Lima vs São Paulo

Lima and São Paulo are level on the CIRA Index at 69. Lima grades better on 5 measures, São Paulo on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Lima 69, São Paulo 69
• OECD: Lima 66, São Paulo 68
• UN Tourism: Lima 69, São Paulo 72
• UNDRR: Lima 57, São Paulo 55

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Lima 70, São Paulo 75
• Economy and jobs: Lima 75, São Paulo 75
• Climate and hazards: Lima 50, São Paulo 60
• Water and environment: Lima 63, São Paulo 81
• Community and housing: Lima 75, São Paulo 75
• Access and continuity: Lima 67, São Paulo 50

Where Lima is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 27.2 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 8.2 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Urbania Index via Diario Gestión, July 2024–June 2025). Between 6 and 10: grade 2/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (APN (Autoridad Portuaria Nacional) / LAP (Lima Airport Partners) / MTC, 2024). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (MINCETUR - Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo, 2023–2024). Grade 2/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (SUNAT & Congreso de la República del Perú - Ley N° 27889 / Ley N° 31672, 2024). Grade 3/4.

Where São Paulo is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 15.7 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Embratur / Ministério do Turismo via Revista Veja, 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 60.8 % average annual occupancy (country figure) (JLL, FOHB & Resorts Brasil, Hotelaria em Números - Brasil 2024, 2023). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• Tropical nights: 26.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Green space: 33.7 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo - Secretaria Municipal do Verde e do Meio Ambiente (SVMA), 2020). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Peru: #64 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Brazil: #32 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Lima in full · São Paulo in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot