Here is a walkthrough so you know exactly where to go and what to expect.
1. It is completely safe to book your ticket online or through an agency. If you choose to buy your ticket at the station that is okay too. Be advised that earlier departures may fill up.
2. Take a taxi to the Cruz Del Sur Station:
(The Lima station)
(The Ica station)
3. Go to the check-in to convert your online voucher to a real ticket with an assigned seat, or to purchase your ticket:
a
(Lima check-in)
(Ica check-in and baggage drop off)
4. Drop off your baggage at the baggage check. Lima has a separate area for this. Some smaller stations have the baggage drop off right where your redeem your online voucher or buy your ticket:
(Lima baggage drop off)
5. Ensure when you check your baggage that you keep your baggage ticket they give you, otherwise you may not be able to get your luggage back from them. At one point, I couldn’t find my baggage ticket and they said they couldn’t give me my luggage. I had to prove to them it was my bag by the address listed on my license and the address listed on my baggage tag.
6. Wait at the assigned gate about 5 minutes before your departure. Smaller stations only have one bus at a time coming in or one gate so you’ll know that it’s your bus. Additionally it says the destination in big letters.
7. They will check your passport and your ticket before your board
8. Some stations will check your baggage for weapons.
6. Wait at the assigned gate about 5 minutes before your departure. Smaller stations only have one bus at a time coming in or one gate so you’ll know that it’s your bus. Additionally it says the destination in big letters.
7. They will check your passport and your ticket before your board
8. Some stations will check your baggage for weapons.
9. V.I.P. is on the lower level, and the regular section is above
10. Check your ticket to see which seat you’re in. In this photo, you will see where it says the seat number, which in this case is number 07:
11. After your ride, you can wait outside the bus to get your bags or they will bring it into the station. Again, make sure you have your baggage ticket ready:
(People retrieving their bags after the bus ride)
END OF WALKTHOUGH
V.I.P vs Regular Seating
VIP has wider seats. They are covered in a leather-like material. There is more leg/foot space. The chairs recline much more further, so when your recline it all the way, you are almost laying straight. There are single seats available in VIP.
Both levels include t.v’s where they play movies or musical performances.
As you can see, regular seats don’t recline as much, are not as wide and have seats side by side. There are no single seats.
TIPS:
1. They say to arrive 1hour before departure, but don’t fret if you are late and arrive just 20 mins before.
2. Be aware the buses are often late. Remember when these buses pick you up, your pick-up point is also a stop-over from many other beginning locations. For example, if you’re at the bus station in Nazca, the bus may have started in Lima, stopped off in Paracas, then again in Ica and then at your point. When travelling for over 9 hours, you can’t expect the bus to be on time.
3. I would recommend VIP for longer journeys.
4. Take some food and water with you, especially when travelling to higher altitudes like Arequipa, Puno or Cusco. Take altitude tablets and coca leaves if you can buy some, because even though Cruz Del Sur normally offers coca tea, they did not offer any during my bus ride, so it’s better to be safe than in pain. Carbs and water help counter the symptoms of altitude sickness.
5. The washrooms can get nasty and sometimes it’s hard to keep the seat down with a covering of toilet paper on top, so use the washroom elsewhere before boarding or use the washroom at stop off points.
1. They say to arrive 1hour before departure, but don’t fret if you are late and arrive just 20 mins before.
2. Be aware the buses are often late. Remember when these buses pick you up, your pick-up point is also a stop-over from many other beginning locations. For example, if you’re at the bus station in Nazca, the bus may have started in Lima, stopped off in Paracas, then again in Ica and then at your point. When travelling for over 9 hours, you can’t expect the bus to be on time.
3. I would recommend VIP for longer journeys.
4. Take some food and water with you, especially when travelling to higher altitudes like Arequipa, Puno or Cusco. Take altitude tablets and coca leaves if you can buy some, because even though Cruz Del Sur normally offers coca tea, they did not offer any during my bus ride, so it’s better to be safe than in pain. Carbs and water help counter the symptoms of altitude sickness.
5. The washrooms can get nasty and sometimes it’s hard to keep the seat down with a covering of toilet paper on top, so use the washroom elsewhere before boarding or use the washroom at stop off points.
