Peru Transportation

How to Get There

International Flights

There are 10 international airports in Peru, which are located in Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo, Pisco, Pucallpa, Iquitos, Cusco, Trujillo, Tacna and Juliaca.

Built in 1985, Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) is an important air harbor in South America. Located in Callao 10 kilometers (6 miles) west from Lima, the airport operates international flights from Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Brazil, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, France, German and other Nordic countries, etc.

How to travel from Jorge Chavez International Airport to other places?

Boat
The boat flows on Amazon River with regular intervals. The boat can be taken from Leticia in Colombia and Tabatinga in Brazil to Iquitos.

Train
There are two trains running between Arica in Chile and Tacna twice per day with cheap price.

How to Get Around

Plane
The main domestic airlines in Peru are LAN Peru, LC Busre, TACA Peru and Star Peru. All of the domestic flights in Peru can arrive at the destinations in 2 hours. The domestic flights are always behind schedule, but the flights take off in the morning are much better. Passengers should arrive at the airport an hour earlier.

Boat
Small motorboat runs from Puno to islands of Lake Titicaca with slow speed per day. In some central lowlands of Peru, peki-peki dugout canoe is the main watercraft on small and medium rivers. The bigger cargo ships sail on the broad river. The watercraft on Amazon River is the banana boats, whose driver is always an experienced elder.

Train
There are two main railway companies in Peru: Peru Rail and Inca Rail. The central railway terminus of Peru is located in historic centre of Lima. Three trains run between Cusco and Lake Titicaca per week. There is still the train connecting Lima and towns on Andean Plateau, and Cuzco and Sacred Valley. In southern Peru, railway is convenient among Cusco, Arequipa and Puno. There is no train between Cusco and Lima.

Peru Rail has three kinds of train classes with prices varying widely. Apart from the class difference, the train ticket price is also affected by the departure time. And the departure time is different in different months.

Bus/ Coach
Coaches are easy to find between many cities, which have reasonable price and comfortable environment. You can choose the economic bus mainly for local people or expensive but luxury tourist bus only for tourists according to your budget and preference. As for Double-decker bus, the upper is standard class and the lower is VIP class as comfortable as business class of plane. Bus-camas is offered in some lines at night.

Taxi
Most local taxis of Peru are yellow and they don’t have taximeters, thus you should have agreed upon a price with drivers before getting on. Generally, the price is 2 USD/ 5km. There are usually long lines of official taxis waiting at restaurants and airports, which are a little expensive but secure and comfortable. Avoid illegal taxis.

Car/ Motorbike Rental
You can travel in Peru by self-driving. The famous Pan-American Highway runs across Peru. But it’s better to learn about the transport condition before self-driving. The road markings are incomplete, and many main roads need charges: 1~2 USD/ km. The gasoline is around 3.9USD/ gal. There are few petrol stations, and they are far from each other. Renting private cars is cost-effective. Renting motorbike is usual in towns of the jungle area.