Peruvian buses.....

I hate the bus.  Being incredible susceptible to motion sickness and almost never able to fall asleep anywhere but in bed – makes overnight buses in Peru hellish for me!!  I’ve improved somewhat but still have horrible experiences at times; like coming back from Trijillo!  I usually take triple precaution against motion sickness (Dramamine, wrist bands, and a prescription patch) ridiculous I know, however, between the three I survive.  Who knows what really works, I usually just figure between all of them one method has to work, right? 

Returning to Huaraz from Trijillo, I choose, for whatever reason, to only use two means – and yeah paid the price!  Being exhausted, sick, and unable to fall asleep, or get comfortable, made the 10 hour trip seem like an eternity!  However, as much as a detest night buses (the only option to Trijillo from Huaraz) I am always glad it’s dark and you really can’t see outside – the roads are insane!  You are climbing the Andes to over 10,000 feet and I can only imagine the drop-offs….The whole ride feels more like a virtual reality game than a bus ride; you are constantly being thrown from one side of the bus to the other as you climb the switchbacks.  Even with my seat belt on I kept feeling like I was going to fall out of my seat!  (which can make sleeping a little hard). 

One of my favorite things about the bus system here, is the seat selection process.  When you book the ticket they allow you to pick the specific seat you want; a computer screen is pulled up displaying all the seat options – including all the seats that are booked and the age, sex, and nationality of the person who booked that seat….Each time I have booked my ticket its been only a couple hours before the departure time and there are always a number of empty seats.  Thus, I always pick a window seat with no one next to me.  However, showing up on the selection screen as 24 year old, American female, traveling alone means I always get a creepy Peruvian next to me – even though there are dozens of other seats open!  Luckily, so far, I’ve been able to move to a different spot on the bus and have two seats to myself; though I always receive a very disappointed look from the Peruvian who I was supposed to sit next to….

To be completely honest though, the bus system here impresses me.  Peruvian buses are nice….Greyhounds in the United States really don’t even start to compare!  For all the routes, between major cities, there are numerous bus companies operating and each company has a wide range of levels to choose from.  In the past, I’ve taken the middle class and have been pleasantly surprised… better service than flying; superior food and more attentive bus attendants (there is even a safety video), not to mention way more comfortable seats; they recline almost horizontally.  Oh not to mention, they are reliable; I have yet to depart late, something that is impossible to say about air travel nowadays!

This last trip to Trijillo, I went ‘budget’ and choose the cheapest class.  I was a little afraid it might be like a ‘chicken bus,’ however, once again I was pleasantly surprised; a brand new bus with comfortable seats and a movie to watch, not too bad for being the cheapest option!  I also really love the different titles they give to the higher classes; cama sofa, cama cama, and super cama. (sofa bed, bed bed, and super bed!)  I can only imagine what ‘super bed’ must be like!  Overall, I must say I am impressed; if buses in the States were even nearly as nice and inexpensive I would definitely be tempted to drive less and ‘bus it’ instead!