The most reliable and safest bus company in Peru is Cruz del Sur. Safety has been my number one concern since I have regularly taken the bus between Lima and Huancayo (from the coast to the mountains similar to the Lima-Cusco route) for the last 15 years, and there have been countless stories of buses falling off cliffs because of driver negligence or sleepiness. In my opinion, it’s worth paying a bit more for a Cruz Del Sur bus, which can take you nearly anywhere in the country and even outside of the country with overnight routes to Ecuador and Colombia.
Most international tourists start their Peru trip in the capital city of Lima where the main bus terminal is located on Javier Prado Avenue, only 15 minutes away by car or Uber from the neighborhood of Miraflores. (Also see: How to Get from Lima Airport to Miraflores).
Here’s the Google Maps link with the exact location of the Cruz Del Sur Bus Terminal in Lima: https://goo.gl/maps/zGCMtjTersrDx3L9A
- How Do I Buy a Cruz Del Sur Bus Ticket?
It's very easy to book your tickets online at https://cruzdelsur.com.pe/ with nearly any kind of international credit card (which is not always the case with other Peruvian companies). Within minutes of making your booking, you'll receive an email with a PDF that functions as your ticket. You simply need to show this PDF on your cell phone at the time of boarding. Make sure you triple check your departure location as some buses leave from different parts of Lima and not from the main bus terminal on Javier Prado.
- How Early Do I Need to Be at the Cruz Del Sur Bus Terminal?
Cruz Del Sur recommends that you get to their bus terminal 30 minutes before your departure time.
- Is There WiFi at the Cruz Del Sur Bus Terminal in Lima?
My dad was just at the terminal this month (February 2023), and the “Cruz Del Sur” WiFi network wouldn't work. This may have been a temporary issue, so it may be worth trying this network again when you're at the bus terminal. He was, however, able to connect to the “TCSCAF” WiFi for free, which is presumably the bus terminal's WiFi network.
- What's Cruz Del Sur WiFi Like on the Buses During My Trip?
Cruz Del Sur advertises WiFi onboard, but my dad wasn't able to connect to the WiFi network at any point during his trip from Lima to Huancayo (February 2023). The WiFi network was available (it starts with “TC” and then the identification number of the bus), but there was no Internet service once connected to it, not even on the Lima side. This may be dependent on the day or route.
- What's the Baggage Allowance on Buses?
Cruz Del Sur allows you to check-in luggage up to a maximum of 20 kg per person. This can be frustrating because that won't nearly be enough if you're coming straight from the airport with your baggage maxed out at 23 kg, which is typical for flights. I've had the baggage manager let a few kilograms slide, but my dad had to pay around S/.60.00 (60 soles) for all of his excess baggage on his most recent trip (i.e., 3 kg over on the first luggage, second piece of luggage weighing another 23 kg, and small carry-on luggage that he later decided to check-in).
Thank you for the very helpful information. Do you know if they still request proof of vaccination or negative PCR test? I just bought tickets and the email they sent me said that. I thought this was no longer required in Peru. I wrote to them but I don’t know if they will answer.
Hi Katya! So nice to meet you! 🙂 I just called Cruz del Sur right now, and they confirmed that all you need to board your Cruz del Sur bus is your passport (or ID card; whichever you used to buy your ticket) and your bus ticket (normally, I use my cell phone to show the QR code on the PDF sent to my email). You NO longer need to bring your proof of vaccination or show a negative PCR test for any of the Cruz del Sur trips/routes in Peru. I made sure to ask this twice to double check! The customer service agent also mentioned that wearing a mask and/or facial protector is completely optional. Feel free to email me at info@perutravelwithpurpose.com if you have any other questions! 🙂