Details:
- Full Name: Expreso Cial S.A.C
- Coverage: Mainly coastal, with some inland services including Cusco
- Website: www.expresocial.com
Brief History:
Expreso Cial was founded in 1993 by the Ciccia brothers, descendents of Italian immigrants who had moved to Peru 70 years previously. The company began as a cargo and passenger service, slowly growing to encompass many of Peru’s major cities.
Domestic Coverage:
Cial serves major destinations in all the coastal regions of Peru, from Tacna in the south through to the central hub of Lima and on to Tumbes in the far north. From the north coast of Peru, the only inland department served is Cajamarca. Further south, Cial passes through Arequipa and heads inland to the departments of Apurimac and Cusco.
International Coverage:
Cial does not offer any scheduled services to international destinations.
Comfort and Bus Classes:
Cial has two bus classes in its fleet, the Oceanic and the Atlantic. There isn’t much to separate the two -- both have two levels with 9 to 12 fully-reclining sofá cama (sofa bed) seats on the more expensive first level and 55 to 53 semi-reclining semi cama (half bed) seats on the top deck. Both bus types have air conditioning, onboard meals and bathroom. The similarity between the two classes is reflected in the ticket prices, which tend to be the same for both the Atlantic and Oceanic. There is also the Oceanic 44, a more basic bus with significantly cheaper seats.
Cial is a midrange company, so don’t expect the service, comfort or reliability of top-end companies such as Cruz del Sur or Ormeño. It’s not a bad option -- and the coverage is good -- but it’s worth paying a little more for one of the top-enders (or even another midrange company like Movil Tours), especially for longer trips.
Sample Prices:
- Lima to Cusco -- Oceanic: US$42 (S/.110) on the second floor; US$57 (S/.150) on the first floor
- Lima to Piura -- Oceanic and Atlantic: US$46 (S/.120) on the second floor, US$57 (S/.150) on the first floor; Oceanic 44: US$34 (S/.90)
