If you’re heading to Peru, you’re most likely be landing in Lima, the capital of the country. After spending sometime wandering Miraflores, seeing the colonial centre and enjoying the beautiful Malecon you might be looking at the next stop. And if you’ve come all the way to Peru, who isn’t planning to visit the gorgeous Macchu Picchu near Cusco? If you you’re time is not limited going from Lima to Cusco with the bus (and stopping along the way) is surely a great adventure but what if for some reason or another, you’re wondering about getting a plane?
A Short Comparison: Time, Cost and Comfort?
TIME
By bus the journey can take anywhere between 21 hours to even 27 hours even with the most professional bus companies such as Cruz del Sur. Buses usually leave in early afternoon from the Lima terminal and arriving by afternoon-evening at the terminal of Cusco.
By plane the journey is consistently shorter and takes more or less 1h30min (with Latam, Peruvian, Avian etc…). Even considering the 1h to get to the airport of Lima and the waiting, we’re talking about a maximum of 4-5h!
COSTS
By bus you can usually expect to spend something in-between 40-60$ depending in the company, the services provided and the location of the seat; if you’re lucky enough, by booking on the Cruz del Sur website at times you can find the “super-offers” seat for which you can pay as low as 25$. Getting to the bus terminal is usually a 2-3$ ride.
By plane the costs are higher but not as excessive as you would think. For the leg Lima-Cusco with low-budget companies (and obvious less services) such as Peruvian or Peru Star you can expect to spend around 50-60$ but you’re planning to fly with more reliable and expensive companies such as Avianca or Latam, expect to spend anything between 60-80$. Getting to the airport is usually an 8$ ride if you decide to use the newly-implemented Express Terminal bus.
COMFORT
By bus, more high-end companies are very very comfortable and the services they offer on-board (e.g. entertainment, meals, blankets & pillows, bed-like seats) can be compared to the ones of an international flight. Lower-end companies (the cheap ones) might offer just a meal, either breakfast or lunch or dinner, and a small blanket.
By plane, more high-end companies are very comfortable and the service they offer on-board are pretty much the same of an international flight. Even lower-end companies have similar services, usually just not including meals or very comfortable seats.
Final Thoughts
Overall, in certain occasion travelling by plane can actually be the same or less expensive than travelling by bus but with a much shorter journey. On the other hand, if you manage to get those cheap seats on the bus, travelling 21h for half the rate of a plane might be a good option for those looking to save some money.
In our opinion, if you have to go directly from Lima to Cusco without stopping to any of the tourist destinations along the way (e.g. Ica, Paracas, Nazca) than taking the plane is a much better option in terms of comfort, time and costs.
Contrairly, if you have time at your hand and decide that breaking the journey down by stopping at other places is a good option, then taking the bus is surely a better deal.
PLANNING A TRIP TO PERU? CHECK MORE GUIDES BELOW!
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