Cuzco Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

By Plane The airport is at the edge of the city (taxi ride). There are daily internal flights to and from Lima, Arequipa and small jungle airstrips in the Amazon basin. The closest main international airport is Lima. The cheapest one way flights to Lima cost around USD 70. Frequently, bad weather conditions can cause flights to be cancelled, often up to two days on end. If you are flying straight into Cuzco, beware of altitude sickness for the first couple of days. Drink mate de coca (coca tea), the local remedy for this. Many hotels and hostels provide it to guests upon arrival. Also be sure to rest, most guidebooks and locals suggest minimal activity during your first day in the city. Altitude sickness (soroche) tends to sneak up on you and its symptoms may not be apparent at first. Note that the market rate for a taxi from the airport to the Plaza de Armas is 3 - 5 soles, not 30 or more as they may try to charge you. By Bus The Terminal Terrestre is about a 20 minute walk down the Av. Sol. You can also take a taxi for a few soles. Buses are plentiful from other Peruvian cities like Lima (about 24 hours), Puno (6-8 hours), Arequipa (10 hours, 20 soles), Nazca (14-16 hours) etc, but are quite long and slow, although the views can compensate. The main roads are quite good, but some can be bad, making trips take longer than expected. Also, make sure your bus has a bathroom or that it stops for bathroom breaks every couple of hours before you buy tickets. There Puno-Cuzco buses that have neither, and that can mean a VERY long 6-8 hours. Expreso Los Chankas, Pje Cáceres 150. As far as we could tell, the only place to offer direct service from Ayacucho to Cusco. 55 Soles each for a 22-hour ride on a semi-cama bus. Buses at 6:30am and 7pm.