Lima local bus
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Transportation in Peru is somewhat complicated due to the country’s natural borders. Navigating the land can be tedious and time consuming because of its size. The recommended means of transportation is flying. The cost is quite reasonable considering the amount of time you will save. No one wants to spend most of their time in transit on a vacation to the World’s most exciting and beautiful country. It is worth the little bit extra money you will spend on a flight, so as to spend the extra time on the sights and wonders of this land. Most flights are between $70-$120, depending on destination and season. Cities with airports that are desirable to visit are Arequipa, Lima, Cusco and Puerto Maldonado. But they are not limited to these cities. The city of Iquitos, in the Amazon Jungle, can only be traveled too by plane. Make sure to secure your reservations, and double check them, if you decide to fly to any of your destinations. If you are using one of the full Peru tours that handle all of your travel details you will find it so much easier to relax and enjoy your trip, as they handle everything.
Most travel is done by bus. They are affordable and in some cases, the only way to get to where you want to go.
Traveling by train is very desirable for longer trips, but they are hard to come by since they do not travel to all of the cities. If you are in southern Peru you can hop on a train and take scenic tour around the Cusco department and nearby regions. Peru Rail, a privately owned and operated railroad, has 4 main routes that run daily. There is Cusco to Machu Picchu, which is the most popular of all of the Peru trains. It takes you to the Sacred Valley towns of Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. There is one that runs from Cusco to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. It takes you through the scenic route through the Andes Mountains. One of the most exciting rides is on the Ferrocarril Central Andino, which runs from Lima to Huancayo. It is the highest passenger line in the world, traveling up to 15, 843 feet. Booking is difficult so take that into consideration when planning your trip. It is worth the effort.
Lastly, the least recommended means of travel is car rental. Most rental cars are not economical. That is probably the least of the problems. Driving in Peru can be rather aggressive and accidents are frequent. The U.S. State Department warns against travel by means of car rentals. Taxis are strongly recommended, and the amount that you spend on a taxi ride, for any distance, can cost less than what you would pay for a car rental. However you choose to do your traveling, take in every moment to grasp the unique country that awaits you.
