I traveled to every single country in South America as a digital nomad, so I spent quite a bit of time in all of the capitals and other large cities there working remotely. As a lot of big South American cities are known to be dangerous, I did a lot of research on different neighborhoods before deciding where to base myself — and I got through the whole continent without a single incident as a solo female traveler.
So I’m starting a new series on my blog going through most of the big cities in South America and writing about the safest and best areas to stay in each one.
Lima is a good place to start. It might get a bad reputation when it comes to safety, and some of it is deserved — it’s a massive city and crime is real. But there are several neighborhoods that are genuinely safe, walkable, and easy to navigate, and if you stay in the right area you’ll have a totally different experience than if you just land and end up somewhere random. Here’s what you need to know.
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Is Lima Safe for Tourists?
Lima is one of those cities where the answer really depends on where you are. The city is enormous — around 10 million people — and safety varies hugely by neighborhood. In the right areas, you can walk around at night, eat at street-side restaurants, and feel completely relaxed. In the wrong ones, petty theft and scams are common, and you’d want to be much more alert.
As a solo female traveler, I felt comfortable in the upscale neighborhoods listed below. I wouldn’t wander into unfamiliar areas at night, I’d use Uber rather than hailing taxis on the street, and I’d keep a close eye on my phone in crowded areas — but that’s true of most big Latin American cities. I could write a whole other post on general safety tips for traveling in South America, but that’s for another time.
The Best and Safest Areas to Stay in Lima
There are two areas in Lima I’d recommend for tourists visiting the city or digital nomads staying a bit longer and wanting a convenient, safe base: Miraflores and Barranco. I’ll dive deeper into both below.
Miraflores
Miraflores is where most visitors end up, and for good reason — it’s the safest neighborhood in Lima and the most convenient for first-timers. It sits right on the Pacific Ocean cliffs, has a well-maintained malecón (coastal boardwalk) that’s popular with locals and tourists alike, and is packed with restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and accommodation at every price point.
It’s also walkable in a way that a lot of Lima isn’t. The streets are clean, well-lit, and there are almost always people around.
Parque Kennedy in the center of the neighborhood is a great place to sit and people-watch — it’s lively at all hours and completely fine to hang out in. What I loved most about it, though, were the cats. There are plenty of very friendly ones to get to know.
When you walk to the seaside from Miraflores, there are plenty of nice areas where you can walk around and enjoy the sea views. Check out the area around Larcomar shopping mall, for example, and Malecón de Miraflores on Google Maps.
The downside is that it’s the most tourist-heavy area and prices reflect that. But if it’s your first time in Lima and you want somewhere safe and easy, Miraflores is the right call. The facilities here are great too — lots of good restaurants with solid vegan options, gyms (I even went to CrossFit classes here), and co-working spaces if you’re working remotely.
I walked all around Miraflores every day, sometimes after dark, and felt completely safe as a solo female traveler. Everything was close enough that I could walk wherever I needed to go — gym, restaurants, all of it — right from my hotel.
Best for: First-time visitors, solo female travelers, anyone who wants to feel safe walking around at night.
Where to Stay in Miraflores
I stayed at a few different places since I was there for a while. The first was Arawi Miraflores Express — I chose it for the central but quiet location and the fact that every room has a desk, which makes it a solid option for digital nomads. There’s no traffic noise, so it’s easy to focus on work and get a good night’s sleep.
For my last couple of nights I stayed at The Secret Garden Hostel in a private room, which also had a desk. I don’t usually stay in hostels when I’m working, but this was fine for a short stay.
Other well-rated hostels in Miraflores include Casaroma Hostels and Ayni Living, both of which offer private rooms and dorms.
If you want something more upscale, check out SOUMA Hotel Vignette Collection by IHG. The rooms are reasonably priced for the quality, and they come with desks too, so digital nomads are well covered. I visited their rooftop bar to watch the sunset and it was genuinely one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen.
Other well-rated hotel options in Miraflores include for example Hilton Lima Miraflores and Pullman Lima Miraflores.
Barranco
Barranco is the bohemian neighborhood just south of Miraflores, and I loved walking around here. It’s artsy, colorful, and has a completely different vibe — more relaxed, more local-feeling, full of street art, independent galleries, and the best bar scene in the city.
It’s safe, though slightly less polished than Miraflores. Stick to the main streets around Parque Municipal and the pedestrian bridge area, especially at night, and you’ll be fine. It’s a small neighborhood, so it’s easy to get your bearings quickly.
The food and coffee scene here is what really sells it for me. There are some excellent restaurants and the kind of low-key cafes you actually want to sit in for a few hours — which matters a lot when you’re working remotely.
Barranco has good accommodation options at every budget and is generally a bit cheaper to stay in than Miraflores. You can find amazing hostels in beautiful historical buildings like Viajero Lima – Barranco Hostel, affordable guesthouses with sea views like Second Home Peru, and some truly unique boutique hotels like Casa Republica Barranco Boutique Hotel.
Best for: Repeat visitors, digital nomads, anyone who wants a more local feel without sacrificing safety.
Areas to Avoid in Lima
The Historic Center (Centro Histórico) has some genuinely interesting sights — the Plaza Mayor, the catacombs under the San Francisco church — but it’s not somewhere you want to wander at night or with valuables.
It’s also where most government buildings are located, so if there are protests, that’s where they’ll be. I was quite unlucky with my timing in Peru and ran into nationwide protests that shut down roads across the country; locals told me to avoid Centro Histórico entirely because things turned violent there.
If you want to explore the area safely, joining a guided tour is a good option. Just head back to Miraflores or Barranco in the evenings.
Callao, where the airport is, is also not an area to linger in. Get into an Uber and head straight to your neighborhood. If you need to stay close to the airport, stick to a reputable, well-rated hotel such as Wyndham Grand Costa Del Sol Lima Airport or Holiday Inn – Lima Airport by IHG, both of which offer airport shuttles.
Getting Around Safely
Use Uber. It’s cheap, widely available, and eliminates the main scam tourists fall into — unlicensed taxis that can overcharge you and, in some cases, be genuinely dangerous. Have the app downloaded and working before you land.
An eSIM for Peru is also worth getting before you arrive so you have internet access — and access to Uber — the moment you’re through arrivals.
If you’re planning to continue south from Lima or are looking for a fun weekend trip, don’t miss Paracas — check out my complete travel guide to Paracas, which also covers the best places to stay.
Final Thoughts
Lima doesn’t have to be stressful. It’s one of my favorite capital cities in South America and I’ll definitely be going back. If it’s your first visit and you want maximum ease, stay in Miraflores. If you want more character, go for Barranco. Both are genuinely good bases, safe for solo female travelers, and have everything you need within walking distance or a short Uber ride.
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