Ingemmet
Avenida Canada 1470, San Borja, Lima, T. 2253158 (this store stocks a wide range of maps)

Instituto Geográfico Nacional
Avenida Aramburu 1190, Surquillo, Lima, T. 4753085 or 2245619, e-mail postmaster@ignperu.gob.pe (they offer charts [maps] covering most of Peru in detail)

Servicio Aerofotografico Nacional
Las Palmas Air force Base, Barranco, Lima, T. 4773682 (also carries many highly detailed charts [maps] of Peru)

South American Explorers' Club (p.45-46)

Touring y Automóvil Club de Peru
Avenida Cesar Vallejo 699, Lince, Lima, T. 4403270 (good for road maps, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) (p. 119)

[-- map kiosk at Plaza San Martín with many maps]


Bus companies in Lima

The bus system of Peru: private bus lines and bus terminals

[There is no national bus net. In Peru the bus companies have different lines, and this makes it for Europeans very complicated at the beginning. Add to this every bus company has it's own bus terminal so there is no system and there is a chaos of bus terminals. Most of them are in the Victoria district, others are in Lima district or in Rimac district. Victoria is the most dangerous district so go by taxi when you have western tourist luggage with two suitcases etc.].

If you arrive in Lima by bus, you'll probably come in at one of the bus terminals or offices of three of the most reliable operators, Cruz del Sur, Ormeño or Tepsa, who all have their offices on Avenida Javier Prado Este. Cruz del Sur has its busy depot at Javier Prado Este 1109 (T. 2256163, www.cruzdelsur.com.pe) on the edge of La Victoria and San Isidro; Ormeño, also have a depot a couple of blocks further east. Other major companies tend to arrive in the district of La Victoria along Avenida 28 de Julio and Prolongación Huánuco. Some companies arrive on the Paseo de La República [motorway], opposite the Estadio Nacional, while other common arrival streets, nearby, include Jirón Garcia Naranjo, Calle Carlos Zavala and Avenida Luna Pizarro. However, like the first three mentioned, many operators have depots out in the suburbs, in an attempt to avoid the worst of Lima Centro traffic jams. For full details of Lima bus companies and their terminals, see Listings p. 122. Whichever terminal you arrive at, your best bet is to hail the first decent-looking taxi you see and fix a price - about $3 to anywhere in the central area, or $5 for anywhere else in Lima (p.87).

Always check which terminal your bus is departing from when you buy your ticket (p.123) [and when the bus is leaving from a bus terminal in Victoria district it's the most dangerous district of Lima because of heavy poverty and criminal mayors, so when you have tourist suite cases only take a taxi to arrive there, have your camera on your body hidden somewhere, never show that you have a camera and never let the suitcases out of your eyes].

The major bus companies

[Generally the "big" bus companies have climatized buses but Peruvians are not master in handling air condition so it is better to have a simple bus with open windows for long trips. When you are traveling through the night take earplugs with you for there always is someone snoring around, also in the Peruvian "upper class"].

Cruz del Sur
[air conditioned buses without fresh air, partly double-stack and swinging heavily on the upper deck, partly with terrorizing video, not a joy when you love nature and a calm ride, ask before you travel what kind of bus it is], not the cheapest, goes for most important destinations.

Office and terminal Avenida Javier Prado at the corner with Nicolas Arriola, T. 2256200 or 2256163, tickets can be booked and paid for on www.cruzdelsur.com.pe. Other Cruz del Sur Lima terminals are:

-- at Jirón Quilca 531, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4271311 or 4235594
-- at Paseo de la República 809, La Victoria, Lima [most dangerous district of Lima], T. 3324000 (p. 122).

Ormeño
Office and terminal at Avenida Javier Prado Este 1059 (for reservations call T. 4275000 or 4721710, e-mail go@grupo-ormeno.com, www.grupo-ormeno.com,
is good for main national and international services.

There is another main bus terminal of Ormeño at [Jirón] Carlos Zavala 177, Lima Centro, T. 4275679

Chinchano
Chinchano is a subsidiary of Ormeño serving the coast as far as Cañete, Chincha and Pisco.

Tepsa
Ticket office at Jirón Lampa 1237, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4275642
Bus terminal at Avenida Paseo de la República 129 [motorway], T. 4275643 or 4271233

Oltursa
Avenida Aramburu 1160, Surquillo, Lima, T. 4758559
is a relatively good bus company serving most coastal destinations (p. 122).


List of more bus companies

[The list is never complete. Ask at the hotel information or at a travel office if you need a special connection. Mostly there is somebody in Lima from that region where you want to go so there is help usually very fast].

Chanchamayo
[Avenida] Manco Capac, 1052, La Victoria, Lima, T. 4701189
for Tarma, La Oroya, San Ramon and La Merced.

Cial
Avenida Abancay 947 and Terminal Paseo de la República 646, T. 3304225
for the North coast including Mancora, Cajamarca and Huaraz

Condor de Chavin
[Avenida] Montevideo 1039, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4288122
for Callejón de Huaylas, Huaraz and Chavín

El Condor
Avenida Carlos Zavala 101, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4270286
for Trujillo or Huancayo

Enlaces
Avenida Paseo de la República 749 [motorway], T. 4333311
for Arequipa

Empresa Huaral
Avenida Abancay 131, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4282254
for Huaral, Ancon and Chancay

Empresa Rosario
Jirón Ayacucho 942, [Lima Centro?], T. 5342685
for Huanuco and La Unión [departamento de Arequipa]

Emtrafasa
Jirón Humbolt 109, [Victoria?], T. 4230046
for the whole North coast and also Cajamarca

Flores Buses
[Avenida] Montevideo 529, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4310485

Leon de Huánuco
Avenida 28 de Julio 1520, La Victoria, Lima, T. 43290880
for Cerro de Pasco, Huánuco, Tamra and La Merced

Libertadores
Avenida Grau 491, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 4268067
for Ayacucho, Satipo, and Huanta

Lobato Buses
[Avenida] 28 de Julio 2101-2107, La Victoria, Lima, T. 4749411
for Tarma, La Merced and Satipo

Mariscal Caceres
Avenida 28 de Julio 2195, La Victoria, Lima, T. 4747850

Morales Moralitos
Avenida Grau 141, [Lima Centro, Lima], T. 4286252

Palomino
Avenida 28 de Julio 1750, La Victoria, Lima
for Cusco via Nazca [Nasca] and Abancay

Señor de Luren
[Avenida] Manco Capac 611, La Victoria
for Nazca

Transportes Rodriguez
Avenida Roosevelt 354, [Lima Centro?], T. 4280506
for Huaraz, Caraz and Chimbote

Turismo Apostolo San Pedro
Avenida Grau 711, [Lima Centro], [Avenida] Paruro 1457, [Lima Centro?], T. 4287810
for Huancayo and Tarma (p.123).


Airlines at the Lima airport

Peruvian Airlines

[LAN Peru is a Chilean company operating in Peru, expensive, but very in time. Aero Condor is a Peruvian company, cheaper, but not so in time. It's possible that these differences are intentional. Many Peruvian airlines have been closed because they where only financed by drugs. ].

Aero Condor
Juan de Arona 781, San Isidro, T. 614600

Aeroparacas
T. 2716941, e-mail aeroparacas@wayna.rcp.net.pe, www.aeroparacas.com

LAN Peru
-- Jirón de la Union 908, Lima Centro
-- Avenida Los Incas 172, eighth floor, San Isidro
-- Avenida José Pardo, 269, Miraflores, T. 080011234 (free phone), or call T. 2138200 for information and reservations

Star Peru
T. 7059000

TACA Peru
Avenida Comandante Espinar 331, Miraflores, T. 2136060, Fax 2136071, www.taca.com

TANS
-- Avenida Nicolas de Pierola 990, Plaza San Martín, Lima Centro, Lima, T. 5137400, 5136800 or 4270337
-- Avenida Arequipa 5200, Miraflores, T. 2418510
-- Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega 981, T. 4249438
-- C San Martín 550, Miraflores, T. 4441919,
for reservations call T. 2136000 (p.122)

International Airlines in Lima

Aerolineas Argentinas
T. 080052200 (free)

Air Canada
T. 080052073 (free)

Air France
Avenida Alvarez Calderon 185, 6th floor, San Isidro, Lima, T. 4449285 or 2130200

Air Madrid
T. 2141040

American Airlines
Jirón Juan de Arona 830, fourteenth floor, San Isidro, Lima (p. 122), T. 2117000 or 080040350 (free)

Avianca
Avenida Paz Soldan 225, Oficina C-5, Los Olivos, San Isidro, Lima, T. 4440747, 4440748 or 080051936

British Airways
represented in Lima by Air Latin at [Avenida] Andalucia 174, Miraflores, T. 4426600, 4220889 or 4452888

Continental Airlines
Victor Andrés Belaúnde 147, Oficina 101, Edificio Real, San Isidro, Lima, T. 2214340 or 080070030 (free)

Delta Airlines
T. 2119211

Iberia
Avenida Camino Real 390, Office 902, San Isidro, T. 4417801

KLM
-- Avenida Alvarez Calderon 185, sixth floor, San Isidro, T. 2130200, e-mail Reservations.Peru@klm.com
-- Miraflores, T. 2421240

Japan Airlines
T. 2217501

LAN Chile
Avenida José Pardo 269, Miraflores, T. 2138200 or 2138300

Lloyd Aero Boliviano
Avenida José Pardo 231, first and seventh floors, Miraflores, Lima, T. 2415210

Varig
Avenida Camino Real 456, Central Tower office 803/804, San Isidro, T. 2210628, 2210527 or 2210569 (p.123)

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