A Movil Tours bus in Tarapoto, Peru. Photo by Tony Dunnell.
If you stick with the best bus companies in Peru, you should have a reasonably positive overland travel experience. The higher-end companies are comfortable, generally quite reliable and far (far!) safer than the cheaper options, which are not recommended.
That said, you can have a bad experience with any bus company in Peru, a country where consistency of service is rare, no matter what kind of business you’re looking at. So don’t expect a faultless experience with even the biggest names — Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Excluciva and the like — as you can never guarantee a completely smooth ride, whether through the fault of the company or through some random act of nature.
But by traveling — whenever possible — with the best bus companies in Peru, you’ll enjoy a far higher level of efficiency, service and safety. Among the hundreds of smaller and/or more antiquated companies, such things are sadly all too rare.
The Best Long Distance Bus Companies in Peru
OK, this isn’t based on scientific analysis, so excuse the subjectivity. But these are what I consider the best long-distance bus companies in Peru, based on my experience living and traveling in Peru since 2009. I’m also taking into account the general reputation of each company and some safety figures (such as these accident stats for 2015). Feel free to disagree in the comments section below — all opinions are appreciated.
Cruz del Sur
Founded in Arequipa back in the 1960s, Cruz del Sur (www.cruzdelsur.com.pe) has been in the transport game for a long time. It has its critics (who doesn’t?), but it’s still up there with the very best bus companies in Peru. Its buses are comfortable and normally in good condition; reasonable safety features are in place and are adhered to; and the coverage is excellent (including a number of international destinations such as Santiago, Buenos Aires, Quito and Bogotá). I’ve traveled with Cruz del Sur on numerous occasions and never had a problem. It’s one of the more expensive options here, but worth the extra cost. Recommended. Sample fare: Lima to Cusco $57.
Oltursa
Solid all-round, Oltursa (www.oltursa.pe) is a good option, especially along the coast and inland to Cusco. Ticket prices are in a similar bracket to those of Cruz del Sur, so it’s not the cheapest bus company out there. Lima to Cusco $57.
TEPSA
A safe and reliable option, TEPSA (www.tepsa.com.pe) has great coverage throughout most of Peru, including to cities like Tarapoto and Tingo Maria, which many other companies don’t go to. Lima to Cusco $52.
Movil Tours
I’ve always been a fan of Movil Tours (www.moviltours.com.pe), especially for traveling in northern Peru. It’s a cheaper alternative to Cruz del Sur, TEPSA etc., but the buses are good and the service is safe and secure. It’s probably still worth paying more for Cruz, TEPSA etc., but if you’re trying to save a few dollars then Movil is a perfectly reasonable alternative (especially for shorter journeys). Movil also runs to some cities ignored by other major companies. Lima to Cusco from $30.
A Cruz del Sur bus in Peru. Photo by Cruz del Sur.
Civa
Civa (civa.com.pe) is a big company operating all along the coast and southern Peru. Civa had the worst accident record of all the major bus companies in Peru in 2015. With that in mind, it’s best to use the company’s more expensive Excluciva (excluciva.com.pe) bus service for more comfort, reliability and safety. Lima to Cusco (with Excluciva) from $37.
Línea
Línea (linea.pe) is limited by its range of destinations, all of which are north of Lima and generally sit on or near the coast. But if you’re heading that way, Línea is worth a look.
Ormeño
Ormeño (www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe) seem to eternally flirt with the idea of becoming a truly top-end bus company, but then seems to get lost along the way (metaphorically speaking). Ormeño is a good company, but I’d edge toward Cruz del Sur, TEPSA and others on this list first. It’s also had a largely dysfunctional website for as long as I can remember (so I can’t even check the current ticket prices).
Flores
One of the biggest bus companies in Peru, Flores (floreshnos.pe) offers various services across its expansive fleet. At the cheaper end of its fleet, it’s a midrange company at best: Not bad for short hops, but not good for longer trips. Ideally, stick with the company’s more expensive Dorado VIP buses, especially for lengthy journeys. Lima to Cusco (with Dorado VIP service) from $34.
Other Long-Distance Bus Companies in Peru
If a company isn’t mentioned above, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should avoid using it. Plenty of other companies, such as ITTSA, Peru Bus, Soyuz and Palomino, have large fleets and carry passengers along some of Peru’s main routes on a daily basis. These companies might not have the big-name reputation of their competition, but they mostly do a decent job.
Still, as a general rule you’re better off paying more money for a top-end long-distance bus service: one with higher safety standards and more comfortable buses. Paying that extra $10 to $20 for a 10- to 20-hour journey is well worth it.
A luxury Excluciva bus by Civa. Photo by Civa.
Tourist Bus Services in Peru
In the southern half of Peru, especially along the classic Gringo Trail route, you’ll come across a few specialist bus companies aimed at tourists rather than the general population. These tend to be more expensive than the standard long distance options, but they do (or at least, they should) give you greater personalized attention and the ability to get off at certain stops and viewing points.
Three notable tourist bus services are:
Peru Hop
Currently the only service of its type in Peru, Peru Hop (www.peruhop.com) is a hop-on hop-off bus service that operates along the Gringo Trail. You could reasonably argue that its slogan “Don’t be a typical tourist. Discover the Real Peru!” is not quite on-point, considering it’s a tourist service aimed at foreigners traveling along the most popular routes in Peru, but… whatever.
It’s a good service and a great alternative option to have available, especially if you’re a solo traveler looking for company. And, of course, the whole hop-on hop-off thing gives you a wonderful degree of flexibility (at least along their main routes). In terms of price, you can travel cheaper with the standard long-distance bus companies — although the difference isn’t all that significant once you tally everything up.
4M Express
4M Express (www.4m-express.com) runs small tourist buses between Cusco, Puno, Arequipa and Chivay. You get to stop off at some viewing points along the way; I did the trip from Puno to Arequipa with 4M Express and it was kind of fun. Is it worth the extra money? Probably not, unless you really want to stop a few times en route, seeing a few lakes and some flamingos. If you’re only in Peru for a week or so and want to see as much as possible, then it makes sense. If you’re on a backpacker’s budget and traveling for weeks or months, then not so much.
Inka Express
Similar to 4M Express, but Inka Express (www.inkaexpress.com) only runs between Cusco and Puno. On the way, you’ll make a few stops, including Andahuaylillas Church and the archaeological sites of Raqchi and Checacupe. Also includes a buffet lunch.
A hop-on hop-off Peru Hop bus. Photo by Peru Hop.
Must Stay Positive!
Yes finally I did. It wasn’t easy. Still waiting on two flight refunds one from cancellation insurance and one from visa dispute. It’s been way more difficult than I think it should have been. Hugely disappointing the whole thing.
It must be very disappointing, and a real hassle trying to get refunds. Hopefully you’ll be able to make it out to Peru in the near(ish) future. Thanks, Tony.
I am concerned and frustrated with Peru Hop service in Peru. Our trip is being cancelled for June 13/20 due to Covid 19 pandemic and Peru Hop is not offering a full refund. They offer a trip extension for 5 years to family or friends. This is not acceptable to me. People are dying of Covid 19 and this is all they can offer. Sorry it’s theft of people’s money. I’m 67 years old how much longer can I travel to high
altitude ? I have no family or friends that want to travel there for the forseeable future. Waiting for a vaccine in Canada.
Hi Cheryl. Sorry for my really late reply. Did you ever get things sorted out with Peru Hop? Thanks, Tony.
Lima to Ica, whats tion, Cruz del Sur or Flores Hermanos?
Hi Tony, We are planning a trip next May, and considering to take the bus from Lima to Arequipa (only if we get a comfortable seat -possibly 180 degrees as we will be tired from the flight already) . The idea is to get some scenery (instead of flying) , sleep when we want to, get off the bus at 2-3PM in Nazca. Go to the cemetery and Nazca Lines, and continue on overnight bus to Arequipa. I am not sure about a few things:
1. What can we do with our luggage in Nazca. We can’t really pull our suitcases around.
2. I am confused about the Service Class (VIP/Suite…) Suite seems to be the 180 but not always available. Alsi Go2Peru has different naming than CruzDelSur website) I have no interest to go overnight, unless I get the 180 degree seats.
3. Does is worth taking the bus at all in terms of what we see? Go2Peru says 2 or 3 stops, but it doesn’t specify what that means AND WHERE??? Toilet stop or some time to hang around?
The same applies from Arequipa to Cusco, definitely overnight…and flat bed.
Can you please advise.
Thanks
Hi Judith. If you stop off in Nazca without staying the night, then there might be a luggage storage in the terminal of whatever bus company you travel with (if you feel confident about leaving things there, which is a valid concern). Otherwise, I’m not sure what other options you’d have for your bags. As for the service classes, companies have different names for their various options. You can check the details on their websites, normally. For Cruz del Sur, the Confort Suite class seems to be the one with 180 seats. You won’t really see much during the trip, especially if it’s overnight, in which case you’ll basically see nothing. Even during the day it’s mostly desert so not too interesting. The stops will be at the bus company terminals, which are normally fairly basic and uninteresting. So if you’re thinking about taking the bus between Lima-Nazca-Arequipa for the scenery, then sure, you will at least see some of the country, but it’s not going to be all that interesting, especially overnight. The scenery between Arequipa and Cusco will be much more interesting, and the gradual ascent by bus is better for acclimatizing. On the downside, it’s a long trip (20 hours?). So it really depends on how much time you have and how long you can stand on a bus. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks, Tony.
Hi Tony,
In your opinion, what would be the safest and most comfortable bus to do Arequipa-Puno and Puno-Cusco?
Is there any risk of hijacking on those routes?
Thanks!!!!
Hi Gabe. Cruz del Sur is perhaps the best option for safety and comfort. Excluciva is also a good option along those routes. Otherwise you can go on one of the smaller tourist bus services like 4M Express or Inka Express. They aren’t as comfortable, but they have a few tourist stops and more personalized attention (unless the bus is packed — when I traveled with 4M there were only four people on board). The risk of hijacking is very, very low, so not really worth worrying about on those routes. Thanks, Tony.
Tony I’m trying to find a bus that goes from Arequipa to Santiago and not having any luck, would you have any suggestions? Thanks
Hi Robert. Sorry for the late response. Did you manage to sort this out? Cruz del Sur has buses from Lima to Santiago, but as far as I can tell not from Arequipa to Santiago. I guess they’re non-stop from capital to capital. So the best option is probably to get a bus from Arequipa to Tacna, then cross over the border and find a bus from Arica to Santiago (Pullman Bus, probably). That should be fairly straightforward. Thanks, Tony.
Hi Tony,
We are debating between flying fromArequipa to Cusco (where we would be doing a 4D Inca trek) and taking the bus. I’ve been reading a lot about PeruHop and Cruz Del Sur. Our main concern is safety, cost and comfort. A 9hr bus ride is probably at the higher stretch of our comfort zone, but if it helps with acclimatization, then we would be fine with it. But we hear conflicting info about hijacking. Your insight to this is appreciated.
Thanks,
Peter & Sanh
Hi Sanh. If you travel with a reputable company like Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop, then safety shouldn’t be much of an issue (especially hijacking, which isn’t too big of an issue along this route — it’s more of a problem along the route to Cusco that goes via Abancay, as far as I know). And it will help with acclimatization. So if you have the time, then going by bus is a good option. Have a good trip! Tony.