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Today I am going to tell you how to use the complex public transportation of Lima, from the bus, Metropolitan and ending in the modern Metro from Lima.
On my most recent trip to Lima after the JetSMART's inaugural flight to Quito, I took the opportunity to visit many sectors of the city, but with the difference that I did it on public transport. In case you didn't know this about me, I love using buses, subway and everything in order to get to know a place even more with its people and customs.
Lima, It is a vibrant city, full of history and huge, that offers a wide variety of options to move through its streets. En is fasting, I will tell you, I will help you navigate the intricate public transportation system of the Peruvian capital, focusing on public buses, the Metropolitan and the Lima Metro, with updated information on prices and rates as of March 2024.
Public transportation in Lima: bus, Metropolitan and Metro
First I want to start by saying that this is a brief guide summarizing everything I learned during the 4 days I visited this city. That being said, I'm going to start by saying that I love it. Lima, but unless you move around the city by taxi or Uber, doing it on public transport can be chaotic and is not for everyone.
First, I invite you to watch the video I made in Lima, showing you how the three methods of public transportation I used in Lima work, but focused on the city's modern Metro, It's on YouTube and here:
We start with the tips.
1. Bus: The most economical option
Yes friends, it's super cheap, since depending on the distance they travel they can pay S/ 1 or some $0.27 cents on the dollar, but there are many buts. I even went to the airport on the common transportation bus., but it's chaos, the buses do not respect the stops, They do not respect the route that appears on Google Maps and the signage to know which bus serves and where it goes, it is not easy to see or there is no.
Having said that, If you are going to use the bus, be very careful, first for safety reasons and second for the risks of driving these buses, which have very little respect for general traffic laws..
Cost:
- Buses with conductor: The rate varies depending on the route and the transport company. On average, a trip costs between S/. 2.50 y S/. 5.00.
- express buses: The fare varies depending on the route. You can check the prices at the stops directly with the driver or conductor.
How to pay:
- Cash: Pay the driver or conductor the exact fare when boarding the bus.
- Only cash is accepted as the only payment method.
- wears loose.
recommendations:
- Be careful with your belongings, since the buses can be full, especially during peak hours.
- Plan your trip in advance and check the routes on Google Maps (although the route is referential, In my case they did not comply).
- Pay attention to the stops and get off where you belong.
- If you need help, you can ask the driver or other passengers
- Yes indeed, Everyone helps you very kindly and recommends which bus to use or where to connect with another.
2. Metropolitan: Efficiency and speed
I really liked this system and I used it to try to get to the Metro (there is no connection between the systems surprisingly) and to go to the historic center of Lima with great efficiency. It reminded me a lot of the Ecovía and Trole de Quito, but well done, neat and very functional.
This system is very secure, There are many options for routes and destinations and the best, It is very fast since it uses exclusive routes. Recommended to go downtown 100%. As I indicated, the system works very well, but for now there is no integration with the Lima Metro both in stops that are close to both systems and in the use card (you need a card for each system).
Cost:
- Fee per trip or each time you enter a station: S/. 3.50
- There are other values for the use of feeders or connections.
How to pay:
- Metropolitan Card: The card is the only payment method accepted at the Metropolitano.
- The rechargeable card costs S/. 4.50
- Apart from the value of the card, you can recharge the value you want at the entrance of each station or at the rechargeable machines..
recommendations:
- Buy your card at Metropolitano stations or at authorized kiosks.
- Avoid rush hours (7:00 – 9:00 and 17:00 – 19:00) for higher comfort.
- Follow the safety regulations within the Metropolitano:
- Do not obstruct the passage of other passengers.
- Give up your seat to older people, pregnant or disabled.
- Do not eat or drink inside the bus.
- Keep the volume of your mobile device low.
3. Lima Metro: The most modern option
Really, come into Metro of Lima is taking a leap into the future and it is so difficult to understand how there is so much difference between what happens in the subway and what happens on surface buses.
Going from the chaos of buses to the metro is beautiful and I hope that the change that is experienced in Lima's transportation with the trains, may also be represented at some point in public bus transportation.. The Metro works very well, but as you saw in the video above there are some details that can be improved, but it is an efficient and very economical system of $.040 cents.
Going deeper with the Metro, at the moment Lima It has six lines in planning, but at the moment the only one that is 100% functional is the Line 1 that runs more than 30 kilometers through several of the most populated neighborhoods of Lima. The other line that is quite advanced is the Line 2, which already has five active stations in operation and is expected to be ready this year, being the first underground line.
The other line that is advancing quite a bit is the Line 4 that will activate connectivity to the Lima airport, although not to the new terminal, and news is expected very soon.
Cost:
- Travel fee: S/. 1.50
How to pay:
- Metro Card: It is the only payment method accepted in the Lima Metro.
- The rechargeable card costs S/. 5.00
- Apart from the value of the card, you must load the value you want at the entrance of each station or at the recharge machines.
recommendations:
- Plan your trip in advance and check the routes on the official website of the Lima Metro or Google Maps.
- In my experience, at least on the line 1, the subway is always full of trains, so be prepared to be on your feet on your tour.
- Use escalators and elevators for greater comfort or if you have mobility difficulties.
- It never hurts to be careful with your belongings at stations and carriages..
- Respect the rules of coexistence in the Metro:
- Do not run or push.
- Do not block the doors.
- Do not consume food or drinks inside the train.
- Give up your seat to older people, pregnant or disabled.
summarizing, this is public transportation in Lima:
| Option | Cost | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Bus | S/. 2.50 – S/. 5.00 | Economic | It can be slow, congested and at higher risk of crime |
| Metropolitan | S/. 3.50 – S/. 5.70 | Efficient, faster and safer | Limited coverage |
| Lima Metro | S/. 1.50 | Modern, fast and safe | Even more limited coverage |
Have you used Lima's public transportation system?? Tell me your experience in the comments and I hope that this guide will be useful for your next trip to the capital of the Peru.
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