Most Peruvians get around the country by bus, as these go just about everywhere and are extremely good value. However, wherever possible, visitors tend to use one of the country’s trains - an experience in itself - despite being considerably slower than the equivalent bus journey. With the distances in Peru being so vast, many Peruvians and travellers are increasingly flying to their destinations, as all Peruvian cities are within a two-hour flight of Lima.

Driving around Peru is generally not a problem outside of Lima, and allows you to see some out-of-the-way places that you might otherwise miss. However, the traffic in Lima is abominable, both in terms of its recklessness and the sheer volume. Traffic jams are ubiquitous between 8 and 10am and again between 4 and 6pm every weekday, while the pollution from too many old and poorly maintained vehicles is a real health risk, particularly in Lima Centro and to a lesser extent in Arequipa.

Peru is a big country, so many travelers take internal flights if they have limited time. There are four bigger companies operating flights (Aero Continente, LanPeru (co-owned by LanChile), Taca and Tans). There are also a handful of small airlines flying to remote destinations in light aircraft. There’s an 18% tax on domestic flights and there’s also a US$4 departure tax on domestic flights.

Peru’s buses are run by a variety of private companies, all of which offer remarkably low fares , making it possible to travel from one end of the country to the other (over 2000km) for under $30. Long-distance bus journeys cost.

Peru’s spectacular train journeys are in themselves a major attraction, and you should aim to take at least one long-distance train during your trip, especially as the trains connect some of Peru’s major tourist sights. At the time of writing

Peru is a big country, so many travellers take internal flights if they have limited time. Aero Continente has effectively monopolised the domestic market. Prices have risen accordingly, and route coverage is limited. LanPeru, co-owned by LanChile, also conducts domestic flights. There are also a handful of small airlines flying to remote destinations in light aircraft. There’s an 18% tax on domestic flights, but you can avoid most of this if you buy tickets abroad. There’s a 4.00 departure tax on domestic flights.

Public buses are the usual mode of transport over long distances. They are cheap, frequent and relatively comfortable, at least on major routes. When travelling between towns, have your passport with you, as it will need to be shown at police checkpoints. Armed robberies on night buses are not unheard of in Peru, so travel on a day bus (or fly) if you have the option. Trucks often double as buses in remote areas. The fare is usually standardised according to the distance, but agree on the fare in advance. Local buses are slow, cheap and crowded; when you want to get off just yell out. Taxi fares need to be haggled over; there are no metered cabs.