Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bus
Local buses are slow and crowded but cheap. Ask locals for help, as there aren't any obvi-
ous bus lines in most towns.
A faster, more hair-raising alternative is to take
micros
or
combis,
sometimes called
colectivos
(though the term usually refers to taxis). Typically,
micros
and
combis
are
minibuses or minivans stuffed full of passengers. They can be identified by stickers along
the outside panels and destination placards in the front windows. You can flag one down
or get off anywhere on the route. A conductor usually leans out of the vehicle, shouting
out destinations. Once inside, you must quickly squeeze into any available seat, or be pre-
pared to stand. The conductor comes around to collect the fare, or you can pay when get-
ting off. Safety is not a high priority for
combi
drivers. The only place for a passenger to
safely buckle up is the front seat, but in the event of a head-on collision (not an unusual
occurrence), that's the last place you'd want to be.
Taxi
Taxis seem to be everywhere. Private cars that have a small taxi sticker in the windshield
aren't necessarily regulated. Safer, regulated taxis usually have a lit company number on
the roof and are reached by phone. These are more expensive than taxis flagged down on
the street, but are more reliable.
Always ask the fare in advance, as there are no meters. It's acceptable to haggle; try to
find out what the going rate is before taking a cab, especially for long trips. The standard
fare for short runs in most cities is around S5. Tipping is not the norm, unless you have
hired a driver for a long period or he has helped you with luggage or other lifting.
Hiring a private taxi for long-distance trips costs less than renting a car and takes care
of many of the problems outlined earlier. Not all taxi drivers will agree to drive long dis-
tances, but if one does, you should carefully check the driver's credentials and vehicle be-
fore hiring.
Train
The privatized rail system,
PeruRail
( 084-58-1414)
, has daily services between
Cuzco and Aguas Calientes, aka Machu Picchu Pueblo, and services between Cuzco and
Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca three times a week;
Click here
f
or details of both ser-
vices. Passenger services between Puno and Arequipa have been suspended indefinitely,
but will run as a charter for groups. Two other competing companies now also have ser-
vice between Cuzco and Aguas Calientes.
