ATMs/Banks—Peruvian and international banks with currency-exchange bureaus and ATMs are plentiful throughout Lima Centro, especially in the outer neighborhoods such as Miraflores, San Isidro, and Barranco, which are full of shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants. Money-changers (sometimes in smocks with obvious “$” insignias) patrol the main streets off Parque Central in Miraflores and central Lima with calculators and dollars in hand.
Dentists—For English-speaking dentists in Lima, try Peru Dental at 355 Monterrey St., 4th Floor, Chacarilla (www.perudental.com; tel. 01/202-2222), or Smiles Peru at Av. José Prado 575, office 201 in Miraflores (www.smilesperu.com; tel. 01/242-2152).
Doctors & Hospitals—The U.S. and British embassies (see “Embassies & Consulates”) provide lists of English-speaking doctors, dentists, and other healthcare personnel in Lima. English-speaking medical personnel and 24-hour emergency services are available at the following hospitals and clinics: Clínica Anglo-Americana, Alfredo Salazar, Block 3, San Isidro (tel. 01/712-3000); Clínica San Borja, Guardia Civil 337, San Borja (tel. 01/475-4000); Maison de Santé, Calle Miguel Adgouin 208 (tel. 01/619-610), near the Palacio de Justicia (tel. 01/428-3000, emergency 01/427-2941); and Clínica Ricardo Palma, Av. Javier Prado Este 1066, San Isidro (tel. 01/224-2224). For an ambulance, call Alerta Médica at tel. 01/470-5000 or San Cristóbal at tel. 01/440-0200.
Embassies & Consulates—U.S., Avenida La Encalada, Block 17, Surco (https://pe.usembassy.gov; tel. 01/434-3000); Australia, Víctor A. Belaúnde 147/Vía Principal 155, office 1301, San Isidro (http://peru.embassy.gov.au; tel. 01/222-8281); Canada, Calle Bolognesi 228, Miraflores (tel. 01/319-3200); U.K. and New Zealand, Av. Jose Larco 1301, Miraflores (tel. 01/617-3000).
Emergencies—In case of an emergency, call the 24-hour traveler’s hotline (tel. 01/574-8000) or the tourist police, or POLTUR (tel. 01/460-1060 in Lima, or 01/460-0965). The INDECOPI 24-hour hotline can also assist in contacting police to report a crime (tel. 01/224-7888 in Lima, 01/224-8600, or toll-free 0800/42579 from any private phone). The general police emergency number is tel. 105; for fire, dial tel. 116.
Internet Access—Public Wi-Fi has overtaken Internet cabinas (booths) and cybercafes as the most common form of Internet access in Lima. There is free Wi-Fi access almost everywhere if you have a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. You’ll find it in shopping centers, public parks, restaurants, cafes, and nearly every hotel in Lima.
Mail & Postage—Lima’s main post office (Central de Correos) is on the Plaza de Armas at Camaná 195 (tel. 01/427-0370) in central Lima. The Miraflores branch is at Petit Thouars 5201 (tel. 01/445-0697); the San Isidro branch is at Calle Las Palmeras 205 (tel. 01/422-0981). Letters and postcards to North America or Europe take between 10 days and 2 weeks, and cost S/7–8 for postcards, S/9–10 for letters. A DHL/Western Union office is at Nicolás de Piérola 808 (tel. 01/424-5820).
Pharmacies—A pharmacy chain with a number of storefronts across Lima is InkaFarma. Miraflores locations include Av. Benavides 1921 (tel. 01/271-4796) and Av. José Pardo 620 (tel. 01/243-4711). This and other pharmacies have 24-hour delivery service.
Police—The Policía Nacional de Turismo (National Tourism Police) has staff members that speak English and are specifically trained to handle the needs of foreign visitors. The main office in Lima is at Av. Javier Prado Este 2465, 5th Floor, San Borja (next to the Museo de la Nación); the 24-hour tourist police line is tel. 01/574-8000. Also see “Emergencies” above.
Safety—Lima neighborhoods such as Miraflores and San Isidro are as safe and as calm as most North American cities, though in Lima Centro and some of the city’s residential areas, the risk of street crime remains. Although carjackings, assaults, and armed robberies are not routine, they’re not unheard of either. Armed attacks at ATMs have also occurred. Use ATMs during the day, with other people present. Most thefts occur on public transportation, such as buses and combis. There have been reports of thieves who’ve boarded buses in and out of Lima to cities both north and south of the capital, relieving passengers at gunpoint of their valuables. Be very careful with your belongings; leave your passport and other valuables in the hotel safe, and use a money belt. Public street markets are also frequented by thieves, as are parks (especially at night) and the beaches in and around Lima. Although the large-scale terrorist activities of the local groups Sendero Luminoso and MRTA were largely stamped out in the early 1990s, there are occasionally reports of a possible resurgence. Neither group, however, is currently active in any of the areas covered in this book.
Telephone—Lima’s area code is 01. It need not be dialed when making local calls within Lima, but it must be dialed when calling Lima from another city.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
