TRAVEL IN PERU

Here you can find information about how to travel in Peru:

Roads - Train - Bus - Taxi - Flying

The principal highway is the Panamerican Highway, which follows the Pacific coast from Tumbes on the Ecuadorian border to Tacna on the Chilean border.
Another important highway extends East from Lima over the Andes to Huancayo, San Ramon, La Merced, Huanuco, Tingo Maria and Pucallpa.
Inland waterways do not exist along the Pacific coast and the Highland. In the Amazon region, however, the upper tributaries of the Amazon - the Marañon, the Ucayali and the Huallaga rivers - represent (except for the airplane) the only means of effective communication among the communities and population centres. Iquitos is the main river port in that region.
The main port of Peru is Callao, which belongs to Callao province in Lima.

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There are only few rail connections in Peru; but these few are very spectacular.
The train that is used most is the one between Cusco and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) and from Cusco to Puno. There are special tourist trains as tourists are not allowed to use the common local trains. Usually there are 2 classes in these tourist trains: Vistadome and Backpacker. Vistadome is a comfortable wagon with service, a meal and a show along the way, whereas the backpacker class is the budget alternative.

The train from Cusco to Puno embarks 3 times per week, the other routes travel several times a day. Please find further details and schedules here.
It is advisable to buy tickets in advance as these trains, especially in high season, are easily booked out.

The train between Lima and Huancayo is still running and is managed by Ferrocarrill Central. It leaves only on specific days (usually on weekends). For further information please consult Ferrocarrill´s website.

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There are hardly any train connections in South America. The main means of transportation are buses. Peru has a large network and good connections with numerous private bus companies. Both, the competition and the differences in the quality of the services offered are immense. But many buses are very comfortable and, compared to Europe, very cheap. Most larger companies offer the choice between economy and business class. There are also special buses with reclining seats for night trips. Buses usually depart various times a day from the larger towns and tickets can be bought with the respective companies before leaving. If you have only limited time, there are of course also national flights available between all the main cities. , It would be our pleasure to also book your flights and bus transfers, connected to hotel reservations.

Some cities have a central bus terminal (terminal terrestre). In Lima, every bus company has its own terminal.
Ormeño and Cruz del Sur are the largest bus companies with the best quality buses and are highly recommended.

Some distances with average durations of bus trips:

Lima - Arequipa	1009 km	14 hours
Lima - Cusco	1106 km	20 hours
Lima - Trujillo	561 km	8 hours
Lima - Cajamarca	862 km	14 hours
Cusco - Puno	394 km	6 hours
Arequipa - Cusco	516 km	8 hours
Arequipa - Puno	294 km	5 hours
Arequipa - Nasca	566 km	8 hours
Chiclayo - Lima	769 km	11 hours

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The taxis in Lima never use metered fares. You have to agree on a price before you get into the car by speaking to the taxista through the window. It is expected that you barter a little.
Fares run from approximately US$ 1 (within the district) to 4, for short distances, for example from downtown to most suburbs, and approximately US$ 8 to 12 as to the airport from outer Lima. Prices increase 30-50% after midnight, on Sundays and on national holidays.

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Airlines: Lanperu, TANS, Aerocondor, Starperú, Taca

Flight connections:Lima's airport Jorge Chavez, situated in Callao, Lima, is Peru's only international airport and is the main airport for national flights.There are regular services available to Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Cusco, Iquitos, Juliaca, Huaraz, Piura, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Tacna, Tarapoto, Trujillo and Tumbes.

From Lima you can reach all important Peruvian towns by plane, except Huancayo and Ica

Confirmation: National flights should be reconfirmed 48 hours, international flights 72 hours before departure. Airlines do furthermore require you to be at the airport 2 hours or 3 hours prior to departure for national and international flights respectively.

Departure tax: For national flights you will be charged US$ 6.05, for international flights US$ 30.25. You will have to pay this directly at the airport, the fee is not included in the ticket price!