Student Life: Lima (Peru)

Lima is a cosmopolitan city with excellent museums, galleries, parks, concerts, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs and shops. The Lima area also offers many opportunities for outdoor activities. Ecological parks and Inca ruins are within 2 hour’s reach. Students are encouraged to take advantage of campus clubs and activities such as intramural sports. The Huachipa campus has a 25,000 sq. meter open-air sports center that is open to students.

Housing & meals

Students reside in hostels off-campus. Hostels are located throughout the city, but always in safe neighbourhoods with access to public transportation. Depending on the hostel, students should expect a commute time to/from USIL of 30 to 60 minutes. Most hostels consist of bedrooms (most are double-occupancy), a common room with TV, kitchen and bathrooms, and offer laundry and Internet.

Students can also request housing with a host family. Living with a host family is a great way to experience the Peruvian culture and improve Spanish language, but students also give up some independence. Families are screened by KEI and USIL. Most bedrooms are double-occupancy. Living area, kitchen and bathrooms are shared with the family. Breakfast is included with homestays.

Peru is considered the gastronomy center of South America. Peruvian cuisine stems from a combination of Spanish and native ingredients. Chinese, Italian, West African and Japanese influences can also be seen throughout Lima. Many traditional foods, such as quinoa, kiwicha, chili peppers and several roots and tubers have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent decades with a revival of interest in native Peruvian food crops.

Getting around town

Lima has an efficient, albeit chaotic, transportation network consisting of a metro, micros, buses and taxis. The Metro, or “Urban Train of Lima”, is the electric mass transit system. Currently, it is very limited – consisting of just one line with seven stations in the southern area of the city. Six additional lines are planned.

Micros (also called Combis) are privately-owned minibuses known for being very cheap and convenient. This is the most common form of public transportation in Peru.

Buses are the least efficient mode of travel in the city. Buses have limited routes and cost more than the micros. Taxis in the city are not expensive. There are no meters so you must tell the driver where you want to go and agree on a price before you get in.

Phones & internet

KEI will provide a prepaid mobile phone handset shortly after arrival in Peru. The KEI Onsite Director will explain how to use the phone. The phone will have a small amount of credit to get you started. Additional minutes can be purchased at numerous convenient stores. Wireless Internet is available on campus and La Casa Don Ignacio.