Departures Days
EVERY DAY
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
DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS:
FREE EXTRA STOPS AND TOURS WITH THIS TICKET:
Follow the different ‘Hopstages’ of our route to see the different highlights at each of our destinations.
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, before arriving to Paracas, we’ll stop at the most fascinating, historical spot yet – the slave tunnels. Hacienda San Jose, Chincha is where we’ll show you the 17km of underground tunnels from the 17th century that were only discovered 100 years later!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Departures: EVERY DAY
Departures From: Wild Rover Hostel (within close walking distance of most hotels/hostels in Huacachina).
Departure Time: 13:00pm
Arrival Time: 17:30pm (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.
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.
| HOW TO READ: | |||||||
| 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 |
| CHINCHA SLAVE TUNNELS | 12:00 |
| 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. | |
END OF 2018 BREAK
We will be taking a short break at the end of December for Christmas and New Year.
Last bus DEPART LIMA: THURSDAY 20 DEC *(ARRIVE CUSCO: SAT 22 DEC)
*MUST follow the minimum recommended schedule - hop offs to stay longer not permitted
Next bus DEPART LIMA: WEDNESDAY 2 JANUARY 2019
14 APRIL - 20 APRIL 2019 SEMANA SANTA
Easter weekend holidays. Hostel and tour prices increase during this period. We will not be able to assist you booking any accommodations during this period. Please book in advance.
RAINY SEASON 2019 BREAK
JANUARY - buses restart JANUARY and run for several weeks before closing for rainy season.
LAST BUS DEPARTING LIMA: TUESDAY 29 JANUARY (ARRIVE CUSCO: THU 31 JAN)
MUST follow the minimum recommended schedule - hop-offs to stay longer are not permitted
NEXT BUS DEPARTING LIMA: FRIDAY 01 MARCH
27, 28 & 29 JULY 2019 - INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS (PERU)
Biggest public holidays of the year. Hostel and tour prices increase during this period. MUST book accommodation in advance!
