Welcome to FlyerTalk cmlauer1210.
And also welcome david_33, in case you weren't given a welcome when you first joined FT. And thanks for the link to the Cruz Del Sur website.
I have been watching this thread for some time now, hoping someone would post a report on this trip, as I may be travelling by bus from Santiago to Lima ( with several stops along the way ) in early 2010.
So please post a trip report if you end up making this journey by bus.