Departamento de Puno Travel Forum

We are planning to do some hiking in the Cabanaconde area in early April and are considering trying to go to Lake Titicaca afterwards. I know buses go from Arequipa to Puno, but was wondering if anyone knew of an option that would keep us from having to backtrack to Arequipa. Thanks for your help.

Hello,

I am looking to go to Peru in April. We are thinking of flying NY to Juliaca and then catching a bus to Puno to see Lake Titicaca.
----I was wondering- how many days are recommended to stay in this area? How much time is needed to see some of the islands on Titicaca? Is the overnight stay on an island worthwhile etc...??

Then we were planning to head to Cusco to see Machu Pichu and the Sacred Valley. I wrote Peru Rail and they said that there is no longer a backpacker class train to Cusco. The Andean Explorer costs $143 for the one way trip. Can anyone else confirm that there is no longer a cheaper train ride to Cusco?

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Any other info on Peru would also be appreciated!

I need to take a bus from Puno to Arequipa on February 8. The Cruz del Sur bus company has told me that right now they do not have any buses scheduled for that day. I was told to contact Julsa SAC bus company, but their website does not work. Does anyone have email addresses for any bus companies in Puno that go to Arequipa?

Thanks
Bob

Hi there!

I really want to get to Puno for the festival of the Virgin of Candelaria on February 2nd but can anyone tell me what time the main procession takes place and if I were to miss it is there plenty of other events of this festival to see (and which days are best?)

Many thanks x

I've seen varied opinions on traveling to Puno via bus or train. The railroad portrays the $130 version as a great luxury tourist experience. Some say the $20 backpacker ticket is a rewarding journey. Some say the train is always delayed and rocks have been thrown through the windows. Some say the bus is faster, cheaper, just as scenic, just as comfortable. Others say the buses are rundown, smelly, motion sickness generators.

Does anyone have recent personal experience with these options, with specific company names or similar? Thanks.

Hi we ( 3 adults ) want to visit the Uros and Taquile Islands and do sport fishing
on the way. In the case we get a hit we want to stop of cause a little while until
we managed to get up the fish. What kind of fish is possible to catch?
Ideally it is only the three of us who will be in the boat.Does anybody know somebody with a little boat suitable for that?
Please tell us any suggestions.

Cheers, Frank

Hi Everyone,

I will travel to Lake Titicaca in late July. I am looking for a one-day tour of the lake? Any recommendations as to tour companies or prices? I am planning to book the tour once I arrive in Puno.

Thanks,

We will visit Puno in June. We will arrive Arequipa from Lima. Any one have information of overnight bus from Arequipa to Puno. We wish to stay overnight in one of the island and back to Puno in the evening of next day so that we can travel to Cusco by night bus or day bus. Any information aboout how to make a tour in Lake Titicaca and stay overnight. Any information about overnight bus to Cusco. Thanks a lot!

Dear all,

I am really looking forward to the idea of staying overnight with a local family tour on Amantani island.

I have read that many have done it through a travel agency/operator. However, I suspect that the family sees far less money if the stay is arranged that way.

I came across the following E-mail of the local community: pachatata_isla@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, the E-mail account does not exist anymore.

Can anybody help me on how to contact the local Amantani community and making sure most of the money is really benefiting them?

Regards,

Ignacio

I'm travelling to SA in Oct/Nov/DEc this yesr and would like to know what I will need by way of warm clothing ,shoes etc.I will be starting off Lima to Cusco then Cusco to Puno. Is it very cold at night will I need to bring a sleeping bag with me because for the rest of my trip arequipa, Tumbes, Quito, Panama city,Costa Rica I dont think I'll need one. I intend to bring a silk sleep bag only will this be enough?? Thanks for any replies

I'd like to take a boat or ferry from La Paz to Puno. The only services I find is an escorted "tours". Does anyone know if there are local boat companies that service this route. If so, do you know how long it takes? Thanks

Hello Everyone:
I am thinking about taking the Cuzco - Puno train that gets to Puno around
6-7PM. Then I need to make my way to La Paz to catch a flight to Buenos Aires:
I will really appreciate if I can get some info on items below:

1) After getting to Puno at 6:00PM, is there a way to get to copacabana, bolivia the same night. I need to meet up with a friend there that night. How long is the busride between puno and copacabana?
2) How long is the busride from copacabana to la paz.

I really appreciate any input.
Safe travels everyone.

Sinan (Istanbul)

Are there any good vegetarian restaurants in Lima? Thanks

Does anyone know how reliable the evening flights from Juliaca to Lima are? I saw a flight from Star Peru that leaves at 5:15 at night and wanted to know if this flight is known for being delayed or cancelled.
Thanks!

I arrive in Puno in late afternoon and need to get to La Paz (in about 3-4 days). I guess i need to know the best way of getting there, given i'm not in a huge rush. From other responses, Puno does not seem to be recommended as a place to stay. Is it best travel by land or by boat (as much as possible)? If by land, where are the best places to visit - any recommendations greatly appreciated!!

Have only 2 nights for Lake Titicaca and unsure of best way to use them. Am leaving early am from LaPaz and want to visist Isla del Sol, Uros and Taquile. Which one is the best for overnight stay? Would like to do both but need to be in Puno early morning of third day for bus to Cusco.

Do I depart LaPaz, visit & overnoght Isla del sol,bus to Puno from Cococabana, visit uros & Taquile & overnight Puno, then bus early am to Cuzco

OR

Do I depart LaPaz, visit Isla del sol & overnight Cococabana,bus to Puno uros & Taquile, overnight Taquile then bus early am to Cuzco

any comments would be welcome

thanks

Pls adv travel time from Copacana to Puno via bus.
What is cost? what is schedule?

Pls adv travel time from Copacana to Puno via car/taxi.
What is approx cost?

Thanks

I have a different but related question and this seems like a good thread. We are ultimately going from Puno to Quito and are planning to go either Puno to Copacabana on the first day, Copacabana to La Paz the second day, and leave for Quito the third morning, OR Puno to Arequipa the first day, spend the second day in Arequipa, and then Arequipa to Quito (via Lima) the third morning. The price is not so different so my question is what you recommend?

Thanks!
Erica

Hey ppl,

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I'm desperate for a flight from Juliaca to Cuzco on the 19th of April but for some reason LAN stop flying this route after the 31st of March.

Does anyone know any airlines or private charter services I could fly with?

Thanks in advance!

Steve.

Hi there,

We are leaving Machu Pichu on Thursday 9pm, and need to be in La Paz airport by 8am on Saturday.

We are getting a private driver to the Lake Titchiana region for $80 (3 of us sharing), and then we are spending a day there.

Where is the best place to hang out / experience the area for a day? In Puno, Or Cochabana? or somewhere else that you can recommend for a day? ... We then need to hear to La Paz from there - is there anything we should know that might be a problem? (e.g. border control, traffic, etc).

Tina xx

what is the popular activity done on New Years Day in Lima Peru?

I scoured the internet for hostels in Juliaca, but there only seems to be one (the Suites Don Carlos) listed for booking. Can anybody tell me of some cheap hostels there, and if possible, their email addresses or websites?

I have a few questions about visiting the islands of Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno.

1. What is the best rate I can get for the boat ride to these islands?
2. About how long is each boat ride?
3. Can, and should, the whole island tour be done in 1 day? (Are there boats going back to Puno from Isle Taquile in the evening?)
4. Is the overnight stay with a native family worth it?

I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

It's soooo hard to find internet resources on ACTUAL schedules listed by the bus companies in Peru. I'm going to Peru in July, planning to stay a couple days in Arequipa then take a bus to Puno to spend 2 days for the overnite Isle Tanquia trip. Then a late afternoon bus to Cuzco.
Since each of these 2 bus trips takes about 5-8 hrs, the ideal timing for it is a late afternoon department (4pm~) and arriving by midnite. Does anyone know if there's such bus schedule from Arequipa to Puno, and then Puno to Cuzco?
Thanks

Hi,

I know that a similar question has alread been posted, but I was wodering if buses run from Puno to Cusco on Sundays (I know the trains don't). If so, do they only run in the mornings?

Thanks!

Alex

Hi there everyone,
I wanted to know if anybody might have or know the bus schedule from Ayaviri to Cusco. When I lived there (about 4 years back) I know a bus came late at night at about 10 pm or so and it would arrive very early the next morning in Cusco. I was wondering if there was another bus that would leave early in the morning to be able to arrive by about noon in Cusco. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike

Hi would be grateful if anyone who's done this can advise what it's like & answer any/all of the following questions -

* It sounds like a fun thing to do - Is it very cold (in May) & can you hire a sleeping bag if don't have one?

* We arrive at Juliaca in the morning (on 6am flight from Lima) & have just 2 nights before we need to catch the coach to Cusco, so would like to go straight out to the islands, the day we arrive. Is it realistic to fit all this in - getting to Puno, then on a boat out to the islands?

* Most of the organised tours seem to leave early in the morning - has anyone caught a boat independently then caught up with a group (rather than doing the whole thing independently)?

* Is there a hotel you'd recommend in Puno (mid-range) where we could stay on the 2nd night before getting the bus to Cusco.

Thanks to anyone who can help with any of the above!

I've found flights going from Cuzco-Juliaca, but nothing in the opposition direction. I know the bus is an option but we're on a tight schedule and would prefer to fly. If anyone knows an airline that does this route, please me know. Thanks!

Hi there
Does anyone know if there is a ferry boat that goes from Puno to La Paz?
Or a ferry from Puno to Copacabana and then another to La Paz? I definitely don't want to go on one of those day trips that keeps coming up on the internet.
Any information would be gratefully received. Many thanks.

Hi all,

i would like to know if anyone could give us some info concerning accomodations in PUNO...i found some names at Lonely planet book. so, i`ve mailed them but didn`t receive any answer.
we need those with private bathroom...
please, does anyone can recommend us for some accomodations...also, please add their web site...or where i can contact them...

once again, thanks

marcelo.