What's the Weather like in Lima in August
Temperature
August in Lima, Peru is statistically the coolest month of the year with an average temperature of 17°C with a high of 19°C and a low of 15°C. Lima's highest recorded August temperature was 29°C and the lowest was 10°C. This is not the best month for a dip in the ocean, as the average sea temperature in Lima is the joint lowest of the year at 17°C. See our local weather report for more details.
Rainfall
This is the month when the chances of rainfall are at their highest in Lima, although it is still low compared with other cities such as Santiago in Chile, which has 40mm/1.6inches over 10 days on average in August. Rain falls in Lima for an average of 4.1 days, with an average of 1.5mm/0.06inches, the highest of the year by some way.
Sunshine Hours
As with July, average daily sunshine in Lima is very low, with just one hour a day, or 31 for the month. It will be very cloudy too, with a 97 per cent chance of cloud. The days are getting longer though, with daylight hours rising sharply from 11 hours and 36 minutes on August 1 to 11 hours and 52 minutes by August 31. Sunrise and sunset are at 6.26am and 6.02pm on August 1 and by August 31 sunrise is 6.12am and sunset at 6.04pm. Lima's average relative humidity in August is 84.8 per cent.
Wind
Lima's average wind speed remains at 9.5mph during August, with just a 0.1 per cent variation. This is one of the highest wind speeds of the year, with September 20 holding the record with 9.6 mph on average. It almost always blows from a southerly direction.
Dress Code
Pack some light waterproof clothing and possibly an umbrella, plus a warmer top and jeans or trousers for the evenings. Otherwise, it's still worth including summer clothing, including shorts. Check Lima's 14-day forecast before you set off.
Lima Hotels in August
Limaq Hotel
The Limaq Hotel is a modern and minimalist hotel that offers a good budget option a five-minute walk from the airport and about 30 minutes from Lima's historic centre. The décor pays homage to Lima with striking images everywhere showing scenes of city life past and present. The 44 rooms all have aircon, WIFI and cable TV and staff are bilingual, so there will be no language barriers. The 24-hour restaurant and bar offers a variety of traditional Peruvian dishes.
Apart Hotel El Doral
The quaint and homely Apart Hotel El Doral provides a charming alternative to the big chain hotels in Miraflores, with the emphasis on competitive pricing and excellent service. One of this cosy 39-suite hotel's highlights is the fifth-floor bar and restaurant, La Terrazza, with tables arranged on a flower-filled terrace surrounding the hotel pool. Take a dip then enjoy a Pisco Sour as you dry off while perusing the menu.
Helen's House
Travellers who prefer self-catering accommodation are well catered for at Helen's House, which sits amid all the tourist attractions of Miraflores. The apartment offers well-equipped rooms with WIFI, two bedrooms, free toiletries, a dining area and kitchenette and a 24-hour reception and ironing service. There are great cafes, bars and restaurants within 100 metres of the apartment for those who prefer not to cook for themselves.
Hotel Paris Lima
Another good Lima budget option is the no-frills Hotel Paris Lima which underwent a major renovation a few years ago and offers a good base for exploring the city and all it has to offer. Rooms are clean and basic and breakfast is provided. The hotel sits amid the colonial splendour of the city's historical centre and is within easy reach of all the main tourist spots. The Plaza San Martin and Jiron de la Union, Lima's main pedestrianised shopping street, is just around the corner.
Bars and Restaurants
La Mar
La Mar is reputed to be one the best places in Lima to sample Peru's national dish of ceviche, fresh seafood salad marinated in lemon or lime juice and sold all across the country. It is certainly one of the most famous and is one of two renowned restaurants run by top chef Gastón Acurio. There is a full range of ceviches to try and La Mar also has enough classic Peruvian alternatives to keep non-ceviche eaters happy.
Amaz
With a wooden bar at its centre, Amaz in Santiago de Surco district is a cosy and very popular restaurant which is a sister and more affordable alternative to Malabar, also majoring in Amazonian dishes and ingredients. These include their take on juanes, a dish of chicken, rice, olives and egg wrapped in a giant leaf and cooked. Other Amazon favourites to discover include smoked pork with plantain dumplings.
Chez Wong
Javier Wong started Chez Wong in his garage and has since branched out to unmarked premises in an out of the way location. There is no website or Facebook page so you will need to call ahead to book, as tables are often reserved weeks in advance. This is ceviche with a twist and Wong prepares dishes himself using fish, red onion chillies and of course lemon juice. It is at Enrique León García 114, Distrito de Lima; +51 1 4706217
Grimanesa Vargas
What started life as street stall many years ago is now the thriving Grimanesa Vargas restaurant in Miraflores, serving heranticuchos, a traditional Peruvian dish with African origins. These are skewered beef hearts served in a chilli, red-wine vinegar and garlic marinade and hailed as Lima's best. Bookings were originally by mobile only, but the restaurant has moved onwards and upwards and tables are now in great demand.
Things to do in Lima in August
The beautiful game
The Peruvian football season runs from February to December and is in full swing this month. Lima has two teams competing in the top league, the Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional. They are Alianza Lima and Universitario and their local derbies are a major event in the city. So, if you're a football fan and you're in Lima when the two teams meet, it would be an unforgettable and very noisy - experience.
Barranco
Away from the tourist haven of Miraflores, the small and historic Barranco district is well worth a visit. This is the city's bohemian, arty quarter which has been a refuge for artists, painters, musicians and poets for more than a century. There are cafes, restaurants, beaches and some of Lima's best nightlife. Many of the buildings are 18th century and make sure to visit the old wooden Bridge of Sighs, El Puente de Los Suspiros.
Museum of the Inquisition
The Spanish Inquisition was as brutal in Peru as it was elsewhere in South America and the Museum of the Inquisition in central Lima re-creates this dark time in all its gory detail. Prepare yourself to visit one of the dungeons that were the scene of unspeakable horrors and get a close-up view of some of the implements of torture what were used on the local population. Entry is free.
Visit Chinatown
Lima's Chinatown, or Barrio Chino as it's called in Spanish, is not the biggest you will ever visit, but it is a typically busy and lively quarter of the city and well worth a visit, particularly if you like Chinese food. There are shops and bars too, but this is mainly about the food and one highlight are the huge and inexpensive Chinese buffets, known as Chifa buffets, which are everywhere in this district.
