The world's longest regularly scheduled bus route, spanning 4,000 miles from Lima, Peru to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, takes over 100 hours—roughly six days—and has earned a notorious reputation among travellers. Operated weekly by a Brazilian company, the Transoceánica service uses the Trans-Oceanic Highway to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, passing through coastal cities, savannas, wetlands, rainforests, and the Andes Mountains.
The bus departs Thursdays at 1pm, offering 44 regular seats and 12 sleeping berths, along with a toilet, sink, water dispenser, and Wi-Fi. However, there are no showers; passengers wash during three daily stops at roadside stations. Two alternating drivers handle the journey, with one resting in a sleeping cabin. Ticket prices are approximately R$1,300 (around £186).
Scenery includes the Amazon Basin, Andes Mountains, Christ the Redeemer, and Machu Picchu. The route passes through São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rondônia, and Acre before crossing into Peru, traversing the Peruvian Amazon and the Andes to reach Lima.
Despite the sights, passengers have found the trip gruelling. YouTuber Noel Phillips called it 'absolute hell', citing a lack of personal space and noise from multiple devices playing audio at full volume. He also faced delays and a lack of heating. 'Nobody has headphones; everyone just plays everything on full blast,' he said, describing the cacophony as phones competing at high decibels.
