Located 18 miles from Los Angeles city center, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the second busiest airport in the United States and forth-busiest in the entire world. Jorge Chavez International Airport or Lima Airport (LIM) is Peru’s leading and busiest international airport. The airport is located in Callao, seven miles from Lima’s city Centre.
Nearly ten airlines fly regularly from Los Angeles to Lima. They include Avianca, LATAM, United Airlines, and American Airlines. Direct flights typically take 8-9 hours to cover the 4,175 miles flight distance between Los Angeles and Lima. One-stop flights take 11 hours. However, some airlines may take up 36 hours, depending on the stopover destination and waiting time. Popular stopover destinations include Houston, Panama City, Dallas, Bogota, and San Salvador.
Passengers have three airport transfer options between LAX airport and downtown Los Angeles: a taxi, the metro, or bus. Taking a taxi is the quickest option, but it is possible to opt for the FlyAway Bus as well. This bus covers the distance between downtown Los Angeles and the airport in 35 minutes. Unfortunately, there isn’t a metro station at the airport, therefore, passengers have to take a free 15-minute shuttle to the LAX Metro Rail Station.
Travelers can use mobile apps such as Uber and Lyft for cars available 24/7 at the airport and around the city. Private transfers take roughly 30 minutes to complete the journey from downtown to LAX. Parking facilities are available in the airport on a long- and short-term basis.
Although public transportation in Lima is poor, travelers can still take small minivans known as the Combis to move to and from Lima Airport. These minivans don’t operate on a strict schedule; therefore, their departures and arrivals change from time to time. Passengers can as well take the Airport Express Bus operating between the airport and the city center every 30 minutes.
Uber, Beat, and Cabify are the most popular taxi operators connecting the airport to the city center and other neighboring towns. Once a passenger books a ride, they can pick up the taxis at the various designated points around the airport. North of Lima Airport, there’s a long-term parking facility and garage. Off-site parking lots are also available.
Travelers need a passport to get into Lima and Peru in general. The passport should be valid for at least months from the time of admission and have at least two free visa pages. Tourists using the tourist visa are only allowed in for 183 days per year. US passport holders don’t need a visa to get into Lima.
Most Peruvians in Lima speak Spanish, Quechua or Aymara, or a combination of all three. Most Peruvians are bilingual, and many working in hotels and restaurants will be able to speak English to some degree.
The Nuevo Sol is the currency of Peru, although USD is accepted in some businesses. However, it is wise to convert your currency into the Peruvian sol. As of October 2019, 3.38 sols were equivalent to 1 USD.
Lima, two hours ahead of Los Angeles, experiences a hot desert climate. It's best to visit the city during the summer, which, as the country is in the southern hemisphere, is opposite to that of LA. Lima’s sunshine and the weather are best between December and March. Nonetheless, the weather can be unpleasant during other seasons.
Most Peruvians tip only one or two soles in restaurants. Maintain this tipping culture while in Lima. In case you get a satisfactory service, tipping 10% of the bill is a grand gesture. Avoid showing up in high-end restaurants with jeans or Bermuda’s, you will feel out of place. A long-sleeved shirt and a nice pair of pants would be an ideal choice.
Huaca Pucllana
Huaca Pucllana is located in Miraflores, a district in central Lima. The clay pyramid built from adobe bricks and seven staggered platforms is an essential monument in the culture of Lima. The beautiful and ancient site was a ceremonial and administrative center several centuries ago during the mighty Inca Empire.
Larco Museum
The Larco Museum was opened in 1926 and displays artifacts and historical objects of the Peruvian culture. Although there are many museums in Lima, Larco surpasses them all. It exhibits the culture and history of the country of entire Peru, and artifacts spanning from the last three millennia.
Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bronze fountain standing at the Plaza de Armas survived Peru’s 1746 earthquake and is a historical center of Lima. The old architecture of the building and the breathtaking environment of the square is a must-visit while in Peru.