Trying to decide on the easiest way to get around the main tourist attractions in Peru and Bolivia? Overwhelmed by all the options of bus terminals, routes, timings, scams and possible destinations that your head is spinning and you just want to give up entirely!?
About to give up and just buy a Peru Bus Tour which doesn’t really work for you but seems like less hassle?
Don’t worry – You are not alone!
I was the exact same, stressing for weeks about what was going to be the best option, but then I heard about Peru Hop / Bolivia Hop from another traveler and I was quickly put at ease! A quick look-over their website and I had all of my questions answered, my stress was relieved!
I booked right then and there and felt like I was immediately in safe hands! And now, after traveling around Peru I want to share my experience in a Peru Hop review so other travelers can find out about this unique option which might be suited to them!
In saying this – you want a more flexible route or not to follow the same path you could also try Bookaway – a travel search engine for ground transportation which enables travelers to find, compare and book tickets online easily. Boasting an outstanding user experience and a 24/7 support team that works closely with local suppliers, you can easily simplify the travel planning process in Peru and make travel ticket booking easy.
Huaraz. Paracas. Ica. Cusco. Arequipa. Nazca. Lima… You name it and Bookaway has a straightforward solution for you.
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Peru Hop is the first hop-on, hop -off bus service operating in between cities in Peru – starting in Lima and ending in Cuzco, or vice-versa! Bolivia Hop then runs a Hop-on, Hop-off route from Cusco to La Paz (or, again, vice versa).
Their passes are available in a variety of different combinations and they operate as one company so we booked La Paz all the way through to Lima and took every stop possible, making getting around Peru as easy as possible.
I’ll discuss this later and where to go in Peru, but you can find the Peru Bus route map just below this. Peru Hop Bus is different from every other bus company in Peru and Bolivia in that they are orientated specifically towards travelers.
Offering fast, convenient travel between major tourist destination with local onboard guides to help with anything and everything, and there are even local pick up’s and drop off’s at your accommodation to avoid the dodgy Bolivian bus stations. Or even worse – in Peru, most cities don’t have central stations and are completely spread out!
Trust me, this is a total nightmare to find even if you do speak Spanish…
Our Peru Hop Bus Route. Couldn’t have planned it any better myself (and I would have missed Paracas – a hidden gem! This route is called La Paz to Cusco to Lima and is recommended for those who want to do and see it all – sounds like me! Covered all the major places that come up when you think of where to go in Peru! You can check out all their other passes to find your perfect fit here.
For further reading to get your excited about these destinations and where to go in Peru check out these posts:
To help you decide if Peru Bus is right for you I have separated out our experience into some ‘loves’ and … well, ‘not so loves’. No service is ever perfect and of course, these are my own personal opinions from my experience but I am fairly confident they will apply to you too!
On the flip-side there a few things about Peru Hop / Bolivia Hop that we didn’t quite understand or like. In general none of these would have been a deal breaker for us before we booked but it’s important to note just so you know what to expect…And who knows, maybe Peru Hop will see this and take a few of my suggestions!
Overall considering the entire experience I can wholeheartedly recommend Peru Hop / Bolivia Hop. It was my favorite way to travel in South America by bus (or any other transportation for that matter!) and they really lived up to their motto of ‘safe, flexible and fun!’. If only they have more Hop on Hop off bus in South America right!
It offered me exactly what I wanted and then some – all the destinations I planned to visit, a new group of friends to explore with and a simple and convenient system of booking and travel that was safe, and actually worked.
In fact, all the discounts and Peru Hop exclusive deals were just a bonus and in our case, we saved around 40% of the passes value overall. I think the passes are on offer at an incredibly competitive price already especially considering the cost of taxies to and from bus stations and additional booking fees we always meet with public bus tickets (We just started calling it the ‘Gringo Tax’).
Having done a guided Peru Bus tour last year – which I found rushed and restrictive – and traveling independently on public buses both before and after Peru Hop I think this bus pass hits the ‘Goldilocks’ zone. You get freedom and flexibility but with friends, local knowledge and a safety net in case anything goes wrong.
You’re not going to get your bag stolen on these buses, make random stops on the highway at night, have strangers come into the bus while you are sleeping or have to deal with hectic bus stations where anything can happen if you’re not paying attention.
And this is something to me you can’t put a price on – safety and peace of mind. Of course, you can’t discount traveling with like-minded people who want to have a chat and a laugh and possibly a meal or excursion with you at your next stop. On the local bus all we ever got was a kick in the back of our seats and crying children!
The hop on hop off concept pioneered by Peru Hop is an amazing and well-executed idea for getting around Peru and Bolivia. Peru Hop is ideal for any type of traveler who wants to see and experience Peru with the best local knowledge, safe easy bus transfers and a new group of friends!
What do you think of the hop on hop off Peru bus idea? Would it meet your needs for traveling around Peru on an upcoming trip? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments below and feel free to take a closer look at Peru Hop and Bolivia Hop’s websites for more information.
Now you're all set and prepared to explore our big wide world, why not sort out everything else out all in one go? If necessary for your travel plans make sure you have brought proper travel insurance, protected your privacy by getting a secure VPN, compared all the top hotel booking sites to find just what you're after, reserved an unbeatable rental car price and - of course - booked the best flight deals!
Or maybe just forget it all and go for a last minute cruise or effortless tour instead?
Many budget travelers (including me) indulge in worldwide airport lounge access, so we can experience luxury while still slumming it in economy. Naturally, we would never leave home without a more a more general travel guide since we couldn’t possibly cover everything here!
Just add an adventurous attitude and plenty of smiles - they go a long way - and that about covers it all! Now go out, find your own path and don't forget to share your best inspiration stories with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram...I'd love to hear from you!