Traffic in Lima

Lima, the bustling capital of Peru, faces significant traffic challenges, with cars being the dominant mode of transportation.

Despite the heavy reliance on cars, public transportation like buses also plays a crucial role in the daily commute of many residents.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 22.41 minutes of driving and 16.32 minutes on a bus, covering a distance of 14.16 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 55.69 minutes on the bus and 8.63 minutes walking, with a total distance of 18.93 km.
  • Car - Car users experience 43.28 minutes of driving and a short 0.86 minutes walking, over a distance of 14.40 km.
  • Walking - Walking commuters spend 28.75 minutes walking and cover a distance of 2.5 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
49%
Bus
27%
Walking
7%
Home
7%
Bicycle
7%
Motorcycle
3%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 60 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
8.8 miles
Walking
5.1 mins
Waiting
2.4 mins
Driving Car
22.4 mins
Bus / Trolley
16.3 mins
Bicycle
1.7 mins
Motorcycle
1.0 mins
Other
2.1 mins
Total:
51.0 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
11.8 miles
Walking
8.6 mins
Waiting
7.5 mins
Bus / Trolley
55.7 mins
Other
5.3 mins
Total:
77.1 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
8.9 miles
Walking
0.9 mins
Driving Car
43.3 mins
Total:
44.1 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
1.6 miles
Walking
28.8 mins
Waiting
1.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.5 mins
Total:
32.5 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic congestion tends to worsen during the rainy season due to road conditions.

Holiday periods see a slight reduction in traffic as many residents leave the city.

Commuter Pain Points

Long wait times for buses and frequent traffic jams are common complaints among commuters.

Limited cycling infrastructure discourages the use of bicycles as a viable commuting option.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 8 PM are generally the best times to avoid heavy traffic.

Midday travel can also be less congested, particularly outside of peak lunch hours.

Event Impacts

Major public events and protests can lead to significant traffic disruptions, often requiring road closures.

Sporting events and concerts in central areas typically increase congestion and delay times.

Sustainability Efforts

Lima is investing in expanding its bus rapid transit system to reduce reliance on cars.

There are ongoing initiatives to promote electric vehicles and improve air quality.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have grown in popularity, offering flexible commuting options and reducing the need for personal car ownership.

However, they can also contribute to congestion if not managed effectively.

Traffic Rankings

Lima ranks 1st on the Traffic rankings in Peru.
The Traffic Index for Peru combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Peru, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025