Pisco Getting there & around

Getting there & around

Pisco is 6km west of the Panamericana, and only buses with Pisco as the final destination actually go to town. If you’re not on a direct bus, ask to be left at the San Clemente turnoff on the Panamericana, where fast and frequent colectivos wait to shuttle passenger to central Pisco’s Plaza de Armas (US$1, 10 minutes). In the reverse direction, colectivos for the San Clemente turnoff leave frequently from near Pisco’s central market. After dark, avoid the dangerous market area and take a taxi instead (US$1.50).

Soyuz, which has a ticket office (53 5526; Plaza de Armas, Juan de Dios 100) in central Pisco, usually runs the fastest buses along the Pan­americana. Near the plaza, Ormeño (53 2764) has six daily buses to Lima (US$5 to US$10, four hours), two of which go direct with the luxurious Royal Class and do not require a change of bus on the highway. It also has two daily buses to Ica (US$3 to US$4.50, 1½ to two hours) and Nazca (US$6 to US$12, four hours), plus two buses a day on the paved road to Arequipa (US$12 to US$18, 12 to 15 hours). It advertises daily buses to Ayacucho, Cuzco, Moquegua, Ilo and Tacna, but most of these do not go directly; you will most likely be put on a Lima-bound bus as far as the Pan­americana and have to wait there at a ‘terminal’ (a shack) for connecting buses.

A short taxi ride around town costs US$1. Combis to Paracas leave from near Pisco’s central market every half-hour from 6am until 6:30pm daily (US$0.60, 30 minutes). After dark, though, take a taxi to Paracas (US$3). Minibuses to Chincha leave from two blocks south of Plaza Belén (US$0.60, one hour).