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🛒 Top picks for this trip
✅ Essentials Checklist
- Passport (valid 6+ months) — no visa needed for UK/US/EU citizens for tourism up to 90 days
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover (essential if continuing to Cusco/Machu Picchu)
- Layers — Lima is surprisingly cool and often overcast (the garúa mist), even in summer
- Comfortable walking shoes for Miraflores and the historic centre
- Sunscreen — UV is strong even under cloud cover
- Reusable water bottle — tap water is not safe to drink, bottled/filtered only
- Cash in Peruvian Soles — cards widely accepted in Miraflores but not everywhere
- Basic Spanish phrases — English is limited outside tourist areas
🛒 More kit for this trip
👕 Clothing Checklist
- Layers — Lima rarely gets hot; a light jacket is useful most of the year
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm layers if continuing on to Cusco or the Andes (altitude means cold nights)
- Smart-casual for Lima's excellent restaurant scene (some require it)
- Rain-resistant layer for the garúa mist season (June–September)
⭐ Nice to Have
- Altitude sickness tablets if continuing to Cusco (3,400m) or Machu Picchu
- Water purification tablets or filter bottle for onward travel
- Money belt for the historic centre (petty theft is a real, well-documented risk)
- Spanish phrasebook
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima safe for tourists?
Miraflores and Barranco (the two main tourist and expat neighbourhoods) are well-policed and generally safe with normal urban precautions. The historic centre is safe during the day but requires more caution after dark — pickpocketing and bag-snatching are the main risks rather than violent crime. Avoid displaying expensive jewellery or electronics openly, and take registered taxis (Uber is reliable and widely used) rather than hailing on the street.
Why is Lima cloudy even in summer?
The garúa — a persistent low cloud and mist caused by the cold Humboldt Current meeting warm air — covers Lima for much of the year, particularly May to November. It rarely actually rains, but the sun can stay hidden for days. Visitors expecting tropical South American sunshine are often surprised; pack layers rather than pure summer clothing.
Do I need to acclimatise before Machu Picchu if I fly via Lima?
Lima is at sea level, so it offers no altitude acclimatisation benefit for Cusco (3,400m) or Machu Picchu. Most itineraries spend 2–3 days in Cusco before the Inca Trail or train to Machu Picchu specifically to acclimatise — skipping this significantly increases the risk of altitude sickness. Plan Lima as a separate city stop, not a stepping stone that prepares your body for the Andes.
Check the weather and best time to visit before you finalise your Lima, Peru packing list — and see country facts and travel info for entry requirements and local tips.
Not sure which suitcase size or clothing sizes you need? Check 247Sizing's luggage and clothing size guides before you pack.