Weather in Lima is divided into two seasons – summer and winter. Summer runs from December to April and is generally sunny with blue skies and temperatures between 77°F to 95°F (25°C-35°C). Lima is notoriously grey from May – November with its famous grey mist called ‘garúa’. Peak season is between December to April.

Unfortunately Lima’s summer coincides with Cusco and the highlands’ rainy season, so if you are planning to visit both the coast and the highlands good months are early November and April if you want the best of both worlds.

Like any big city there are areas of Lima that are more dangerous than others. It is advised to stay in the safer districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro which are more up-market residential areas and as such tend to be safer and better policed. As tourism is such an important industry to Lima and Peru there is a strong tourism police presence in all of these three main areas as well as the main tourist attractions in the historic centre of Lima.

The historic centre of Lima tends to be more dangerous and there are regular accounts of muggings and petty theft in this area as well as other areas such as La Victoria. Just remember to remain alert, use common sense and stick to the usual travel rules below:

One should book a ticket when you need it. It’s advisable for one to buy a ticket when many people do, approximately two to four months before you fly because research shows that at this time you are likely to find the lowest price for your tickets. Fares tend to rise especially when you are close to your departure date. It also allows you to know which seats will be available and you can choose the most suitable one. I would advise anyone willing to book a ticket to do so as early as possible.

Like in any destination, it’s best to exchange your money in official banks to ensure you get authentic notes and the right amount of money back. Avenida (Avenue) Jose Larco in Miraflores, Lima has several foreign exchange shops where you can change your currency. All the major banks including BCP (Banco de Credito del Peru) BBVA and Scotia Bank are located on Avenida Jose Larco in Miraflores but there are also bank branches located in all of Lima’s main suburbs.

ATM’s abound in Lima so it is easy to withdraw money in either US$ or Soles, once you get to Lima. There is usually a charge of between 10 – 12 soles for withdrawing money from ATM’s plus whatever amount your own bank charges back home. This can add up quickly so be prepared.