How To Make Your Way Around Peru

Getting from area to area during the Peru stint of your South America package tours tends to come with limited choices. Choosing between price and convenience is pretty much the choice on the table when heading between major regions or cities. Unsurprisingly, a higher travel time will come from a cheaper price so this will be well worth consideration on your trip.

Lima to Cusco

When it comes to Peru travel to Machu Picchu, most people fly from Lima to Cusco and, if you are going to spend money on in-country flights, this is the place to do it. Going by bus will take 20 to 22 hours, taking a huge chunk out of your vacation time. If you do choose to go by bus, you do not want to go for the cheapest alternative. Splurge a bit on a company like Cruz del Sur so that you are more likely to have a comfortable as well as a safe journey.

When flying, take a look at the prices offered by Peruvian Airlines. Unlike Lan, this airline's prices are the same for foreigners as they are for Peruvians and they do not charge more for booking one-way flights. The downside is that they also offer less flights between the two cities. Lan is, generally speaking, a bit more reliable. To get the right deals from Peruvian Airlines, you need to be in the country, sso using an agency may be worth it to book in advance. Other airlines to look at besides Lan are Star Peru and Taca. They may not be as convenient as Lan but they tend to be cheaper.

Cusco to Puno

It is possible to fly from Cusco to Puno. The airport you will land at is actually in Juliaca, located about 30 to 40 minutes outside of Puno. There's no question that flying will cut some time out of your travelling. On the other hand, you're probably going to Puno for Lake Titicaca and you will need to overnight in Puno anyway, in order to get a boat onto the lake in the morning.

Instead of flying, therefore, this is a good route for taking a bus. Rather than taking a regular bus, which will typically leave around 10:00 at night, getting into Puno around 4 in the morning, this is best done via a tourist type of bus. A morning leave from Cusco, there are four tourist sites en-route which you will be stopping at - as well as the lunch break. Obviously, this will add more hours to the trip but the day is basically wasted anyway.

Among the stops typically included are the Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya and Pukara. You will get to Puno in the early evening where you can then overnight before heading to tour the lake the following day. Bus companies that offer this route include Turismo Mer and First Class. An alternative way to go by ground is offered by PeruRail. The Andean Explorer train is a luxurious way to enjoy the landscapes but not a budget one. Both the train and the tourist buses can be taken in reverse from Puno to Cusco.

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