Lima International Airport Guide

Located in the district of Callao, Jorge Chavez international airport is the main gateway for airlines arriving to Peru, and for the majority of international passengers – their first taste of Peru.

The airport was completely refurbished in the early 2000’s and has won various awards over the past decade as the best airport in Latin America. The airport is located around 12km from the historic centre of Lima, and around 15km from the tourist hubs of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro. The sole main terminal is divided into both domestic and international sections. All passengers will pass through this building. The airport is open 24 hours a day. The airport is operated by Lima airport partners having been privatised in 2001. It handles over 12 million passengers annually.

Airlines operating from Lima

• LAN
• American Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Iberia
• L.M
• Avianca
• Sky Airlines
• Argentinian Airlines
• TACA Airlines
• TAM Airlines
• Delta Airlines.
• British Airways

National airlines that operate out of Lima airport include:

• LAN Peru
• TACA Peru
• Peruvian Airlines
• Star Peru.

Information desk

Is located on the first level and English is spoken. It is manned 24 hours a day.

Getting to/from the airport

The best way to get from the airport to your hotel/accommodation is by private transfer, its safest and secure. We recommend booking this in advance from your travel agent or tour operator. Illegal activity is present around the airport and often targets unwary travellers. If you do choose to arrange your transport locally best advice is to contact Taxi Green – they are located just inside the door prior to leaving the arrivals area. They have licensed drivers and fixed rates to most points in Lima. Expect to pay between PEN 70 – 100 for transport with Taxi Green. Do not ride with unlicensed taxi drivers that solicit fares outside the terminal.

Car hire is available for those wishing to drive around Lima, however this is not recommended. Traffic in Lima is notoriously bad, and there are security risks around the airport for the unwary. There is a Hertz and Budget rent a car counter in the airport terminal, as well as some local options, however be prepared for some very different driving customs!

Traffic at Lima International Airport on Oct 12, 2016

Connecting flights

It is quite common for the international traveller to arrive late of an evening with an early morning departure to Cusco, so transfers within the airport are quite common. Both Avianca and LATAM airlines use Lima as a major hub. Simply follow the signs on arrival to the connections desk to transfer to your next flight. If changing to a domestic flight, you will need to collect your baggage and pass immigration before proceeding to the domestic part of the terminal. Always allow a minimum of around 2 hours if transferring flights in Lima. 1.5 hours for domestic (some exceptions do apply so check with your agent).

Hotels

There is one airport hotel located directly in front of the terminal building. Access is via an internal walkway. The hotel is operated by Wyndham/Costa del Sol, and is our recommended option at the airport. There are some locally run hotels just outside the airport perimeter however we do not recommend booking these as quality and security can be an issue. The hotel also offers spa facilities and is available for day use. The hotel can be quite busy, so we do recommend booking in advance where possible.

A post shared by Hoteles Costa del Sol (@costadelsolperu) on Apr 21, 2017

Currency

Local Peruvian currency is known as the ‘Nuevo sol’ (Code PEN) and exchange facilities are available both airside and landside at the airport. US dollars are widely accepted in stores, restaurants and hotels throughout Peru however we do recommend having some local currency on hand for small purchased.

Medical attention

The International Air Health Unit is located on the first floor of Lima Airport, at the domestic arrivals area. Here, you are able to get your Yellow Fever vaccine shots, recommended for those that will be travelling to the Amazon during their time in Peru. There are many countries where having the Yellow Fever vaccine is a requirement to enter the country after visiting Peru, such as Australia and Bolivia.

Food

Lima is very well known for its gastronomic treats, and we always recommend sampling some of the food in this fantastic city. Unfortunately Lima airport isn’t the greatest place to sample Peruvian food with the exception of the newly installed Tanta Restaurant (Landside). In the main landside food court there are a mix of local and international fast food including McDonalds, Papa Johns, Dunkin Donuts and local chains such as Pardo’s chicken. Airside the options are much more limited.

Lounges

Lima airport lounges are quite limited with the absence of both a Star Allicance and One world member lounge, however most airlines will have an affiliation with the below for business class passengers. These lounges are also open for the casual visitor and subject to capacity a fee can be paid locally for access.

Wifi

Free WiFi is available at Lima Airport for 15 minutes. Connect to the ”WIGO.AeropuertoLima” network. Price after the time limit: US$ 6 (Two Hours), US$ 10 (One Day), US$ 12 (One Month). Computer workstations with internet connections are available at  the Telefonica stand.

ATM’s

There are several Locations: Peru Plaza, the Main Hall, Domestic Terminal and International Terminal.

Left Luggage

The left luggage (luggage storage) at the Lima International Airport is located in the domestic arrivals area. It is opened 24 hours and costs around  S/. 24.00 (PEN) per day (24 hours) and S/. 4.00 per hour and piece of luggage. Big items (like surf boards) will set you back around S/. 8.00 per hour. The service has to be paid in cash (no credit cards are accepted for this service), but payment can be made in US$ or Peruvian Soles.

Duty Free

Lima airport has a few duty free options, a small shop upon arrival sells mainly liquor and cigarettes with a small cosmetics section. Upon departure and just past immigration there is a large duty free store which has many options including local jewellery and silver products, alpaca as well as Peruvian foods as well as international goods. We often find liquor prices are cheaper in supermarkets in Peru than duty free – particularly for Pisco the local Peruvian spirit.