On August 20, 2025, the three of us took flight LA2696 from Santiago, the capital of Chile, to Lima, the capital of Peru. We arrived in Lima at 7:40 PM.
Before coming to Peru, we had done extensive research on various aspects, including baggage weight limits, carry-on luggage regulations, passport requirements, the need for a U.S. visa, departure flight tickets, whether customs required additional payments, safety concerns, car rental issues, and driving conditions.
What worried us most about Peru was safety. The security situation in Peru is poor, with armed robberies occurring daily, homicides being frequent, and kidnappings happening regularly. Yet, despite all this, we decided to come to such a country.
In Peru, it is difficult to communicate without speaking Spanish, as most people here do not speak English.
We successfully entered Peru. After clearing immigration, we collected our luggage and headed to the car rental company. The car had been rented in advance through Ctrip. Peru allows car rentals with a Chinese driver's license. The daily rental cost of over 300 yuan included insurance. It is worth noting that while the rental already included insurance, there was a minimum deductible. We purchased additional coverage to eliminate the deductible, including theft protection, tire insurance, and undercarriage insurance. When abroad, spending a little extra money can provide much-needed peace of mind. The insurance offered by Ctrip was underwritten by Ping An Insurance, meaning that in the event of a claim, we would need to pay out of pocket first and then seek reimbursement upon returning to China with the necessary documentation.
In Peru, the driver's seat is on the left, same as in China, so everyone can feel comfortable driving. The picture shows our rental car, a compact vehicle with a trunk that could only fit two suitcases, leaving the third to be placed in the back seat. After our experience with a compact car in Chile, we had hoped to rent a comfort-class or SUV in Peru. However, we encountered an unexpected issue: comfort-class and SUV rentals did not accept Chinese driver's licenses. When we finally received the car, we were even more frustrated—it was old and worn-out, over 15 years old. I couldn't help but wonder if they were worried we might drive it back to China or steal it. It wasn't until the next day that we realized the car we were given was actually considered decent, as the vehicles on the road were even older and more dilapidated. Many cars seemed like they should have been scrapped but were still running. As a result, we breathed in gasoline fumes every day, to the point where the smell was so strong it stung our eyes. This reflects Peru's economic situation—people simply cannot afford new cars and must make do with old ones. Peru's buses are even worse, feeling as though they were pulled straight from a scrapyard.
By the time we picked up the car, it was already past 9 PM. Driving at night as a first-time visitor to Peru was no easy task. The road conditions are poor, with uneven surfaces and unexpected speed bumps appearing out of nowhere. Peruvian drivers rarely follow traffic rules, and my palms were sweating the entire time. Before coming to Peru, friends had warned us not to drive here, as we wouldn't be able to compete with local drivers. Now, I understood what they meant. Driving in Peru was incredibly stressful. While I was fully focused on navigating the dark roads, my colleague suddenly exclaimed, "We've reached the sea!" My heart sank, and I instinctively slammed on the brakes, thinking I had driven into the ocean. It’s not something you should say in the middle of a pitch-black night.
After about 40 minutes of driving, we arrived at our apartment hotel. We skipped dinner that night, as the hotel offered breakfast the next morning. The breakfast was delightful: fried eggs, bread, fruit salad, and milk.
We truly experienced Peru's traffic firsthand. A 20-kilometer journey took us over three hours to complete. What did we go through? I almost cried just thinking about it. We started our return trip at 5 PM. At first, driving on smaller roads was manageable. But once we reached the main roads, the real chaos began. I was driving normally in a two-lane road, but cars beside me kept squeezing me out, forcing me to drive on the line. What should have been two lanes effectively became four. Buses and large trucks were particularly aggressive, cutting in without regard for rules. We witnessed a bus swerve from the innermost lane across three lanes to the roadside to pick up passengers, then smoothly merge back into the middle lane. Such driving skills were nothing short of miraculous. Driving in Peru feels like navigating a crowded market every day. The roads are filled not only with cars but also motorcycles, which weave freely through traffic during jams. It was a bustling and chaotic scene. After three hours of driving amidst traffic and gasoline fumes, we finally reached the hotel. So, if you’re not a confident driver, I’d recommend coming to Peru for some practice—it’s guaranteed to turn you into a skilled driver.
We had allocated four days for our trip in Peru. On the final day, we were scheduled to meet two clients. One client requested a meeting at 7 AM, as they had a parent-teacher meeting for their child at 9 AM. We arrived punctually at 7 AM. After meeting the first client, we returned to the hotel for breakfast.
Amidst our work, we also found time to relax. On our last morning in Peru, we visited the coastline of Lima. The sculpture of a man and woman kissing is part of the Love Park in Lima. It is said that the park was designed by a poet to celebrate love, making it a popular spot for young Peruvian couples.
Along the coast of Lima, there is also a park known as the Chinese Park. Peru is one of the Latin American countries with the largest number and highest proportion of ethnic Chinese. Chinese immigration to Peru began in 1849 during the era of contracted laborers, primarily from Guangdong, China, who spoke Cantonese and Hakka. They integrated Chinese culture and skills into Peruvian society, contributing to projects such as railway construction and agricultural development. As of 2024, Peru is home to approximately 2.5 to 3.1 million people of Chinese descent, accounting for 10% of the total population. They are widely distributed in Chinatown communities, particularly in Lima, which boasts the oldest Chinese settlement in the Western Hemisphere. In 2024, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Peru and commemorate 175 years of Chinese life in Peru, the Peruvian government built the Chinese Park.
Given the significant Chinese population in Peru, many of whom work in the food industry, we wanted to enjoy a Chinese meal before leaving. The photo shows the Chinese food we had in Peru, but unfortunately, it lacked authentic Chinese flavor. The local Chinese cuisine had lost its original taste. Disappointed, we left Peru.
Our flight from Lima to Venezuela was scheduled for 2:50 AM, so after meeting our clients, we had a long wait. While driving around, I stumbled upon some beautiful scenery and accidentally found myself at the port of Callao in Peru. After a lengthy wait, we finally boarded our flight to Venezuela.
What kind of country is Peru?
The official language of Peru is Spanish, and its capital is Lima. Located in western South America, it borders Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Chile to the south, and Bolivia to the southeast, with the Pacific Ocean to the west. The terrain is higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast, transitioning from a tropical desert climate to highland and tropical rainforest climates from west to east. The country is rich in mineral resources, covering a total area of 1.285 million square kilometers with a coastline of 2,254 kilometers. Peru is divided into 26 primary administrative regions. As of 2025, the population is 34.35 million, with a GDP of $264.64 billion and a per capita GDP of $7,157.
