COST CUTTING ON A NORTHERN PERU TOUR
It has got to be said that a trip to Peru is becoming increasingly costly. Fuel prices, food prices and the standard of living are all going up here and abroad and a trip to Peru in general isn’t so attractive financially compared to other countries. But there are ways to reduce the costs and this works particularly well along the Northern Peru Circuit.
Did you know that there are many nightly buses where you can recline in a large seat similar to business class from a few years ago and hence travel in comfort? So you can get a good night sleep and travel around the country at a very reasonable price compared to the current price of airfares.
You not only save on the difference between airfare and the bus ticket. You also save on a night of accommodation. You can leave Lima for example at 8pm and be in Chiclayo ay 6am the next day ready to start a tour and with current airfares you may saved $180!
The major companies have their own bus terminals and manage their own security. The services are direct and hence don’t stop on route to pick up extra passengers or let passengers off other than the designated bus terminal.
Recommended companies are:
Cruz Del Sur – between all major cities of Peru. Imperial and Cuzero Services have very comfortable seat
Movil Tours – major cities of northern Peru. Bus cama (Bed bus) and Semi Bus Cama (half bed bus)
Oltursa – major cities in the north, Lima and Arequipa.
These companies all have a restroom aboard and serve dinner. They can do credit card transactions so you can assure your seat before you travel.
Tips for Bus Travel:
- The good services are Air Conditioned and just like an airplane you can become dehydrated. Make sure you have water with you.
- Ear plugs. Not essential but sometimes useful if you don’t want to hear a DVD that is being played.
- At certain times of the year, such as around the 28th July when Peruvians celebrate Independence Day, seats may be harder to come by so it is recommended to reserve and buy your seats at least two weeks before hand.
For more information contact Vilaya Tours.
Tags: cheap northern peru travel
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June 14, 2010 at 5:08 am
As most flights and arrivals are in Lima, it makes sense to travel surface to the north and fly back, if you require a balance of economy of time as well as costs.
We have maintained a list of better transport companies (air, bus, even rail and cruise) based on travellers recommendations on http://www.xanga.com/TrujilloPeru/496709551/cruises-flights–bus-transport-to-trujillo-peru.html
It would be interesting to hear opinions on the effect of the reintroduction of Chachapoyas flights.
June 14, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Hi Michael,
I think you are right. The only place you cannot fly from directly back to Lima is currently Chachapoyas but one can easily get from Chachapoyas to Cajamarca or back to Chiclayo. Slightly more complicated is getting to Tarapoto, but not impossible. To date it is a little early to say what effects the flight to Chachapoyas is having – we need to get confidence that the flight will be here for the long term first. Thanks for including your valuable link on transport options. Best wishes to you and Clara.