Bus
The reliability of bus travel in the Peruvian Andes has improved greatly over the years.
Most long-term travellers get around this way.
- Cuzco > Tinqui bus (5-8 hours, US$3 one-way)
For the Ausangate hiker, the most important bus runs to the small village of Tinqui, the trailhead.
Our 2003 guidebook recommends that hikers (unless they have private transport) take the 10:30AM Transportes Oropes bus from Calle Thomasa Tito, behind the Coliseo Cerrado Arcopata in Cuzco.
But in May 2005 the only bus we could find was the very good Huayna Ausangate which is also supposed to depart Cuzco at 10:30 AM from the same general area. (We did not find an actual bus depot for them in Cuzco though there may be one somewhere.)
In the small town of Ocongate near Tinqui this seemingly helpful sign was posted for the company:
Unfortunately the actual bus schedule seemed to have no relationship with the posted schedule. The bus left Tinqui at around 9:30AM on Sunday, not 1:00PM as the sign indicates.
Oh well. That is Peru!
Double check bus details at South American Explorers in Cuzco when you get there though they may be no more exact than we are.
If you cannot get on the Huayna Ausangate bus for any reason, there are a couple of other buses companies which can get you to Ocongate where you can connect to Tinqui by truck or van. Ask in Cuzco for buses to Ocongate.
The best alternative to the bus is to hire a private vehicle in Cuzco — perhaps US$85 for your group, one way Cuzco to Tinqui. You could get an earlier start on the first day of your hike this way.
We considered this option but found the adventure tour companies less than helpful in directing us to private transport.
Bus Cuzco > Lima is very easy to organize. Fares start around US$20 one way for a modern vehicle.
The fare coming from Lima is the same, but many have hassles finding and getting to the correct bus station in the big city. You can end up cabbing from terminal to terminal in rush hour (as we did) if you are not careful.
Bus discounts may be available if you have a student card. Low season fare discounts can be very low.
Other easily arranged bus journeys for hikers include:
