Lima · Peru
LIM — Jorge Chávez International
A brand-new terminal, and access roads that are still settling down
Lima replaced its airport terminal wholesale. The new Jorge Chávez terminal opened on 1 June 2025, built alongside the old one and roughly three times its size, with a second runway that had already been in use since 2023. All commercial flights moved across in a single overnight transfer.
The result is a far better airport than the cramped one it replaced, and the main gateway to Peru for anyone heading to Cusco and Machu Picchu. It is also a significant connecting point for the west coast of South America.
The one caveat is ground access. The main approach road changed with the move, and the surrounding infrastructure has been catching up, so journeys to and from the airport have at times taken longer than the distance suggests.
Terminals and how they connect
The new terminal
A single large terminal handling all commercial flights, domestic and international, with a substantially higher gate count than the building it replaced. Because everything operates from one structure, connections do not involve a terminal change.
Getting into Lima
Times below are realistic ranges rather than best cases. Rail journeys keep to a timetable; road journeys do not, and treating the two the same is how people miss flights.
Authorised taxi or pre-booked transfer
40–75 minutes to Miraflores
Use the official desks inside the terminal rather than accepting offers in the arrivals hall. Lima traffic is heavy and the journey to the main tourist districts crosses the city.
Airport express bus
50–90 minutes to Miraflores
A dedicated service runs to the main tourist districts, considerably cheaper than a taxi and designed for luggage, which the general public transport is not.
Connecting through LIM
Lima is a major connecting hub for South America, with a large share of the traffic transferring rather than terminating. On a single ticket the process is straightforward within the one terminal. Domestic connections onward to Cusco are extremely common; note that domestic baggage allowances are frequently more restrictive than the international ones on the same ticket.
Worth knowing before you fly
Allow extra time to reach the airport
Access arrangements changed when the new terminal opened, and travel times have been unpredictable while the surrounding road network catches up. Three hours before an international departure is the sensible default rather than the cautious one.
Check the domestic baggage rules for the Cusco leg
The single most common problem on a Lima itinerary is discovering that the generous international allowance does not carry over to the domestic flight onward. Check the domestic segment separately when you book.
Altitude comes later, not here
Lima is at sea level, so there is no altitude issue at the airport. Cusco, at around 3,400 metres, is a different matter, and going straight from a long-haul flight to Cusco without a night at lower altitude is harder than most people expect.
Terminal assignments, transit timetables and fares all change. Confirm the details that matter to your trip with the airport or transport operator before you travel.
Routes through LIM
Flying to Lima
FAQ
LIM — common questions
Terminals, transfers and getting into the city.
Has Lima airport moved?
Not to a new site, but to a new building. The new Jorge Chávez terminal opened on 1 June 2025 alongside the old one, roughly three times the size, and all commercial flights transferred to it. The old terminal no longer handles commercial passenger flights.
How long does it take to get from Lima airport to Miraflores?
Typically forty to seventy-five minutes by road, depending on traffic and the time of day. Access routes changed with the new terminal, so allow more time than the distance suggests, particularly for a departure.
Can I fly straight from Lima to Cusco after a long flight?
You can, and many people do, but Cusco sits at around 3,400 metres and the altitude hits harder after a long journey. Spending a night in Lima or in the lower Sacred Valley rather than Cusco itself is the usual advice.
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