Travel information
Getting there
Where to stay
Stay Safe
There are many ways to reach Lima, but we highly recommend flying to save time.
From Europe there are daily direct flights from Madrid, Amsterdam and Paris. We usually fly with KLM from Amsterdam, which is a 12 hr 30 min trip. Just about the combined run time of The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions.
When to buy tickets?
Flights to Lima are typically released around 10–12 months in advance. When first released, prices are often slightly higher.
In most cases, the best time to book is 6–9 months before departure. For our late July wedding, we recommend aiming to book sometime between November and January. July is a popular travel season, so we would not recommend waiting too long.
Where to buy tickets?
There are many online tools that are helpful when searching for flights, such as Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Momondo.
Sometimes you can save a little by booking through a travel agency found via these platforms. However, in our experience, the savings are usually modest, and if you need to make changes or run into any issues, it is often easier to have booked directly with the airline.
We usually use these tools to find the best dates and routes, then book directly with the airline.
From Oslo, you can generally expect to pay around 12,000–15,000 NOK per person for round-trip standard economy tickets.
Routes and travel time
When comparing options, be sure to check connection times carefully. The cheapest tickets often come with more than one connection and long layovers, with total travel times of up to 30 hours +.
Our preferred option from Oslo is a short connection in Amsterdam or Paris (around 1–3 hours), bringing the total travel time from Oslo to approximately 16–18 hours.
We have often travelled with connections as short as one hour. While this can feel a bit rushed, it has worked well for us, though a slightly longer connection is generally more comfortable.
When to arrive?
We recommend making the most of the trip by spending some time in Peru before or after the wedding.
If you plan to arrive just in time, please keep in mind the time difference and the physical toll of the journey. If you arrive the day before the wedding, it may feel like midnight for you when the celebration begins.
For that reason, we recommend arriving in Lima at least a few days in advance.
To and from the airport
Please let us know if you'd like help arranging transport from the airport.
We may be able to organize a pick up through family and friends.
Taxis are also a good option. We recommend using the registered taxi companies with booths inside the airport, you’ll pass them on your way out. They are a bit more expensive, but safe and reliable. Tell them your destination and agree on the price in advance; it should be around 80 soles.
There is also an affordable airport-express bus for tourists that goes once per hour to and from the Airport and Miraflores.
When flying out of Lima, be sure to allow plenty of time to reach the airport. Traffic can be unpredictable, and at certain times a day what is a 25 min ride in low traffic can easily turn into two hours. Go with the airport express bus or a registered Taxi.
We highly recommend staying in the Main Touristic Area of Lima, Miraflores, or the adjecent zones of Barranco or San Isidro. This is were the majority of touristic hotels are located, and there are ample options of AirBnB rentals which often gives the most value.
Generally speaking, tourists are safe in Lima as long as you take some basic precautions. Be mindful of which areas are considered safe, and stick to those if you’re not with a local. Here are a few practical tips we’d like to share with first-time visitors
Taxis
We recommend using the company Satelital Taxi (the app is called “3555555 Satelital”), which works much like Uber and similar services.
While using other taxi companies or hailing a cab on the street is often fine, it does carry a slightly higher risk of scams or robbery. If you do take a taxi from the street, it’s customary to agree on the price with the driver before getting in.
When riding in taxis, keep the windows closed and make sure the doors are locked (if they don’t lock automatically). If you’re stuck in traffic, it’s a good idea to keep your phone and other valuables out of sight.
Health and insurance
Make sure you have a valid travel insurance for your trip.
Vaccines
Most visitors will already have the essential vaccines through their national vaccination programs. However, there are a few additional vaccines that are often recommended.
For example, travelers from Norway are typically advised to take the Hepatitis A vaccine before traveling to Peru. Other recommendations may apply depending on which regions you plan to visit.
If you’re planning to explore beyond Lima, it’s worth checking which vaccines are recommended for your itinerary.
Malecón de Miraflores and Parque del Amor
We typically stay in AirBnB apartments, where a nice apartment with two or more bedrooms usually come in at around 50 USD a night. Most are run by agencies that make it very easy to check-in and check-out by yourselves. Just read the details and reviews closely.
Noise
You might find that both hotels and AirBnB reviews make a note of noise. Miraflores has a lot of traffic and most apartments are poorly isolated. If possible, we recommend finding places that are not located just next to the main roads (avenidas).
Suggested hotels
For those of you who prefer the simplicity of staying in a hotel over renting an airbnb, we've picked a couple of alternatives for different budgets. Mind you, we haven't stayed there ourselves, so please give it a good look of your own.
Affordable botique
La Casona Azul
Casa Porta Boutique Hostal
Midrange normal hotels
Casa Andina Benavides
Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco
Higher end botique
Once You're There
We’re excited to share a few of our favorite places in the area with you.
Stay tuned for more.