Iquitos to Lima to... La Paz or Cuzco?
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Jun 6, 2012 10:01 PM Last Post By: ban_janti_return
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Iquitos to Lima to... La Paz or Cuzco?
Heya,So I am planning on taking a boat from Leticia, CO to Iquitos Peru, then flying to Lima (because that seems to be the only way out of Iquitos other than another boat, unless you know otherwise). I don't want to spend any time in Lima, and I have a little bit more than a week before I'd like to be in Buenos Aires. I'm wondering what peoples thoughts/preferences are on
A) bussing to Cuzco and staying in that area for my time before flying to BA, or
B) bussing to Lake Titicaca and La Paz, spending the time around there, and then flying to BA.
I am looking to save as much money as possible, and get to BA by June 17th-19th ish.
What do you like/suggest? Is one bus route better (and/or cheaper) than the other? Thoughts as far as the sights to see?
Thanks!
2
If you have little money and some time to kill you should check some places around Lima like Huacachina, Arequipa would the furthers I would go.Both places from your interest are far away and getting there and back won't be cheap.
3
Hi there, after lots of price comparison, I found that the cheapest way from BA to Cusco was:- Flight BA - Santa Cruz
- Flight Santa Cruz - La Paz (with TAM, which is operated by the Bolivian military. Best and cheapest flight I had in South America. Book in a Bolivian Travel agencz) / a bus between those cities is even a bit cheaper, but you miss a lot of time and a fantastic view from the airplane
- Bus La Paz - Cusco (with 5h stopover in Copacabana / Lake Titikaka)
cheers
5
Zepp - Awesome! That looks like the perfect solution (best of both worlds). What bus company did you take from La Paz to Cusco? (I'm assuming it will be the same one in the opposite direction). And how long was that bus ride?6
#5 And how do you plan on getting to La Paz from Cuzco? It's not close by any mean and flights are expensive.If you prefer to travel trough Bolivia I would rather get to La Paz ASAP, it means flying to Juliaca (can be done for ~$80 with Star), doing Titicaca and continuing La Paz - BA. Still check the prices for flights from Santa Cruz, I don't remember them as being cheap.
La Paz-SC is around $80-90, bus is indeed cheap but it takes all day.
I have no idea what #3 means by bus with "5h stopover" in Copa, what is a point of that? Bus itself is more than 12h from my memory, rarely direct and rarely comfortable. Booking trip to Puno is better solution, from there you can catch direct and cheap bus to Copa.
5h stopover doesn't make any sense, you won't be able to see and do anything.
Edited by: ban_janti_return
7
6- I am thinking I am going to go through Bolivia. Thank you for the tip on Juliaca! Do you know much about which side (Peru or Bolivia) is better/cheaper to see Titicaca from?I don't mind a day long bus ride if it shaves off a good chunk of money.
Thank you for the info, it's helping quite a bit.
8
I suggest some flights, because it seems that you are not only tight on money, but also on time.In Bolivia buses are generally very cheap. There is no "better" side of Titicaca, Peruvian side is more developed and touristy, but offers you to see the floating islands, Puno is a horrible dump. Copa is much nicer as a city, boats are cheaper but also much inferior in standard. I would suggest to stay one day in Puno and continue to later on Copa.
10
$135 quickly pays off as Bolivia is the cheapest country of the continent. It's enough to stay 2 weeks to see the savings.But if you are looking to get to BA ASAP flying is the most reasonable option, otherwise long bus to either San Pedero de Atacama - transfer to Salta - continue to BA, or bus to Santiago, bus to Mendoza, bus to BA.
But you will spend more than $135 in Chile in matter of few days
