What are the options for getting to Cusco from Ayacucho? I know the bus ride is dangerous and arduous,,,,,,,,can you stop and go......breaking it down into 4-5 hour segments? Are there flights? What would a private car cost????

Whatever, I feel like there is a lot of fear going on here. I have personally taken the bus (albeit from Cusco to Ayacucho, and not the other way around.) It isn't the worst thing in the world. It's a little arduous, but we aren't talking about hiking 1000km through Siberia in flip-flops here.

That said, yes, there are other options. If you're really worried about safety, or traveling with young ones or something, there are plenty of tours in Peru (that's a list) that will take you just about everywhere you could possibly want, and you won't have to worry so much about the problems of the bus breaking down, or getting your luggage lost, etc etc. So there is that option.

Short of that though, the biggest issue is the road itself. At least if you're on a bus you're driving with someone who does it every day, who knows the turns, who is familiar with it. Do you really want to be driving that SAME ROAD, yourself, in a little sedan, with a bus barreling down on you? There are STEEP ravines there, the roads are narrow, leave it to professionals. And I feel like cost would be prohibitive, if possible. Hiring a private car would be a terrible idea unless you actively LIKE that kind of adventure. You could fly, maybe, but it is so short, they'd probably make you fly out of Lima, in which case you have to get to Lima, etc.

There ARE different bus lines of differing quality. Get the most luxury, expensive one you can find, is my advice. But yes. The buses do break down frequently. It is a mess. It is cramped. Sometimes it is best to not look out the window, because then you'll see those steep drops 3 inches away and be terrified. The "toilets" at stops or wherever you can find them..... leave much to be desired, let's just say.

It is part of the charm. If you want safety and luxury, go for the tours. If not, take a bus ride that is a little longer than you might want. I remember them trying to change a TOUR BUS tire at 2am while we were all on it. On the side of the road. Those are big tires. Not an easy endeavor.

You could break it up. A lot of people recommend a stop in Andahuaylas, and this might be a good way for you to stop and recoup. It is right in the middle, and should be around 5 hours or so to get there.

Well, thank you........my plan is to get to Huancayo from Lima and sort of evaluate the weather and road conditions and take it from there. I thought it was 10 hours to Andahualas and another 10 to Cusco........anyhow, thanks for your confidence. I will take a bandana for a blindfold!