This week was big for me. I finally left my beloved Ecuador and also took my first overnight bus in this crazy continent where buses are the best way to get around. But as it was my first epic bus voyage and I was back to traveling solo again, I decided to do it in style.
Guayaquil, Ecuador to Lima, Peru is a 30 hour bus ride, leaving at 2pm one day and, thanks to the horrendous Lima traffic arriving at 8pm the next. This route is popular for those of us about to embark on the ‘Gringo Trail’ through Peru, and as Cruz Del Sur is well known with travelers, the bus was filled with just that, travelers.
I booked my ticket online through the Cruz Del Sur website. There are two options available, regular and VIP. The regular seats costing USD$90 are located on the upper level on the bus. They offer 130 degree seat recline, meals and shared television screens, with 40 seats available.
The VIP option that I chose is located on the lower level and is limited to 12 seats, 4 x 2 couple seats and 4 singles. VIP seating also has the 130 degree recline, meals and toilet that serves just the 12 VIP people, but the seats are more plush and everyone has their own private television screen for USD$120.
There was no escaping the fact that I had to sit on a bus for 30 hours, but I absolutely did it in the most comfortable way possible. The Cruz Del Sur VIP seat was very comfortable and actually reclined the most I have ever seen a seat recline, so much so that I was able to sleep for a few hours during the night and intermittently during the day.
The seats reclined to a very impressive 130 degrees.
As there are multiple stops on the journey such as the border crossing into Peru and passengers getting on and off at Mancora and Tumbe I thankfully wasn’t seated for the entire trip.
We were lucky the border crossing at 10pm was quiet and only took about 45mins to get everyone through.
We also stopped at small towns along the way to collect each of the meals. Dinner, breakfast and lunch were included and whilst they were average at best, the food was better than I thought I’d receive on a bus. However I’m very happy I packed snacks, and lots of them. Now living a vegan lifestyle made the meals difficult for me eat, even having ordered the vegetarian option. Omlettes on rice, rice pudding custard and a sausage wrapped in pastry were all items served to me that I chose to avoid. Luckily I had snacks, both healthy fruit and guacamole, and not so healthy tostitos that were perfect to eat whilst watching movies, many of which were surprisingly in English.
Breakfast of a biscuit and buttered bread roll was less than nutritious….
So the journey I had been dreading for weeks turned out to be not too bad. Yes at the end I was desperate for a shower and my toothbrush, and I now want to burn my stinky clothes, but I would definitely travel with Cruz Del Sur again. Flying across South America is prohibitively expensive, and companies such as Cruz Del Sur make the backpacker life comfortable and save you hundreds of dollars.
Hi there,
In a month I wish to travel from Lima to Guayaqil, the opposite way to you. I’m a bit worried about the border between Peru and Equador as I was told it was very dangerous. In fact we were told to fly rather than bus across this border. What was your impression and would you deem it safe?
Thanks
Maggie
Hi Maggie,
I’ve done the crossing from Ecuador to Peru twice and you should have no problems as long as you stay with your group. There are two or three stops that the buses make as they head across the border. The town at the border crossing I was also told is not the safest, however as long as you remain in the waiting areas that you’re directed to with the rest of the passengers and don’t go walking through the town you shouldn’t have any problems at all.
I would definitely recommend taking Cruz Del Sur if you are nervous. The first time I went through on an inexpensive bus company and the crossing and stops took far longer. But there are so many backpackers who make the crossing everyday, especially on Cruz Del Sur you should have no trouble at all.
Good luck!
Hi Maggie! I was looking at getting a Santa Del Cruz bus from Guayaquil but was hoping to stop in Huarez instead of Lima. Do you know I’d this possible? Also I know you booked your tickets in advance but if I’m travelling in April, so not peak season would you say that would be nescesary? Thank you, first time travelling myself and trying to get everything sorted