Flying is most efficient and isn't that expensive (getting a ticket round trip to Cuzco from North America is usually about the same price as a round trip ticket just to Lima).
Taking the bus may save a few dollars, but it's a punishing 22 hour ride. Get a tourist bus if you can.
Lima to Cusco
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Re: Lima to Cusco
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
- jenkscolin
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Re: Lima to Cusco
The bus ride is very long and may only save you a bit of money. I would always fly from Lima to Cusco and vice versa. Its about a 22 hour bus ride compared to an hour and a half flight. Although if you have a couple days to spare I would recommend taking the bus from Lima to Arequipa, spending some time in Arequipa and then continuing to Cusco. Arequipa is a gorgeous city with much to offer and breaks up the bus ride into two 10-12 hour rides.
The smaller we come to feel ourselves compared with the mountain, the nearer we come to participating in its greatness - Arne Naess
Re: Lima to Cusco
Take standard precautions to avoid theft on buses in Peru. (Example: small padlocks on luggage.)
Re: Lima to Cusco
My experience (although it dates from 10+ years ago) was that domestic flights in Peru and other SA countries were not that expensive. Crossing an international border in mid air apparently adds significant cost. We took a lot of buses, but for something that long it's just way easier to fly - and well worth it.
"You can't really dust for vomit." - Nigel Tufnel
- BobbyPeru
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Re: Lima to Cusco
Go to Lan Airlines website. Choose Peru as your home country. It will be in Spainish but you can book tickets for as low as 49$ each way between LIM-CUZ for the month of September. I've done this a few times before with no problems.
- MountainSlayer
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Re: Lima to Cusco
However you get there, it will be worth it. Cuzco is such a cool and special place. Please have a Cusquena Dark for me (delicious), and pour some out for Pachamama.
- JLOHARA
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Re: Lima to Cusco
Fly TACA airlines affordable tickets and quick flight. FYI if you have not booked lodging in Cusco I recommend this: http://www.ninoshotel.com/html-eng/acco ... datie.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
We stayed there in 2009 wonderful place wonderful people.
Jodi
We stayed there in 2009 wonderful place wonderful people.
Jodi
- JLOHARA
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Re: Lima to Cusco
the hostel/hotel is run by a dutch woman and her family. Very safe and very clean. HIghly recommended. I think we paid $45.00 per night. The woman and her husband have an interesting story on what brought them to Cuzco. She is there for the street children.
- shredthegnar10
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Re: Lima to Cusco
+1SoCool wrote:Take standard precautions to avoid theft on buses in Peru. (Example: small padlocks on luggage.)
Also if you are going to go by bus (whether it be to Cusco, Arequipa, or anywhere), try to avoid the "budget" bus companies (for the same reason). Cruz Del Sur is the most expensive but they have a good reputation, and Oltursa isn't bad either. Moviltours is supposed to be good as well but I don't have any personal experience to verify that
Most things worth doing are difficult, dangerous, expensive, or all three.