Lima Airline Crew Layover Guide
Reviewed by Captain AL
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The LIM crew card
| Fastest into town | AeroDirecto public buses run six routes into Lima and Callao for PEN 3.00 to 5.00, depending on how far you ride; the bus companies set the fares |
|---|---|
| Night option | AeroDirecto runs 24 hours a day: up to every 25 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., then about hourly overnight from a short fixed stop list |
| Payments | Cash or digital wallet, on all six AeroDirecto routes: Ventanilla, Norte, Sur, Centro, Quilca, Terminal Norte |
| Tap water | Not straight from the tap. Peru’s health authority DIGESA tells households to disinfect drinking water first, two drops of 5 percent bleach per liter for 30 minutes, so buy bottled on a layover |
| Emergency | 105 (Separate national lines per service; there is no single catch-all number on Peru’s official list) |
| Solo & at night | Book taxis at the official service counters in National and International Arrivals; staff walk you out to your driver, into a dedicated parking area inside the airport |
| Crew knows | The AeroDirecto bus at PEN 3.00 to 5.00 is the only published fare out of this airport: the taxi counter posts no list and Uber only estimates in the app, so agree the taxi price before you ride |
| Crew deals | Verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff: on this page, right below this guide. |
airlinecrewdiscount.net · LIM crew card · Checked Aug 2026 · Next check Nov 2026 · Screenshot this card for offline
Every number on this page comes from an official source. Where no official source gives a number, we say so instead of guessing.
Flying into LIM again? Add this page to your home screen (or Ctrl+D / Cmd+D), and skip working this out at 23:40 next time.
Getting from Jorge Chavez Airport to Lima: the AeroDirecto bus, a taxi, or Uber?
The airport sits in Callao, west of the city. Three ways out, according to the operator’s own transport page: authorized taxis, car rental, and buses. The bus is ATU’s AeroDirecto, paid in soles. Nobody official publishes a trip time, and Lima traffic is heavy, so build a wide buffer in both directions.
👉 Swipe sideways to see the full table
| Mode | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus (AeroDirecto, ATU) | 24-hour service on all six routes; up to every 25 minutes 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., about hourly 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the routes ATU lists (Quilca about every 30 minutes, Sur from midnight) | PEN 3.00 to 5.00 depending on distance, flat PEN 5.00 on the Terminal Norte route; the bus companies set the fares | Six routes link the terminal with points in Lima and Callao: Terminal Norte, Norte, Centro, Sur, Ventanilla, Quilca. The fleet behind them is more than 50 marked buses. What you pay depends on how far you ride. The Centro route serves the historic center, and the night-bus tip below carries the overnight stop list. |
| Authorized taxi | Two tiers: Taxi regular and Taxi VIP. You book at the service counters in National and International Arrivals, and staff guide you to your driver in an exclusive parking area inside the airport. No fare list is published online. Settle the price at the counter before you ride. | ||
| Rideshare (Uber) | Uber officially lists Jorge Chavez as a served airport and states it is available 24/7. Pull the price estimate before you request. Check the driver and the vehicle against the app before you get in, and take Uber’s own line seriously: the airport is very busy, so request early or reserve the ride ahead. |
Best Areas for Crew Stays in Lima: where to base yourself
Miraflores: The default crew base. Clifftop malecon parks look out over the Pacific, the cafe and hotel blocks run dense, and nothing else in the city walks this well.
Barranco: Lima’s small bohemian quarter, right next door to Miraflores. Old mansions and street art, and an easy stroll after dark.
Historic Center: The colonial core around Plaza Mayor and Plaza San Martin. Treat it as a daytime loop.
San Isidro: The quiet business district, green streets around the El Olivar olive grove. More suits than sights.
Callao: The working port city the airport itself sits in. Most crew ride straight through it, toward the coastal districts.
What to Do on a Layover in Lima: how long have you got?
Under 5 hours: Stay airside. The terminal is new and large, with food, rest areas, and free Wi-Fi. Getting into town and back out again can swallow a short window on its own.
5 to 9 hours: One district, one loop. Take the historic center for the plazas, or Miraflores for the clifftop walk, then protect a fat buffer for the return leg. Traffic is what breaks Lima layover plans.
9 hours plus: Now the coast works properly. Miraflores and Barranco back to back, or the historic center in daylight with dinner by the ocean. Keep the return generous, and sort your ride back before you leave the terminal.
Crew Tips for Lima
Paying for the bus: Cash and digital wallets both work on AeroDirecto: on the Ventanilla route, and on the other five services (Norte, Sur, Centro, Quilca, Terminal Norte). Have small soles ready if you pay cash.
Night buses: AeroDirecto runs 24 hours a day. From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. these routes keep going: Quilca, Norte, Centro, Ventanilla. The Sur route joins at midnight. Overnight the buses come about once an hour (Quilca about every 30 minutes) and call only at a short list of set stops; on the Centro route that list includes Plaza San Martin in the historic center.
Airport Wi-Fi: The terminal has free Wi-Fi: connect to the network .FreeWifiJorgeChavez and accept the terms. Pull your offline maps down there, or order the ride, while you are still inside.
Inside the terminal: The airport’s own services list covers the layover basics: baggage protection (store and protect your luggage), ATMs, a bank, currency exchange, rest stations, VIP lounges, 24/7 medical assistance, and an on-site Costa del Sol Wyndham hotel. None of it is priced online. Ask at the counter first.
Connection fee (TUUA): Since October 27, 2025, passengers whose international connection point is Lima must pay a Transfer TUUA airport fee (INT to INT). The operator states plainly that it could not get airlines to include the fee in the ticket price. Three ways to settle it: online in advance, at authorized agents with mobile POS along the connection route, or at dedicated counters.
Taxis, the safe pattern: Use the airport’s authorized taxi system. Counters sit inside both arrivals halls, staff walk you out to your driver, and pickup happens in a dedicated parking area. Anything not booked through those counters or a ride app, skip it.
Emergency Numbers for Lima and Peru
👉 Swipe sideways if the numbers do not fit
| Police emergency (Central policial) | 105 |
| Medical emergency, SAMU ambulance (free, 24 hours) | 106 |
| Firefighters (Bomberos) | 116 |
| Serenazgo Miraflores (district security patrol, main crew hotel area) | 01 617 7281 |
| Peru country code (calling from abroad) | +51 |
Save these before you fly; numbers work from any phone.
How do you get from Jorge Chavez Airport into Lima?
Three ways. AeroDirecto public buses cover six routes into Lima and Callao, PEN 3.00 to 5.00 depending on how far you ride. Authorized taxis are booked at the service counters in National and International Arrivals, and staff walk you out to your driver. Uber officially serves the airport too, so request in the app and check the price estimate first.
Do the AeroDirecto airport buses run at night?
Yes, AeroDirecto operates 24 hours a day. Between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. buses pass up to every 25 minutes. Overnight it thins to about hourly on four routes, Quilca, Norte, Centro, Ventanilla, from a short list of set stops, with Quilca about every 30 minutes; the Sur route starts at midnight.
How much does the bus from Lima airport cost?
AeroDirecto fares run PEN 3.00 to PEN 5.00, depending on how far you ride; the Terminal Norte route is a flat PEN 5.00. Buses take cash and digital wallets. Keep some soles on you if cash is your plan.
Can you drink tap water in Lima?
Treat it first. Peru’s health authority DIGESA tells households to disinfect drinking water, two drops of 5 percent bleach per liter for 30 minutes. On a layover, that makes bottled the practical answer.
What are the emergency numbers in Lima, Peru?
Peru splits them by service: 105 for police, 106 for a free 24-hour SAMU ambulance, and 116 for firefighters. The country code is +51. In Miraflores, the district serenazgo security patrol answers on 01 617 7281.
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Crew Discounts in Lima: verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff sit right below this guide.
