Risk is always a factor for travelers; however, calculated risks are generally the best bet when deciding how to get from
Santiago to Cusco. Knowing the road conditions are a good idea before making your decisions, but mostly, the roads used by any bus from Santiago Chile to Cusco are the best options available. One of the most recommendable bus operators for this trip is Cruz del Sur. Travelers can book travel on their website (
www.cruzdelsur.com) or at the station itself, upon arrival.
The trip from Santiago to
Cusco is quite a long distance, so breaking up the stretch with stopovers and and sightseeing breaks is an excellent way to really get the best out of it. Cusco to Arequipa is about 12 hours. From there, a bus change will generally take place, and from Arequipa to Tacna is 10 hours. In Tacna, travelers alight from the bus and cross the border into Arica, Peru, where there can be found another bus that will complete the stretch to Santiago, at 30 hours, which is most definitely a trip that would be wisely distributed at shorter intervals.