Day 4 – Arequipa to Cusco

Lima to Cusco on bus There are a lot of ways to go to Cusco from Lima. One the best way, and most travelers do this, is to fly directly. But I decided to have a stop over at Huacachina on the way to Cusco. Peru Hop is the recommended bus service that picks you up from your hotel in Lima and has the following options to go to Cusco, Arequipa or Huacachina: Lima to Cusco – 3 days for $159. This stops at Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca lines, before going to Cusco via Arequipa and Juliaca (Puno). Lima to Huacachina and back – daily. This option takes you to Paracas and Huacachina, returning back to Lima the same day.

An overnight bus ride on Peru Hop bus brought us to Arequipa around 6am for dropping off and/or picking up passengers.

Another 20 minutes in to Arequipa and we were on our way for a 12 hour journey to Cuzco – first stop at a local store on the roadside for snacks and “breakfast”. Second stop was at Juliaca to drop off passengers going to Puno.

Last stop was a 45-minute lunch break at a restaurant in Pucara at around 1pm.

Want to do Lima-Huacachina-Lima in a day?
Having wanted to visit Huacachina, i took the 3-day bus from Lima to Cuzco, which was not a good idea. So if you are not heading to Arequipa or Puno from Lima, but want to do Huacachina and Paracas in a day, and eventually fly to Cusco (from Lima), then please do the following instead of the 3-day bus to Cusco:

• Leave Lima on Peru Hop at 6am.
• Stopover at Paracas & Ballestas Islands.
• Arrive at Huacachina at 2:30pm. Do Dune buggy and sandboarding tour at 4pm.
• Take the Peru Hop bus back to Lima starting at 7:30pm.
• Take the late night or next-day morning flight to Cusco.

After lunch, it was a straight ride to Cusco, reaching on time as 6pm, as promised. We finished our 3-day ride from Lima to Cusco at the Peru Hop offices from where taxis transferred us to our hotels, most of them were in old city where buses are not permitted because of the small alleyways and lanes.

After checking in to ‘Casa de Mama Cusco’ hotel, I headed out for dinner to this much-recommended restaurant called Green Point Cafe. Considered to be one of the best vegan restaurants in Cusco, it is a bit difficult to find, it being tucked inside a tiny alley.

Walk around the old town in the night for some amazing views and lots of locals selling fresh coffee/tea for PEN 1, which is great for a cold night.

Casa de Mama Cusco Value Location Cleanliness Rooms Service Breakfast included: Yes Wifi: Free, included in price. Wifi Coverage: Good network across the hotel. Airport Pickup: Yes. At a price. Towels provided: Yes Toiletries provided: Yes Address: Calle Atocsaycuchi 539 San Blas, Cusco, Peru Website: www.casademamacuscorecoleta.com Location Located on a slight hilltop, yet in the heart of old town Cusco, Casa de Mama should be your place to stay. This cozy, homely boutique hotel can be hard to find with no name-board outside the hotel, but you will have a wonderful experience with the ever-friendly staff and great rooms. Rooms & Bathrooms Named after zodiac signs, each room has a cozy, comfortable double bed with a tiny window overlooking the main street. Blankets are provided during the cold winters, but the rooms lack proper heating. The tiny floor-heater won’t give any heat, but you won’t feel the lack of heater when you’re tucked in the double-layered blankets. Bathroom was clean and had towels and napkins provided. Services The reception staff was very friendly and helpful who graciously walked us to the main square from the hotel. The hostel also has its own cafeteria at the top floor that serves breakfast. Breakfast is included in the price of the room. Overall With every other building serving as a hotel, this is a good value for money, with great views and delicious breakfast.

Cusco in July Located at about 3,500 meters above sea level, temperatures usually dip to 5C-10C (40F-50F) during the July month. And if you’re not acclimated to the altitude, it gets difficult to maneuver around the “slopey” roads of Cusco. Make sure to carry a warm jacket and some woolen gloves. Having anti-altitude-sickness pills like Dramamine helps.

Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate of USD 1 = PEN 3.30 at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult.