Lima To Cusco, By The Numbers

A tourist bus on an empty high plateau road between Puno and Cusco
Colonial church facade in Andahuaylillas on the Cusco to Puno route
Golden desert dunes rising behind the lagoon at Huacachina, an oasis stop on the coastal route south of Lima
A tour bus parked beside a viewpoint overlooking a turquoise highland lake on the altiplano
13
Bookable tours compared
3,399 m
Cusco, where the route ends
3,827 m
Puno, the highest stop on the route

Lima To Cusco Options By Trip Type

The route splits three ways: fly direct, ride a point-to-point bus, or take a pass that breaks the journey into stops over several days. Each tab below groups the bookable options for one part of the route.

Tourist bus traveling on a two-lane mountain road above a high Andean plain

Peru Hop

Peru Hop runs a hop-on hop-off bus network with stops at Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa, Puno and Cusco, plus hotel pickup and drop-off.

★ 4.8 across 20,295 TripAdvisor reviews · 395,000+ passengers (Peru Hop reports)

  • Every Peru Hop bus carries a bilingual local host who assists in English and Spanish along the way.
  • Peru Hop picks you up at your accommodation in each town on the route, so there is no need to drag luggage to a terminal.
  • A pass stays valid up to one year from first use, and bus times can be changed in the app up to 12 hours before departure, subject to availability.

Peru Hop does not serve Iquitos, Huaraz, Puerto Maldonado or Machu Picchu itself. Those legs call for a separate tour or transfer, and several options for that appear on this page.

Compare With Public Buses ↓

Coast

Nazca Overflight From Ica

This tour runs from Ica or Huacachina to the Nazca Lines for a 35-minute overflight of the geoglyphs, with the wider half-day including transfers.

★ 4.7 (4)from $24935-minute flight (half-day with transfer)

Check availability

All 4 Coast tours on one page →

Altiplano

All 4 Altiplano tours on one page →

Cusco And Machu Picchu

Full-Day Group Tour

A 12-hour group day tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu, combining bus, train and a guided tour of the citadel.

★ 4.7 (2,307)from $33212 hours (bus to Ollantaytambo + train + bus + guided citadel tour)

Check availability

All 3 Machu Picchu tours on one page →

Transfers

All 2 Airport transfers on one page →

Narrow The Lima To Cusco Options To Your Trip

Most of the tours compared here can be cancelled free of charge, so locking one in early costs nothing if your plans change. Filter by travel style and the list narrows to the trips that match.

1. What kind of day are you after?
2. What are you happy to spend per person?
3. How much time do you have?

A starting shortlist of the best-reviewed options. Answer any question and it rebuilds around you.

  1. Peru Hop

    ★ 4.8 (20,295)

  2. Premium Day Trip, Peru Hop Run

    16-18 hours · Free cancellation

    from $67 ★ 4.9 (9,650)

  3. Premium Day Trip, Sunset Toast

    ~16 hours · Free cancellation

    from $119 ★ 4.8 (2,636)

  4. Full-Day Group Tour

    12 hours (bus to Ollantaytambo + train + bus + guided citadel tour)

    from $332 ★ 4.7 (2,307)

  5. Route Of The Sun, Buffet Lunch

    ~11 hours (6:10am-5:30pm) · Free cancellation

    from $50 ★ 4.7 (633)

  6. Full-Day Vistadome Train

    ~16 hours · Free cancellation

    from $419 ★ 5.0 (317)

Show the remaining tours

  1. PeruRail Titicaca Train

    ~10 hours

    from $395

  2. Private Transfer, Shared Rate

    20-25 minutes · Free cancellation

    from $13 ★ 4.8 (251)

  3. Private Pickup, Door To Door

    15-30 minutes · Free cancellation

    from $14.99 ★ 4.5 (98)

  4. Colca To Puno, Scenic Stops

    ~6.5 hours · Free cancellation

    from $41.03 ★ 4.7 (88)

  5. Direct Bus, One Way

    ~3 hours · Free cancellation

    from $19 ★ 4.2 (53)

  6. Copacabana And Isla Del Sol

    12 hours · Free cancellation

    from $130 ★ 4.8 (30)

  7. Private Transfer To Ollantaytambo

    ~2 hours · Free cancellation

    from $60 ★ 5.0 (22)

  8. Nazca Overflight From Ica

    35-minute flight (half-day with transfer) · Free cancellation

    from $249 ★ 4.7 (4)

Lima To Cusco By Bus, Flight And Peru Hop, Compared

OptionTypical TimeStops Along The WayWorth KnowingCheck Options
Direct flight1 h 20 min to 1 h 25 min, up to about 1 h 45 minNoneLATAM, JetSMART and Sky Airline fly it nonstop. Cusco airport sits at 3,310 m.Kiwi.com · Aviasales
Long-distance busAbout 21.5 to 24 hoursNone on a direct runCruz del Sur, Oltursa and Civa run Lima to Cusco services.Busbud · 12Go
Peru Hop passYour own pace, a pass is valid up to one year from first useParacas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa, PunoHotel pickup and drop-off, a bilingual host on every bus. It does not reach Machu Picchu.Peru Hop card

Peru Hop Vs Public Buses: What You Actually Get

Peru Hop sells a pass built around stops you can pause, with pickup at your accommodation, while public lines sell a seat between terminals.

Peru Hop, premium public buses and economy buses compared feature by feature
Peru HopHop-on hop-off passPremium Public BusCruz del Sur or Oltursa classEconomy Bus Or ColectivoBudget coach, shared van
Hotel Pickup And Drop-Off IncludedCollects you at your hotel or hostel, so no terminal run is needed. Not included Not included
Bilingual Host On Board IncludedA bilingual guide rides along on the bus. Not includedCrew aboard, but no English host is advertised. Not included
Air Conditioning Included Included SometimesVaries by operator, and many informal combis lack it.
Toilet On Board Included Included SometimesLong-distance coaches generally have one, colectivos do not.
Wifi And Charging IncludedWifi and USB charging, though some reviews say the signal can be patchy. Included SometimesDepends on the company and the coach.
Reclining Seats Included IncludedSuite and cama seats recline between 160 and 180 degrees. SometimesBasic recline, with semi-cama on the higher tiers.
Sights On The Way IncludedChincha tunnels, the Nazca viewing tower and a pisco vineyard visit. Not includedTerminal to terminal, with technical stops only. Not included
Hop-On Hop-Off Pass IncludedOne pass, valid up to a year from first use. Not includedA single point-to-point ticket. Not included

See Peru Hop Passes →

When To Travel From Lima To Cusco

Lima Coast Rain
Arequipa Rain
Puno Rain
Cusco Rain
Puno Night Low6°6°6°4°1°-1°-1°0°2°4°5°6°
Machu Picchu CrowdsQuietHighBusiestBusiestHighBusiestQuiet
Road Risk In RainHighestHighestHigherHigherHigher
  • Under 25 mm
  • 25 to 75 mm
  • 75 to 150 mm
  • Over 150 mm
  • Not named
  • This month

January

Lima Coast Rain: 1 mm Arequipa Rain: 32 mm Puno Rain: 159 mm Cusco Rain: 160 mm Road Risk In Rain: Highest

Puno Night Low: 6 °C

February

Lima Coast Rain: 1 mm Arequipa Rain: 44 mm Puno Rain: 145 mm Cusco Rain: 135 mm Machu Picchu Crowds: Quiet Road Risk In Rain: Highest Inca Trail: Closed all month

Puno Night Low: 6 °C

March

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 17 mm Puno Rain: 116 mm Cusco Rain: 110 mm Road Risk In Rain: Higher

Puno Night Low: 6 °C

April

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 1 mm Puno Rain: 51 mm Cusco Rain: 45 mm

Puno Night Low: 4 °C

May

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 0 mm Puno Rain: 7 mm Cusco Rain: 9 mm

Puno Night Low: 1 °C

June

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 0 mm Puno Rain: 3 mm Cusco Rain: 2 mm Machu Picchu Crowds: High

Puno Night Low: -1 °C

July

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 0 mm Puno Rain: 3 mm Cusco Rain: 4 mm Machu Picchu Crowds: Busiest

Puno Night Low: -1 °C

August

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 1 mm Puno Rain: 10 mm Cusco Rain: 8 mm Machu Picchu Crowds: Busiest

Puno Night Low: 0 °C

September

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 0 mm Puno Rain: 23 mm Cusco Rain: 20 mm Machu Picchu Crowds: High

Puno Night Low: 2 °C

October

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 0 mm Puno Rain: 44 mm Cusco Rain: 45 mm Machu Picchu Crowds: Busiest

Puno Night Low: 4 °C

November

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 0 mm Puno Rain: 40 mm Cusco Rain: 80 mm Road Risk In Rain: Higher

Puno Night Low: 5 °C

December

Lima Coast Rain: 0 mm Arequipa Rain: 3 mm Puno Rain: 88 mm Cusco Rain: 120 mm Machu Picchu Crowds: Quiet Road Risk In Rain: Higher

Puno Night Low: 6 °C

Open the full table
MonthLima Coast RainArequipa RainPuno RainCusco RainPuno Night LowMachu Picchu CrowdsRoad Risk In RainInca Trail
January1 mm32 mm159 mm160 mm6 °CHighest
February1 mm44 mm145 mm135 mm6 °CQuietHighestClosed all month
March0 mm17 mm116 mm110 mm6 °CHigher
April0 mm1 mm51 mm45 mm4 °C
May0 mm0 mm7 mm9 mm1 °C
June0 mm0 mm3 mm2 mm-1 °CHigh
July0 mm0 mm3 mm4 mm-1 °CBusiest
August0 mm1 mm10 mm8 mm0 °CBusiest
September0 mm0 mm23 mm20 mm2 °CHigh
October0 mm0 mm44 mm45 mm4 °CBusiest
November0 mm0 mm40 mm80 mm5 °CHigher
December0 mm3 mm88 mm120 mm6 °CQuietHigher

Lima To Cusco Travel Times And Distances By Leg

Hours By Leg, Bus And Peru Hop

  • Bus
  • Peru Hop with stops
  1. Lima To Paracas260 to 272 km
    Bus 3.5 to 4.5 h
    Peru Hop with stops 6 to 7 h
  2. Paracas To Huacachina70 to 80 km
    Bus 1 to 1.5 h
  3. Huacachina To Nazca119 to 143 km
    Bus 2 to 3 h
  4. Nazca To Arequipa405 to 570 km
    Bus 9 to 10.5 h
  5. Arequipa To Puno300 to 490 km
    Bus 6 to 11 h
  6. Puno To Cusco386 to 388 km
    Bus 6 to 10 h
Open the full table
LegDistanceBus (h)Peru Hop with stops (h)
Lima To Paracas260 to 272 km3.5 to 4.56 to 7
Paracas To Huacachina70 to 80 km1 to 1.5
Huacachina To Nazca119 to 143 km2 to 3
Nazca To Arequipa405 to 570 km9 to 10.5
Arequipa To Puno300 to 490 km6 to 11
Puno To Cusco386 to 388 km6 to 10

The Lima To Cusco Route, Stop By Stop

The route drops from Lima to the coast at Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca, then climbs through Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Puno to Lake Titicaca before ending in Cusco. Pickup points and departure windows for each tour sit on its live listing.

The Route At A Glance

7 stops, 6 legs

2 extra stops on the way

21.5 to 24 h

km

1h20 to 1h45

584 to 587 km · LATAM Airlines, JetSMART and Sky Airline

  1. Lima 79 m
  2. 3.5 to 4.5 h260 to 272 km Chincha Tunnels Paracas 3 m
  3. 1 to 1.5 h70 to 80 km Huacachina 380 m
  4. 2 to 3 h119 to 143 km Nazca Tower Nazca 520 m
  5. 9 to 10.5 h405 to 570 km Arequipa 2,335 m
  6. 6 to 11 h300 to 490 km Puno 3,827 m
  7. 6 to 10 h386 to 388 km Cusco 3,399 m

Bolivia branch

  1. 3 to 4 h140 to 155 km Copacabana 3,841 m
  2. 3.5 to 4.5 h145 to 155 km La Paz 3,650 m

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Coast

Altiplano

Cusco

Bolivia

  1. LimaCoast
  2. ParacasCoast · 208 km from Lima in a straight line
  3. HuacachinaCoast · 258 km from Lima in a straight line
  4. NazcaCoast · 376 km from Lima in a straight line
  5. Chincha (Hacienda San Jose)Coast · 187 km from Lima in a straight line
  6. Nazca Viewing TowerCoast · 353 km from Lima in a straight line
  7. ArequipaAltiplano · 759 km from Lima in a straight line
  8. Colca Canyon (Chivay)Altiplano · 707 km from Lima in a straight line
  9. PunoAltiplano · 861 km from Lima in a straight line
  10. CuscoCusco · 569 km from Lima in a straight line
  11. OllantaytamboCusco · 532 km from Lima in a straight line
  12. CopacabanaBolivia · 967 km from Lima in a straight line
  13. La PazBolivia · 1074 km from Lima in a straight line

Elevation By Stop

  1. 79 mLima
  2. 3 mParacas
  3. 380 mHuacachina
  4. 520 mNazca
  5. 2,335 mArequipa
  6. 3,827 mPuno
  7. 3,399 mCusco

What Travellers Say

Traveller reviews published by the tour operators on their booking platforms, quoted exactly as written; we do not collect, select or edit them.

“I want to say a special big up to our guide Juancho you can tell he enjoy the his job. I had an amazing time!”
Trevor, operator-listing review of Premium Day Trip, Sunset Toast
“Thank you, Peru Hop, for a wonderful day trip! The itinerary was excellent and very well organized, giving us a great opportunity to experience and see so much in one day.”
Vipul_P, operator-listing review of Premium Day Trip, Peru Hop Run
“This tour is excellent. Very organised and very attentive tour guide. It is a full day experience but everything went smoothly as proper communication was ensured.”
Georgia_S, operator-listing review of Full-Day Vistadome Train
“This is an excellent way to travel to Puno. There are 5 stops along the way. The bus is very comfortable and they also serve a good breakfast and also provide water.”
Anand, operator-listing review of Route Of The Sun, Buffet Lunch

Where To Stay Along The Way

Miraflores is the usual pickup zone for coastal day trips out of Lima. In Cusco, private transfers collect from hotels in the historic center; check the meeting point on the live booking page.

White volcanic stone buildings of Arequipa with El Misti volcano rising behind the city under a clear sky
Sandy lane by the Huacachina oasis lagoon, palms and a dune behind oasis

Duna Camp Huacachina

Huacachina, Ica, Peru

Check rates
Old stone alleyway with whitewashed walls and a mountain rising behind the city
Cobbled lane near the Plaza de Armas in Cusco with stone Inca foundations centre

Tierra Viva Cusco Centro

Cusco, Peru

Check rates

Lima To Cusco Questions, Answered

A long-distance tour bus traveling on a two-lane highway through open highland terrain
How long does the Lima to Cusco journey take?

Flying is the fastest way between Lima and Cusco, with direct flights covering the route in about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes, up to about 1 hour 45 minutes. Direct buses with Cruz del Sur or Oltursa take roughly 21.5 to 24 hours, usually overnight.

What does a Peru Hop pass include?

A Peru Hop pass works as a flexible bus ticket along the Lima to Cusco corridor, with fixed stops at Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa and Puno. You board and alight at each stop as your plans allow, and pickup from your accommodation is included where the service operates.

Is travel between Lima and Cusco safe?

US and UK government travel advisories note that bus crashes occur in Peru, especially at night, and recommend using reputable transport companies and avoiding overnight journeys where possible, particularly in mountainous and remote regions. Premium long-distance lines such as Cruz del Sur and Oltursa generally run air conditioning, while many informal combis and economy buses do not, so check current advisories before booking any leg.

Can these tours be cancelled for free?

Yes. Most tours here, eleven of the thirteen, can be cancelled at no charge before the cutoff shown on each listing.

Are these tours run by this site?

No. This site compares tours, it does not run them.

Where do the ratings come from?

Every star rating and review count on this site is the published figure from the listing itself, passed through unchanged. The premium Paracas and Huacachina day trip shows 4.9 across 9,650 reviews because that is exactly what its listing states.

Peru Bus, Train And Flight Guides, Answered

Guides

Answers

★ 4.8 across 20,295 TripAdvisor reviews See Peru Hop Passes →