Getting to and Away

BY AIR

Lima’s airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (Tel: 511-6055, URL: www.lap.com.pe) is 16 kilometers (10 mi) northwest of the capital, in Callao. It takes 30-60 minutes to travel there; it is most convenient to take a taxi. For domestic flights, arrive at least two hours in advance; for international, at least three hours.

Services at the airport include authorized taxis, car rental agencies, train ticket sales offices, tourist information booths, medical attention, phone, internet, medical attention, duty-free and mall shopping, money exchange, ATMs, Internet/WiFi, telephone call centers, luggage storage/lockers, restaurants, VIP lounges and massage therapists.

Airlines have ticket offices at the airport and in the city:

AeroMéxico: Aliaga 699, Of. 501, San Isidro. Tel: 705-1111/Airport: 517-2562.

Air Canada: Ca. Italia 389, Of. 101, Miraflores. Tel: 626-0900/Airport: 517-3106.

Air France/KLM: Álvarez Calderón 185, San Isidro. Tel: 213-0200/Airport: 517-2350.

American Airlines: Av. Las Begonias 471, San Isidro/Av. Pardo 392, Miraflores. Tel: 211-7000 (airport).

Copa: Los Halcones, San Isidro. Tel: 610-0808/Airport: 517-2467).

LAN: Ca. Las Begonias 780, San Isidro. Av. José Pardo 513, Miraflores 513. Tel: 213-8200 (airport).

Peruvian Airlines: Av. Santa Cruz 839, Of 4, Miraflores. Tel: 716-6000/Airport: 517-2583.

Taca: Av. José Pardo 811, Miraflores. Tel: 511-8222/Airport: 613-6600.

Tam: Ca. Alcanfores 495, Of. 507, Edifico Thunderbird, Miraflores. Tel: 0800-53813/ Airport: 517-2486.

Several airlines have kiosks in Centro Comercial Plaza Real (Av. Garcilaso de la Vega 1337, Central Lima), including LAN and Taca. Check the airlines’ websites for other locations.

BY BUS

Lima has a central bus station, Gran Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte (Av. Túpac Amaru and Panamericana Norte, Independencia. Metropolitano stop: Tomás Valle. URL: www.plazanorte.wordpress.com/terminal-terrestre). This is used mainly for buses for destinations in the north of the country, including Chachapoyas and Tarapoto, though some companies also depart for Huánuco, Huancayo, Arequipa, Yurimaguas, Puerto Maldonado and other places. The terminal has banks, restaurants, stores, supermarket, cinema, playground, showers, luggage storage and other services.

Buses for destinations in the Central Amazon (e.g. Chanchomayo) and the Central/Southern Andes (Huancayo, Huánuco, etc.) depart from Terminal Yerbateros (also known as Terminal Molinas, Nicolás Ayllon 1352, San Luis).

Still, many companies prefer to operate out of their private offices. Smaller, cheaper outfits have theirs on Avenida Abancay in Central Lima and Luna Victoria in La Victoria; note that these are particularly dangerous parts of town. The best companies are on Avenida Javier Prado or Paseo de la República.

Cial: Av. República de Panamá 2469-2485, Santa Catalina, La Victoria. Tel: 207-6900.

Civa: Paseo de la República 575, La Victoria (Metro stop: Estadio Nacional). Tel: 332-5236/332-5264). The Excluciva services depart from a different terminal: Javier Prado Oeste 1155, San Isidro. Tel: 223-0783.

Cruz del Sur: Has international services to Guayaquil, Ecuador; Santiago, Chile; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Av. Javier Prado Este 1109, La Victoria. Tel: 225-5748/311-5050.

Flores: Paseo de la República 627, La Victoria (Metro stop: Estadio Nacional). Tel: 332-1212.

Ittsa: Paseo de la República 809-815, La Victoria (Metro stop: Estadio Nacional). Tel: 423-5232.

Línea: Paseo de la República 941, La Victoria (Metro stop: Estadio Nacional). Tel: 424-0836/332-6063).

Móvil: Paseo de la República 749 (Metro stop: Estadio Nacional). Tel: 716-8000.

Oltursa: Av. Aramburu 1160, Surquillo. Tel: 475-8559/476-9724)

Ormeño: Has international services to northern and southern destinations. Paseo de la República 801, La Victoria (Metro stop: Javier Prado). Tel: 427-5679.

Soyez/Peru Bus: Av. México 333, La Victoria (Metro stop: México). Tel: 266-1515/ 205-2370.

Check your destination town for details on fares and travel times. Many of the larger companies have on-line reservation; see Getting Around Peru for their websites.

BY TRAIN

Ferrocarril Central Andino runs a passenger service to Huancayo approximately once per month (Av. José Gálvez Barrenechea 566,San Isidro. Tel: 226-6363, URL: www.ferrocarrilcentral.com.pe / www.ferroviasperu.com.pe). The train departs from the platforms behind the ex-Estación Desamparadas (Jr. Áncash 207, Central Lima). The entrance to the platform is to the right of the Casa de Literatura Peruana. Check the website for specific times and rates.

Peru Rail, which runs the passenger train service from Puno to Cusco, and from Cusco to Macchu Picchu, has sales offices at Lima’s international airport (Domestic departures. Tel: 517-1884) and in Larcomar shopping mall; staff speak English (Av. Malecón de la Reserva 610, Stand 26, Miraflores. Tel: 241-5068, E-mail: larcomar@perurail.com). Tickets may also be purchased online (URL: www.perurail.com). Inca Rail runs luxury services on the same route. It also has a kiosk at the airport (International arrival. Tel: 517-1864) and in Callao (Av. Argentina 3250. Tel: 613-5272)