Transportation in Peru

Getting to Peru is easy with regular international flights and convenient overland border crossings. Bus is the most common method for getting around the country, but due to its size, internal flights are also a good option. Travelling by train is an amazing adventure, with all trains going through spectacular scenery in the Andes. Boat travel is important in Peru's Amazon Basin with dugout canoes fitted with outboard engines and cargo boats available as water transport. Within Peru's cities travelling is easy and cheap and you can commute by taxi or local bus.

Transport in Peru can be exciting and part of the adventure of visiting this fascinating country!

Our Peru transportation guide gives you some handy tips and tricks for getting to and from Peru, as well as how to get around once you arrive. A great way to explore the country is by joining a tour in Peru. Our guide below will help you when getting around Peru. For local transportation information visit our local destination sites in:

- Cusco
- Arequipa
- Sacred Valley
- Lima
- Colca Canyon

Peru Transportation Guide

Getting to Peru

By Air

Lima, the capital of Peru, has the reputed Jorge Chávez International Airport from where flights leave regularly to different parts of the world. Some of the chief airlines in Peru are Delta, American Airlines, Lan Peru, Iberia, Continental, Lan, Copa and Taca. From the U.S., direct flights to Lima can be taken from Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Newark and New York. Air Canada would also offer you a direct flight to Toronto.

Five airlines offer non-stop flights to Europe. Iberia, for instance, offers you a direct flight from Madrid to Lima in about 13 hours. Soon, there is a possibility that there will be direct flights to and from Oceania and Asia; but, as of today, travellers need to take a connecting flight from Los Angeles or Santiago in Chile.

If you're taking an international flight out of the country, you are required to pay departure tax. This could cost you anywhere between US$ 25 and US$ 30 or the corresponding value in soles. It will have to be paid in full, and in cash, before you enter the departure zone. Even within the country, you have to pay a domestic flight tax of $6, under the very same conditions as the international flights.

Avia Selva offers you flights to Colombia and Leticia from Iquitos. Lloyd Aero Boliviano has flights from Cuzco to Bolivia and La Paz. In both cases, the departure tax amounts to about $10.

For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.

By boat

Iquitos, situated in the Amazonas region, is connected by boat to Tabatinga in Brazil and Leticia in Colombia. The journey would take you about 10 hours.

Getting around Peru

By bus

Most important roads along the coast are paved. However, many dirt roads still exist and most of them are in a pathetic condition. During the rains, the situation becomes even worse and it is not unlikely that a landslide might block up even some of the main roads.

Though some cities do have trains, travel between cities is usually by bus in Peru. Most buses and trains start from a fixed point - more often than not from the court of the corresponding company or from the central bus terminal. To be assured of getting a seat, buy your tickets at least one day in advance. To check out the departure time, log on to http://www.sabuses.com/.

It would also be a good idea to reach the departure point slightly ahead of time, as empty seats are usually taken up pretty quickly. In many Peru bus terminals, you may need to pay 1 to 1.5 soles for the departure tax.

If you've always taken pride in your height, Peru just might be one time when you'll wish you were shorter! The seats in the bus are a lot smaller than the ones in the U.S and Europe and people above 1.8 m are likely to find it a rather tight squeeze. The middle seat at the rear is a little roomier, but since the rear tends to swing heavily on dirt roads, you may find it quite uncomfortable.

Travelling between the larger cities, you'll find first-class express buses with video, meal service and even checked luggage. To purchase a ticket on one of these, you may be required to show your passport. It would be a good idea to carry rainproof luggage, as it is often kept on the roof of the bus.

Steer clear of bus companies where travellers are allowed to board the bus outside the official stations. Most of them are very badly managed. Some could also turn out to be hazardous, especially for women who are travelling on their own: highway robberies and nonchalant safety practices are not unusual. Before you board the bus in Peru, make sure that you have checked all the credentials of the company at the hostel, hotel or the tourist information booth.

If you're taking a bus in the city, it could cost you anywhere between 0.70 and 1.50 soles (approximately US$ 0.20 - 0.40).

By train

Even if you are planning to travel by train in Peru, it's better to buy your ticket well in advance. Opt for first class or the buffet class. Though the prices for these are relatively higher, it would make for a much more comfortable journey.

If you decide to buy a lower class ticket, be prepared to be inundated by a flood of luggage. Under your seat, beside you, right in front of your feet and wherever else a little space is found - you'll find people dumping their luggage, without even giving you room to move.

Peru's five main rail lines are:

Cuzco - Juliaca - Puno
Cuzco - Machu Picchu
Lima - Huancayo
Arequipa - Juliaca
Huancayo - Huancavelica

In early 2007, however, the line running from Arequipa to Juliaca was suspended. For further details on these lines, you can log on to Peru Rail.

The Ferrocarril Central Andino line joins Lima to Huancayo. It is the highest railway line in the whole of South America and the second highest in the world. A spectacular 11-hour joy ride, the train traverses through more than 69 tunnels, crosses over 58 bridges and takes about six zigzags. The train reaches an altitude of 15681ft (4781m.a.s.l).

If you would rather chart your own course and steer clear of the trappings afforded by commercial tourism, your best bet would be a trip to Huancayo, where you can fish, explore pre-Inca ruins and trek to your heart's content.

By foot

The most famous trek in Peru is the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. However, there are many more treks all along the Sierra. The best time to travel on foot would be during the dry season. Another extremely popular trail is the Huaraz, and many agencies here offer guided tours and equipments. In the higher regions of the Sierra, the scant vegetation is conducive to off-trail hiking.

There are a few rules to observe if you are travelling on foot in Peru. For one, you need to ensure that you have an adequate supply of iodine in case you need to cleanse your drinking water. Another important factor to keep in mind, especially when you are hiking at high altitudes, is acclimatisation. Nights in the open Sierra can prove to be bitingly cold, with temperatures falling to minus 10 degrees Celsius and lower at an altitude of 4500m. Make sure you are carrying a warm sleeping bag and other essential gear. Watch out for sudden thunderstorms that may brew without warning.

The intense cold and heavy rains can prove to be disastrous at higher altitudes. Nights here are unusually long, lasting for more than 12 hours all through the year. So, investing in a powerful flashlight would be a good idea. On the higher mountains, where there is no snow, getting water may be difficult.

By car

Travelling by car in Peru will allow you to explore the country at your own pace and discover the road less travelled at your own leisure! Most of the roads are unpaved, so you will have to watch your speed. It might also be a good idea to travel around with a reserve of gas; gas stations are rare in some of these unchartered territories. Buying gas at night can prove to be an adventure - even in some of the more densely populated places, the stations tend to shut down pretty early and you'll find the pumps locked. If you're in luck, the owner will be sleeping inside and you can wake him up and replenish your tank.

Traffic checkpoints are scattered rather haphazardly. Often, police may turn out to be unscrupulous and extract bribes for offering you passage. The best thing to do would be find a native travelling companion who can speak up on your behalf should the need arise.

By Taxi

Interestingly, the term 'taxi' does not always refer to a car - even motor rickshaws, motor bikes and bicycles are available on hire. The taxi could also be formal or informal - the former are painted and distinctly marked as taxis, while the latter are simply vehicles with a sticker saying 'taxi'. If you're not a fluent speaker of Spanish, it's best to avoid these informal ones.

Remember that fixed and metered rates are not too common around here. Except for the more expensive radio taxis, the common practice is to negotiate the fare with the driver before you step into the vehicle. Tipping is not expected. If you aren't sure about how much you need to pay, try finding out from the hostel or hotel in Peru where you're staying about the usual rates that are charged to get to your destination. In Lima, hiring a taxi would be rather expensive, especially when compared to the other cities; you may have to pay about 7 to 8 soles (approximately US$ 2.00 - 2.40).

Micros

'Micros', as the microbuses in Peru are commonly called, are usually coaster buses or minivans. They are also called 'combis' or 'custers'. They usually take a fixed route and do not really have bus stops. Or rather, in spite of the fact that there are certain designated bus stops, the drivers don't really stop at these spots unless you specifically request them. To find out where the bus is headed, check out the windscreen or the side of the bus - the route is usually displayed on boards or painted on the side.

To get into a micro, simply hail it down. If you're lucky and the bus is not crowded, you will be picked up. The fee is collected during the course of your journey. Be prepared - these modes of transport will not necessarily be luxurious joyrides. More often than not, these buses are crowded and dirty and are best taken only during off-peak hours or in small towns.

When you want to get off the bus, the magic words to use are 'Esquina baja!' (s-KEE-nah BAH-ha) or 'Bajo!' (BAH-ho). Make sure you say it loudly and you'll be dropped off at the nearest possible spot.