Digital Nomad in Lima, Peru: A Complete Guide
Located on Peru’s coast, the beautiful Lima is considered South America’s culinary capital.
It is easily accessible from most major cities, and you can easily spend months here getting to know the city and exploring Peru’s legendary bucket-list adventures.
Lima mixes the best parts of Peru’s culture, cuisine, and nature with all the amenities and luxuries of a bustling metropolis including a plethora of quality coworking spaces.
Keep reading this ultimate guide to make the most of being a digital nomad in Lima, Peru.
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Is Lima Good for Digital Nomads?
Whether you want to go surfing at the beach in Máncora, or climb a 17,000 ft mountain near Cusco, most likely you’ll need to start in Lima first.
But it is a cool place in it’s own right. There are lot’s of high adventure activities such as surfing or paragliding, and tons of places you can take day trips. And the food here is quite literally *chefs kiss*.
In Peru, I personally think smaller cities like Cusco and Arequipa are more interesting places to be a digital nomad if you had to choose. But if you like the big city vibe, Lima is a very nice place to live.
You can stay in modern condos and go to high quality grocery stores with everything you might be homesick for. It’s pretty pedestrian friendly as well and the park along the cliffs overlooking the ocean is perfect for a mid-afternoon work break.
There are tons of young people in Lima who hang out at cool cafeterias with pop up restaurants, craft beer, live music, and vibes.
Does Peru have a Digital Nomad Visa?
Peru does not have a specific visa for digital nomads. However, it is still possible to stay in Peru for an extended amount of time with their tourist visa’s. US citizens, for example, can stay in Peru up to 183 days (that’s over 6 months) without any special visa.
You can enter Peru without a visa if you’re from the USA, EU, Canada, and other countries. You just show up, get a stamp, and continue on your way.
If you plan to stay for less than the maximum time, your visa will go until your return flight in increments of 30-days (30, 60, 90). Unfortunately, the tourist visa’s cannot be extended.
Read more: The Perfect Southern Peru Itinerary for Digital Nomads
A Digital Nomad’s Guide to Lima, Peru
Things to Do in Lima
Surf
The Miraflores district in Lima has one of the best point breaks in Peru, La Herradura. Waves can reach 6 to 12 feet. That’s a little too advanced for me, but if you’re an avid surfer, grab your wetsuit and head to the beach for some epic waves!
Peruvian Food Tour
Explore Barranco with this small-group walking food tour that takes you to the area’s best restaurants and shops to sample a plethora of Peruvian foods and drinks, and even learn to make ceviche and pisco sours!
Weekend trip to Paracas or Huacachina
Lima is a great home-base not only because there is a lot to do within the city, but you can get take a lot of day and weekend trips. Paracas and Huacachina are two cool places to visit that you wont want to miss, from kitesurfing in the desert to sandboarding giant dunes. See them both on this full day Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina tour from Lima.
More things to do in Lima
Book these experiences in Lima:
Best Way to Get to Lima
As the capital, and largest city in Peru, Lima is very accessible from almost every major city in the Americas.
Getting Around Lima
Depending on where you are trying to go there are a variety of ways to get around.
If you are staying in a good neighborhood, like Miraflores or Barranco, pretty much everything you could need will be within walking distance such as grocery stores, restaurants, and parks.
If you wish to go somewhere a bit farther from home, Lima also has a large network of buses. This is probably the cheapest way to get around besides walking, although expect for it to take much longer.
Uber is also available in Lima and, in my opinion, is the easiest way to get around Lima. I’m not the biggest fan of the company, but I do like that it’s convenient, safe, and I know I wont be getting ripped off by a taxi driver when I’m in a strange city.
Where to Live in Lima as a Digital Nomad
If you plan to digital nomad in Lima, there are two neighborhoods that are the most popular.
Miraflores
Miraflores is an affluent neighborhood with lots of high-rise condos, beautiful parks, and amazing upscale restaurants. If you plan to visit one of the many Michelin Star restaurants in Lima, there’s a good chance it’s located in Miraflores.
Also located in Miraflores are most of the coworking spaces in Lima, which I’ll talk more about later.
Miraflores offers a very comfortable way of life, with modern grocery stores, amazing restaurants, local coffee shops, and beautiful parks all within walking distance of your front door.
Barranco
Just south of Miraflores is another great neighborhood, Barranco. It gives a more hip and artsy vibe as it is home to musicians, designers, artists, and photographers. You can find lots of street art and hidden gems around every corner.
The restaurant scene in Barranco is a bit more casual than Miraflores, but just as delicious. From burritos to ramen to ceviche… I’m making myself hungry.
Although I loved Barranco, you might find more luck getting an Airbnb in Miraflores, as there are just a lot more condos in that area. But don’t fret. The neighborhoods aren’t too far apart so you can still take advantage of both districts no matter which one you actually live in.
What to Eat in Lima
Eating your way around Lima is one of the best things to do. The restaurants in Peru are on a whole new level from small Cevicherias to Michelin Star Restaurants.
Ceviche
Ceviche, the national dish of Peru! If you haven’t had it before, it’s fresh raw fish in lime juice with spices, onions, cilantro, and sometimes sweet potatoes or corn. Although the exact origins are still a mystery, ceviche’s history in Peru could possibly date back thousands of years.
While in Lima, the birthplace of ceviche, there is no better place to try it!
Pisco Sour
I would be remise if I did not mention my favorite Peruvian drink, pisco sour. It is an alcoholic drink made of pisco (made from grapes), egg whites, lime juice and bitters.
One thing I found interesting while in Lima was that supposedly Peruvian’s don’t really like or drink wine; they prefer beer or pisco. However, orange wine is coming onto the scene as they are making it with pisco grapes and marketing it as a true Peruvian beverage. So you should also try orange wine while you’re there.
Try a Michelin Star restaurant
Lima, Peru has a famously fantastic food scene. Not only are most normal restaurants amazing, but there are a plethora of Michelin Star restaurants or equivalent offering everything from traditional cuisine to innovative. The best part? You can enjoy these high-end restaurant experiences for a fraction of the cost you might expect in Europe or the US.
Where to Work as a Digital Nomad in Lima
Lima is a relatively big city with big city perks. The internet is reliable and there are lots of coworking spaces to choose from.
Lima WIFI
We stayed in two different accommodations while we were working remote in Lima. The internet in our both was reliable enough to work from home most of the time and to take conference calls (both video and audio, on MS Teams and Zoom).
If you want to venture out to a coworking space however, you certainly have your pick.
Coworking Spaces
Co-Labora
Co-Labora has a variety of spaces to work from (including an outdoor terrace) in addition to enjoying dedicated internet, unlimited coffee and infusions, and other benefits.
Major draws to this cowork space include ergonomic chairs at every desk, plentiful power outlets, and an on-site café.
Additional benefits at Co-Labora include:
- Drink station
- Rooms for meetings and events
- Print station
- Receptionist
- High speed internet
- Lockers
- Networking events
Reserve your coworking space at Co-Labora today!
Worx
Worx is a lovely, modern space with lots of natural daylight and views of Miraflores. They offer high speed WIFI, unlimited coffee, and networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs and freelancers.
They offer several membership tiers. The most basic tier, flex.worx, offers these amenities:
- Shared work space
- Receptionist (bilingual)
- Access Mon to Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- High speed internet
- Parking for visitors
- Unlimited coffee
- Business center
Try before you buy! Worx offers two free days of coworking. Check out all they have to offer.
Deosma Coworking
Deosma Coworking is located in the heart of Barranco. If you need a quiet place to work with reliable internet, this spot is perfect. They have great customer service and a very comfortable space at an affordable rate, offering half-day, full-day, week, or monthly passes. Deosma also offers private offices that are bookable for hours or even days.
Deosma members can enjoy these amenities:
- High speed internet
- Meeting rooms
- Ergonomic chairs
- Cafeteria and dining area
- Kitchenette
- Outdoor patio
- Laundry (self-service)
- Bike/scooter area
Make a reservation today for the only coworking space in Barranco.
Some other great coworking spaces:
Best Time to Work Remote in Lima
In Lima, there are really only two seasons: winter and summer. And unlike other parts of Peru, there is no real change is precipitation throughout the year, meaning it remains constant no matter the season.
Even between the cool and warm seasons in Lima, the temperatures don’t swing too drastically. So if you are planning a full trek through Southern Peru, I’d worry more about the ideal time of year to visit Cusco than Lima.
If you are coming to Lima in hopes of catching some waves, you will definitely need a wetsuit for either season. Even the locals wear them year round.
Warm Months
Peru is on the south side of the equator, meaning the seasons will be opposite that of North America and Europe. So summer in Peru is actually December through April, with temperatures peaking in the low 80s in February.
The odd thing about ‘summer’ in Lima, is that the sky is quite overcast. October through April is very grey and when we worked remote from Lima in October, I don’t think I ever saw the actual sky. It reminded me of a less-depressing Seattle. Peruvians even have a funny saying, calling Lima ‘panza de burro’ or ‘belly of the donkey’ because the sky is completely grey (like a donkey’s belly, I guess?).
Unlike Cusco, the warm, cloudy months don’t see a significant increase in rainfall.
Cool Months
Again it’s opposite day in Peru with the coolest months being June through October. But even during ‘winter’ the temperatures typically stay in the mid 60s during the day.
Although this is the coolest time of year, the sky is pretty clear, with the clearest month being August. Don’t let the temperatures fool you; suns out, guns out still applies.
What to Pack for Lima
The weather in Lima is kind of weird and during our stint in Lima in September and October, I was almost always cold.
It was a little chilly outside but inside was cold as well, and central heating is not common. Space heaters seem to be the move for Airbnb’s, but they weren’t really doing it for me. I was always bundled up inside. This happened to be during our checked-bag era, so thankfully we were randomly carting around a thick blanket from Ecuador.
If you also plan to travel anywhere else in Peru, like Cusco or Nazca, the weather may be drastically different.
Anyway, all that to say, make sure you pack warm layers. Here are some of my go-to items for layering that pack up small:
Is Lima Safe?
Lima is a large city, the largest in Peru. It has ‘bad neighborhoods’ and a certain elevated level of crime on par with other large, major cities. However I wouldn’t be too worried.
I felt very safe in Lima, especially in the Miraflores and Barranco neighborhoods. It’s a bustling area where people live with their families, go to work, and take advantage of the parks and beaches.
Lima doesn’t feel very touristy to me either, and I never saw any type of tourist traps or people trying to scam you.
I probably wouldn’t walk around too much as a female alone at night, but I wouldn’t want to do that anywhere really. Stay smart and you shouldn’t have any issues.
Make Lima Your Next Digital Nomad Destination
Lima is a wonderful place to make your home base as a digital nomad. Between all their is to do in the city and weekend trips, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy when you aren’t working. It is also just a short flight away from Cusco, or the finale of a road trip through Southern Peru.
I hope you enjoy Lima as much as I did, comment below with any questions!
Discover more cities to Digital Nomad in Peru.
