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Marinera dancers in front of Limas cathedral

© 123fr.com / Carlos Santa Maria

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Peru

Travel to Lima

Flying to Lima

Airlines offering flights to Lima from the UK include British Airways, American Airlines, LAN Airlines and Iberia.

Flight times: 

From London - 12 hours; New York - 8 hours; Los Angeles - 12 hours; Toronto - 12 hours; Sydney - 20 hours.

Travel by road

Summary:

Road travel in Peru can be hazardous, due to reckless driving and the poor condition of the roads, many of which are dirt tracks. The main road artery of Peru, the Pan-American Highway, runs the length of Peru's coastline and is generally in good condition, as are the main routes up towards the Andes (but not within). Several roads are tolled. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on motorways and either 80kph (50mph) or 45kph (28mph) on smaller roads. Few Peruvians seem to stick to these limits. Foreign driving permits are valid for 30 days from the date of arrival. An International Driving Permit is required for longer stays.

The Touring y Automóvil Club del Perú - TACP (tel: (01) 614 9999; www.touringperu.com.pe) can provide more information as well as driving permits.

Emergency breakdown service:

TACP (tel: (01) 611 9999).

Routes:

The main roads in Peru are the north-south Pan-American Highway and the Marginal Jungle Highway, which runs from the northern jungle almost to the Bolivian border. From the coast, heading inland is the Central Highway, which starts in Lima and runs up to the central highlands and down to the Chanchamayo jungle valley.

Driving times:

From Cusco - 24 hours; Puno - 24 hours; Arequipa - 14 hours; Nazca - 6 hours.

Coaches:

Ormeño, Avenida Javier Prado Este 1059, La Victoria (tel: (01) 472 1710; www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe), is one of the few reliable bus companies, offering regular weekly services to Quito (journey time - 30 hours) and Santiago (journey time - 54 hours). Many intercity buses leave from one of the main bus terminals between the Hotel Sheraton and Parque Universitario in Lima's centre, or in the district of La Victoria along Avenida 28 de Julio and Prolongacion Huanuco. Other bus stations and companies are located in the suburbs. Cruz del Sur, Avenida Javier Prado 1109, San Isidro (tel: (01) 311 5050; www.cruzdelsur.com.pe), offers good, regular services to Cusco, Puno and Arequipa and other major destinations.

Travel by rail

Services:

The train from Huancayo to Lima (tel: (01) 226 6363; www.ferroviasperu.com.pe) arrives at the capital's Los Desamparados railway station. It is a 591km (367-mile) odyssey, passing 27 stations, crossing 57 bridges and passing through 67 tunnels (journey time - 12 hours). There are two services a month between April and November, and one during each of the rainy months of February and March. Trains usually depart from Lima on Friday morning and leave from Huancayo on Sunday evening.

Travel over water

Summary:

Lima's main port of Callao, 15km (9 miles) west of the city, is occasionally used by cruise ships. The Peru port authority, Empresa Nacional de Puertos del Perú - ENAPU, Avenida Chalaca Guard (tel: (01) 429 9210; www.enapu.com.pe), manages the port. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com) operates cruises to Lima from Fort Lauderdale.

Nearest port:

Lima.

Transfer distance:

10km (6.2 miles) by boat.

Transfer time:

20 minutes.

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