Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Otherwise, traffic-clogging caravans of minivans hurtle down the avenues with a co-
brador (ticket taker) hanging out the door and shouting out the stops. Go by the destina-
tion placards taped to the windshield. Your best bet is to know the nearest major intersec-
tion or landmark close to your stop (eg Parque Kennedy) and tell that to the cobrador -
he'll let you know whether you've got the right bus. Combis are generally slow and
crowded, but startlingly cheap: fares run from S1 to S3, depending on the length of your
journey.
The most useful routes link Central Lima with Miraflores along Av Arequipa or Paseo
de la República. Minibuses along Garcilaso de la Vega (also called Av Wilson) and Av
Arequipa are labeled 'Todo Arequipa' or 'Larco/Schell/Miraflores' when heading to Mira-
flores and, likewise, 'Todo Arequipa' and 'Wilson/Tacna' when leaving Miraflores for
Central Lima. Catch these buses along Av José Larco or Av Arequipa in Miraflores.
To get to Barranco, look for buses along Av Arequipa labeled 'Chorrillos/Huaylas/
Metro' (some will also have signs that say 'Barranco'). You can also find these on the Di-
agonal, just west of the Parque Kennedy, in Miraflores.
Taxi
Lima's taxis lack meters, so negotiate fares before getting in. Fares vary depending on the
length of the journey, traffic conditions, time of day (evening is more expensive) and your
Spanish skills. Registered taxis or taxis hailed outside a tourist attraction charge higher
rates. As a (very) rough guide, a trip within Miraflores costs around S5 to S8. From Mira-
flores to Central Lima is S10 to S15, to Barranco from S5 to S10, and San Isidro from S6
to S12. You can haggle fares - though it's harder during rush hour. If there are two or
more passengers be clear on whether the fare is per person or for the car.
The majority of taxis in Lima are unregistered (unofficial); indeed, surveys have indic-
ated that no less than one vehicle in seven here is a taxi. During the day, it is generally not
a problem to use either. At night it is safer to use registered taxis, which have a rectangu-
lar authorization sticker with the word SETAME on the upper left corner of the wind-
shield. Registered taxis also usually have a yellow paint job and a license number painted
on the sides.
Registered taxis can be called by phone or found at taxi stands, such as the one outside
the Sheraton in Central Lima or outside the LarcoMar shopping mall in Miraflores. Re-
gistered taxis cost about 30% to 50% more than regular street taxis and can be hired on a
per-hour basis from S25.
The following companies all work 24 hours and accept advance reservations:
Moli Taxi ( 479-0030)
Taxi América ( 165-1960)
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