Jorge Chávez International Airport sits in Callao, 11 kilometers northwest of Lima's historic center. The facility processed 23.9 million passengers in 2019 before pandemic disruption, making it the primary entry point for international travelers to Peru. The airport operates a single passenger terminal with two concourses handling both domestic and international flights. Renovations completed between 2016 and 2019 expanded capacity and modernized immigration facilities, reducing average processing times during peak hours. The elevation at sea level requires no acclimatization for arriving passengers, unlike airports in Cusco or other highland cities.
Immigration queues at Jorge Chávez divide into resident and non-resident lines. Citizens of the United States, Canada, European Union member states, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan receive tourist entry stamps valid for 183 days without visa requirements as of 2024. Officers stamp passports with entry dates but rarely ask detailed questions unless documentation appears irregular. The process typically takes 15 to 40 minutes during daytime international arrivals, extending to 60 minutes when multiple wide-body aircraft arrive simultaneously between 10 PM and midnight. Travelers must present passports valid for six months beyond entry date. Peru does not require proof of onward travel for most nationalities, though airline check-in staff at origin airports sometimes request confirmation.
Baggage claim operates with electronic display boards showing carousel assignments. Domestic arrivals use carousels 1 through 3, while international flights use carousels 4 through 8. Belt speeds run slower than North American or European standards, with full aircraft loads taking 25 to 35 minutes to complete delivery. Lost baggage counters for LATAM Airlines, Avianca, and Sky Airline operate near carousel 5. The airport posts contact information for other carriers near their respective carousels. Travelers filing lost baggage claims receive reference numbers required for follow-up, typically through airline mobile applications or WhatsApp numbers provided at the counter.
Customs declarations require passengers to complete forms distributed on inbound flights. Peru prohibits importation of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat products, and dairy without agricultural permits. Cocaine and cocaine derivatives carry mandatory criminal prosecution regardless of quantity. Customs agents use random selection and behavioral observation to choose passengers for baggage inspection. Green "nothing to declare" and red "goods to declare" channels funnel passengers to either direct exit or inspection tables. Inspections involve opening luggage, questioning about trip purpose, and occasionally swabbing electronics for trace narcotics. The process adds 5 to 15 minutes. Travelers carrying camera equipment, laptops, or drones pass through without special declaration unless values exceed $2,000 USD in aggregate.
Currency exchange windows in the arrivals hall offer rates 8 to 12 percent below interbank rates as of 2024. Banco de Crédito del Perú and Interbank operate 24-hour ATMs in the arrivals area dispensing Peruvian soles and US dollars. Daily withdrawal limits typically reach 1,400 soles (approximately $370 USD) per transaction, with machines allowing multiple transactions. Foreign transaction fees depend on home bank policies rather than Peruvian institutions. Credit cards function widely in Lima but less reliably in smaller cities. The sol traded at 3.78 to 1 USD in March 2024, fluctuating within a 3.60 to 3.90 range over the prior 12 months. Exchanging $100 to $200 USD covers immediate needs for travelers planning to access ATMs in Lima proper.
Official airport taxis use a prepaid coupon system operated by authorized companies including Taxi Green, CMV, and Taxi Ejecutivo. Booths in the arrivals hall sell fixed-price vouchers based on destination zones. Miraflores, San Isidro, and Barranco fall within Zone 2, costing 65 to 75 soles ($17 to $20 USD) as of 2024. Historic Lima center costs 55 to 65 soles. Journey times range from 35 minutes during low-traffic periods between 11 PM and 5 AM to 90 minutes during rush hours from 7 AM to 9 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM. Drivers wait at designated areas holding passenger name signs, proceeding to vehicles after verifying voucher codes. Vehicles include sedans, minivans, and SUVs depending on group size requested at the booth.
Unauthorized taxi drivers approach passengers in baggage claim and arrivals corridors offering lower prices. These vehicles lack insurance coverage, GPS tracking, and driver background verification. The Peruvian National Police documented 147 robbery incidents involving unauthorized airport taxis in Lima province during 2022, compared to three incidents involving authorized services. Authorized taxi drivers wear photo identification badges and company uniforms. Their vehicles display registration numbers matching those printed on prepaid vouchers. Travelers using ride-hailing applications must walk to the departures level, as regulations prohibit these services from operating in arrivals zones.
Airport Express Lima operates bus service connecting Jorge Chávez to Miraflores via dedicated airport shuttles departing every 30 minutes between 5 AM and 11 PM. The service costs 8 soles ($2.10 USD) as of 2024, with payment accepted in cash or by credit card at the service counter near exit door 8. Buses stop at multiple hotels along Avenida José Larco and Avenida Arequipa before terminating at Larcomar shopping center. Total journey time averages 55 minutes outside rush hours, extending to 100 minutes during peak traffic. Each bus accommodates 28 seated passengers plus luggage storage underneath. No advance reservation system exists, with boarding on first-come basis.
Metropolitan Lima bus system connects the airport through feeder routes requiring transfers at Plaza Grau station. This option costs 2.50 soles ($0.65 USD) but involves stairs, narrow turnstiles incompatible with large luggage, and standing sections during crowded periods. Few international arrivals use this system for initial airport transfer. Travelers staying multiple days in Lima purchase Metropolitano smart cards at station windows, loading credit for subsequent trips. The system operates dedicated bus lanes along major corridors but does not reach many tourist-frequented neighborhoods directly.
Domestic connections to Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo, and Iquitos depart from the same terminal as international arrivals. Transfer passengers must exit the secure area, walk approximately 400 meters through public corridors, and re-enter security screening for domestic gates. No airside connections exist. Minimum connection time for arriving international passengers catching domestic flights is 180 minutes, accounting for immigration, baggage claim, check-in, and security. LATAM Airlines operates the highest frequency on the Lima-Cusco route with approximately 18 daily departures. Star Perú, Sky Airline, and Avianca also serve this route. Flight duration is 1 hour 20 minutes. Fares range from $80 to $320 USD depending on booking timing and service class.
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco sits at 3,399 meters elevation. Aircraft arrivals in morning hours reduce weather delay risk, as afternoon thermal winds and cloud formation close the airport 30 to 40 days per year. Passengers arriving from sea-level Lima to highland Cusco experience immediate altitude exposure. Acute mountain sickness symptoms including headache, nausea, and fatigue affect 25 to 40 percent of arriving travelers within six hours according to studies published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine journal. Spending first nights at lower elevations in Urubamba (2,871 meters) or Ollantaytambo (2,792 meters) reduces symptom incidence. Medical facilities in Cusco include Hospital Regional, Clínica Pardo, and Clínica San José for travelers requiring physician evaluation.
Rental car desks at Jorge Chávez include Hertz, Budget, Avis, Europcar, and local operator Mitsui Rent a Car. International driving permits supplement home-country licenses, though rental agencies typically accept licenses printed in Roman alphabet without additional documentation. Insurance options include mandatory third-party coverage required by Peruvian law and optional collision damage waiver. Daily rates for compact sedans begin at $35 USD, increasing to $90 USD for SUVs. Drivers must be minimum age 25 with credit cards matching reservation names. Lima traffic density and aggressive driving patterns lead most first-time visitors to defer vehicle rental until reaching destinations outside the capital.