Getting There
AIR
Flying to Peru often involves a stopover in either Europe or the US. From London the flight takes between 16-22 hours, depending on your stopover.Peru’s national airline is Lan Peru and along with Iberia flies from London via Madrid, Spain to Lima. KLM flies to Lima via Amsterdam, Lufthansa via Frankfurt and American Airlines flies via New York and Miami.
Getting Around
AIR
You can fly between towns with Lan Peru. Other domestic airlines in Peru include Aero Condor and TANS. Tickets can be bought at travel agents or airline offices in major towns, or via email.
TRAINS
Taking a long train journey in Peru is well worth it for the spectacular scenery. You can travel on the Cental Railway from Lima climbing up into the Andes as far as Huancayo. It is the only railway in South America to reach the dizzy heights of It is the only one in South America to reach the dizzy heights of 4,835m at La Cima.
The Southern Railway takes you from popular Puno on Lake Titicaca to Cusco, and then continues up to Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu.
Trains can be slow and crowded, attracting petty thieves, so keep your wits about you. It’s advisable to buy your tickets in advance whenever possible to secure your place.
BUS
There are plenty of bus companies to choose from in all major Peruvian cities, and tickets are all relatively cheap. The question is how much you want to pay. Sometimes paying a bit more allows a comfier ride, but all in all the bus seats are often hard and the same video will be played over and over.
Each bus company offers two to three levels of service. Some of the better bus companies are Cruz del Sur, Linea and Movil.
Buy your tickets in advance from the bus company office.
TAXIS AND COLECTIVOS
Very few taxis in Peru have meters so agree your price before you go. Arriving at Lima airport, some unregistered taxi drivers will get as many travellers as possible, which means you get to pay less, but your journey may be longer.
Colectivos are shared minibuses that travel between towns.
CAR
Driving in Peru is great for accessing places that are off the beaten track. However, avoid driving in Lima as the traffic is crazy, and road rules often not adhered to. All the major rental firms can be found in the cities, and renting a car costs around the same as Europe. International driving licences are accepted, but if you are driving for more than 30 days you’ll need to obtain a permit.
