Quick answer. At Lima's Jorge Chávez (LIM), skip the standalone Globalnet ATMs and the Travelex and Globo exchange counters in arrivals; both run well off the real rate or pile on DCC and operator fees. Use a real Peruvian bank ATM (BCP, Interbank, BBVA or Scotiabank Perú), which dispenses soles at the Visa/Mastercard interbank rate and posts its own operator fee (about S/15–20) on screen before you confirm. Peru is the rare country with a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner: a BoA debit card pulls fee-free at any Scotiabank Perú ATM. Always decline DCC and choose Peruvian soles (PEN). Cash matters more here than in Europe, so withdraw enough for your first taxi and a day or two: take the Airport Express Lima bus to Miraflores or an authorized taxi booked at the counter inside arrivals, never an unmarked tout.
Where to get sol at LIM
The key Jorge Chávez fact is that the standalone Globalnet ATMs and the Travelex / Globo counters in arrivals are the expensive options, while a real Peruvian bank ATM (BCP, Interbank, BBVA or Scotiabank) gives the interbank sol rate with only a modest posted operator fee, and a Bank of America card pulls fee-free at Scotiabank Perú. The cost math below assumes you withdraw or exchange the equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCP / Interbank / BBVA ATM (LIM arrivals, posted fee) | Arrivals hall | Interbank rate + ~S/15-20 operator fee | ~$100 + small operator fee |
| Scotiabank Perú ATM with a BoA card (Alliance) | Arrivals hall | Interbank rate, surcharge waived | ~$100 + BoA 1% only |
| Globalnet standalone ATM (LIM) | Arrivals | High operator fee + DCC pitch | ~$85-93 |
| Travelex / Globo counter (LIM) | Arrivals | 6-12% off interbank, plus fee | ~$88-94 |
| Accepting DCC at any machine | Anywhere | +5-12% if you choose 'charge in USD' | ~$88-95 |
Where to find the BCP, Interbank and Scotiabank ATMs at Jorge Chávez (LIM)
Jorge Chávez International (LIM) is Peru's main gateway, in Callao about 10–12 km northwest of central Lima and the Miraflores hotel district. The airport moved into a much larger new terminal in 2025, so the layout most older guidebooks describe no longer matches what you walk into; the money traps, however, are the same ones in new clothes. In the arrivals hall you will pass standalone Globalnet ATMs and the Travelex and Globo exchange counters first; the Globalnet machines layer a high operator fee on top of an aggressive 'charge in USD' DCC pitch, and the counters quote a sol rate that looks fair but routinely runs 6–12% off the interbank rate plus a fixed fee. The fix is to look instead for a real Peruvian bank ATM (a 'cajero') carrying the BCP (Banco de Crédito del Perú), Interbank, BBVA or Scotiabank wordmark. Those dispense soles at the Visa or Mastercard interbank rate; they do charge their own operator fee of roughly S/15–20 on foreign cards, but it is shown on the screen before you confirm and it is far below what the standalone machines and counters take. If you carry a Bank of America debit card, Scotiabank Perú is a Global ATM Alliance partner, so its ATMs waive the operator surcharge and BoA waives its own non-network fee. Whatever you use, decline dynamic currency conversion and choose Peruvian soles.
New Terminal (single passenger terminal, opened 2025)
LATAM Perú (the dominant carrier and the airport's main hub operator), Sky Airline Perú and JetSMART on the domestic and regional low-cost side, plus the long-haul services of American, Delta, United, Avianca, Copa, Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Iberia, Air France-KLM and LATAM's own intercontinental flights. Jorge Chávez moved into one large new terminal in 2025, replacing the cramped old building
In the arrivals hall, walk past the standalone Globalnet ATMs and the Travelex and Globo exchange counters near the exits and look for a BCP, Interbank, BBVA or Scotiabank cajero on the wall or in the bank-ATM cluster. Those add only a modest posted operator fee on foreign cards; the Globalnet machines and the counters cost far more. Bank of America cardholders should seek the red Scotiabank ATM for a fee-free withdrawal. Withdraw a S/150–300 float, decline DCC and choose soles, then head out to the Airport Express bus stop or the authorized taxi counter.
Do you actually need cash at Jorge Chávez (LIM)?
Partly. The Airport Express bus, the authorized taxi counters, and the Uber / Cabify / Bolt apps all take cards, but Lima leans on cash more than most European capitals, so a small sol float is worth pulling before you leave arrivals. Here is what works on a card, and where a little cash still helps:
Airport Express Lima (coach to Miraflores) (~US$8-10 one way): Direct coach from outside arrivals to the Miraflores hotel zone in 45-75 min depending on traffic, with luggage space and Wi-Fi. Pay by card or cash; the cheapest comfortable option.
Authorized taxi (booked at the arrivals counter) (~S/60-90 to Miraflores): Book at a licensed counter (Taxi Directo and similar) inside the hall where the fare is fixed in advance. Most counters take a card. Never take a ride from an unmarked tout.
Uber / Cabify / Bolt (~S/45-75 to Miraflores): App-billed to your card. Follow signs to the airport's designated rideshare pickup point and match the plate before getting in.
Lima Metro (n/a): There is no rail link to the airport yet; a metro connection is planned but not open. Use the bus, an authorized taxi or a rideshare.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Jorge Chávez (LIM) to Lima?
No. Airport Express Lima (coach to Miraflores) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order sol before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical sol to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 sol for taxis and tips on day one.
Which ATM at Jorge Chávez (LIM) is best, and which should I avoid?
Use a Peruvian bank ATM (a 'cajero' branded BCP, Interbank, BBVA or Scotiabank) and avoid the standalone Globalnet machines and the Travelex and Globo exchange counters. The bank ATMs dispense soles at the real Visa or Mastercard interbank rate; they add their own operator fee of about S/15–20 on foreign cards, shown on screen before you confirm. The Globalnet units stack a higher operator fee on top of an aggressive dynamic-currency-conversion pitch (the 'charge in USD' offer), and the counters bury a 6–12% markup in the rate. At any machine, decline DCC and choose Peruvian soles. If you bank with Bank of America, use a Scotiabank Perú ATM: it is a Global ATM Alliance partner, so the surcharge is waived on both sides.
Is there a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner at LIM?
Yes, and Peru is one of the few Latin American countries where this works. Scotiabank Perú belongs to the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance, so a BoA debit card withdraws soles at a Scotiabank ATM with no operator surcharge from Scotiabank and no non-network fee from BoA; you pay only BoA's foreign-currency conversion (1% for most accounts). Look for the red Scotiabank cajero in the arrivals area or once you reach Miraflores. None of the other Peruvian banks (BCP, Interbank, BBVA) are Alliance partners, so a BoA card pays BoA's standard 3% non-network fee at those. A no-foreign-transaction-fee card such as Wise or Charles Schwab is still the cleanest all-rounder, and Schwab refunds operator fees worldwide.
How do I get from Jorge Chávez to Miraflores or central Lima?
The two clean options are the Airport Express Lima bus and an authorized taxi. The Airport Express Lima coach runs from just outside arrivals direct to the Miraflores hotel zone for around US$8–10 (payable by card or cash), with luggage space and on-board Wi-Fi; it is the cheapest comfortable option. For a door-to-door ride, book at one of the authorized taxi counters inside the arrivals hall (Taxi Directo and similar licensed operators) where the fare is fixed in advance, roughly S/60–90 to Miraflores depending on traffic; or use the Uber, Cabify or Bolt apps, which are card-billed and follow the airport's designated rideshare pickup point. Do not accept a ride from the unmarked drivers who approach you in the hall. The Lima Metro does not yet reach the airport, so there is no rail option.
Do I need soles before I leave the LIM arrivals hall?
More than you would in Europe, yes. The Airport Express bus and the authorized taxi counters take cards, but Lima still runs on cash for many smaller payments, street taxis, tips and markets, and some drivers prefer soles. Withdraw a useful first float (around S/150–300) from a BCP, Interbank, BBVA or Scotiabank cajero before you leave arrivals rather than from a Globalnet machine, decline DCC, and you are set for the ride in and your first day. You can top up later at any bank ATM in Miraflores or central Lima, where our CEI Currency Exchange-style advice still applies: bank machines inside branches and malls, not street-facing standalones.
Should I change my US dollars at the LIM airport counters?
No. The Travelex and Globo counters in arrivals are among the worst rates you will see in Peru. If you brought US dollars, hold them: Peru's licensed green-vested street cambistas in Miraflores (along Avenida Larco and José Pardo) and around Cusco's Avenida Sol routinely give the best USD-to-sol rates in the country, often beating both the airport counters and the bank ATMs after fees, and locals use them daily. For the airport itself, a Peruvian bank ATM is the cheapest way to get your first soles; save the dollar exchange for a reputable cambista in town, carrying clean, undamaged, post-2009 US$100 bills.
Can I order Peruvian soles before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Peruvian soles to your US address in 2–5 days at a rate below the airport counters, which is a useful defensive starter, especially if you connect straight through Lima onward to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, where some Aguas Calientes ATMs run dry at peak season. Your home bank (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi) can also order PEN, though soles are not a flagship currency so allow 5–10 business days. That said, soles are easy to get from any Lima bank ATM, so most travelers only pre-order a small first-day float and pull the rest on the ground.