What's the Weather like in Lima in May
Temperature
May is when temperatures being to cool down in Lima, Peru but this is offset by the relative humidity which remains at a high for the year. The average temperature in May is 19°C with a high of 22°C and a low of 17°C. Be prepared for it to be hotter, as the highest ever recorded temperature for May is 30.3°C. The average sea temperature is down on previous months, but still an extremely bearable 19°C. Check our local weather report for the latest forecast for Lima.
Rainfall
The prospect of rain in May is higher than April but is still very low by most standards. There is a three per cent chance of Lima having one day of rain, with an average rainfall of 0.3mm/0.01 inches in May.
Sunshine Hours
Lima in May can expect an average of five hours of sunshine a day, a total of 155 for the month. The chances of cloud are 52 per cent. Daylight hours decrease slowly over the month, with 11 hours and 40 minutes on May 1 and 11 hours and 28 minutes on May 31. Sunrise is at 6.14am and sunset at 5.55pm on May 1 and sunrise on May 31 is 6.21am and sunset at 5.49pm. The average relative humidity for May in Lima is the joint highest of the year with June at 85.1 per cent.
Wind
The wind speeds are more variable in Lima in May with a daily average of 8.4mph. This can vary considerably depending upon the time of day, with mid-morning likely to be the windiest at an average of 12.1mph and the calmest time of day at around 6am, when the wind speed can be as low as 6.3mph. The wind comes from a southerly direction for the entire month.
Dress Code
The chances of rain are low in May on average, so it is unlikely you will require any wet weather gear. It is worth adding a light top or cardigan to your summer clothing when packing, for the occasional evening or when the wind is blowing. Be sure you check the 14-day forecast for Lima before heading to the airport.
Lima Hotels in May
Pariwana Hostel Lima
The tighter your travel budget, the more you should consider a hostel stay in Peru and the Pariwana Hostel Lima is a good bet, for location, price and facilities. Rubbing shoulders with more upmarket hotels in Kennedy Park, Miraflores, you will get your money's worth, whether you opt for a shared 16-bed room (£10 a night) or a twin or double en-suite (£37 a night). There's a bar and restaurant, free tea and coffee, a laundry, WIFI and table tennis.
Hilton Lima Miraflores
Take a swim in the rooftop pool of the Hilton Lima Miraflores and you start to understand why it is so highly rated by travellers. It helps that there's a rooftop bar too. With all that Miraflores has to offer on the doorstep and immaculate and well-appointed rooms, this is a premium hotel for travellers who want that extra touch of comfort. There's a lobby café serving drinks and quick bites and a lively restaurant and bar serving American-Peruvian fusion food that opens onto a street terrace, allowing for some Lima people-watching.
Four Points by Sheraton Miraflores
The brand new Four Points by Sheraton Miraflores is one of the latest additions to the booming Miraflores hotel sector. This mid-priced hotel has 134 modern guest rooms, including 15 suites and two suites with a terrace. There is an excellent restaurant specialising in Peruvian dishes run by award-winning chef Jose Luis Delgado and a bar serving local brews, wine and cocktails. You can work off all those calories in the hotel's gleaming gym.
Sonesta Hotel El Olivar
Located in the attractive district of San Isidro in Lima, the five-star Sonesta Hotel El Olivar provides easy access to the city's shopping, restaurants and nightlife and is renowned as one of the best hotels in the city. There are 134 well-appointed rooms, the stylish El Olivar restaurant combining the best of local and international food with its buffet lunches and evening a la carte menu, an outdoor pool, gym and 24-hour guest service.
Bars and Restaurants
Planeta Bar
Another lively Lima bar with stunning views from its rooftop terrace is the Planeta Bar. It's not just the place for a drink though, as it has regular live rock music to go with the vistas over Plaza San Martin and beyond. It is a particularly beautiful view at night, when the Plaza's colonial buildings are lit up. Enjoy a local beer washed down with fried bar food and ever-changing bands on the small stage.
Belo Bar at the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel
There's a lovely, stylish bar, The Belo, at the Miraflores Park Hotel with leather sofas, bookcases and low lights creating a relaxed atmosphere. There are small plates to savour along with your Pisco sour and two great restaurants if you want something more substantial. An added bonus are the amazing views over Miraflores and the city from the top floor viewing area.
La Preferida
La Preferida started life as a winery and is set in what was a tiny canteen founded in 1956 by the Yugoslav immigrant Maric brothers. The speciality is tapas, with lots of seafood options and the fact that it is still going strong as a family concern in the fiercely competitive restaurant environment of Miraflores speaks for itself. It's cosy and small so it's wise to book ahead.
Central
The concept behind the Central is to use ingredients from all the different environments of Peru. That means seafood and meat of course, but also seaweed, desert plants, tree scales and Andean roots sourced from 20 metres below sea level to 4,100m above. You can watch your chosen dishes being carefully prepared in the open plan kitchen. There's a reasonably priced tasting menu on offer.
Things to do in Lima in May
Museo Larco
The Museo Larco is one of the most important in South America and explores more than 500 years of Peruvian history, from the ancient societies to the arrival of the Spanish and beyond. Its shelves contain 30,000 ancient pottery pieces and there's even an extensive collection of pre-Columbian erotic art for the broad-minded. Outside, there are beautiful gardens and a park to explore.
Casa di Aliaga
Tucked away down a side street, the Casa di Aliaga is almost as old as Lima, standing on land donated in 1535 to Jerónimo de Aliaga, an ally of the city's founding father Francisco Pizarro. It has since been lived in by 18 generations of his descendants and although it looks very ordinary from the outside, the interior is stunning. It is now a museum, with the current Aliaga descendants living in a modern house nearby.
Cusco
Away from the noise and crowds of Lima, Cusco is a beautiful city that is Peru's historical capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has so many ancient sights to see and is a jumping off point for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. If you're planning to visit from Lima, forget driving, as it's a tortuous 1100km, 18-hour car journey. Most people fly and there are lots of cheap flights if you book ahead. It takes around 1 hours 20 minutes so a few days in Cusco taking in the Inca Trail is highly recommended.
Iceland Park
Ice skating is probably the last things tourists come to Peru to do, but in Lima it can be enjoyed at Iceland Park, the country's only rink. It's in the district of Jesús Maria and opens from Tuesday to Sunday until 11pm. Tuition is available for beginners and it's an ideal place to keep cool in the heat and humidity. Children are welcome but have to be aged seven or above to be allowed on the ice.
