Backpacker Tips: Bus Travel in Peru

Going in (Relative) Comfort

Flying carries little backpacker street cred, and buses are so much more affordable, so during your travel planning stage it’s probably occurred to you that you’ll be taking a bus or two as you hop from city to city. With more expensive companies like Cruz del Sur, you can look forward to some help during your twenty-hour sit-fest: snacks, some coffee or tea, blankets and pillows, movies. But for those of you opting for budget buses or mid-range options, make sure to pack smart, because this is where you’ll test your backpacker mettle:

• Toiletries There’s usually a stop along the way designed for you to be able to stretch your legs and buy overpriced food and snacks. This is your chance to bust out your soap and toothbrush so that you can
  

  

  arrive in your destination city in a slightly-less-shameful state. For the rest stop and for the bus bathroom, bring your own toilet paper. In fact, for almost anywhere you go, bring your own toilet paper, because if you’re backpacking, it won’t be anywhere that you are.

• Small Bag This is where you store the things you don’t want to worry about losing, in a bag small enough to fit under the seat. There’ll be storage for larger bags.
• Ear Plugs I like to go to bed very late or wake up very early before traveling (oh fine, I have to do this because I don’t pack), because the more I can sleep on the bus the faster it’ll go. If there are movies you can sit back and let the western movies and 80’s action flicks make the time pass. If not, consider earplugs, because hours upon hours of Andean music can grate after a while no matter what your tastes.
• Change for Snacks/Rest Stop Bathrooms No one wants to change your bills, so bring coins and avoid the hassle.
• Clothing for All Weather Since many trips are in the 12-20 hour range, you’ll be treated to hot days and cold nights. My first bus in Peru was Lima to Cusco with a roof-top window that couldn’t close…friendly local passengers better prepared than I offered a blanket to help me through it. During subsequent trips I prepared for the worst with sweaters galore and was treated to a sauna. Prepare for both extremes, and if you bought some Andean blankets or such for souvenirs, this is a good time to have them with you.
• Snacks and Drinks Some buses will give you snacks, some won’t. Regardless, take some things with you if you’re not up for buying papas rellenas and other street fare during bus stops. (Remember if you’re not accustomed to local food yet, you might be apt to get ill from food bought off street vendors, as someone who’s gotten food poisoning several times and in several varieties, I can attest that the 20-hour trip makes it all that much worse.

Remember that Pirwa Hostels have in-house travel agencies in every local, so if you need help choosing a company or planning your routes, feel free to stop by and get some information. Pirwa has hostels and B&Bs in Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Nazca, Machu Picchu, and Puno, and for those of you traveling around the country there are deals for staying with us throughout- For example, if you stay with us in each of our cities, you’ll get a free night’s stay in whichever of those cities you choose! Check our page to keep up to date on our promotions.