Help!! do i need to check out of Lima airport since my final destination will be Cuzco?
I am planning to go to Cuzco from Hong Kong and will be flying from HK to Los Angeles by Cathay Pacific and then planning to book tickets from Los Angeles to Cuzco on LAN air but the thing is since I am not planning to see any part of Lima (time restriction), do I need to check out of Lima airport before I catch my flight to Cuzco, or will it be treated as a transit situation (ie. they will take my luggage and put it on board the domestic flight to Cuzco, and I just have to wait and not do anything until I get to Cuzco?). It is my first time in South America and I really am clueless!! I would appreciate any help!!
Reply to this Hi Lila,
Welcome to TravelBlog.
You will probably have to pick up your luggage at Lima airport as it will be your point of entry into the final destination country (Peru).
After you've gone through customs you go straight ahead through to the domestic check-in counters.
If you arrive late into Lima and are on an early flight the next morning (usually the case) you should be able to check-in your main luggage straight away with LAN, rather than wait til a couple of hours before the flight.
Reply to this You need to check your passport at immigration at the airport, take out your luggage and then check it again at the domestic flight area of the airport. Of course you will need to pay airport taxes again, but for domestic flights they should be around USD 5.
Reply to this Jo and Adendorf, I really appreciate your reply, just one more question, is it OK to sleep at Lima Airport? you are correct that I will be arriving late about 23.55 and leaving the next morning at 05.00 so I guess a hotel is out of the question, is it safe? and are there anywhere to eat? Once again many thanks!! I hope to be able to help you guys out one day with any queries.
Reply to this Hi Kiddo.
You don't need to worry about staying at night at the airport. It is quite safe and comfortable and you might sleep there. The airport is also full of restaurants and facilities like Internet, etc.
If you want to spend the night at a hotel, there is one in the same airport. This should be around USD 70 or so, but there must be frequent flyer lounges where you can stay a comfortable chair. If you are not a member of one of these you can pay around USD 25 to stay in, but I am not sure whether the domestic flight area has VIP lounges. You can check the Lima Airport in Youtube, like in the following link:
Have a good stay in Peru
Reply to this Hi Adendorf,
Thanks for the link!!! it is VERY useful!! I am utterly raring to go now and will take my sleeping bag with me to sleep in!! once again thanks!!! 😊
Reply to this Sandro is right - it's perfectly safe, and heaps do it.
If you can, after coming through customs go straight ahead - ignoring the taxi drivers - and go to the domestic checkin counters ahead on the left. Get rid of your bags there, then go up the escalator where there'll be an internet cafe on your right and an open area where people sleep.
The food hall is open all night, but they close some seating areas in turn for cleaning.
If you want company, just go and make friends with people there.
This was the setup in April 2006 at least :-)
Bit more reading;
Sleeping in airports - Lima.
Have an awesome trip!
Reply to this Jo,
Another useful web site, I didn't know stuff (web sites) like this existed! it is kind of reassuring, because it is always a little bit scary going to an unfamiliar country, fingers crossed it should be OK,
Thanks again 😊
Reply to this 
