Which is a safe place to stay in Lima
Is Lima safe? First of all, to make your stay safe in Lima it´s not recommendable to stay at the Historic Center. In any case don´t stroll around the area at night. Book your hotel or hostel in Miraflores or Barranco. In particular, Miraflores is the safest touristic place to stay. There is quite a good amount of Municipal Police officers patrolling the streets and parks. Most streets are monitored with video cameras. If for some reason you book a hotel near the airport better don´t walk around. The international airport is located in Callao which is not a safe place in Lima. For a safe transport from the airport to Miraflores, check here. By the way, before coming remember to put a lock and keys for your luggage zippers. From time to time passengers find their luggage open and their stuff stolen by airport workers.
How to be safe in Lima
In any case, wherever you go just use your common sense. As anywhere else in the world you have to be aware of pick-pockets. Don´t keep the wallet in your back pocket. Be aware of your camera. Where ever you go keep an eye on your belongings.
Don´t carry too much cash with you. Unless you are going to buy a bottle of water in a stand or a small grocery store, most restaurants and shops accept credit cards. Keep your documents at your Hotel Safe.
Do not halt taxis off the street. Taxis are not metered and the custom here is to ask the price in advance before you get in. The point is that once the driver hears your foreign accent, you can expect the price to be automatically doubled or tripled. It´s better to use reliable taxi service provided by your hotel. Or you can use Uber, which is safe, convenient and cheap. With Uber you have the advantage to know the price in advance and can pay by credit card. When riding a taxi always put your purse on the floor of the vehicle. It happens frequently that when cars stop in some light signals a thief can smash your window and run away with your belongings.
At restaurants and bars
When eating at a restaurant don´t leave your cellphone or camera on the table. Don´t hang your purse on the chair. Always hold it on your lap. Don´t just put your backpack over the empty chair next to you or besides you on the floor. Keep it between your legs. It doesn´t matter how nice and safe the place where you are taking a coffee looks. Thieves can always manage a way to steal around.
Don’t trust anybody so easily. That charming lady you just met can drug you in a bar any moment when you are distracted or in the restroom and steal your money. Much worse, if you happen to take her to a hotel room you may wake up next day completely naked, without a cent and sick. In the local slang these women are called “peperas”. Be aware of them!
Finally, as in any other city in the world, just take your precautions. Unless you move into dangerous areas out of the normal circuit recommended to you, things will go fine. This is not a city where you may easily encounter robbery with guns or narco mafias crimes. We have been talking here about petty thefts, not of life-threatening cases.
A last advise from Private Lima Tours: learn some useful Spanish expressions before you come.
Follow these recommendations and get ready to enjoy to the fullest a safe stay in Lima.