Bogota, Colombia or Lima, Peru: which city is better?

Bogotá, Colombia and Lima, Peru are cities which share some superficial similarities and many differences.They are both the capitals and largest cities in their respective countries. They also both tend to be rather polarizing, and often overlooked or dismissed as destinations in their respective countries. I stayed in each of these cities for a month, and was pleasantly surprised by both of them, despite having read a lot of negative comments beforehand. However, they both have some issues that are common to a lot of large, developing cities, which could be dealbreakers for some people looking for a place to stay long term. But before we get into the pluses and minuses of each city, let’s do some basic comparisons.

In terms of population, if we look at the entire metropolitan areas, they are quite similar. Bogotá’s metro area has around 11.6 million people, while Lima’s has 11.3 million. The urban area of Bogotá is much larger – over 600 square miles to Lima’s 310 square miles – so it can feel a bit more spread out. 

The geography of the two cities is vastly different. Lima is located on a desert plain with the Pacific coast at its western edge, with the flat plain turning into hills and mountains to the east of the city. Bogotá is located on a plateau in the Andes Mountains, 2,640 meters (8,660 ft) above sea level. It is the third highest capital city in the world – only La Paz, Bolivia, and Quito, Ecuador are higher. 

Lima’s climate basically has two seasons: winter, which is cool, damp, and gray (from roughly May to November); and summer, which tends to be warm, humid, and sunny, but often foggy in the morning. Lima is one of the driest cities in the world, with less than 3 inches of rain per year – the tradeoff, of course, being several months of gray overcast gloom. But at least it’s predictable. 

Bogotá’s climate is also fairly predictable, though it gets much more rain (around 32 inches per year). Average temperatures year round are very consistent – around 7-9 degrees Celsius at night and 17-19 degrees Celsius during the day. The winter is the “dry” season, though you should expect that a random downpour can appear out of nowhere any time. Like Lima, the sky is usually gray, but due to the altitude, UV rays are extremely strong. It’s highly advisable to wear sunscreen at all times.

Getting Around

Lima’s public transit system is disjointed, inadequate, and crowded. It’s probably the thing I dislike the most about the city. There is a metro (Tren Electrico), but there is only one line, very limited in its reach. Then there are a couple of Metropolitano rapid transit bus lines with fixed stops. Beyond that, there are a vast number of regular buses and microbuses that would overwhelm most tourists. Districts like Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro are quite walkable, but moving from one district to another is a pain, if you are staying more than a few blocks from a transit stop. 

Bogota relies mostly on a network of rapid transit buses along fixed lines, which seems complicated at first – there is definitely a learning curve to using them. But for the most part, it’s easy to get around with the extensive network. And as long as you travel outside of peak times,they are usually not packed like sardines the way Lima transit seemed to be.

Both cities have pretty horrendous traffic, but I think Bogotá’s street layout is a little less chaotic. Uber is an option in both cities. I do not recommend taking cabs off the street anywhere in Latin America.

Things To Do

The most striking natural feature of Lima is its rugged cliffs and shoreline. Miraflores has a beautiful developed malecon, or esplanade, stretching for several kilometers through various parks with all kinds of amenities – playgrounds, tennis courts, skateparks, etc. You can even go paragliding. Heading southward toward the district of Barranco, there is an upscale shopping mall carved into the cliffs. Even if you are not much of a “mall person,” it’s quite a stunning location. There are beaches and surfing, definitely not the best Peru has to offer, but having access to them in the city is certainly a plus. 

Lima has a UNESCO-listed historical center full of well preserved colonial buildings, including the spectacular Church of San Francisco with its catacombs, the Plaza de Armas, the Presidential Palace, and several other churches, administrative buildings, and more. In Miraflores, you can tour a pyramid from approximately 500 AD, Huaca Pucllana. It’s quite an odd feeling to stand on this pyramid surrounded by high-rise office buildings! Another unique attraction is Parque de Las Leyendas, or Park of the Legends, which is a massive place containing a zoo, numerous archaeological sites, gardens, a recreational lake, and amusement park all in one. This place is understandably popular with locals and tourists alike, and quite inexpensive – approximately $4 USD for an adult ticket.

Lima has several well-regarded museums focused on archaeology, history, and art, and possibly the best food scene in all of South America. I realize now that I only scratched the surface of things to do during my month-long stay…maybe it’s time to go back? 

Bogotá has its own charming historical center, La Candelaria, with numerous museums, tons of colorful street art, and the bustling Plaza de Bolivar, home of the presidential palace and cathedral. There are frequent free events here such as farmers’ markets and festivals. In my opinion, it’s a little more pleasant and vibe-y than Lima’s historical center, at least during the daytime. (I would advise avoiding both of them after dark for safety reasons.)

Mount Monserrate is definitely a must visit for the outstanding views over the city. There is a monastery at the top, gardens, shops and a cafe. Bogotá also has an excellent large botanical garden and nearby is another large park with a multitude of activities, Parque Simon Bolivar. There are other hiking opportunities close to the city, although I would recommend looking for a small tour or hiking group for safety reasons.

Every Sunday, Bogotá shuts down one of the main traffic arteries of the city for Ciclovia, where people can bike, skate, run, or walk safely on the street. This is a community tradition that takes place in most Latin American cities, including Lima, but Bogotá has probably the biggest, most active Ciclovia I have seen anywhere. It’s not only about exercise – it’s basically a big street party with performers, food stands, etc. There are some very cool flea markets along the way as well.

Nightlife isn’t really my thing, but for those who are into clubbing and parties, Bogotá seems to have more going on. One of the largest clubs in the world is located here – Theatron. 

People, Language, and Safety

Both cities are made up primarily of people of mestizo and European descent, though Lima has a substantial minority of Peruvians of Asian descent (mostly Chinese and Japanese/Nikkei). Obviously Spanish is the primary language in both cities, though I think Lima is a little more English-friendly, especially in the popular tourist neighborhoods. 

Both Lima and Bogotá have neighborhoods that feel quite safe as well as neighborhoods where it’s not advisable to walk around alone, particularly at night. I would take the same precautions in either city – that is to say, keep your important belongings close to you in public transit in such a way that pickpockets can’t access them, don’t go exploring unknown areas without a lot of people around, don’t wave an expensive cellphone around in the street, take Uber when moving around at night and never take a cab off the street. Avoid the historical centers at night and stick to the safer zones.