Peru Internal Travel
Getting Around By Air
LAN (www.lan.com), Star Peru (www.starperu.com), Taca (www.taca.com) and LC Busre
(www.lcbusre.com.pe) handle virtually all domestic air traffic linking Lima to Andahuaylas,
Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Cusco, Hu¡§¡énuco, Iquitos, Juliaca-Puno, Piura,
Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Tacna, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes and other cities. Flights to
Huaraz are occasionally offered. For information on internal flights, contact the Peruvian
Corporation of Airports (Corpac) (www.corpac.gob.pe).
Getting Around by Water
Transportation is available between Pucallpa and Iquitos (journey time – 4 to 7 days),
Yurimaguas and Iquitos (journey time – 2 to 3 days) and from Iquitos to the border with
Brazil and Colombia (journey time – 2 to 3 days). However, river travel can be long and
uncomfortable and apart from main routes, service is sporadic.
Getting Around by Rail
Peru Rail (tel: (01) 444 5020/5; website: www.perurail.com) runs comfortable tourist trains
between Puno and Cusco and between Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Ferrocarril Central Andino (tel: (01) 226 6363; website: www.ferrocarrilcentral.com.pe or
www.rrdc.com/op_peru_fcca.html) runs a twice-monthly tourist service on renovated trains
between Lima and Hu¡§¡éncayo. This spectacular route is the second highest railway in the
world (the highest being in Tibet).
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. The well-maintained Pan-American Highway runs down the length
of Peru’s coast, with intersecting highways running east into the mountains. Many mountain
roads are unpaved, and almost all are badly potholed. Landslides are frequent in the
mountains during the rainy season (December to March), making for slow travel. The Touring y
Autom¡§?vil Club del Per¡§2 and the Instituto Geogr¡§¡éfico Nacional sell maps. Travel
guides like Gu¡§aa Toyota include good road maps. The minimum driving age is 18. There is
no countrywide emergency breakdown number.
Bus: Operated extensively, providing a cheap means of travel. Greyhound-type buses are
operated by numerous companies, the biggest of which are Cruz del Sur (tel: (01) 311 5050;
www.cruzdelsur.com.pe) and Orme?o (tel: (01) 472 5000; www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe). Quality of
service varies according to prices.
Taxi: Many unlicensed taxi companies are in operation and visitors are advised to avoid
these. They usually have a red and white taxi sign on the windscreen. Licensed yellow taxis
are the only cabs allowed in downtown Lima. Taxis do not have meters and fares should be
agreed before departure (they are relatively inexpensive). Extensive and safe taxi services
are available by telephone in main cities. Taxi fares increase by 35 to 50% after midnight
and on holidays. Drivers do not expect tips.
Car hire: International firms have offices in all the major cities and bigger airports.
Documentation: Foreign driving permits are valid for 30 days from the date of arrival. An
International Driving Permit is required for longer stays. Permits in Peru can be obtained
through the Touring y Autom¡§?vil Club del Per¡§2. All foreign vehicles must have
documentation from their own national automobile association or obtain it on the Peruvian
border before entering the country. Always carry your driver’s license, a copy of your
passport and, if the vehicle is hired, a copy of the rental contract.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Public transport in Lima is provided by conventional buses and by minibuses (combis), though
they are overcrowded, sometimes dangerous and not particularly useful for tourists. These
operate from 0600 to 0000 on established routes; wherever possible, try to avoid using bus
travel late at night.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Lima to
other major cities/towns in Peru.