CRUZ DEL SUR – 2025 MUST KNOW INFORMATION

Cruz del Sur used to be popular with travelers to Peru, but recent incidents have shown a huge fall from grace for the bus company.

A quick scroll through their Tripadvisor page will show hundreds of complaints, with many travelers opting to use the Peru Hop bus instead to get around Peru.

I am lucky enough to have travelled to Peru on 2 occassions, in 2012 and now again in 2025, and bus travel around Peru has changed a lot since then, especially since the inception of the Peru Hop bus (more on that later)

5 reasons to AVOID using Cruz del Sur in 2025:

1 – Many Customer Service Issues: I myself had issues when they lost my bag and didn’t help me at all, but a quick look at their Tripadvisor page shows an overall score of just 3.5 from 1,000+ reviews. Recent reviews in 2025 are full of similar issues to mine

2 – Safety Record: Accidents can happen to any transport company any time (just look at the recent airline crashes) but a quick google of “Cruz del Sur Accident” shows they are becoming more frequent

3 – Time Wasted at Bus Terminal: They tell you to be 1 hour before bus departure and only allow you 20kg luggage

4 – They are often behind schedule: A common complaint in the reviews are the buses arriving much later than planned. They also often make stops at other places along the way to get more people on board (they do not advertise these stops when you are buying your ticket)

5 – Zero Help: Buses can breakdown, or sometimes there are strikes in Peru. Cruz del Sur have basically no onboard assistance in English, and often just cancel their buses putting a notice on social media.

What alternatives are there to Cruz del Sur in Peru:

Peru Hop – https://www.peruhop.com/

I was so impressed by Peru Hop for so many reasons. The customer service team were amazing before I travelled, the onboard hosts just incredible with insights and stories about Peru, and the fact that they stopped at hidden gems that I missed in 2012 was the icing on the cake. I also found it a great way to meet other travelers too

Civa – https://www.civa.com.pe/

After my issues with Cruz del Sur, I tried Civa from Lima to Huaraz and was impressed by them. Although they have also had their problems in the past, I think they are a good option for those traveling to the North of Peru.

Movil Bus – https://www.movilbus.pe/

Another noteworthy alternative to Civa is Movil Bus. A friend of mine has tried both options and didn’t notice much of a difference in comfort, price or being on time. Whether you go with Movil Bus or Civa in the North of Peru you are in good hands.

Comparing Peru Hop to Public Buses like Cruz del Sur and Civa

For me, there is simply no comparison…Peru Hop is an incredible experience, whereas public buses are just A to B travel.

I remember going to the Secret Slave Tunnels in Chincha (a simply mindblowing experience) and thinking “how would I have ever gotten here without Peru Hop)

The onboard hosts were incredible. Not only are they super friendly and helpful, but they told me stories about Peru and its culture that I never knew, despite this being my 2nd trip to the country.

The buses were clean and comfortable, and I felt extremely safe at all times. A big part of that was also traveling with like-minded travelers…it felt like a community was formed onboard the bus.

I also appreciated the hotel pickup and drop off, and the app which allowed me to change my bus dates and times whenever I wanted. The hop on hop off aspect made everything super flexible and easy.

Finally, when I added up all the prices of buses, taxis, and the free tours included in Peru Hop, I thought the value for money was incredible.

Below is a chart I copied from the Peru Hop website, and it’s a great way to compare both options easily

Summary:

Cruz del Sur is no longer the best way to travel around Peru given the many bad reviews and safety incidents
If traveling the South of Peru (between Lima and Cusco), Peru Hop is 100% the best bus company to travel with
If going to the North of Peru, Civa or Movil bus are probably your best options