48 hours in Lima after your flight from Toronto or Montreal

The best way to spend 48 hours in Lima after a flight from Toronto or Montreal is simple: sleep first, then split the city in two. Give one day to the historic centre and the other to Miraflores, Barranco and a long lunch, and use the evening before you leave to prepare for the drive south to Paracas and Nazca.

Lima is where almost every Canadian trip to Peru begins, and it deserves more than a quick overnight. Here is a relaxed, realistic plan built around the way the direct flights actually land, with practical tips for travellers who prefer a private, well-organised trip.

When you land: what the direct flights mean for day one

The only non-stop routes from Canada to Lima leave from Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL), with Air Canada in the winter season and Air Transat. The schedules shape your first day more than any guidebook:

• Air Canada AC 86 leaves Toronto at 22:10 and lands in Lima at 06:10 the next morning, a flight of about 8 hours.
• Air Canada AC 88 leaves Montreal at 18:00 and lands at 02:15, about 8 hours and 15 minutes in the air.
• Air Transat's summer 2026 extra Toronto flight, TS152, left at 23:00 and landed at 06:00.
• Air Canada resumes Toronto to Lima on 24 October 2026 and Montreal to Lima on 25 October 2026, with three flights a week on each route.

In other words, you usually arrive overnight or at dawn. The good news is the clock: in the Canadian winter, Toronto and Montreal share Lima's time zone, and in summer Lima is only one hour behind. There is no real jet lag, just a short night. If you fly in from Vancouver or Calgary, you will connect on the way and Lima sits two hours ahead of British Columbia all year.

Our advice is to book your hotel from the night before your arrival, so the room is ready when you walk in at 3:00 or 6:00 in the morning. For the full picture on routes, entry rules and seasons, see our guide to flights, visa and seasons from Canada.

Day one morning: rest, then a gentle start

Resist the urge to sightsee straight away. A proper sleep, a late breakfast and a walk are the best investment in the rest of your trip. Canadian passport holders do not need a tourist visa for stays of less than 90 days, but a night flight is still a night flight.

• Sleep until late morning and keep lunch light.
• Take a short walk near your hotel to stretch your legs after the flight.
• Carry a light layer: between June and October Lima is cool and grey, with highs of 16 to 19 C, while December to April is warm and humid, with highs of 25 to 30 C.
• Get some soles in cash early; you will need them later on the coast.

Day one afternoon: Miraflores and Barranco

Miraflores and Barranco are the easiest introduction to modern Lima. Both sit on the cliffs above the Pacific, so an afternoon here is mostly about walking the parks along the clifftop, watching the ocean and settling into the pace of the city.

Miraflores is tidy, walkable and close to most hotels. Barranco, next door, is smaller and more bohemian, with colourful old houses, galleries and cafes. Plan a slow stroll from one to the other in the afternoon light, and finish with an early dinner. After a night in the air, an early night is the smartest move of the whole trip.

Day two morning: a private Lima city tour of the historic centre

Lima's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is best seen with a guide who can explain what you are looking at. Our private City Tour of Lima is designed for exactly this moment in your trip:

• Pickup at your hotel at 09:00 and return around 13:00, about 4 hours in total.
• The Main Square, the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace and Lima Cathedral.
• The San Francisco Monastery, with its colonial religious art, historic library and underground catacombs.
• A final stop in Miraflores for Pacific views from Larcomar.
• Private transport, an English-speaking guide and all entrance fees are included, from USD 69 per person.

The tour is rated easy, with short walks between the sights, so it suits a first morning after a long journey. Wear comfortable shoes for the monastery and the catacombs.

Day two afternoon: where to eat on a do-it-yourself Lima food tour

Many people come to Peru for the ruins and leave talking about the food. After the city tour you will be back at your hotel by lunchtime, which is the perfect hour for Lima's signature dish, ceviche, traditionally eaten at midday.

A simple self-guided Lima food tour for your second afternoon could look like this:

• A seafood lunch with ceviche in Miraflores or Barranco.
• An afternoon coffee or dessert break while you rest your feet.
• A pisco sour before dinner, but go easy if you have an early start the next morning.
• A relaxed dinner close to your hotel.

Tell us what you like to eat, and any dietary needs, when you plan your trip and we will suggest places that match your taste and your hotel's location.

Day two evening: Lima by night

If you still have energy, Lima after dark is a lovely surprise. Our Lima Tour By Night picks you up at 17:30 and returns you around 21:30. You walk through the illuminated historic centre, visit the San Francisco Church and its catacombs, and end at the Magic Water Circuit in Reserve Park, where the Fountain of Fantasy puts on a show of water, music and light. It costs from USD 75 per person, with private transport, guide and entrance fees included.

If you choose the city tour in the morning, you may prefer to skip the evening tour, since both visit the historic centre and the catacombs. Pick one of them if you want a quieter second day.

Lima after arrival: practical tips for Canadian travellers

• Passport: it must be valid for at least six months after your arrival date, and you may be asked for a return or onward ticket.
• Insurance: the Government of Canada recommends a policy that covers medical evacuation and hospital stays.
• Weather: Lima gets only about 6 mm of rain a year, so you can plan outdoor visits with confidence, though from June to September expect grey skies and light drizzle, locally called garua.
• Altitude: Lima is on the coast, so there is no altitude to worry about here. Altitude sickness becomes a risk from 2,500 m, in places such as Cusco, Puno and Lake Titicaca, which is one more reason to start your trip in Lima.
• Pace: two nights in Lima is the minimum we recommend after a night flight, three if you want an extra free day.

After Lima: heading south to Paracas and Nazca

From Lima, the Pan American Highway runs south along the desert coast to Paracas, Ica and Nazca, which lies 440 to 454 km from the capital. By private car the drive to Nazca takes about 6 hours without stops, closer to 7 with Lima traffic. You have several ways to see the famous lines:

• Nazca Lines Full Day Tour From Lima: private transport from your Lima hotel at 05:00 to the Nazca airfield and back, with the flight, airport taxes and the viewing tower included, from USD 375.
• Tour To The Ballestas Islands And Nazca Lines From Lima: a morning boat trip to see the sea lions and seabirds of the Ballestas Islands, then the lines from the air, all in a single day, from USD 395.
• Paracas And Nazca Lines Tour: the Ballestas Islands, the Huacachina oasis and the Nazca flight over 2 days, with a night in Nazca, from USD 495.
• Nazca Lines From Lima By Bus: pickup in Lima at 21:00 for an overnight Cruz del Sur bus, arrival in Nazca at 06:30 and back in Lima at 22:00 the same day, from USD 275.

Something worth knowing before you choose: the Government of Canada's travel advice names Pisco international airport as the safest option for Nazca Lines flights and asks travellers to use a certified operator. Flights from Pisco last about 1 hour 40 minutes, while flights from the Nazca airfield last about 35 minutes. Our guide on where to fly over the Nazca Lines compares every departure point, and our Nazca Lines tours page lists every option in one place.

Plan your 48 hours in Lima with us

Two relaxed days in Lima turn a long flight into a proper start to your holiday. If you would like us to line up your hotel, your airport pickup, the city tour and the trip south to Nazca, write to us and we will prepare a private plan around your flight. If you prefer to explore ideas on your own first, try our trip planning assistant and see which route suits you.