What's the best way to get from La Paz, Bolivia to Cuzco, Peru?

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Chris S

get a bus from la paz to copacabana (still bolivia) to puno (peru) then onto cusco.

no visa needed, just need to get you passport stamped at the border.

Traveling by bus lets you see the country much better than by plane

adrian

Yes, planes are expensive, US$100 or more for flights with AeroSur. There are no trains.
I took this route 3 weeks ago by bus, and itÂ´s quite cheap.

From La Paz to Copacabana, youÂ´ll pay around 30 Bolivianos (US$5). Look out for Milton Coaches from La Paz, they are a common carrier (the bus you book may not be the bus you book). DonÂ´t be surprised when you stop at Strait Taquina, where you will disembark to cross this strait on a small boat (separate from the bus which passes the body of water on a barge). The crossing costs 1.50Bs (US$0.20). You can leave your bags on the bus.

DonÂ´t pass through Copacabana too quickly, there is much to see here, including Isla Del Sol, 1.5hrs away by boat (20Bs each way for the ferry).

From Copacabana to Puno costs 30Bs, Puno to Cusco costs 15 Soles (different currency, youÂ´re in Peru now). Reputable companies include Dorado and Tour Peru.

La Paz to Cusco Â¨directÂ¨ will cost you around US$35. But remember, there is no such thing as a direct trip. You may still take 4 different bus companies to Cusco, soon enough your initial ticket will be changed for 3 others. This is just how it works when agencies sell tickets and service providers provide services and sell tickets! It can get a bit messy.

Between La Paz and Cuzco youÂ´re looking at a total of 16 hours bus travel.

Visas are a consideration within each country. If you overstay on your visa allowance youÂ´ll be required to pay 16Bs for each day you stayed more than you were Â¨welcomeÂ¨. A find hurts less than the alternative, staying legal in a land where business process is non-existant!

Check embassy websites for visa durations etc! All the best.

yellowstone

Aerosur flies to Cuzco. Recently I saw an ad in La Paz quoting a flight for $219. There are a number of good bus companies that have comfortable buses. They take 11-14 hours including border crossings. Some go through Desaguaderos (a bit quicker but not interesting) and others go through Copacabana (worth visiting but there is a somewhat scary ferry ride involved). The ritziest buses will cost you around $50 but you can probably do it for as little as $40. If you are an EU resident or North American you can get your visa at the border. If you are not, check the Peruvian embassy website.

nyc2fla0127

I'd imagine flying. I've never driven it myself, but that's an option. If you're on vacation though, you may not have a car. You probably wouldn't want to run up the miles on a rent a car either. I'm sure there are highways that can bring you from one place to the next though.

http://www.seat61.com/SouthAmerica.htm

Maybe this can help. It's look like their version of our Am Track. This will probably cost similar to a flight.

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