Planning Your Time
Print
Email
Save to Favorites
Trip Ideas
View This Map
--- Click to Enlarge ---
Most travelers arrive to Huancayo via bus from Lima, a comfortable six-hour journey on 300 kilometers of paved roads. The Lima–Huancayo railroad, billed as the second highest train in the world, is once again running, though its schedule is much reduced and sporadic.
After visiting Huancayo, most travelers return to Lima, but a growing number continue to Ayacucho (8–10 hours), to Andahuaylas (10 hours), and then Abancay and Cusco (10 hours). This is a fascinating bus journey well off the Gringo Trail and on steadily improving roads. If traveled by day, it is completely safe.
The most interesting town in the central highlands—in the whole of Peru’s Andes—is Ayacucho, but for those short on time, it does not make sense to spend 20 hours on a bus to Cusco. Right now the quickest way on is to return to Lima and fly to Cusco, but watch for Ayacucho–Cusco flights in the future.
Plan on spending at least three days in Ayacucho.
© Ross Wehner and Renée del Gaudio from Moon Peru, 3rd Edition
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.