From Paracas we took a new hop-on, hop-off bus line to Lima called PeruHop. We were able to get a promotional introductory rate for the 5 hour journey which ended up picking us up from our hostel, and making one stop along the way at Hacienda San Jose. This ended up being a nice surprise/perk of traveling with them especially after a few sicks days and very little activity. It was great to feel like we made something of a day that was originally devoted to buses. It was a beautiful old plantation home that has been restored as a bed and breakfast/events location. We spent about an hour exploring the grounds, underground tunnels, and church before loading back up and continuing our journey.

We arrived in Lima around 9pm and head straight for the Cruz del Sur terminal to catch our overnight bus to Trujillo. We had already purchased our tickets on-line so we checked in and waited for our departure. I started to get nervous when our bus failed to appear on the list of departures for the evening and headed for the information desk. Turns out we were supposed to leave from the other Cruz del Sur terminal which was across town.  The clerk told me we wouldn’t make it with only 20 minutes till our departure and to move to the ticketing counter to change our tickets for tomorrow. Bummed out and wondering where we were going to sleep, I moved to the ticketing counter to find that we’d come into a bit of good fortune. Alas! There had been some sort of computer glitch when purchasing our tickets and even though we had paid for them, it had not reserved our seats. The Cruz del Sur managers were so apologetic and immediately escorted us to the VIP room and ordered us dinner while they sorted out the ticketing issue. Long story short – they upgraded our tickets to the nicest bus leaving the next morning. On top of that they felt so bad for the inconvenience that they allowed us to stay overnight in the VIP room and provided all of our meals for the next 12 hours. I felt like Tom Hanks in the Terminal being the only three at the bus station aside from the security guards. Anywho, we couldn’t have asked for a nicer turnout and better customer service. Cruz Del Sur is a bit more expensive than some of the other bus lines in Peru however the service is top notch.