Lima, Peru

We flew from Guayaquil to Lima. Neither of us were too impressed with Guayaquil but things got worse in lima. The amount of traffic and the noise drove me mad. Car drivers, particularly taxis looking for fares, continuously blew their horns.

We had planned to stay here for 3 days, but we left after 2. Fortunately we didn't stay in the centre of Lima itself, but opted for the popular area of Miraflores 15kms away, which was only slightly better. However, clearly there is a lot of crime in all areas. Many shops have the doors locked or they operate through locked bars/gates.

We arrive into Lima airport very early after departing from Guayaquil at 5.30 am. We refuse to get in a taxi 'cos we have time and they are pestering us like mad. The South American Handbook states that taxis AND busses from the airport to the centre are easy - THE BUSSES ARE NOT!! After asking a few people we realise that you have to walk out of the airport to get one, then it's anyone's guess which one to get on as they stop momentarily while a 'bus tout', on the bus itself, shouts all kinds of names out. It appeared that very few actually went to the centre of Lima.

The traffic and pedestrian safety was the worst I've ever seen.

The centre of Lima

We got stopped by these policemen and had to show our passports, the locals were getting stopped too.

Old building in the heart of Lima.

There were few maintained historical buildings.

After a while we get on another bus to Miraflores...

Approaching Miraflores, at least there's less traffic and some grass...



We get off the bus after the locals have a discussion and decide that we're near our hotel. This policeman suddenly appears form this police box and is only too keen to help us find the way.

The sea at Miraflores. The book says the water shouldn't be entered because of pollution, but there were surfers in there.

Typical property, iron fences and gates, with electric fences on top.