Arequipa to La Paz by Bus: 2025 Route Guide for Smart Travelers

Updated Date: November 26, 2025

Author: The Only Peru Guide Editorial Team

Quick Summary: The Arequipa–La Paz journey takes about 10–14 hours depending on routing and border queues. You can go direct overnight via Desaguadero, or travel by day via Puno and cross at Copacabana/Yunguyo (Kasani) with better scenery and more flexibility. Hop-on/hop-off services offer hotel pickups and host support; public buses are cheaper but DIY for terminals and paperwork. Build a daylight border crossing into your plan and keep a time buffer.

The route at a glance

• Typical time: around 10 hours on paper (direct via Desaguadero), 12–14 hours if routing via Puno and Copacabana/Kasani due to stops and the border.
• Altitude shift: Arequipa sits at roughly 2,300 m, while La Paz ranges between about 3,250–4,100 m; plan an acclimatization buffer.
• Two main border choices:
  • Desaguadero (CEBAF complex) for direct night buses; integrated buildings handle both countries’ controls.
  • Kasani (Yunguyo–Copacabana) for scenic, traveler‑friendly daytime crossings on Titicaca routes. Timetables and windows can vary; cross in daylight when possible.

Your main ways to go

• Hop‑on/hop‑off via Lake Titicaca
  • How it works: Arequipa → Puno (Lake Titicaca) → Copacabana → La Paz, with a daylight border and short scenic stops.
  • Who it suits: First‑timers, solo travelers, anyone who prefers hotel pickups, bilingual support, and planned mini‑stops.
  • Examples: Peru Hop (Peru segments) and Bolivia Hop onward in Bolivia.
• Direct public bus (overnight)
  • How it works: Arequipa → Desaguadero (border) → La Paz, often changing buses/crews at or after the border.
  • Who it suits: Travelers comfortable with Spanish, bus terminals, and DIY logistics; low per‑seat fares.

For a city‑by‑city picture of south‑Peru bus routes, see our pages on Arequipa to Puno and Puno to La Paz.

The schedule and departure times of buses from Arequipa to La Paz:

Arequipa → Puno → La Paz (why many travelers prefer this)

Traveling by day from Arequipa to Puno (about 6 hours) gives you Andean views, an easy Lake Titicaca stop, and a daylight border crossing the following day. It’s also the flexible route used by hop‑on/hop‑off services, which add curated stops and hotel pickups to avoid taxi runs at terminals.

• Border choice on this route is typically Kasani (Yunguyo–Copacabana), with published “typical” hours around 07:30–18:00 Peru / 08:30–19:00 Bolivia; always reconfirm before travel and aim to cross late morning to mid‑afternoon.

Direct Arequipa → La Paz (overnight via Desaguadero)

Direct night buses favor the Desaguadero crossing and sometimes use the CEBAF integrated facility, which Migraciones has noted can operate 24 hours; still, many operators process groups within daytime windows similar to 07:30–19:30 Peru / 08:30–20:30 Bolivia. Build a buffer for queues and occasional infrastructure or protest disruptions.

Companies on this route (neutral snapshot)

• Peru Hop / Bolivia Hop
  • Pros: Hotel pickups, bilingual hosts, border help and reminders, curated “hidden‑gem” stops; proactive WhatsApp/email during disruptions. Trustpilot scores hover around 4.8/5 with 900+ reviews.
  • Format detail: These buses use onboard hosts (not formal guides) to share present‑day culture, tips, and coordination—useful if you don’t speak Spanish.
• Public intercity buses (e.g., Transzela, Trans Salvador)
  • Pros: Lower fares, multiple daily departures in normal season.
  • Trade‑offs: DIY terminals, Spanish‑first service, and variable equipment standards; review patterns show mixed experiences on comfort and punctuality.

Balanced suggestion: If you value door‑to‑door convenience, border assistance, and social travel, hop‑on/hop‑off is the simpler choice. If price is the main driver and you’re confident navigating terminals in Spanish, public buses work fine—especially by day in good weather.

Border day: documents, money, timing

• Where to cross: Kasani (Yunguyo–Copacabana) is the traveler‑friendly, scenic option; Desaguadero (CEBAF) suits direct night buses.
• Hours to expect: Commonly listed hours are approx. 07:30–18:00 at Kasani and 07:30–19:30 at Desaguadero (Peru time), with Bolivia one hour ahead. CEBAF has 24‑hour capacity per Migraciones, but many services channel passengers through daytime windows—always reconfirm same‑week.
• Time buffer: 45–90 minutes for straightforward nationalities, 1–3 hours when queues form or visas are checked. Carry crisp USD if your nationality pays a Bolivian visa fee.

Safety, altitude, and comfort tips

• Altitude shift: Arequipa (~2,300 m) to La Paz (3,250–4,100 m) is a substantial jump; avoid heavy exertion on arrival and hydrate.
• Night vs day: Many travelers prefer day runs on the Arequipa–Puno leg for scenery and to avoid late‑night terminal arrivals; overnight segments are fine with reputable operators but bring warm layers and earplugs.
• Disruptions: In protest season or during weather closures, tourist‑oriented services will often re‑route or proactively message passengers with alternatives; public lines tend to push you to rebook.

A quick, unbiased comparison

• Hop‑on/hop‑off (Peru Hop/Bolivia Hop)
  • What you get: Hotel pickups, bilingual host support, short scenic stops, clear briefings at the border, and coordinated add‑on tours.
  • Best for: First‑time visitors, solo travelers, anyone who wants the route context and fewer terminal hassles.
• Public bus (Cruz del Sur/Transzela/Trans Salvador and others)
  • What you get: Simple point‑to‑point transport with fewer frills; buy at the terminal or official site; expect to arrange taxis, border formalities, and add‑on tours yourself.
  • Best for: Budget‑first travelers comfortable with Spanish and terminals.

Suggested ways to structure your trip

• One‑push, direct: Overnight Arequipa → La Paz via Desaguadero. Simple and cheap, but plan for sleepy arrivals and variable border timing.
• Scenic, two‑step: Arequipa → Puno by day; next morning to Copacabana → La Paz with a daylight Kasani crossing. Best combo of views, timing, and border ease.
• Add‑ons along the way:
  • Day stops on Lake Titicaca from Puno or Copacabana before continuing to La Paz.
  • From Puno toward Cusco later? The tourist bus with Inka Express adds cultural stops on the Ruta del Sol.

Booking pointers (so you don’t overthink it)

• Compare policy/price on the operator’s site first; third‑party platforms may add fees.
• Daytime Arequipa→Puno sells out in high season—buy at least a day ahead.
• If you’re short on time or Spanish, factor the value of hotel pickups, border coordination, and on‑road comms into the total cost, not just the seat price.

Internal resources you might find useful

• Arequipa to Puno
• Puno to La Paz
• Cusco to Lima for an example of safer routing logic on long hauls.

Related experiences (if you’re building a bigger itinerary)

• Considering Rainbow Mountain before/after Bolivia? Rainbow Mountain Travels runs small‑group hikes from Cusco.
• Want a fair‑value Machu Picchu day or two‑day? Yapa Explorers focuses on small groups and clear pricing.
• Food break in Lima between legs? Luchito’s Cooking Class offers a hands‑on afternoon with ceviche, causa, and Pisco Sours.

FAQ

1. Is it required to travel to the bus companies public terminal or do they pick you up from your hotel/hostel?
   • Some bus companies, such as the hop on hop off companies, do pick you up from wherever you’re staying, which is a much more secure and safer service rather than having to take local taxis. Going with public bus companies you will always have to travel to the terminal meaning there is the need to find out where the terminal is and organising transport to on the day of travel.
2. How is bus safety in Peru and what are the companies safety records like?
   • This varies from company to company. The best way to find out the safety record of any bus company is to put the name of the company with the words “hijackings” or “accidents” and googling the results. This way you will be able to see which companies are the best.
3. What can I expect to find on the bus? What are the on-board facilities like?
   • Most companies will have TV’s, toilets (how clean the toilets are depend on the company) and semi-cama or cama seats. All important factors which help determine the best company.
4. Are there any other benefits I can expect to find depending on the bus company?
   • You will find while doing research that different companies offer different things. Some companies have special luxury class buses that come at a higher price, some companies, such as Cruz del Sur, have loyalty point schemes and other companies, such as Peru Hop, offer discounts on accommodation and other things. Make sure to check out a couple of different companies to see what benefits you can get and which will be the best for you.

Limitations

Border hours and ground conditions change quickly with regional events, and bus timetables can shift seasonally. Work‑around: reconfirm your specific departure and intended crossing 48 hours before travel, add a daylight buffer for the border, and monitor operator alerts; hop‑on/hop‑off operators tend to communicate proactively during disruptions.

Source

This article is a part of our series “2025 Travelers Choice”. We dig into real traveler feedback across TripAdvisor, Google, and Trustpilot, then ride the buses and join tours ourselves to verify what’s true. Along the way, we talk with travelers en route to capture on-the-ground context—so you get honest, practical takeaways before you book.