jesrifkin

Hi! My fiance and I are planning a trip to Machu Picchu/Cusco/Sacred Valley. We've booked the flights to/from the States to Lima, and are now turning to getting around within Peru. My question is, how much should airfare cost from Lima to Cusco? What's the best way to get the cheapest airfare on this route?

Also, we're thinking of doing a side trip to either Arequipa/Colca Canyon or Puno (Juliaca)/Lake Titicaca. What should the airfare be from Cusco to either one of these cities?

Finally, if the domestic airfare is just too expensive, what's the best alternate way to get around? By bus? How expensive is it? How long are the bus rides? Are they safe?

Thanks so much for any help!

crellston

http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/index.html is a good resource for info on peru - the Travel Information Section provide the info you need on buses and planes. We used Lan for the Lima Cusco flight and bought them online on the Spanish Lan Peru site where they were 30% cheaper than on the Lan.com site.
I hate to say it but it may have been cheaper for you to buy the Lima-Cusco Peru in with your international ticket (maybe you can get it amended?).
As indicated on the above site , there are other airlines.

Inter city buses are safe and comfortable (but do take care on any local buses - theives and pickpockets are rife in some places). Crus del Sur are a good company and Inka express from Cusco to Puno is a great way of seeing the spectacular altiplano scenery ($30-40 and 8 hours)- makes much more sense than flying. Puno to Arequipa is around 5 hours and Cusco to Arequipa is 12 hours. Fares are cheap $10- 15. Keep all valuable with you at all times. avoid routes where you have to change buses.
Flying is the only sensible option between Cusco and Lima as i think all buses go via Arequipa and connetions may be somewhat probelematic!

qwovadis

adventures.worldnomads.com/destination/168/itinerary/23.aspx

To adjust to altitude and see more most save travelers

follow the "Gringo Trail" local bus like Cruz Del Sur

Ormeno are 2 best Downstairs VIP seats usually cost me

$20/leg...

fly back CUZ LIM peruvianairlines.pe from $80 works best

but check also starperu.com taca.com

avoid LAN in Peru tourist rip off surcharge of $178.50/flight

4m-express.com Colca to Titicacaperu.com

Inkaexpress.com Titicaca to Cusco

2 awesome touristic buses I have taken to see more.

casa-andina.com best hotels everywhere

If you are budget

bus cheap like a local from $5/leg and hostelbookers.com

insuremytrip.com for strikes etc from $1/da usually Patriot

for me very wise... many online scammers best to book there

always pay with CC never wire money..

Happy Travels,

qwovadis

andeantravelweb.com

best online reputable info source

incalandadventures.com Flavio

or

qente.com

for best Inka Trail Trek through the Sun Gate to MP

from $30 well worth it for me but for budget have

also self guided the inkajungletrail.com to MP from $50.

Congrats!

qwovadis

oops typo Inka Treks to MP through the Sun Gate best from

$300-600

pertreks.com llamapath.com top 2 if money is no object

Yure Chavez PeruTreksforGood gets great reviews here too

cheaper than most.

Set

Star Peru works great for flying between Cusco and Lima. Costs around $80.

http://www.go2peru.com/ecs_ing.htm Could also be a useful website if you want to check out busses. They're comfortable and if you book a nightbus, you needn't even miss a day (though you would miss the scenary along the road). If you plan on taking a nightbus, make sure you have warm clothes with you, as the ac will be on full force during the night and it can be freezing!

cjacob

I just booked flights from Lima to Cusco on Star Peru and they were over $250 per person round trip. I had heard they were supposed to be really cheap but from looking at LAN, Star and Peruvian Airlines, there was nothing under $200 person for the dates and times we wanted to go.

I was nervous about booking under the Peru websites as I didn't want to be stuck with the $180 tax that LAN charges. Peruvian Airlines also had a really cheap rate but it said if you are not a Peruvian citizen there was an upcharge.

I think I read somewhere on this website that the bus from Lima to Cusco is 15+ hours, but I'm not really sure.

ncounty

I booked lima to cusco round trip for about 140$ on TACA. To change my ticket for one day later though, they wanted to charge me $400.

I had looked into Puno/Juliaca to Lima and the fares at the time one way were about $128 the day of the flight.

mlgb

Fares change depending on season and when you book. This is going to be a busy summer because of the centennary. Try Star Peru and check a few different dates and times, but I think it's still going to cost you around $200 R/T at best.