 Traveling through the Andes at night... a bad idea by epicult | Tips for getting around Peru posted by real travelers and Peru locals. Map |
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 Cuzco airport, waiting for
luggage by SirRichard
There are flights with most companies, the most frequent are LAN and Tans Peru, that have several daily. They cost approx 60-70 USD each way. Leave a Comment
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 Lan and Tans by SirRichard
For me, LAN is the best, though there might be a difference of 15-20% plus in price compared with TANS. TANS is not that bad, but they give you a paper bag with a muffin and InkaCola instead of the LAN sandwich and other drinks, and the seats space is smaller.
When I was flying Iquitos-Lima, my TANS flight (cheaper) was supposed to leave at 17:15, while LAN flight was scheduled at 17:30. When LAN flight left (at its correct time), we the poor TANS passengers were still waiting for the gate call for our flight, and finally left with a 40 minutes delay!! Leave a Comment
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 Bus in Lima by SirRichard
In smaller towns this is normally more chaotic, there is a person hanging out of the bus door shouting the names of the destinations and you have to pay them, normally at the end of the ride. Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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 Moto-Taxis in Iquitos by SirRichardLeave a Comment Theme: Motorcycle
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 over the Amazon approaching
Lima by nhoolb
http://www.lan.com
http://www.taca.com
http://www.starperu.com
All of them have a relatively good on-time performance. Also here: one may be a little better than the other. In general all of them operate modern equipment and crew well-trained.
It's a short flight, about one hour. Fares don't differ much. Around € 75-120 pp one way, depending season-day-time of dep.
Bear in mind that Cusco airport is a "visual" airport only, operates only during daylight hours (roughly 6 am - 6 pm).
Later in the day in the afternoons sometimes the clouds can get lower and/or the wind picks up and planes are not able to come in/take off. (It is westbound landing and eastbound take-off only, due to the mountains!). When connecting in Lima it is therefore advisable to allow ample time (1 or 2 days) before continuing your flight out. It doesn't happen very often but yes it occurs and sometimes tourists are strapped for 1 or 2 days in Cusco. Chaotic situation then.
There are also (early morning) flights Arequipa-Cusco/Juliaca (airport for Puno). Around € 65 pp one way, 45 minutes flight. As there are flights Cusco-Puerto Maldonado (Amazone jungle tours).
To the north, Trujillo (Chan Chan), Chiclayo (Sipan), Tumbes (Mancora beach), Cajamarca (Inca ransom quarter) and to the north-east (a.o. Iquitos) these airlines operate regular flights as well. Check their websites.
To Cajamarca the small airline LC Busre also operates daily flights:
http://www.lcbusre.com.pe
TANS airlines ceased operations. Used to be the civil operator of the military and the government.
Aerocondor ceased operations.
Info January 2009 Theme: Airplane
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There are many buses to the south, i.e. Pisco, Ica, Nasca and on to Arequipa. Preferably take the well-knowned companies like Ormeño and Cruz del Sur. These buses depart from their respective terminals in Lima, situated almost next to each other on the Avenida Javier Prado, more or less where Miraflores meets San Isidro with the Via Expresa (Paseo de la Republica). About 15-20 minutes by taxi from the centre of Miraflores. Advantage of these buses is that, although a little more expensive than others, they are safer. These buses don't stop to pick up passengers (maybe thieves and robbers, mostly armed) who stand waiting along the highway. Therefore whenever possible and/or feasible, avoid overnight travel.
Early morning departures (7 -8 am) and afternoon departures (noon-2 pm), routing Pisco-Paracas-Ica-Nasca-Arequipa. The 8 am arrives Pisco/Hotel Paracas around noon. The afternoon departure from Pisco/Hotel Paracas arrives early evening in Nasca (let the hotel meet you), and there is a late afternoon departure from Nasca to AQP, arriving 11 pm or midnight (also let the hotel meet you).
Fare Lima-Paracas with Ormeño and Cruz del Sur around € 15 pp one way.
http://www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe
http://www.cruzdelsur.com.per /> From AQP to Puno (Juliaca, Puno doesn't have an airport) or Cusco I recommend to take a flight, much more comfortable and safer and just a little more expensive (around € 65 pp one way). Check with http://www.lan.com and http://www.starperu.com/
From Puno to Cusco and/or vv there is a nice bus http://www.inkaexpress.com and is cheaper than the train of Perurail. http://www.perurail.com
To the north by bus: also Ormeño and Cruz del Sur. La Linea for Trujillo-Chiclayo. http://www.transporteslinea.com.pe/itinerarios.asp
Info January 2009 Theme: Bus
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The train from Cuzco to Machu Picchu isn't the fastest, even on the best days. When I took it, we were attacked by peasants throwing rocks. I understand their point: rich gringos ride by every day on their way to exotic ruins while they don't get a cent in traffic rights. In any case, after many stops and a few scary seconds, it took us 8 hours to reach Aguas Calientes. Leave a Comment Theme: Train
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 by calcaf38
But they performed for me, and how! I ended up with a very tight connection in Lima and I was whisked from one plane to the other by an agent, without entering the terminal. I was impressed.
Otherwise, very old planes and very young crews. Great views of the Andes and the Amazon.
Since then, Aerocontinente has been grounded, leaving many travelers in the lurch.
I believe Lan Peru has expanded its services to fill in the gaps left by the disappearance of Aerocontinente and Tans Peru. Leave a Comment Theme: Airplane
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 view of Juliaca from the plane by chancay
Possible connections are:
Lima-Arequipa
Lima-Ayacucho
Lima-Cajamarca
Lima-Chachapoyas
Lima-Cusco
Lima-Chiclayo
Lima-Iquitos
Lima-Juliaca
Lima-Pto.Mald.
Lima-Piura
Lima-Pucallpa
Lima-Tacna
Lima-Tarapoto
Lima-Trujillo
Lima-Tumbes
Lima-Yurimaguas
and of course the backway. Leave a Comment
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The train is a great way to travel from Puno to Cusco (or of course, from Cusco to Puno!) You have a choice of two classes of ticket: the backpacker or first class. There's a big difference in the price between the two so if you're on a budget you can save a lot of money by choosing backpacker, and you probably also get a better experience of Peru as you're not isolated from the local people as you are in first class. But I must confess we went first class and it was an amazing experience and a real treat!
Imagine a sort of faded Orient Express, with a Latin American twist. You sit in real old-fashioned armchairs to sip your pisco sour and watch the Andes go past your window. Or you can have your drink in the bar, with musicians to entertain you. Your final choice could be the observation car at the back, where you get the best views of all.
As you leave Puno there's an interesting stretch of track right through the middle of the market, and then some lovely views of Lake Titicaca. But for most of the trip you'll be seing the mountains - not so much the high Andes, but lower ones, with some agriculture on the slopes and a few villages. Nearer Cusco you follow a river and the land is greener. The journey takes ten hours altogether, and at the highest point the train stops for long enough for you to get off and visit the market that locals have set up on the station platform (usual textiles, good prices). Oh, and you get a good lunch too, although I have to say I was ill that evening so maybe the lunch wasn't as good as it tasted! But overall this was a fantastic experience and well worth the money. Theme: Train
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