Sport in Lima

The national drug is football. Limenos are addicted, in their thousands, to the ‘beautiful game’. People paint their faces in the red and white of the flag whenever an international is played at the National Stadium, Avenida Paseo La Republica , in the centre of the city. The local Derby, known as ‘El Clasico’, is between Alianza and Universitario , known simply as ‘La U’. Tickets cost PEN11-89.50/USUSD 3-25.

Universitario are higher up the Peru football league table, and generally hovers between the first and second place, while Alianza Lima settles in at fifth. The football-only daily tabloid newspaper, Libero provides information on the teams and matches.

Lima also boasts an impressive bullring, Plaza de Acho, Jiron Hualgayoc 332, just behind Plaza Mayor. Built in 1766, once the biggest in Latin America, the ring is in use between late October and early December. The bloody contests are usually on Sunday or holidays. Tickets cost PEN54-358.50/USUSD 15-100, depending on whether seats are in the shade or not.

Tickets for both football and bullfighting are available for purchase from Teleticket.
Fitness centres: One of the better fitness centres in Lima is Gym Paradise, Avenida Prolongacion Primavera 1553, Monterrico (tel: (01) 437 8629). The gym, which offers spinning, weight training, step classes, sauna, Tae-Bo, salsa and exercise machines, charges PEN161.50/USUSD per month, plus a PEN18/USUSD 5 joining charge. Weekly rates are PEN54/USUSD 15 for one week or PEN89.50/USUSD 25 for two weeks. Other fitness centres are listed in the yellow ages and a good hotel will usually have its own gym with some equipment.

Golf: Golf courses in Lima are not available to non-members. Some luxury hotels have access to golf courses. For PEN394.50/USUSD 110 per day, guests of the five-star Best Western Golf Los Incas hotel have access to the Golf Las Incas course and clubhouse, Avenida Cerros de Camacho 500, Monterrico, in Surco .

Surfing: Information, equipment, boards and accessories are available at O’Neills, Avenida Santa Cruz 851, Miraflores . Information on Lima’s best surfing beaches is available online .

Tennis: The best, most central outdoor courts are to be found at Club Las Terrazas, Malecon 28 de Julio 390, Miraflores . The private club has several courts that can be used by non-members at PEN18/USUSD 5 per hour (daily 0700-1800).