Transportation

Getting Around in Peru

Transportation in Peru is affordable but chaotic in Lima. Ride-hailing apps are your best friend. Most expats skip car ownership.

Ride-Hailing Apps (Essential)

Use these instead of street taxis:

• Uber - most widely used, English interface
• Beat - often cheaper than Uber, reliable
• Cabify - good alternative
• InDriver - negotiate price, popular for longer trips

Why not street taxis:

• Express kidnapping risk
• No meters or accountability
• Overcharging foreigners common
• Some operate illegally

Typical costs:

• Short trip (15 min): $2-4 USD
• Cross-city Lima (30-45 min): $5-12 USD
• Airport to Miraflores: $10-20 USD

Lima Public Transit

Metropolitano (BRT):

Bus rapid transit with dedicated lanes connecting 12 districts. Clean, fast, and reliable.

• Fare: S/3.20-3.50 (~$0.85-0.95 USD)
• Connects Barranco, Miraflores, Centro
• Uses rechargeable Lima Pass card
• Hours: 6am-9:50pm daily

Metro Line 1 (Tren Electrico):

Electric rail connecting eastern residential areas to commercial hubs.

• 16 stations along Line C
• Trains every 8-12 minutes
• Affordable and expanding

Corredores (Bus Corridors):

Color-coded bus routes (Azul, Rojo) on dedicated lanes.

• Fares: S/1-2.40 per ride
• Integrated ticketing with Lima Pass

Traditional Buses (Micros/Combis):

Cheap but confusing, crowded, and sometimes unsafe. Routes marked on windshields. Not recommended for newcomers.

Other Cities

Cusco: Mostly walkable in the center. Taxis and collectivos (shared vans) for outskirts. Uber available but limited.

Arequipa: Compact center is walkable. Taxis are cheap ($1-3 for most trips). Limited ride-hailing.

Intercity Travel

Buses (recommended for most routes):

• Comfortable, affordable, extensive network
• Premium companies: Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Movil Tours
• Lima to Arequipa: $25-60 USD, 15-16 hours
• Lima to Cusco: $30-70 USD, 20-22 hours (most fly instead)
• Peru Hop: Tourist-oriented hop-on/hop-off network

Domestic Flights:

• LATAM Peru - largest domestic carrier
• Sky Peru - budget airline
• Viva Air - budget option
• Lima to Cusco: $50-150 USD, 1.5 hours
• Lima to Arequipa: $40-120 USD, 1.5 hours

Important: Lima has no central bus station. Each company has its own terminal.

Driving in Peru

Not recommended in Lima.

• Traffic is among the worst in South America
• Aggressive driving style, constant honking
• Limited parking, confusing layout
• Ride-hailing is cheaper and less stressful

If you must drive:

• Foreign license valid for first 6 months
• International Driving Permit helpful
• Then Peruvian license required
• Car insurance mandatory
• Vehicle prices higher than US equivalent