Lima Acclimation Playbook
4 steps to get settled | 0 of 4 complete
🇵🇪Peru GuidePre-Arrival
Everything to sort before you board the plane
Visa and entry requirements
US passport holders receive 90 days on arrival in Peru — no visa required. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. Upon arrival, immigration will stamp your passport with your permitted stay (often less than 90 days if the officer decides — politely ask for the full 90 days if stamped for less). Extensions can be requested at Migraciones offices in Lima before your stamp expires. Peru does not yet have a dedicated digital nomad visa as of early 2026, though the topic has been under government discussion. Most nomads stick to the tourist stamp and do a border run to Bolivia, Chile, or Ecuador after 90 days if staying longer. The currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN); as of 2026 the exchange rate is approximately PEN 3.7–3.9 per USD.
Book accommodation in Miraflores or Barranco first
Book a furnished Airbnb or serviced apartment in Miraflores for your first 2–4 weeks. Miraflores is Lima's digital nomad hub — perched on sea cliffs above the Pacific, it is the safest, most walkable, and most amenity-rich district. Avenida Larco and Parque Kennedy are the main centres; Larcomar mall (built into the cliffside) has supermarkets, pharmacies, and restaurants within easy walking distance of most accommodation. Expect USD 40–80/night for an Airbnb studio. Monthly furnished apartments in Miraflores run PEN 1,800–3,500/month (approximately USD 480–930). Barranco (20 minutes south by taxi) is the bohemian alternative — lower prices, more artistic community, excellent restaurant scene, and a growing nomad presence.
Booking.com
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Get an eSIM before departure
Buy an eSIM from Airalo, Holafly, or Nomad eSIM before you fly. A Peru eSIM with 5–10 GB data typically costs USD 12–20 for 30 days. This gives you immediate connectivity when you land at Jorge Chávez International Airport for navigating the 40-minute highway drive to Miraflores, calling your Uber, and communicating. Within your first 1–2 days, buy a local SIM — Claro, Movistar, and Entel are the main carriers, all available at the airport or any bodega in Miraflores. Entel offers the best LTE coverage and data value; a prepaid plan with 20–30 GB runs PEN 30–55/month (approximately USD 8–15). SIM registration requires your passport.
Airalo
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Arrange travel insurance before you fly
Lima has excellent private hospitals — Clínica Ricardo Palma, Clínica Anglo Americana, and Clínica San Pablo all have English-speaking staff and serve the expat and nomad community well. However, costs without insurance can be significant: a hospital admission starts at USD 200–400/day in a private facility. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (approximately USD 45/month) covers Peru well and is the most widely used option in the nomad community. World Nomads and Genki are solid alternatives. Peru's tap water is not safe to drink in Lima — budget USD 15–25/month on bottled or filtered water as a baseline living cost.
SafetyWing
Travel & medical insurance for nomads