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Peru transportSince the Peruvian government bumped the improvement of the national infrastructure higher up the agenda road network in Peru has improved drastically. Bolivia on the other hand doesn’t seem to be too concerned with road maintenance, asphalting or even signposting. Every year roads are damaged and become impassable due to the cold and wet weather and road works (if any) are slow and inefficient. All of this makes overland travel in Bolivia somewhat of a slow and exhausting undertaking.If you’re visiting Peru and Bolivia in the winter months (June, July and August) you can’t do without a sleeping bag, warm blanket or at the very least a thick sweater when using the local transport. The only heating on Bolivian buses is from the engine. |
Bus and train stations are well guarded. There’s a large police presence and there’s always an information desk. The platforms are only accessible with a valid ticket. On the bus and train rides your bags are stowed at the bottom of the bus or in a separate baggage carriage, and you’ll (usually) get a receipt.
We recommend booking bus and trains ahead. We can make the reservations for you and we’ll arrange reserved bus seats wherever possible.
Need some Peru inspiration? Check out our bite-sized Peru tours, which you can piece together to make you own itinerary. Additionally you can choose one of our suggested Peru holidays.
We recommend booking bus and trains ahead. We can make the reservations for you and we’ll arrange reserved bus seats wherever possible.
Need some Peru inspiration? Check out our bite-sized Peru tours, which you can piece together to make you own itinerary. Additionally you can choose one of our suggested Peru holidays.
BusesNew bus terminals are popping up all over the larger cities in Peru. There are separate terminals for long-distance and local buses. If you’re travelling via a bus terminal you’ll need to pay a terminal tax (clever way to get some return on their investment!), though it’s marginal fee. In Arequipa for example the tax is US$0.50. The tax needs to be paid locally and is not included in your ticket, even if you book it through us.The terminals especially the newer ones are clean, airy and clearly laid out. The bus companies have separate desks which are all clearly signposted. When you ‘check-in’, you’ll also check in your luggage, just like at the airport and you’ll get a receipt which you hand in when you pick up your bags again at the end of your bus trip. |
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Local buses Local buses are very popular with the local Peruvians, so they’re always crammed full and there’s no reserved seating. If you don’t get there early you’ll end up standing the whole way. We’ve included transfers by local bus in our Colca Trek module because it’s a fun way to experience local travel. In our Inca Trail hike you'll need to arrange a short transfer to Cuzco, which you could do by local bus. There are a lot of stops on the way, which means the local bus is considerably slower than the express buses. If you’re travelling around lunch or dinner time the bus will stop for food. There are also sanitary stops every two hours. |
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Express buses (long distance) These scheduled buses are very comfortable, and we like using them as transfers in many of our our Peru tours. There are just a couple of departures daily, so it’s good to know seats can be booked in advance. The buses are air-conditioned, there’s a toilet on board and small snacks (tea, coffee, crackers) are served during the trip. Royal Class overnight buses Luxury buses with very comfy reclining chairs so you might actually be able to catch some sleep. That is if you’re not captivated by the riveting on-board martial arts movie. Earplugs (to block out the sounds of Chuck Norris) and an inflatable pillow can come in handy and you can buy some snacks, water or soft drinks at the terminal before you leave. |
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Trains The privatized (since 1999) rail system run by Perurail has chartered services between Cuzco - Aguas Calientes, Cuzco - Puno en Puno – Arequipa. The routes have improved dramatically since privatization which means distance, and travel time, has been shortened. The Backpacker and Vistadome train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes has an on-board snack cart. You can book ahead for the Vistadome which is more comfortable with panorama windows and spacious seats- a great way to travel in Peru. Officially the baggage limit for the trains is 5kg, and although they rarely check it can be very annoying if you need to rearrange all your bags and leave the rest at the baggage depot at the station. |
Train buffs take note...
On the Ruta Titicaca train from Puno to Cuzco you could travel by standard tourist class, or upgrade to the rather posh Inca class. It’s like a Latin-American Orient Express; plush seats, tables with crisp white linen and crystal, a lavish lunch served on bone china, an observation car and a wood-panelled salon. In the observation car you can pretend you’re the Queen as everyone stops and waves as you pass by. If you’d like to book the Inca class, just let us know and we’ll plan it into your Peru trip.
| 8 hrs 9 hrs 2 hrs 5 hrs |
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Puno - Cuzco: | 6 hrs 4 hrs 2 hrs 10 hrs |
Other Peru transportTaxisTaxis are usually unmetered, so agree on a price before you get in. If there is a meter, ask the driver to switch it on before you set off. Airport taxis and taxis at the larger hotels are more expensive, but if you walk on a bit you can catch a much cheaper taxi. In the main cities you can choose between the larger more comfortable taxis or smaller (cheaper) taxis, usually tiny Daewoo’s that barely fit a suitcase in the boot, so your bags will just travel alongside the driver in the front seat, leaving just enough room for two people squashed in the back… Bike taxis / rickshaws In Puno and some of the smaller towns along the coast like Ica and Pisco, you can take a trici-taxi a kind of rickshaw for the smaller distances. Average price is US$ 0.40 per km. |
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Colectivos Shared minibus taxis for longer distances between (nearby) cities or within the city, that leave once there are enough passengers (usually five). It's a cheap and fun way to travel with the locals, even if the driver drives like a madman on the loose. Car hire Car hire without driver is relatively expensive because of the high insurance rates. Damage waiver is costly and there is no unlimited mileage. Besides, many rental cars are in poor condition, and driving along the pot-holed, poorly signposted roads is a risky undertaking. You'll be a lot more comfortable with a car with driver which you can book in the larger towns and cities like Lima, Arequipa and Cuzco. |
Strikes and road blocks
Road blocks and strikes are part of daily life when using transport in Peru, and it’s likely you’ll stumble upon a road block at some point on your travels. Blocking the main roads has proven an effective way for the local population to draw attention to their political discontent, though unfortunately for you it means you might encounter delays or detours on several of your bus rides. Remember the strikes are never directly aimed at tourists so they’re not dangerous as such. In the event of a road block our local agent will assist you in changing your itinerary route. Please be aware that strikes are unforeseen circumstances and ‘force majeur’, which means any additional costs are not automatically covered by Peru Travel Plan.
Road blocks and strikes are part of daily life when using transport in Peru, and it’s likely you’ll stumble upon a road block at some point on your travels. Blocking the main roads has proven an effective way for the local population to draw attention to their political discontent, though unfortunately for you it means you might encounter delays or detours on several of your bus rides. Remember the strikes are never directly aimed at tourists so they’re not dangerous as such. In the event of a road block our local agent will assist you in changing your itinerary route. Please be aware that strikes are unforeseen circumstances and ‘force majeur’, which means any additional costs are not automatically covered by Peru Travel Plan.
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