Traveling in Lima requires a bit of caution, and Lima safety tips will help you have a safe trip to Lima.

Like in any big city, travelers in Lima are at risk of being victims of petty crimes. Lima unfortunately has a lot of these, and also an elevated incidence of more serious crimes.

That doesn’t mean that you should avoid traveling to Lima. It is relatively safe to visit Lima, but you should heed some Lima safety tips that will help you have a safer visit to Lima.

Lima Safety Tips

First, don’t wear (or even bring) any expensive or expensive-looking jewelry, sun glasses, handbags, accessories, or watches in Lima. Doing so will make you a target for theft.

Leave your phone and other high-end electronics in your hotel room safe unless you absolutely need them. Make sure to keep cameras and other gadgets out of sight as much as possible if you carry them with you in Lima.

Leave your passport, tickets, and any other travel documents in a safe in your hotel room. Never leave the hotel with them in your pocket, bag, or purse, and don’t leave them or any other valuables lying out in your room in your hotel in Lima.

Before you travel to Lima, buy a money belt and wear it on the inside of your clothes while you walk around Lima. Only bring as much cash as you need to spend that day, and only one credit card.

Buy a fake wallet and put a few coins in it. If you get mugged or robbed in Lima, hand over the fake wallet instead of your money belt. That said, if you are pressed for more, don’t resist. Your safety is more important than your money belt.

Don’t hail taxis on the street in Lima. Have your hotel call a taxi for you or use a hotel car. It’s more expensive, but it’s far less risky than taking a street taxi in Lima.

Don’t walk around on the streets in Lima at night. Even during the day it is best to avoid walking in empty areas or small, deserted side streets.

Below are some of the best traditional Peruvian foods and drinks.

If you are planning to visit Peru, make sure to try them while you’re in the country.

Best Traditional Peruvian Foods

Papa a la Huancaina
From Huancayo, Papa a la Huancaina is a food made from fresh spicy cheese, boiled potatoes and a boiled egg.

Ceviche
Perhaps the best known traditional Peruvian food, cevich is fresh fish or seafood mixed with chopped onion, limo chilli, and cooked corn.

Lomo Saltado
Lomo Saltado is prime beef cooked with onions and fresh herbs. It is usually served with fried potatoes and white rice.

Carapulcra
Carapulcra is a stew made of dried Peruvian potatoes, chilis, peanuts, cumin and a meat such as pork. It is served with white rice.

Bembos Hamburger
Bembos hamburgers are known throughout Peru as being the best burgers in the country.

Best Traditional Peruvian Desserts

Suspiro a la Limena
A traditional Peruvian dessert, Suspiro a la Limena is a lemon custard-type dessert with whipped cream on top.

Arroz con Leche
Literally rice with milk, arroz con leche is a great Peruvian dessert.

Picarones
Picarones are sweet fried pumpkin doughnuts.

Lucuma
Lucuma is a creamy yellow fruit that is found in many Peruvian ice creams such as those at the excellent Laritza Gelateria in Lima.

Maracuya
Maracuya is a tangy Peruvian Passion fruit that is great on its own or paired with sweet flavors.

Best Traditional Peruvian Drinks

Chicha Morada
A chicha morada is a drink made from boiled ears of purple corn, pineapple rind, cinnamon, and cloves.

Inca Kola
A lemon flavored soft drink, Inca Kola is a caffeinated drink that is very popular with Peruvians.

Pisco Sour
A pisco sour is a Peruvian cocktail made with pisco, lemon or lime juice, egg whites, simple syrup, and regional bitters.

Cusquena Beer
Cusquena beer is one of the best known and most traditional Peruvian beers.

Lima’s restaurant scene is lively and innovative, and some of the best restaurants in South America can be found in the capital of Peru.

Keep in mind that if you want to eat the best ceviches in Lima, you’ll have to do so during lunch. Ceviche is traditionally only eaten during the day in Peru, so most ceviche restaurants open around noon and close by 5pm.

Here is my list of the best restaurants in Lima:

Astrid & Gaston
Address: 175, Miraflores, Cantuarias, Lima
A great Gaston Acurio restaurant, Astrid & Gaston restaurant is one of Lima’s best.

Francesco
Address: Malecon de la Marina 526, Santa Cruz Miraflores, Lima
Another great lunch spot, the award winning Francesco restaurant serves up some of the top ceviches in Lima.

Fusion Restaurant
Address: Choquehuanca 714, San Isdiro, Lima
With a focus on locally sourced ingredients and high quality food, the modern Fusion restaurant in Lima is not only a great place to have dinner, but with an excellent wine list, a great place for drinks as well.

La Gloria
Address: Calle Atahualpa 201, Miraflores, Lima
The top Mediterranean restaurant in town, La Gloria is an always-packed favorite spot for a romantic lunch or dinner in Lima.

La Mar
Address: Avenida La Mar 770, Miraflores, Lima
Great for lunch, the famous La Mar Cebicheria in Lima is so famous that there are now sister restaurants as far flung as San Francisco, California. The best dishes are the ceviches, so make sure to try a few.

Las Brujas de Cachiche
Address: Ovalo Bolognesi 460, Miraflores, Lima
Set in a historic mansion, Las Brujas de Cachiche restaurant in Lima offers top notch traditional Peruvian cuisine.

Jose Antonio Restaurant
Address: Bernardo Monteagudo 200, San Isidro. Lima and Avenida La Floresta 124, Chacarilla del Estanque, Lima
Offering great creole cuisine in a wild west-themed setting, Jose Antonio restaurant in Lima offers some of the best traditional Peruvian cooking in Lima.

La Rosa Nautica
Address: Espigon 4 Circuito de Playas, Miraflores, Lima
With a great location right on the water and housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building, La Rosa Nautica is one of Lima’s best restaurants. Go for the views as much as for the food.

Malabar
Address: Camino Real 101, San Isidro, Lima
The only chef in Lima that uses Amazonian ingredients and recipes, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino cooks up amazing fusion food that blends Peruvian, Italian, and Cuban cuisines. Don’t miss the famous Pisco Punch made from a historic recipe at the swanky bar.

Osaka Restaurant
Address: Conquistadores 999, San Isidro, Lima
Peruvian chef Jan van Oordt and Japanese chef Hajime Kasuga cook up some of the most inventive fusion cuisine in Lima. Their Japanese-Peruvian dishes and minimalist decor make Osaka sushi restaurant one of the best restaurants in Lima.

Panchita
Address: Avenida 2 de Mayo 298, Miraflores, Lima
Another top Gaston Acurio restaurant. Panchita restaurant serves up great criole food in Lima.

Pescados Capitales
Address: La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima
With great fish and seafood dishes, in a casual atmosphere, Pescados Capitales is the perfect place to indulge in a lunch of the best ceviches in Peru.

Rafael Osterling Restaurant
Address: San Martin 300, Miraflores, Lima
A Peruvian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant, Rafael Osterling restaurant in Lima is known for its quality cuisine and attention to detail.

Rodrigo’s Restaurant
Address: Francisco de Paula Camino 231, Miraflores, Lima
Rodrigo Conroy’s hip Rodrigo’s Restaurant serves up great Basque cuisine in a stylish atmosphere. Come for lunch, dinner, or late night drinks.

Sangucheria Pasquale Hnos.
Address: Avenida La Marina, Lima
With delicious traditional Peruvian sandwiches, this Gaston Acurio restaurant is a great place to have a casual meal.

Segundo Muelle
Address: Av. Conquistadores 489, San Isidro, Lima
With a motto of “passion for the sea”, Segundo Muelle serves up some of the best seafood in Lima. Don’t forget to try their excellent ceviches for lunch.

Wa Lok Restaurant
Address: Jr. Paruro 864-878, Lima
Not to be missed when traveling to Lima, this “chifa”, or Chinese, restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Lima. Wa Lok serves up excellent food that more than makes up for the rather uninspiring decor.

After torrential rains washed out the train tracks leading up to Machu Picchu, emergency repair work was carried out so that Machu Picchu could reopen to tourism.

On April 1, 2010 Machu Picchu reopened for visitors. The railroad to Machu Picchu is fixed and visitors can now take the train to Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes again.

The Puente de los Suspiros Bridge in Barranco, Lima is a famous wooden bridge.

The bridge crosses the Bajada de los Banos and is an iconic sight to see in Lima.

This Puente de los Suspiros Bridge in Barranco has been a source of inspiration for Peruvian musicians.

These include Chabuca Granda, who wrote a song that bears the name of the bridge and later made him famous.

The Peruvians have a saying, “The barranquinos know from very old tradition that the founder of Barranco was nothing less than God”.

There is a lot of great sightseeing in Lima that can keep visitors occupied for a long time.

Even if you’re just in Lima for a short time, it is easy to to see many of the city’s best sightseeing spots.

Some of the best sightseeing in Lima is as follows.

- Going to Barranco neighborhood to see the Puente de los Suspiros Bridge.
- Enjoying the parks in Lima, including the Municipal Park in the Miraflores district, Universitario Park, Muralla Park, and Exposition Park.
- Heading to downtown Lima to see the colonial architecture in Plaza San Martín, Riva Aguero House, Torre Tagle Palace, Casa Aliaga, the Congress building, and San Marcos House.
- Visiting religious sites in Lima, including Lima Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church, La Merced Church, and San Francisco Church. The Catacombs of the San Francisco Church have a fine collection of colonial religious art from South America.

After a brisk day of walking around at the altitude, a break at the traditional Bolivar Hotel to get a Pisco Sour is always a good idea.