Time of Departure 07:00am EVERY DAY - The Cultural Route 06:00am EVERY DAY - The Express Route
Pick up Location Any hotel/hostel in Miraflores or Barranco. Selected points in downtown (old town) Lima.
Note: If staying outside of these areas or at a residential address, then please select our central meeting point: MC DONALDS, PARQUE KENNEDY - MIRAFLORES as your pick-up location.
Minimum Time Needed 3 Days / 2 Nights
Price $159
IMPORTANT:2019 tickets selling faster than ever... Book now to avoid disappointment!
Follow the different ‘Hopstages’ of our route to see the different highlights at each of our destinations.
HOPSTAGE 1: Lima to Paracas
The hot relaxing beach town of Paracas is four hours from the loud busy city of Lima. If you want to travel directly from Lima to Paracas with us read more about our Express Route in Departure Details below. Alternatively, enjoy experiencing the fascinating, authentic Peruvian way of life on our Culture Route – packed with free stops and tours.
The Cultural Route
The cultural route is the extended journey to Paracas and includes free local stops to experience authentic Peruvian culture. Departs at 07:00am. Nothing mentioned below is included in the Express Journey.
First stop, we’ll take you to a unique beach hut bakery, just a bit outside of Lima, for some must-try Peruvian cuisine at prices as cheap as $1!
Finally, we’ll stop at the most fascinating, historical spot yet – Tambo Colorado. 3 acres of Incan ruins located near the coast once a fortress and administrative site between the coast and the highlands!
Top Things to do in Paracas
Rent normal bikes or quad bikes and drive around the desert Paraglide over Peru’s largest protected natural habitat Practice kite surfing on the waves that crash against the desert Chill out by the pool or at the beach that stays sunny all year round
Paracas National Reserve where the desert meets the sea. Check out our Instagram for some pics of this unbelievable spot. Note: Free with your Peru Hop wristband.
Enjoy Ceviche, the national dish of Peru, on the rooftop of Restaurant Paracas – with one of the best views of the city. Note: exclusive discounted price when you show your Peru Hop wristband.
Top Thing to Do in Paracas Ballestas Islands: See Paracas wildlife such as penguins, sea lions, marine birds and sometimes even dolphins or whales. The tour of the ‘poor man’s Galapagos’ lasts about 2 hours and begins at 08:00am or 10:00am.
Peru Hop Departure Details
Lima to Paracas – The Culture Route
Departure: EVERY DAY Departures From: Any hotel/hostel in Miraflores or Barranco. Selected points in downtown (old town) Lima. Departure Time: 07:00am Arrival Time: 14:00pm
Note: The Cultural Route is not more time on a bus. The free extra stops and tours on route are the reason for the later arrival time.
Lima to Paracas – Express Route
Departures: EVERY DAY Departures from: Any hotel/hostel in Miraflores or Barranco. Selected points in downtown (old town) Lima. Departure time: 06:00am Arrival time: 10:00am
Note: The Express Route journey has no stops. It is four straight hours on a bus from Lima to Paracas. Ideal for those short on time.
Recommended Nights in Paracas:
We recommend staying at least 1 night in Paracas. This way you will have the chance to experience the Ballestas Islands boat tour, seeing the wild marine animals and visit the Paracas National Reserve, where the desert meets the sea. We can help you book your Paracas accommodation onboard.
Peru Hop Timetable Tips
If you take the express 06:00am bus it is not necessary to spend the night in Paracas. You can arrive at 10am and have 3 hours in Paracas before leaving for Huacacina at 1pm. Enjoy a visit to the Paracas National Reserve (included free stop) OR a boat tour to Ballestas Islands (optional extra) and continue to Huacachina the same day. Note – there is NOT time to do both the Reserva and the Ballestas. However, we strongly recommend the 07:00am bus (Cultural Route) to stop and see more along the way!
Drop off: Paracas is a small town, where the bus can only drive on one street. Hotel Frayles is our drop-off point – 1 minute walk from all popular hotels and hostels.
HOPSTAGE 2: Paracas to Huacachina
Huacachina is only a short one hour 15 min journey from Paracas but feels like travelling from one paradise to another. Leave the quaint cultural home of the National Reserve and arrive to the only desert oasis in all of South America.
Top Things to do in Huacachina
Explore the only desert oasis in South America Visit a Pisco Vineyard and learn all about how the national drink of Peru is made Camp overnight in the dunes and gaze at the stars Relax by the pool and soak in the heat of the desert
Paracas National Reserve where the desert meets the sea. Check out our Instagram for some pics of this unbelievable spot. The bus to the reserve departs at 11:00am everyday before the bus to Huacachina. Note: Free with your Peru Hop wristband.
Top Thing to Do in Huacachina Dunebuggy and Sandboarding in Huacachina: Guaranteed to be one of the biggest adrenalin rushes you will have in your life! Dune Buggy through the dunes of the desert, sandboard down and finish it all off by taking some stunning snaps of the desert sunset at the end. The tour begins at 16:30pm and lasts 2 hours.
Peru Hop Departure Details
Departures: EVERY DAY Departures From: Residencial Los Frayles (within close walking distance of most hotels/hostels in Paracas). Departure Time: 13:00pm Arrival Time: 14:15pm
Recommended Nights in Huacachina:
We recommend staying 1 night in Huacachina. This way you can enjoy looking at the stars from the desert oasis during the night and also experience the fun day time activity of a dune buggy and sandboarding tour! We can help you book your accommodation.
Drop off:Huacachina is a small town, where the bus can only drive on one street. Wild Rover Hostel is our drop-off point and is less than a 5 min walk from all other popular hostels and hotels.
HOPSTAGE 3: Huacachina to Nazca to Cusco
After the incredibly hot and picturesque Huacachina it’s time for the next leg of the journey. Walk through an alluring Pisco Vineyard, and see the famous Nazca lines for yourself from the viewing tower. Finally arrive in Cusco, the enthralling city famously known as the gateway to Machu Picchu. Full of culture and history, Cusco is a city not to be passed through quickly.
The Cultural Route
This stretch can sometimes feel like a long leg of the journey. However, we’ve found the perfect local destinations just off the beaten track where you can learn about and experience some of the most interesting parts of Peruvian culture.
First stop is the Pisco Vineyard, only 15 mins from Huacachina. Take a tour of a boutique vineyard to discover how Pisco, the national drink of Peru, is made. Best of all, get lots of free samples of pure pisco, sweet wine, and Pisco baileys! This tour lasts an hour long.
Approximately 3 hours after leaving Huacachina (including tours), it’s time for our next pitstop, the Nazca Lines Viewing Tower. The Nazca lines are an age-old mystery of giant etches left on the earth. No one knows who left them or how! We’ll spend an hour here where you can climb the Viewing Tower and see 3 of the biggest Nazca Lines free with your Peru Hop pass.
Finally, a stop at Pukara, a non-touristy town where you’ll get to enjoy an authentic Peruvian lunch at local prices.
Top Thing to Do in Nazca Nazca Flights Information: If you want to do the Nazca Lines Flight, you can take a public bus from Huacachina to Nazca at 08:00am, take the flight, and we will pick you up at 07:00pm in Nazca. Just ask your guide if you want more info. on booking. We do not recommend spending time in Nazca as there is not much to do, but your ticket does allow you to hop off in Nazca and get on the next bus if you so wish.
Top Things to Do in Cusco
Explore the historic city of Cusco Venture to the Sacred Valley and walk through one of the many trails set out by the Incas long ago Go white water rafting (Urubamba/Apurimac rivers) Go quad biking by the fascinating Moray terraces and Maras salt flats Go horseback riding to local places such as Kenko, Temple of the Moon, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay and more
Top Thing to Do in Cusco Machu Picchu Tour – Do either a trek (Classic Inca Trail or Salkantay), or maybe a combined trek/biking tour (Inka Jungle Trek) or take the train in and back (can be done as a full day but 2 days staying the night before in Aguas Calientes is advised).
Peru Hop Departure Details
Departures: EVERY DAY Departures From: Wild Rover Hostel (within close walking distance of most hotels/hostels in Huacachina). Departure Time: 13:00pm Arrival Time: 18:30pm (next day)
Recommended Nights in Cusco:
We recommend staying 3-4 nights in Cusco (not including nights allocated to touring/trekking Machu Picchu). There are many interesting, culture-based activities to do in and around Cusco. 3-4 nights is the perfect time to try a few of the different activities before moving on.
Drop-off: For legal reasons, big buses cannot drive in the historical centre of Cusco. Peru Hop Private Terminal is the drop off point. Click here to view map.
Simply choose your preferred departure date and get your personal timetable within a second. Follow that recommended schedule to see and do it all at the perfect pace or hop off and stay anywhere longer! Feel free to download, print and share it with your friends!
NOTE: The itinerary planner does not factor in any break periods we have (e.g. around Christmas and the fact that we do not operate buses in February). Please check the important notes section under each pass for more information about this.
1. Read DOWN ↓ for recommended bus plan based on our expertise. Example: Leave Lima on a Monday and arrive to Cusco on Thursday.
2. Read ACROSS → for next bus if you want to stay longer (hop off).
HOP STAGE 1
A: LIMA TO PARACAS (FREE EXTRA STOPS)
EVERY DAY
LIMA (DEPART)
07:00
GUIDED TOUR TAMBO COLORADO (INCA RUINS)
12:30
PARACAS (ARRIVE)
14:00
MAIN ACTIVITY IN PARACAS:Ballestas Islands – Stay 1 night in Paracas and take the Ballestas tour the next day at 08:00am. Tours last 2 hours. Possible to then do the trip into the National Reserve (FREE) at 11am before departing to Huacachina.
B: LIMA TO PARACAS (EXPRESS NON-STOP)
EVERY DAY
LIMA (DEPART)
06:00
PARACAS (ARRIVE)
10:00
EXPRESS: Taking the direct 06:00am bus from Lima it is possible to arrive to Paracas at 10:00am and leave again at 13:00pm on the SAME day for Huacachina. Allows time to visit the National Reserve (FREE) OR the Ballestas Islands (EXTRA). This may suit people very short on time although we do recommend the 07:00am bus where possible.
MAIN ACTIVITY IN PARACAS:Ballestas Islands – Tours at 10:00am. Arrive into Paracas and go straight out to the Ballestas Tour. Tours last 2 hours.
HOP STAGE 2
PARACAS TO HUACACHINA
EVERY DAY
PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE
11:00
PARACAS (DEPART)
13:00
HUACACHINA (ARRIVE)
14:15
MAIN ACTIVITY IN HUACACHINA: Dune Buggy and Sandboarding – Tours at 16:30pm. Tours last 2 hours. It is possible to do it on the same day as arrival.
PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE: not possible for those who want to do the Ballestas Islands at 10:00am and leave Paracas the same day.
HOP STAGE 3
HUACACHINA TO NAZCA TO CUSCO
TUE
HUACACHINA (DEPART)
13:00
PISCO VINEYARD TOUR
13:15
NAZCA VIEWING TOWER
17:30
NAZCA DINNER STOP
18:00
NAZCA (ARRIVE/DEPART)
19:00
NEXT DAY
BREAKFAST STOP
08:00
LAGUNILLAS MIRADOR VIEWPOINT
09:30
MARANGANI LUNCH STOP
14:00
CUSCO (ARRIVE)
18:30
MAIN ACTIVITY IN CUSCO:Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley Tours and Treks.
26, 27, 28 & 29 JULY 2019 - INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS (PERU)
Hotel/hostel prices will increase during this period. MUST book accommodation in advance! Accommodation in larger dorm room sizes may apply.
The departure times for the buses and Nazca shuttle will be changed as follows:
- Express Route (6:00 am bus) departing at 5:00am
- Cultural Route (7:00 am bus) departing at 6:00am
- PARACAS-HUACACHINA will depart at 12pm
Tours will be shortened with all tour operators as follows: Ballestas Islands Tour: 1 hour and a half and Sandboarding & Buggies: 1 hour
Access to the oasis may be limited. It might be necessary to walk a short distance in and out of the oasis. Please consult your guide regarding your luggage.
Rent normal bikes or quad bikes and drive around the desert
Paraglide over Peru’s largest protected natural habitat
Practice kite surfing on the waves that crash against the desert
Chill out by the pool or at the beach that stays sunny all year round
Paracas National Reserve where the desert meets the sea. Check out our Instagram for some pics of this unbelievable spot. Note: Free with your Peru Hop wristband.
Enjoy Ceviche, the national dish of Peru, on the rooftop of Restaurant Paracas – with one of the best views of the city. Note: exclusive discounted price when you show your Peru Hop wristband.
Explore the only desert oasis in South America
Visit a Pisco Vineyard and learn all about how the national drink of Peru is made
Camp overnight in the dunes and gaze at the stars
Relax by the pool and soak in the heat of the desert
Venture to the Sacred Valley and walk through one of the many trails set out by the Incas long ago
Go white water rafting (Urubamba/Apurimac rivers)
Go quad biking by the fascinating Moray terraces and Maras salt flats
Go horseback riding to local places such as Kenko, Temple of the Moon, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay and more