Peru - Overnight Bus to Lima

Sept 12 Machala to Lima by bus


In the morning we catch the cheap and completely hassle free international bus to Tumbes, Peru. We spend the afternoon in downtown Tumbles with our stuff in tow, and then catch our reserved night bus to Lima.

The internet café in town is interesting with small individual private boxed rooms, complete with peep holes into the next box.


Sept 13 Lima

We really enjoy the Cruz Del Sur night bus to Lima. The first floor has the drivers’ cab (for the two drivers), first class seating, two bathrooms, luggage, and engine. The second floor is second class from front to back with one bathroom. Service on the 19 hour ride includes dinner, breakfast, 5 movies, bingo, internet access, blanket, pillow, and seats which recline 45 degrees with foot rest.

De La Cruz night bus

We reserved the seats of death in the front, directly above the driver’s cab. The seats provide a video game like view of the road, and perhaps the highest chance of fatality in the case of a front end collision!

Sunset view from the seats of death

The Pan-American Norte follows the desert coast in the North of Peru. In several spots, the scenery looks like Mars, with absolutely nothing but mountains of rocks, dirt, and sand.

When we wake up in the morning, we are on the side of a sand mountain cliff above the ocean, again completely void of vegetation. The weather is unexpectedly cold, as the entire north coast of Peru is covered in fog. The scenery reminds me of Baja California, with all the vegetation removed. And just like Baja, all passengers and their luggage are search at a checkpoint, a few hours south of the border.

Peru north coast in the morning

Cut in the sand mountain for the road

Tide going out

After arriving in Lima, we taxi to the Miraflores area and stay at the Flying Dog Backpackers Hostel. The Miraflores area is upscale, almost like Europe; sidewalk cafes, manicured parks, bookstores, cafes, Starbucks, KFC, McDonalds, etc. It’s quite pleasant, but feels a bit odd, after driving through shanty neighborhoods, packed with people and trash. It´s cold in Lima!

Juggling fire at a stop light

Hostel room with high ceiling is really cold