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.
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 you’re paying for a different kind of trip.
It comes down to licensing, something most travelers never hear about. A standard long-distance company holds a terminal-to-terminal transport license: it can legally carry you from one bus station to the next, and that’s it. The tourist operators hold a tourism transport license, which lets them pick you up at your hotel, drive into places a regular bus legally can’t enter, and stop at viewing points and attractions along the way. Whether that’s worth the premium depends on the kind of trip you’re after.
Three notable tourist bus services are:
Peru Hop
Peru Hop (bushop.com/peru) is a hop-on hop-off bus service running between Lima and Cusco via Paracas, Huacachina, Ica, Nazca, Arequipa and Puno (its sister service, Bolivia Hop, continues to La Paz). Buses are modern coaches with Wi-Fi and run daily, so you set your own dates, hotels and pace. The tourism license lets it do what normal buses can’t: hotel pickups in Lima and Cusco, a drop-off in central Paracas, and stops at places like the Hacienda San José, a 300-year-old estate with tunnels once used to smuggle enslaved people. There’s also a local host on board to tell you what you’re passing and keep the bus sociable, which solo travelers love.
It’s one of the safer ways to travel these routes, too: drivers stick to speed limits (not a given in Peru), the Arequipa to Nazca leg runs by day so you actually see the spectacular coast road, and when strikes shut down travel the company warns its passengers in advance and helps them rebook.
Is it for everyone? Almost all travelers, but not everyone. If you’re heading somewhere off the Gringo Trail, the long-distance companies below will get you there for less. Ticket for ticket, a regular bus looks cheaper. But Peru Hop isn’t really competing on the bare fare. It’s aimed at first-timers who want the journey itself to be part of the trip. And once you add up the extras that come with public buses (taxis to and from the terminals, plus booking separately the detours and tours that Peru Hop already includes), a Peru Hop pass tends to work out cheaper.
Inka Express
Inka Express (www.inkaexpress.com) runs tourist buses 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, and the buses have Wi-Fi on board. The company has grown a lot in recent years, and its recent reviews have been excellent, so it has clearly been doing something right.
4M Express
Similar to Inka Express, but 4M Express (www.4m-express.com) covers more ground, running 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.
A hop-on hop-off Peru Hop bus on the Peruvian coast. Photo by Peru Hop.
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.
One note on the prices below: they cover the bus ticket only, terminal to terminal. Bus terminals in Peru are rarely central (Lima alone has a dozen of them, scattered across the city), so budget for taxis at both ends. And if you want to visit places along the way, like Paracas or Huacachina, each leg means a separate ticket and your own connections to plan. Worth working all of that out before you book.
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 from $38 with the standard Superciva service, or from around $86 with Excluciva.
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?), with complaints about poor customer service and consistently late buses, but it’s still up there as one of the big bus companies in Peru. Its buses are fairly 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. The buses were often late, and I’ve seen English-speaking travelers struggle a bit, but I never had a major problem. It’s one of the more expensive options here, but worth the extra cost. Recommended. Sample fare: Lima to Cusco from around $61 (terminal-to-terminal fare only; taxis and other costs need to be planned for separately).
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 from $58.
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 from around $36 (S/135).
A Cruz del Sur bus in Peru. Photo by Cruz del Sur.
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.
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.
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.