Bolivia Hop – Backpacker transport from Peru to Bolivia
The younger, smaller brother of the well-established Peru Hop, Bolivia Hop provides a hop-on, hop-off coach service from Cusco, Peru to La Paz, Bolivia. It’s a fantastic new extension to the Peru Hop service travelling between Lima and Cusco, filling a much-needed gap in the market for backpacker-friendly transport from Peru to Bolivia, complete with two visits to Lake Titicaca, help crossing the border and warm duvet-style blankets. Like its big brother, each Bolivia Hop coach has a local guide on each side of the border who can offer advice, help and information throughout your journey. The route takes a minimum of 2 days and 1 night, with the option to hop-off in Copacabana on the Bolivian shores of Lake Titicaca.
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Cusco, La Paz / La Paz, Copacabana and Lake Titicaca.
Price – $70US / 199 Soles (Peruvian)
Address and Bookings – email: [email protected] / Tel: 73233617 / 132 Meson La Estrella, Cusco, Peru
Languages – English and Spanish
Here’s how it went…
Approximate Itinerary (Mon, Wed, Fri)
Day 1: Cusco to Puno
22:00 – Pick up from your hostel and jump on the coach.
23:00 – 06:00 – Overnight bus to Puno – on board movies available.
Day 2: Puno to Copacabana to La Paz
06:00 – Breakfast in Puno
06:30 – Tour of the floating islands – Islas de los Uros with a local guide.
08:30 – Bus to Peru / Bolivia border.
11:00 – 12:00 – Cross the border – Local guide offers help and avoids any scams!
13:00 – Bus to Copacabana
14:00 – Boat trip to Isla del Sol, a 1 hour hike and free beer on the boat back to Copacabana! (Option to hop-off and stay in Copacabana or on Isla del Sol, then hop-on the next bus in a couple of days.)
18:30 – Bus to La Paz – Arrive in La Paz about 22:30.
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Cusco.
Here’s what we thought about it…
Two Monkeys 5 Point Rating (5 = Awesome! / 1 = Far from awesome)
Value for Money – At only $70US for overnight transport (with duvets and movies!), two tours of Lake Titicaca with an island trek, flexibility, a local guide and border-crossing assistance, we think this is a pretty good deal!
Score – 5/5
Quality of Equipment – The bus was comfortable and in good condition, with a toilet, TV / DVD and warm duvet blankets. The driver didn’t leave you hanging onto your seat like some of the local buses; the journey was largely smooth and easy to sleep through. If, like we had, you’ve just finished Peru Hop, then you might find the Bolivia Hop bus a little bit of a downgrade, but that’s more of a reflection of the differences between Peru and Bolivia themselves!
Score – 4/5
Organization and Safety – Everything ran as smoothly as can be expected on a bus journey. Of course no one can control traffic conditions and extreme changes in weather, so we were delayed for 2 hours at the ferry crossing of the Tiquina Strait in Bolivia due to high winds and rough waters. But what’s most important is that safety took precedent over time keeping, which you rarely get with local buses!
Score – 5/5
Guides – Our guides took care of everything from start to finish, we were given all the information we needed and they kept things moving. We were especially impressed with our Bolivian guide, Juan, who was great throughout the journey and particularly when some of the less patient passengers got agitated because they couldn’t deal with the simple delays that are to be expected when travelling through foreign countries. Excellent guy and a pleasure to travel with!
Score – 5/5
Overall Experience – Simply due to the value for money being offered with the included tours, on board guides and flexibility, we found Bolivia Hop to be a very good experience with a good group of people and good social atmosphere. It’s still a young company, but it’s sure to catch up with the overall quality of Peru Hop pretty quickly. Overall, we recommend Bolivia Hop as a fun, flexible and interesting journey from Peru to Bolivia!
Score – 5/5
Related Article: Are you looking for cheap hostels in Peru and Bolivia? Check out our list, here!
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I’m not sure when will I be able to go to that part of the world myself but ever I make the same tour and I have to go from Peru to Bolivia I’d consider taking Bolivia Hop.
That’s great, Marge. Bolivia Hop would be the best choice to travel from Peru to Bolivia. 🙂
ooh great recap! i’ve never tried backpacking but this makes it sound doable!
Sher
Try it, Sher! You will love it. Might as well try the Bolivia Hop to backcpack from Peru to Bolivia.
Awesome tips – I’m planning to do a long South America trip one day but hadn’t yet looked into transport. I’ll be checking this out when I do! Pinned for future reference.
Thank you, Claire. That would be awesome! Let us know when will you do your South America backpacking and if you’ll be using Bolivia Hop. 🙂
I LOVED Cusco and it’s so good to hear there’s a bus straight from Cusco to La Paz, that was never happening when I was there in 2009. Thanks for info 🙂
Then you should go back, Crystal, and try the Bolivia Hop. 🙂
Amazing photos! I’m hoping to do this trip next year. I’ll have to keep this in mind. Great post!
Thank you, Nathan, Excited for your trip next year. Let us know here if you’ll be using Bolivia Hop. 🙂
Interesting! I preferred to spend one week chilling out in Copagacaba instead but good to know there are shuch options
Cool, Elisa. 🙂 Where are you chilling out now then? When do you plan to take the Bolivia Hop?
I didn’t know about these Hops in South American. Would also be very interested in the Peru Hop!
It would be, Carol! 🙂 Are you planning to go South America and try the Bolivia Hop?
Loved it! Love the colours of South America too. Really pleased that safety takes priority over anything else. Something which is usually the first to be forgotten.
Safety should really be the top priority, Kerri. That is rest assured in Bolivia Hop. 🙂
I love the way you explain your ratings, its very detailed. I never realized that buses especially on such an economical tour could be so plush! Great info for those traveling to Peru and Bolivia. Loved your photo’s too.
Thank you, Nancy. That’s why Bolivia Hop is really for backpacking. Have you been to Peru or to Bolivia?
This is super helpful! My friend is going to be in this part of the world soon so I’ll share this with her.
Happy travels 🙂
Awesome, Carmen! Exciting times ahead for your friend. 🙂 Hope she will try the Bolivia Hop.
I always enjoy the hop on hop off experiences in bigger cities. It’s a good way to get my bearings and then go to places that l enjoyed. I did it in Istanbul and London as well as a few others. It’s a great way to discover places. I think l would love the Bolivia Hop 🙂
You would love it, Kemkem. 🙂 Whenever you’re planning to do the Bolivia Hop, let us know here and would love to read your experience.
This is an inspiring post. Your photos are stunning and the level of detail about your adventure is excellent! Thanks so much for showing me a place worth visiting on the globe!
Thank you, Jam and Tea. You will be exploring this part of the world too. #dreamsdocometrue. Yay! The Bolivia Hop experience is worth to share in details. 🙂
I always wanted to travel the latin America and your article is so inspiring!
Go for it, Helena. 🙂 Backpacking from Peru to Bolivia would be fun thru Bolivia Hop.
I would love to explore Latin America one day and this deal sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing it with us!
It is, Ana! Go and explore! Don’t missed to try the Bolivia Hop. 🙂
This sounds like a very good deal. I love travelling but sometimes money is a big issue. Therefore, I really appreciate deals like that. If I ever have the chance o visit I will give it a try, absolutely worth it.
Certainly worth it, Kalliopi. Bolivia Hop would be a good deal as it’s mainly routing for backpackers’ budget.
This makes me want to go immediately! Thanks for the great review 🙂
Katrine, this is the time to go! Haha. Try the Bolivia Hop and keep us posted here what you think about it. 😉
Wow,photographs look amazing of Peru. The colours of that man’s costume are so gorgeous. A hop on/hop off coach service sound like a fab idea.
Bolivia Hop is nothing but a fabulous experience, Kathryn. 🙂
Latin America is really on top of my bucket list. Wish I can go there asap. 🙂
Go then, Franco. 😉 Backpacking Peru to Bolivia thru Bolivia Hop would be fun for you. 🙂
What a dreamy trip! Inca ruins looks amazing! I bet this must be a tiring but fulfilling trip!
You can also do this dream trip, Kevin. Try the Bolivia Hop and make a fulfilling journey! 🙂
Wow, This is a very detailed description of what to expect during your stay. $70 is a great price. I love duvets too.
It’s a great deal with Bolivia Hop, Lallahland. Will you do the same backpacking? 🙂
Fantastic! Traveling to Machu Picchu in May, considering this adventure now thanks to you monkeys! 😉
Cheers, Salud & Jolly Journeys!
-B