How Does Public Transport Work in Peru?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Americas
1The Quick Answer
Lima has the Metropolitano BRT and Uber/InDriver for safer city travel, while intercity travel relies on reputable bus companies and pre-booked trains to Machu Picchu.
2What You Need to Know
In Lima, the Metropolitano BRT and Metro Line 1 are the safest and cheapest options for getting around; Uber, InDriver, and Cabify are strongly preferred over street taxis. For intercity travel, Cruz del Sur and Oltursa operate reliable, comfortable overnight buses between major cities. Trains to Machu Picchu (Peru Rail and Inca Rail) are the only motorised access to the site and must be booked weeks or months in advance, especially for high season. Domestic flights with LATAM, Sky Airline, and Viva Air cover long distances quickly but book early for best fares.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Book Machu Picchu train tickets on Peru Rail or Inca Rail as far in advance as possible — they sell out months ahead in peak season (June–August).
- 2Use the Metropolitano BRT in Lima with a prepaid card (tarjeta) for cheap, fast travel avoiding traffic; buy the card at any terminal.
- 3For overnight intercity buses, pay for the 'cama' (full flat bed) class on Cruz del Sur — the price difference is small and the safety and comfort improvement is significant.
Important Warning
Never board unofficial minibuses (combis) in Lima as a tourist — pickpocketing and robbery are common on these routes.
How does this compare?
Public Transport rules in nearby and similar countries:
Mexico City Metro costs around 5 pesos; use Uber instead of street taxis for safety, and colectivos for inter-town travel.
Uber and local app 99 are the safest and most practical options for tourists; São Paulo and Rio have metro systems, while city buses are cheap but difficult to navigate.
Each major city has its own transit system and card — Toronto uses PRESTO, Vancouver uses Compass, and Montreal uses STM cards.
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More About Peru
Tip around 10% at tourist restaurants and tip guides generously (50–100 PEN per day), but always check whether service is already included on your bill.
Updated 2025-06
Lima has good private clinics, but outside the capital medical facilities are limited and altitude sickness is a serious risk at Cusco (3,400 m) and Lake Titicaca (3,800 m).
Updated 2025-06
Drug laws are extremely strict — cocaine possession carries severe penalties — and Machu Picchu has rigorous rules including no drones and mandatory time-slot entry.
Updated 2025-06
Call 105 for police, 117 for ambulance, 116 for fire, and the free iPeru tourist helpline on 0800-11-0000 for tourist-specific assistance.
Updated 2025-06
Dress modestly at churches, pack warm layers for the highlands where temperatures swing dramatically, and bring rain gear for jungle and wet-season travel.
Updated 2025-06
The legal drinking age is 18, pisco is the beloved national spirit, and traditional drinks like chicha de jora and chicha morada are an important part of Andean culture.
Updated 2025-06
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