nickb......just got back today from million mile marathon.....lima airport is fresh on my mind: regarding airport taxes in lima, you can actually avoid them if you are in transit....this is what you do: when you exit your plane, you will enter the terminal on the ground level, then walk up a long hallway with numerous glass doors....just short of the immigration counters, where the hallway widens, look to your left for a pair of double glass doors for passengers "in transito".....these lead into the duty free area......the first night my brother and i spent at lima airport, we were fortunate enough to happen past these doors just as airline employees were walking in thru them.....we showed them our tickets, mentioned that we were in "transito", and simply walked in.......once thru the doors, to your right and around the corner and upstairs is the diners club lounge....we slept there on couches quite comfortably twice........the second time thru lima, we had to pass thru immigration to connect with a domestic flight to cuzco.....we only had to pay a $4 airport tax (because it was a domestic flight), however upon return we had to pay the full $25 as we were connecting to an international flight........

we also had to pay airport taxes in san jose ($2) where we overnighted off-airport and in cuzco (twice), however avoided them everywhere else simply by grabbing a flight attendent, airline employee or anyone that looked semi official right as we exited the plane and saying "tengo connexcion" or "transito"......generally we were then whisked into the transit lounge and thus avoided immigration, customs, taxes, etc.........

general thoughts on the trip:
bravo to aces airlines.....we were in quito waiting to hop on the evening flight to lima but the airport was fogged in.....the aces personnel provided sandwiches and drinks, and all agents literally worked to departure lounge personally imforming passengers of the status of the flight......it was eventually able to get in (after flying to guayaquil to refuel) - and we made it to lima in time for a 6am connnection. aces truly provided outstanding customer service.

also excellent customer service from grupo taca.....we were upgraded on lima-cuzco for no apparent reason (maybe y ticket), the agent just sought us out and put us up front.

for anyone trying to connect in guayaquil from copa to aeropostal - be sure to tell a flight attendant you are connecting.....they can inform a red coat who will escort you to a waiting lounge, thus avoiding imigration, etc.......plane uses rolling stairs rather than gate, so you will walk across tarmac to lounge......

every flight except the fog delayed aces quito-lima leg operated on time, with generally very modern aircraft and fine service........aeropostal and avianca were the poorest of the bunch....taca, aces and copa the best......

airport hampton inn in san jose is extremely close, very new with excellent service......i would recommend.....in quito, try hotel quito, reasonable rates, great view, accomodating staff.......