For your next stay in the capital of Peru, you are wondering where the most dangerous neighborhoods are located in Lima and where the best areas to stay are.

It is true that the cities of South America have the reputation of being dangerous for tourists. And if it is sometimes justified, is it also the case for the city of Lima?

Here is a study on the safety of tourists staying in Lima, on the neighborhoods deemed dangerous but also on the best areas to stay in the Peruvian capital.

To help you find your way, you will also have a Google Map of the main districts of Lima.

This article was designed by synthesizing information published in 2024 from serious sources: global rankings, economic media, local press articles.

Is Peru dangerous?

When we talk about crime, violence, drugs, drug trafficking, it is true that Peru is not the highest ranked country in the world. Even if crime in Peru decreased sharply between the years 2010 and 2020 (see article Wikipedia on crime in Peru), insecurity remains present in the country.

Furthermore, in terms of crime, Peru displays great geographical disparities. Some areas are safe and other areas should be avoided.

This is why, in 2024, the French Government is warning visitors about very specific vigilance zones: See details on France Diplomacy

US Department of State OSAC, which rates Peru at Level 2, also mentions the Colombian border area in the Loreto region and the central region of Peru. 

Lima dangerous in 2024?

Yes Lima is considered a dangerous city but to what extent and in which places?

In 2024 according to the Numbeo ranking, Lima is ranked 10th most crime-ridden city out of the 24 largest cities in South America. With its very high crime index of more than 70, Lima is at the top of the most dangerous South American cities with Rio, Fortaleza, or Bogota en Colombia !

And at world level, Lima (just like Tijuana, Memphis ou Johannesburg) is also one of the least safe cities in the world.

Is it safe to travel to Lima in 2024?

Insecurity and crime in Lima are not present everywhere in the city and are generally absent during the day at tourist sites. In fact, you just need to avoid the dangerous areas of Lima (see details below) and be very careful as in all tourist cities.

Personally, I have been fortunate enough to visit peru in 2016 and when I spent the last 2 days of my trip in Lima, everything went very well even at night. I particularly recommend an evening at the big Astrid y Gaston restaurant which is a must see in Lima!

But in 2024, as insecurity has grown, France Diplomacy classified Lima in Area in enhanced vigilance. It indicates in particular that:

• The historic center of Lima is particularly not recommended after dark.
• During the day, you should be careful and take care of your personal belongings.
• It is dangerous to walk in the evening on the beaches bordering the capital where delinquents are rampant.

Concerning the most dangerous areas of Lima where it is recommended not to choose your hotel, the list can be found further down in this article.

Lima neighborhood map

The Province of Lima has 43 districts, the complete list of which you will find on Wikipedia which themselves group together small neighborhoods.

To better identify the most dangerous neighborhoods of Lima which we will discuss below: Lima neighborhood map

Most dangerous neighborhoods in Lima

Thanks to a database of statistics on crime and citizen safety, a website of inei.gob.pe allows you to learn about the insecurity of the neighborhoods and streets of Lima: http://datacrim.inei.gob.pe/

Otherwise, according to statistics published in 2024, here is the list of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Lima:

• The Victoria
• The Augustinian
• The city center (Cercado de Lima) where tourism and money attract thieves and delinquents
• Rimac
• Window
• San Martin de Porres (see article on Infobae.com: " Alcalde de San Martín de Porres to declare in emergencia al distrito por alto índice de delincuencia e inseguridad")
• surquillo

Areas to avoid in Lima

Far from the beautiful neighborhoods of Lima, the city is surrounded by sad shanty towns built on the hillside. Peruvians call them Pueblos jovenes but in fact they are favelas where the poorest population of Lima live. Just like everywhere where social poverty has developed, drugs and violence are present there.

Here are the main districts that are home to slums to avoid in Lima (click on their links to find their location):

• Comas
• Villa Salvador
• San juan de lurigancho
• Los Olivos
• Villa Maria del Triunfo

Safest neighborhoods to stay in Lima

It's difficult to tell you where to stay in Lima because there are so many neighborhoods that are very nice and safe to choose your accommodation. Among the most popular areas, local real estate agencies designate the following neighborhoods:

• San Isidro
• Miraflores
• Barranco
• La Molina
• Santiago de surco
• Free town
• San Miguel

Where to stay in Lima for tourists?

For a tourist stay in Lima, the most popular district for travelers is Miraflores.

It is indeed a beautiful, lively neighborhood with shopping streets, bars, restaurants and a great hotel offering for all budgets.

By staying in this area, visitors can discover the most emblematic sites of Lima on foot or by tourist bus (Parque del amor, many monuments in central Lima, Huaca Pucllana, Malecones with a beautiful view of the Ocean). See how I visited Lima on foot in 1 day.

In addition, Miraflores is located right next to two tourist areas of Lima: Barranco and San Isidro.

The hotel Aloft Lima Miraflores that I recommend below is located in the beautiful district of Miraflores next to the best restaurants in Lima.

Here is a very well located hotel in Miraflores with good value for money: Hospedaje Dimar Inn. This is the one I had chosen during my trip in 2016.

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How to visit Lima safely?

Here is the best, safest and most convenient way to visit the must-see sites of Lima with the explanations of a guide: Lima Private Tour