Lima is the capital of Peru, in South America, located in the central coastal part of the country overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Lima is rich in all aspects of Peruvian culture. It has impressive colonial architecture intermingled among imposing modern constructions. There are very diverse neighborhoods, some of which are located adjacent to the coast so you can enjoy the beauty of the ocean as well as breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, fabulous museums and galleries and of course, its world famous exquisite cuisine; In Lima poverty and wealth co-exist and it’s home to 8 million people, mostly Peruvians from all over the country.
The more popular neighborhoods are San Isidro, Miraflores and Barranco. These are also the most tourist and visited neighborhoods and the safer too. You also have Lima downtown to visit and see our colonial architecture of what was once called the “City of Kings.” You will be able to find museums in any of these neighborhoods. Barranco offers several art museums to visit. We Peruvians love our food so you will be able to find a lot of restaurants wherever you are, offering mostly our typical food (you don’t want to miss our sea fresh food) and international food too.
Local business etiquette and customs
Regarding local business, you will see women almost in every company in every position. We have more freedom when clothes apply but mostly we used to wear elegant business clothing. In most companies, casual Friday clothing applies.
You should know that there is such a thing as Peruvian time (hora peruana). This means that Peruvians will often come at least half an hour later than the scheduled time. This is not always the case for business meetings, but I advise you to always confirm your appointments a day or even hours before it is to take place.
Also, formal greetings will be shaking hands but some people may greet you with a kiss on the cheek (our traditional greeting).
Travel and transport
Unfortunately there are no ladies only taxi services in Lima.
It is safe to take public transportation, but difficult to know which local bus to take because routes are not documented. It is easy to take “Metropolitano” which are buses that go from north to south in their own lane, but you will need to buy a card in any of the stations to use them. These buses can take you to downtown Lima (you will need to walk a little bit from the station) and San Isidro, Miraflores or Barranco among other neighbourhoods. Local transportation is another way to explore the city and experience local customs.
Here are some list of various taxi options you can take (beside the classic transportation any hotel can offer). If you speak Spanish you can call for a taxi or download the app to get the nearest taxi in minutes.
- Uber, Smartaxi, Taxibeat – download app
- Taxi Satelital – phone: +51 (1) 274-5151 (you can call them or use the app)
- Tata taxi – phone: +51 (1) 274-5151
- Taxi Seguro – phone: +51 (1) 241 9292
If you are at the airport, you can take a taxi from one of the stands. Those are safe and have flat rates shown for public..
Dining
Peruvians are known for our fabulous food, using a wide range and variety of ingredients from the coast, high land and Amazon regions, you can read consumer reviews for several of them here. Some of the restaurants included are listed in the 50 best restaurants in Latin America. You can visit Peruvian restaurants like:
- Central (in Miraflores)
- Astrid & Gastón located in the precious Casa Hacienda Moreyra.
- Cala, in Barranco and by the sea
- Tanta restaurant
- Picas bar and restaurant
- Ayahuasca bar
- Brujas de Cachiche is a well known restaurant and next to it is Huaringas bar where you can drink some delicious drinks made with pisco.
- Huaca Pucllana is a famous restaurant next to a famous archaeological zone that you can visit during the day-
Safety and emergency services
Peru has a culture where machismo still persists. In Lima you are safe enough to walk on the streets, take a tour or go out for lunch or dinner but do be careful with your personal belongings. Avoid talking on the phone whilst walking and do not leave your purse behind your chair in a restaurant. When driving, avoid placing valuables such as laptops, cameras, bags and phones on the seat next to you as there is a risk of thieves smashing car windows at the traffic lights to steal your belongings.
My advice is that you can walk by yourself almost everywhere during the day but there are some places where is better not to walk by yourself during the night. Miraflores, San Isidro and the touristic part of Barranco are safe places but there are some streets in the rest of the neighborhoods where you should be more cautious.
Women are able to do anything they want and move around everywhere. I travelled by myself several times in different parts of my country and never have an incident, but, you need to listen to whatever advice locals are willing to give to you.
My advice, enjoy your visit while being careful.
