Transport in Peru: plane, bus, train and boat

The main connections

Road distances from Lima, to measure what the plane spares you: Huaraz 402 km; Arequipa 1,002 km; Cusco 1,101 km; Chachapoyas 1,121 km; Tumbes 1,251 km; Puno 1,275 km; Puerto Maldonado 1,685 km; no road to Iquitos. Flight times are time in the air: add the transfers, check-in and baggage collection.

The southern circuit by road, stage by stage

The great southern circuit is often done by bus, from Lima to Cusco via the coast, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca. Stage by stage:

The Nazca–Arequipa stretch. It is the only one that almost inevitably travels at night, whereas the FDFA recommends avoiding intercity journeys at night. Three solutions: take the earliest afternoon departure, with a higher-category company; do the south coast as a round trip from Lima, then fly to Arequipa (about 1 hr 30 min of flying); or hand this stretch over to private daytime transport, which costs more.

Altitude. The Colca, Puno and Cusco are high, and the route climbs steeply after Arequipa. Even so, the order of the southern circuit helps you get used to it: see altitude.

The north and the Amazon

• The north coast is reached by plane from Lima: Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Talara and Tumbes, served from Lima by one to three airlines (JetSmart, LATAM, Sky depending on the airport). Once there, Trujillo–Chiclayo takes 4 to 5 hr, with departures from 6:20 to 19:30, and Chiclayo–Máncora usually 6 hr to 7 hr 45 min; daytime departures at around 8:30, 13:15 and 16:00, and night departures at around 23:00: choose daytime departures. See north coast.
• Huaraz is reached by daytime bus (8 to 9 hr for most services, with daytime departures from 7:00 and night departures until around 23:40) or by plane: LATAM flights between Lima and Huaraz airport, at Anta, some forty minutes’ drive from the town.
• Iquitos is not linked by any road to the rest of the country: fly from Lima or Tarapoto, or take several days by boat from Yurimaguas.
• Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to Tambopata: direct flights from Lima (LATAM) and from Cusco (LATAM and Sky). The lodges are then reached by river; check that the transfer is included in the package.

Terminals and airports: never just the city

• Lima: Jorge Chávez Airport has been operating from a new terminal since 1 June 2025; check the current terminal and access on your booking. See Arriving in Lima.
• Bus stations: in Lima, each large bus company often has its own terminal, in different neighbourhoods. Note the exact address printed on the ticket, not just “Lima terminal”.
• Cusco and the train: according to PeruRail, Machu Picchu trains leave, depending on the season and the service, from the San Pedro, Wanchaq or Poroy stations in Cusco, from Urubamba or from Ollantaytambo. Poroy is about twenty minutes from the centre, Ollantaytambo about an hour and a half.
• Regional airports: Arequipa, Cusco, Juliaca (for Puno), Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Talara, Tumbes, Tarapoto, Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Pucallpa, Jauja (for Huancayo), Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Jaén.

Bus, plane, train or boat?

The night bus: work out what you really save. Saving a night in a hotel is worthwhile if you sleep properly and if the next room is ready when you arrive. It is less so if you have to pay for early access, wait with your luggage, then give up an activity you have already paid for. And the risk of an accident, higher at night, cannot be offset.

Taking the bus in practice

The terms and conditions of travel of the bus company Línea, for example, set out the rules and rights laid down by the national transport regulations (Línea):

• ID is compulsory when boarding: for a foreign traveller, the passport. The ticket carries your name and document number: buy it with the exact spelling of your passport.
• Timing: turn up at least 30 minutes before departure; a bus that has left does not wait for you.
• Luggage: 20 kilos per passenger free of charge on national routes; beyond that, if there is room, for a fee. When boarding, declare any valuables going in the hold, and keep your papers, money and devices on you.
• Children: from the age of 5, a child has their own seat and pays a fare. A minor travels with their parents or with an authorisation; ask the company if you are travelling with a child who is not your own.
• Changes: each company has its own rules for postponements and refunds; read them before you pay.

Buy at the company’s terminal or on its website, and note the exact address of the departure terminal.

Colectivos and combis

Away from the main routes, many journeys are made by colectivo, a shared car or minibus that leaves when it is full, or by combi, the minibus of urban and regional routes. It is how local people travel, very cheap, but with little room for luggage and basic comfort. For a short daytime journey, in a region your accommodation knows, it is an option; for an early departure, an evening return or with big bags, choose booked transport or a booked taxi.

The other trains

• Cusco–Puno. PeruRail’s tourist train takes about 10 hr 30 min and crosses the Altiplano: a journey in itself rather than a simple transfer.
• Lima–Huancayo. The Ferrocarril Central Andino runs a tourist train a few times a year, around the main public holidays, across the cordillera. Tickets are sold online only; in 2026, the Holy Week departure was suspended because of the El Niño rains (Infobae).
• Huancayo–Huancavelica. The “Tren Macho”: intermittent service: resumed on 20 December 2024 on the Chilca–Cuenca section only (57 km), on Mondays and Fridays, free of charge; suspensions reported since.

The Machu Picchu train and your big bag

Both companies impose reduced luggage, per passenger:

PeruRail’s FAQ also mentions an 8 kg bag with different dimensions: if in doubt, the “luggage” page and the conditions of your ticket are what count. PeruRail offers free left luggage at its Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu stations; most hotels in Cusco and the Valley will also keep your big bag. PeruRail’s conditions: at the station at least 60 minutes before departure; free left-luggage at Ollantaytambo (4:15–21:00) and Machu Picchu (8:00–22:00); changes or cancellations no later than 24 hr before departure, with a 10% fee, except promotional fares.

Separate tickets and connections

When you buy a domestic flight and an international flight separately, or a train and a bus, no company owes you anything if the first one is late: it is up to you to allow a margin.

• Before an international flight: a day in hand in Lima if you are coming from Cusco, Puno or the Amazon, regions exposed to blockades and the weather; and at the airport, at least three hours.
• Between a flight and a train (Cusco, then the train to Machu Picchu): not on the same day if possible, because of the altitude and delays.
• Between two domestic flights on separate tickets: at least three to four hours, or a night.

Driving in Peru

The FDFA advises against car hire for people who do not know the country: roads in poor condition in places, dangerous driving, frequent blockades. If you drive anyway, the Ministry of Transport points out that a foreigner can use a valid licence from their own country during their first six months in Peru, provided there is an international agreement that has been signed and ratified (MTC). Ask before you leave whether an international driving permit is advisable for your country, keep your passport with your licence, and do not drive at night. For an excursion, a vehicle with a driver is often simpler.

Surfboard, bike, trekking gear

Bulky equipment is negotiated before the trip, not at the counter: ask the airline about the extra charge, dimensions and maximum weight for a surfboard or a bike, and ask the bus company whether it accepts the bag in the hold and at what price. On the Machu Picchu train, bulky equipment does not fit within the luggage limits: leave it in Cusco or in the Valley.

Before each journey: check for disruptions

The day before each important journey:

1. Read the FDFA’s advice for any recent alert (strikes, blockades, state of emergency).
2. Ask your provider or your accommodation about the state of the road: they often know better than the official websites.
3. Check with your company (app, email, WhatsApp) for a change of timetable.
4. For roads, SUTRAN publishes information on blocked roads.
5. In the rainy season (December to March in the Andes), look at SENAMHI’s alerts: landslides cut roads and railways.

If a blockade is announced, do not try to get through it; postpone the journey. See safety.

In town

In town, choose an identifiable service and a clear pick-up point; the FDFA recommends official taxis booked in advance or those provided by hotels. See Getting around Lima and Everyday safety.