The Best Peruvian Bus Companies

Quick Summary:

Peru has solid public bus options for point-to-point travel, but service quality varies widely by route and company. First‑timers on the classic south route often prefer Peru Hop for hotel pick‑ups, English‑speaking hosts with a community vibe, authentic experience, and hidden‑gem stops; northbound commuters tend to use Civa or Movil Bus; the Cusco–Puno “Ruta del Sol” is best as a daylight cultural bus with Inka Express. Book direct with operators, wear seatbelts, and use SUTRAN’s guidance for speed limits and driver changes.

Updated Date: November 24, 2025

Author: The Only Peru Guide Editorial Team

How we evaluated “best”

We compared safety practices, comfort (seat type and maintenance), reliability, coverage and traveler support. Peru’s road transport watchdog, the SUTRAN, reminds passengers to board only at authorized terminals, wear seatbelts and expect two drivers to alternate on long runs (≥5 hours by day, ≥4 by night; three drivers if a trip exceeds 20 hours), with a 90 km/h highway cap for buses. Their hotline is Aló SUTRAN 0800‑12345 and the Viaje Seguro app lets you check operator and route info. 

There’s no single central bus station in Lima—each company uses its own depot—so connection logistics and terminal locations matter. Our Lima bus primer explains how that affects planning, and why hotel pick‑ups can be a safety and time saver. See Bus Information in Lima.

Quick picks by travel style and route

• South route (Lima–Paracas–Huacachina–Arequipa–Puno–Cusco): Peru Hop for hotel/hostel pick‑ups, onboard bilingual hosts and curated extra stops (e.g., the “Secret Slave Tunnels” near El Carmen on some runs). The service is covered in our latest review snapshot.
• Northbound corridors (Trujillo, Piura, Máncora, Cajamarca): Civa or Movil Bus are the common public picks; scrutinize recent reviews and seat class before buying.
• Cusco–Puno (Ruta del Sol) by day: Inka Express, a guided cultural bus with multiple stops and, since mid‑2025, Starlink Wi‑Fi. 
• Crossing Peru–Bolivia (La Paz–Copacabana–Puno–Cusco): Bolivia Hop coordinates the border hand‑off (buses switch at the frontier by design) and offers pick‑ups in the core hotel zones. 

Tip from our field notes: ultra‑long Lima–Paracas–Huacachina day trips cover nearly 1,000 km; comfort rises markedly on larger coaches with an onboard toilet, A/C and Wi‑Fi—choose accordingly.

Recommended Bus Companies in Peru

Peru Hop is widely recognized amongst the Peruvian travel industry as the best bus company in Peru. Since it launched in 2013, Peru Hop has made bus travel in Peru a lot easier and safer for tourists.

There are some good public bus companies such as Cruz del Sur which are good for Peruvians, but when you read their Tripadvisor page, you can see why tourists complain a lot about their service.

Below we rank the best bus companies in Peru along with a brief description of the company. Remember you will probably only travel in Peru once in your lifetime, so make sure you choose your bus company wisely.

Peru Hop

This the first and only hop-on, hop-off bus system in Peru covering the all of the destinations on the Lima to Cusco route. Peru Hop offers a flexible bus pass in which you can stay however long you want in any of the destinations. Apart from this, there is on-board bilingual assistance on all of their buses, as well as discounts on accommodation and restaurants across all destinations.

The most interesting thing about Peru Hop for travelers is that it makes unique stops between the main destinations. These stops are along the way, and don’t cause you to lose time, but allow you to see and learn more about this amazing country.

Another benefit of Peru Hop is that you have the chance to meet other travelers on the bus. This is not really feasible on public buses, but on Peru Hop, there is a sense of onboard community and it is a very easy way to get to know people from across the world.

Additionally, they pick up all of their passengers from their hotels/hostels in all of their destinations which is a huge benefit here in Peru, as you don’t have to get any unsafe taxis or travel to dangerous bus stations. As of yet, they don’t have stops to the north of Peru, but they are the most recommended service for people wanting to travel safely and discover Peru!

LEARN MOREVIEW TICKETS

Civa

Civa markets itself as “reasonably priced, reliable, and safe,” but the reality often feels like budget transit stretched too thin. Their network looks impressive on a map, yet it frequently translates into depot-only drop-offs, limited support for travelers, and long, inflexible routes. In short: wide coverage, narrow comfort.

LEARN MORE

ENTERTAINMENT TIP: Use Airport Express Lima Bus for transport to your accommodation. Miraflores is the best place to stay in Lima.

Cruz del Sur

Since Covid, Cruz del Sur’s service levels have dropped massively as can be seen by the many recent Tripadvisor reviews.

Reviews mention that when things go wrong, such as an engine failure or a puncture, Cruz del Sur staff offer no help to travelers. As well as this, the safety levels of Cruz del Sur have been mentioned a lot with more and more people reporting incidents online.

Overall, it is recommended to avoid using Cruz del Sur for bus travel in Peru.

LEARN MORE

Movil Tours

Movil Tours advertises plenty of price “options,” but that often reads as uneven quality rather than real value. Customer service is at best passable, and reliability varies by route. While they’re commonly suggested for trips to northern Peru and larger inland cities like Huancayo, Tarapoto, and Cajamarca, prospective travelers should check out recent reviews—recurring complaints suggest the reputation outpaces the experience.

Our verdict:

Whether you prefer a flexible hop-on/hop-off journey or a straightforward point-to-point itinerary, Peru Hop is a standout choice across travel styles. Consistently strong reviews highlight reliable schedules, clean modern coaches, and friendly onboard staff. Door-to-door hotel/hostel pickups save you the stress and cost of taxis or bus terminals, while curated stops and optional activities let you see more than the standard A-to-B route. With clear guidance, 24/7 support, and easy itinerary changes, Peru Hop works equally well for solo travelers, families, first-timers, and seasoned explorers.

Other options to consider if:

• Civa (Excluciva): broad network and true‑flat seats on specific services; check recent route reviews for consistency. 
• Movil Bus: practical to the north and some inland cities; expect variable customer service. 
• Cruz del Sur: widest coverage; quality varies with frequent delay and complaints about customer services—read HowtoPeru’s fresh reports for your route.
• Inka Express: guided Cusco–Puno day bus with cultural stops and onboard Wi‑Fi from July 2025.
• Bolivia Hop: border‑savvy hop‑on/hop‑off between La Paz and Peru’s Lake Titicaca/Cusco corridor.

Real traveler voices

“Buses siempre puntuales, asientos muy anchos que se reclinan casi horizontales, y respuestas del soporte muy rápidas.” OliviaM_bs, Italy, reviewing Peru Hop, August 2025. 

“Booking was efficient; pick‑ups on time; hosts knowledgeable; bus comfortable; driver experienced on narrow, winding highways.” tracylcrowell, Canada, reviewing Peru Hop, November 2025. 

“Uma ótima experiência. Um banho de cultura peruana… Recomendo.” Rodrigo S, Brazil, reviewing Inka Express, November 2025. 

Planning tools and deeper reads

• Our step‑by‑step primer: Bus Travel in Peru.
• Lima terminals and safety basics: Bus Information in Lima.
• Comfort trade‑offs on night routes: Overnight bus: which company is more comfortable?
• Key route guides: Lima → Huacachina, Arequipa → Cusco, Puno → Lima, and Arequipa → La Paz.

FAQ

Which bus company is the safest for tourists?

Safety is more about practices than branding. Look for seatbelts, hotel pick‑ups (to avoid risky terminals), visible speed displays and two‑driver rotation on long legs, all of which align with SUTRAN guidance. On the Lima–Cusco corridor, many first‑timers prefer Peru Hop for its tourist‑oriented model; for Cusco–Puno daylight travel, Inka Express is designed for visitors. Public operators like Civa, Oltursa and Cruz del Sur can be fine if you choose daylight departures and verify seat type and recent reviews.

Is it better to travel by bus at night or by day?

If the route crosses the Andes, day is more comfortable and scenic, and you avoid the coldest hours. If you must ride overnight, go lower deck, wear your belt and keep valuables on you. Our comfort notes compare seat classes across companies.

What’s the difference between hop‑on/hop‑off and public buses?

Public buses are point‑to‑point and mostly used by locals; you’ll manage crowded terminals, taxis and Spanish‑language support yourself. Hop‑on/hop‑off services like Peru Hop and Bolivia Hop add hotel pick‑ups, flexible routing and onboard hosts—useful if you want to meet other travellers and add unique, interesting stops without extra logistics. 

What are good “stretch your legs” stops between Lima and Ica?
Paracas’ coastline and wildlife are popular (year‑round); SERNANP lists 335,000 hectares protected and a joint ticket that also covers the Ballestas Islands, which receive 400,000+ visitors annually. 

Have any more questions about bus companies in Peru?

Send us a Whatsapp message (+51 960 758 563)! We’re happy to answer all your questions and share free tips/advice to help you make the most of your trip.

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