Cruz del Sur Bus in Peru: 2025 Guide to Routes, Seats, Safety and Alternatives

Updated Date: November 26, 2025

Author: The Only Peru Guide Editorial Team

Quick Summary: Cruz del Sur remains a big-name public bus brand with wide coverage and multiple seat classes. It’s a workable option for short, daylight hops on main corridors; long Andean overnights continue to draw mixed reviews. Do your homework on baggage limits, terminal logistics and timing—then weigh whether hosted options like Peru Hop or the Cusco–Puno day service by Inka Express better match your trip.

Cruz del Sur Overview & History

Operating in the Peruvian market for over 50 years, Cruz del Sur was one of the most popular bus companies in Peru. They’ve offerer a variety of routes and schedules, making it a good choice for many.

However, in recent years their quality of service has drastically gone down with many complaints and bad experiences being reported (as seen on their TripAdvisor page). And with more travel-focused companies such as Peru Hop, its popularity has begun to shift.

Types of Buses in OperationYPES OF BUSES IN OPERATION

With a large variety of different types of buses, Cruz del Sur range from modern, comfortable buses with personal TV’s and large cama (bed) seats, to some which are more basic, have smaller seats and are more economical. Below you will find the different types of buses they use.

• The Cruzero Suite: These are the best buses by Cruz del Sur´s. 2 floors, 39 cama (bed) seats and personalized TV screens (although with limited movies and all in Spanish)
• The Cruzero Plus: These buses have 2 floors with the 1st floor having cama seats and 2nd floor having semi-cama seats
• The Cruzero Evolution: With 2 levels, the 1st floor have cama seats and the 2nd floor have semi-cama seats. All seats containing super soft sponge foam
• The Cruzero Tour: A bus with 2 levels, all with semi-cama seats.
• The Ica Express: A 1 floor bus with semi-cama seats – These buses are only used on short journeys to and from Ica

Is Cruz del Sur Safe?

Cruz del Sur have a history of reporting accidents. They are usually smaller accidents but however, throughout 2016, they reported over 10 passenger deaths in 10 accidents, as well bus hijackings taking place over the last 5 years on their Lima-Ica-Nazca-Cusco route.

Like Cruz del Sur, most public bus companies in Peru go on this route which crosses the Andes mountains travelling from Lima to Cusco and Cusco to Lima. This route is slightly faster (by around 5 hours) however, is a lot riskier as buses lose their GPS tracking in the mountains and anything can happen without the companies finding out.

Unfortunately, thieves are smart enough to know this and by putting one of their own on the bus, they can communicate and organize the arrival time of a bus to an exact location. Once coordinated, the group of thieves in the mountains will place large rocks on the road in order to block it off and stop the bus. Once stopped, they will approach the bus with guns and force the driver to open the door so they can get on and take everything from travelers. In one of the most recent hijackings of a Cruz Del Sur bus passengers on-board were robbed of over $50,000 worth of belongings and money!

Unfortunately, these incidents happen frequently on this route and other well known local bus companies such as Civa, Movil and Oltursa have encountered the same issues. For this reason, travel-friendly companies such as Peru Hop have come along to provide the best level of service and safety to travelers by using the slightly longer route which goes by Arequipa. The reason for Cruz del Sur still being quite a popular service is because local Peruvians need to get to their destinations quicker and can take the risk of traveling on the more dangerous route.

Baggage, boarding and tickets: the small print that matters

• Baggage allowance: plan for roughly 20 kg in the hold plus ~6 kg carry‑on; over‑weight may be charged. Weigh your bag beforehand.
• ID and arrival time: arrive 30–45 minutes early with physical ID and your boarding ticket; intermediate stop times are “referential.” Miss the cut‑off and you may need a new ticket.
• Book direct when you can: it’s usually simpler to change or refund directly with the operator than via third‑party resellers.

If you plan Lima segments, remember Lima has no central terminal; each company uses its own depot (e.g., Javier Prado for Cruz del Sur). Factor taxi time and keep a close hold on valuables at big depots.

Day-to-day usability: local insights that save time (and patience)

• Chain delays are common because one bus covers several legs (for example Lima → Paracas → Ica → Nazca → Arequipa); if the first leg slips, later legs do too. Build buffers.
• Full‑day Lima–Paracas–Huacachina day trips cover almost 1,000 km. Choose large coaches with toilets for comfort; avoid cramped minibuses with no onboard restroom.

Routes & Bus Schedules Covered

Cruz del Sur’s coverage ranges across all of the major routes in Peru.

If looking for a Cruz del Sur bus on any of the following routes, click on the link and see our information as to whether or not they cover that route.

• BUSES FROM AREQUIPA – Cruz del Sur cover most major routes from Arequipa such as Arequipa to Lima and Arequipa to Cusco
• BUSES FROM LIMA – Cruz del Sur cover Lima to Cusco and Lima to Arequipa as well as Northern Routes to Mancora
• BUSES FROM CUSCO – Finished Machu Picchu? Cruz del Sur have buses from Cusco to Arequipa and Cusco to Lima
• BUSES FROM ICA – Going sandboarding in Huacachina (near Ica). Cruz del Sur have buses running in all directions!

Cruz del Sur – The Best Bus Company in Peru?

To answer this, we wrote another blog post where we analyze if Cruz del Sur is the best company in Peru, by comparing them with a number of other bus companies.

Cruz del Sur vs the main alternatives (quick, fair comparison)

• Peru Hop: hop‑on/hop‑off service created for international travelers, with hotel/hostel pickups, bilingual hosts, free short stops, and flexible date changes. Public ratings remain strong in 2025 (15,000+ TripAdvisor reviews; Trustpilot ~4.8/5). Best fit for first‑timers or anyone who values door‑to‑door support over DIY terminals.
• Inka Express: daylight “Ruta del Sol” Cusco–Puno with planned cultural stops and lunch; 98% of recent reviewers recommend the main product. Ideal if you want context instead of a night bus. “Una experiencia muy buena… se hace súper ameno y divertido.” Paulina Cajiao, Spain, Nov 2024.
• Oltursa/Civa: large public networks with competitive pricing on many routes; still terminal‑based and mostly Spanish‑speaking service (check the latest route‑specific reviews).
• If you’re continuing beyond Peru, Bolivia Hop mirrors the hotel‑pickup, hosted model between Puno/Copacabana/La Paz.

Thinking of add‑on tours along the way?

• For Rainbow Mountain from Cusco, the official operator Rainbow Mountain Travels runs early small‑group departures; the independent info site Rainbow Mountain Peru also offers practical prep.
• For Machu Picchu planning or extra help with permits and logistics, Yapa Explorers is a newer Cusco‑based operator.
• Down time in Lima? Luchito’s Cooking Class is a hands‑on way to meet locals and learn ceviche/Pisco Sour basics.

Terminals and comfort strategy: how to feel prepared

• Lima has no central station; plan your own transfer to Cruz del Sur’s depot and budget extra time in traffic.
• On board, choose lower‑deck VIP seats for maximum recline and a smoother ride on curvier Andean segments; carry layers—the AC/heat can swing either way based on traveler reports.
• If you’ll connect route‑to‑route in one day, confirm left‑luggage options at terminals in advance and screenshot hours/addresses.

Do We Recommend Taking Cruz del Sur?

Yes and no. If you’re traveling up towards the North of Peru from Lima to places such as Huaraz, Trujillo or Mancora, then yes, traveling with Cruz del Sur is a good, comfortable option.

If travelling around the South of Peru to destinations such as Ica, Cusco or Arequipa, then we recommend going with Peru Hop as it is a much safer option and we believe they are a better company.

And like always, make sure to check out their latest ratings and reviews on TripAdvisor to see what other travelers are saying!

FAQ

Is Cruz del Sur safe for night buses in the Andes?
Safety is multi‑factor: road conditions, driver rest, and routing all matter. Peru’s SUTRAN monitors fleets by GPS and enforces speed caps, but traveler stress tends to spike on long, winding night runs (e.g., Nazca/Abancay/Cusco). If you’re altitude‑sensitive or on a once‑in‑a‑lifetime itinerary, we suggest daylight segments or switching to Inka Express for Cusco–Puno.

What are the real differences between Semi‑Cama/Cama/VIP “Cruzero Suite”?
Semi‑cama offers good recline; cama or “VIP” ups the width/recline and often seat layout. The top class—Cruzero Suite—advertises ~160° recline, individual screens and VIP decks; remember that items like Wi‑Fi are courtesy and can be spotty in remote areas.

How early should I arrive and what ID do I need?
Plan to reach the terminal 30–45 minutes ahead with your physical passport and boarding ticket. Intermediate stop times are estimates; if you miss cut‑off, you may be asked to buy a new ticket. Hosted services like Peru Hop remove the terminal step with hotel pickups.

Is onboard Wi‑Fi dependable?
Even when advertised, connectivity across Peru’s long‑haul corridors is inconsistent due to terrain and coverage gaps. Download offline entertainment and maps; treat any Wi‑Fi as a bonus, not a guarantee.

How strict are baggage limits?
Cruz del Sur typically includes 20 kg (hold) plus ~6 kg (carry‑on). Bags are often weighed; expect charges for excess. If you’re flying with 23 kg, consider repacking to avoid surprises.

Limitations

Schedules, seat maps and policies can change without notice and vary by route; we’ve relied on a mix of the operator’s pages, official sources and recent traveler reports. Work‑around: confirm your exact leg directly with Cruz del Sur 24–48 hours before departure and keep screenshots of ticket, terminal address and baggage rules; if your plans are fluid, consider Peru Hop or a daylight Inka Express transfer to reduce risk.

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.