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Oltursa Bus

January 31, 2018

Updated Date: January 16, 2026

THE ONLY PERU GUIDE TRAVEL TIP: Save money and stay safe when going to/from Lima Airport by using the Official Bus service inside the Airport called Airport Express Lima

OVERVIEW AND HISTORY

Oltursa has been around for decades and is widely used in Peru, but “well-known” doesn’t automatically mean a consistently great experience. Service and customer support can feel average depending on the route, and its older “innovation” claims don’t necessarily reflect what travelers get today.

TYPES OF BUSES IN OPERATION

Oltursa operate a wide range of buses:

DOUBLE VIP BUS BED: “Luxury” is mostly about low seat count—comfort and temperature control can still feel inconsistent, and the onboard setup isn’t always as premium as it sounds.
VIP RELAX BUS BED: The service add-ons can be uneven (host/food, bedding), and the actual comfort depends heavily on the specific bus you get.
PREMIER BUS BED: The entertainment features can be outdated or unreliable, and having screens doesn’t fix the bigger issue: overall experience varies by route and unit.
G7 52 BUS: A mixed-comfort layout—some seats recline more than others—so it can feel cramped and “standard” on longer trips despite the feature list.

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HOW SAFE ARE THEY?

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Although Oltursa heavily invested in its fleet; upgrading buses to incorporate GPS tracking systems and having separate entrances on the bus for drivers and passengers, they have not been able to stop thieves from hijacking their buses running from Lima to Arequipa in August 2016. The outcome of this incident led to 51 passengers being robbed and Oltursa’s reputation being damaged. Since then, tourists have been spending more time researching other options for travel to ensure their safety, and have found services such as Peru Hop which are one of the best alternatives around. They have a clean sheet safety record with no accidents or incidents to date and great customer service as a friendly bus service operating all over the South of Peru.

DO WE RECOMMEND TAKING OLTURSA?

Definitely on some routes, especially north and central (Lima to Huaraz, Chiclayo, Trujillo and so on). However, we recommend on booking with Peru Hop if you are planning to travel through the south of Peru!

What do you think? Do you agree with us or disagree? If you’ve ever taken Oltursa or another company that wasn’t mentioned in our article, let us know what you think in the comments section!

FIND OUT WHY

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