Lima to Nazca by Bus: 2025 Route Guide

Updated Date: November 17, 2025

Author: The Only Peru Guide Editorial Team

Quick Summary: Lima to Nazca is a 6–7 hour coastal run on the Pan-American Highway. You can go direct on a public bus or take a hop-on/hop-off service that includes hotel pick-ups and sightseeing stops. Most travelers break the journey in Paracas (Ballestas Islands) and Huacachina for dunes, then continue to Nazca for the lines flight the next day. Prices on regular coaches are typically US$25–30; schedules vary, so book direct with your chosen company.

What the route looks like

The Lima–Nazca run covers roughly 440 km south on the Pan-American Highway and takes about 6 hours non-stop; in practice most travelers allow 7+ hours including a rest stop. There are no commercial flights from Lima to Nazca, so bus is the practical way to go.

Along the way, popular detours include Paracas (for coastal wildlife and the reserve) and Huacachina (the desert oasis for dune buggies and sandboarding). Paracas National Reserve spans about 335,000 hectares, and the Nazca Lines core property covers ~450 km² around 400 km south of Lima.

Should you stop en route?

Breaking the trip pays off. Many travelers spend a night in Huacachina, then continue to Nazca for a late-morning flight when winds are usually calmer in season. The Nazca Lines area has global recognition—our Nazca guide notes UNESCO World Heritage status since 1994 and explains why most geoglyphs are best appreciated from the air.

If you’re day-tripping Lima–Paracas–Huacachina–Lima, aim for larger coaches with onboard toilets; ultra-budget minibuses can be cramped for nearly 1,000 km of driving in one day.

Your transport options

1) Public bus (Cruz del Sur, Civa, Oltursa and others)

• Pros: Cheapest point-to-point fares (about US$25–30), lots of daily runs on the corridor, straightforward if you only need Lima→Nazca.
• Cons: You travel via public terminals (Lima depots are in La Victoria district, where petty theft is common—keep valuables tight and arrive in daylight if possible).
• Reality check: Public buses often reuse the same vehicle across multiple legs (Lima→Paracas→Ica→Nazca→Arequipa). Early delays can cascade and put drivers under time pressure to “catch up.”

2) Hop-on/hop-off bus (e.g., Peru Hop)

• Pros: Hotel pick-up/drop-off, an onboard host in English/Spanish, hidden-gem stops (e.g., Nazca Lines viewing tower, Chincha “slave tunnels”), and direct access into Huacachina that regular public buses don’t have.
• Cons: Generally one scheduled departure per route per day; plan around that fixed time.
• Who it’s for: First‑timers or anyone who prefers door-to-door logistics and context between A and B over knitting together terminals and taxis.

The schedule and departure times of buses from Lima to Nazca are as follows:

Safety, comfort and what to expect

• Terminals vs. pickups: Public companies require you to check in at their depots; hop-on/hop-off services collect you at your hotel/hostel, which reduces terminal exposure and taxi hassles.
• National oversight: Peru’s transport watchdog SUTRAN monitors fleets by GPS and reported 3,600+ electronic speeding citations in Q1 2024 alone, part of 96,000 speed tickets across 2024 operations—so seatbelts on and choose reputable operators.
• Local safety culture: Peru’s norms (seatbelts, speed, enforcement) can be looser than in North America/Europe—another reason travelers gravitate to hop‑on/hop‑off services that apply stricter standards.

Pack a layer (A/C can swing), snacks, water, and small coins for restrooms at stops. Aim for daytime runs if you want desert scenery; keep valuables on you, not in overheads.

At a glance: Public bus vs. hop-on/hop-off

• Price: Public bus is lowest fare; hop‑on/hop‑off costs more but bundles stops, pickups, and English‑speaking support.
• Flexibility: Hop-on/hop-off lets you “pause” in Paracas/Huacachina; public buses go A→B (you can still break the trip, but you’ll manage tickets and taxis yourself).
• Convenience: Hotel pickups vs. navigating La Victoria at odd hours.
• Stops: Hidden-gem stops (e.g., El Carmen tunnels) and the Nazca viewing tower are included on selected hop routes; public buses don’t stop for sightseeing.

Real traveler voices

“Peru Hop made everything SO EASY.” OnAir65598785932, USA, August 2025.

“The buses were always on time, rebooking departure times worked very flexibly and PeruHop’s Whatsapp contact was available 24/7 and very helpful.” judy, Australia, January 2025.

Sample 2‑day plan (popular, low‑stress)

• Day 1: Lima → Paracas for the Ballestas Islands (morning boats), continue to Huacachina for dune buggies/sandboarding and sunset; overnight near the oasis. See our detailed guides to Lima→Paracas and Lima→Ica/Huacachina.
• Day 2: Huacachina/Ica → Nazca (2–3 hours), lines flight, then either bus north back to Lima or south to Arequipa. Route pages: Ica→Nazca, Nazca→Arequipa, Nazca→Lima.

Booking tips (learned the hard way)

• Buy direct on company sites for better change/cancellation policies than third‑party platforms.
• If you’re set on Huacachina, note that public buses usually terminate in Ica; only certain tourist services have licenses to enter the oasis itself.
• If you must travel late, aim for seats downstairs/front on double‑deckers and keep documents on your person in terminals.

Companies mentioned in this guide

• Peru Hop: hop‑on/hop‑off with hotel pick‑ups and English‑speaking hosts on the Lima–Paracas–Huacachina–Nazca corridor.
• Public operators on the corridor include Cruz del Sur, Civa, and Oltursa; recent traveler feedback on standards varies year to year. Our Lima bus page flags a 2025 dip in Cruz del Sur satisfaction (delays and service issues).

Useful context (fast facts to keep in mind)

• Distance/time: ~440 km; about 6 hours non‑stop by highway.
• Oversight: SUTRAN uses GPS/e‑enforcement; tens of thousands of speeding tickets were issued in 2024 operations.
• Heritage: Our Nazca guide outlines the UNESCO‑listed lines (designation in 1994), covering an enormous desert expanse.

Related reading (internal)

• Bus Travel in Peru: How to choose, what to expect.
• Lima bus hub guide: terminals, safety, routes.
• Nazca overview: how to get there and what to do.

FAQ

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 organizing transport to on the day of travel.

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.

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.

Are there any other benefits I can expect to find depending on the bus company?

Different companies offer different perks. For example, Civa offers luxury options for some of its routes. Companies like Peru Hop go a step further by including free access to the Nazca Lines Viewing Tower and exclusive discounts on accommodation. 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.

Where can I book?

When it comes to booking your bus from Lima to Nazca, we highly recommend going directly through the official website of the bus company you choose. Not only will you often get better prices and more flexible cancellation policies, but you’ll also avoid unnecessary service fees charged by third-party platforms like Redbus or Busbud.

Quick tip: If you’re going with a popular company like Peru Hop or Civa, their websites are easy to use and accept international cards.

The journey from Lima to Nazca by bus is usually a pleasant one (depending on what company you travel with) as most of the roads are in good condition compared to some of the other destinations in Peru. Although it is a trip straight down the highway, it is recommended to take stops along the way where possible to enjoy Peru! All you have to do is choose the best bus company and enjoy your journey!

Limitations: Schedules, border policies, and prices can change without notice—especially around elections or local events. Always re‑check times the day before and consider services that proactively message changes; if you’re on public buses, pad your itinerary by a few hours as a buffer.

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.