4 Ways to Get from Cusco to Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is most well-known for being the highest navigable lake in the world, which is a slightly fancy way of saying that it’s the highest altitude lake that you can sail a decent sized boat on. It sits right on the border between Peru and Bolivia, so to explore the whole lake you will need to cross from one country to the other, but for the purposes of this guide, since you’re coming from Cusco, I’m going to tell you how to get to Puno which is the main town on the Peruvian side of the lake.
Travelling from Cusco to Lake Titicaca along this route is common for backpackers, and its exactly what I did when I was travelling in Peru last year. I travelled from Cusco to Puno by bus, but you’ll bet I did my research before I got going so I have a lot to tell you about other ways to get from Cusco to Lake Titicaca!
I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t like Puno much. I got a drab vibe from the city and I think I chose a bad hostel, too, so basically as soon as I arrived I booked a ticket to the Bolivian side the next day. My friends have since told me that Puno has good backpacker vibes and a decent nightlife if you stay on one of the right streets (which evidently I did not).
Whether you decide to stay there or not, it makes sense to stay for at least one night in Puno, because getting to anywhere else on Lake Titicaca involves travelling even further.
So, here are four ways to get from Cusco to Puno.
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Contents
- Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca by Bus
- Taking the Train from Cusco to Lake Titicaca
- Flying from Cusco to Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca
- Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca by Private Transfer
- Frequently Asked Questions About Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca
- Conclusion
🇵🇪 Read more: Where to Stay in Cusco
Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca by Bus
Taking the bus from Cusco to Puno is the most popular way to make this journey, and for good reason. The route offers truly amazing views of the Andean landscape, and it’s the most cost-effective route, too. Several bus companies run this route, but Cruz del Sur is the biggest and most popular company to travel with.
This is how I travelled from Cusco to Lake Titicaca, and I can tell you that the views do not disappoint! The only thing that did disappoint was my desire to take photos, because I’d just finished the Salkantay Trek and basically just wanted to sleep the whole way.
🚌 I booked my bus with: BusBud
The bus journey from Cusco to Puno takes about 7 hours, and you can take this bus either during the day or overnight. Of course, if you want to see the sights then you’ll need to travel during the day; overnight you won’t be able to see anything out of the window and you’ll be sleeping anyway!
Most buses, both day and night, go from Cusco’s Terminal Terrestre, and tickets cost between 50-120 soles (15-35 USD) depending on the company, the schedule you choose and the seat class (have you heard me talking about first class bus seats? O-m-g get ready for me to bore you to death with reasons why you should take first class busses in South America!). I’d recommend booking a day in advance, especially if you’re there during peak season, because this route gets quite busy.
Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca by Train
Ok, so this is by far the most luxurious way to travel from Cusco to Lake Titicaca. It’s called the PeruRail Titicaca Train, and I would have loved to experience this (trains in South America are very rare, but the ones that do exist are supposedly spectacular) but, unfortunately, it was far beyond my budget. Tickets start at about 980 soles ($290 USD) for a one-way journey, although they do include a gourmet lunch and afternoon tea.
The train just goes three times per week, so it’s the kind of even you plan your trip according to, and not the other way around; if you’re travelling this way, you really have to see this journey as a thing-to-do rather than a travel day. There are super elegant dining cars, observation cars with huge windows, and even live music.
The train departs from Wanchaq Station in Cusco at around 7.30am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and arrives in Puno at around 6pm. If you do want to go with this option you usually need to book weeks in advance as tickets sell out.
🇵🇪 Read more: How to Get from Arequipa to Cusco
Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca by Plane
Flying is the quickest way to reach Lake Titicaca, even though you have to make a layover in Lima which basically makes no sense at all! If you’re a regular reader then you’ll know I’m not a fan of flying and REALLY not a fan of layovers, so I avoid it at all costs. It seems like there used to be direct flights from Cusco Juliaca, which is the nearest airport to Puno, but there aren’t anymore. So, you’d take a 1.5 hour flight to Lima, have a layover of around 2 hours, and then take another 1.5 hour flight from Lima to Juliaca.
Whilst this will save time, it’s definitely not the cheapest way to travel and you will miss out on te beautiful landscape between Cusco and Puno. It’s also worth noting that flights can sometimes be affected by weather conditions due to the high altitude.
Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca by Private Transfer
Several bus companies offer private transfer services between Cusco and Puno, with PeruHop and WaykiBus being two of the most popular companies. These services are a fair bit more expensive than the public bus, but you do get a private guide, you’re with other travellers so you’ll likely make new friends, and often they include stops and activities along the way which increases your value for money.
PeruHop offers a hop-on-hop-off service and they encourage people to do longer trips with them, and they give priority to their customers who have bought tickets that cover several stops in Peru. However, if you speak with their customer service team then you can often buy a ticket just for one journey if they have spare seats going.
For their Cusco to Puno leg, the bus is overnight and doesn’t include any additional stops, but you can combine it with tours when you arrive and you still get the added comfort of being on a private bus.
WaykiBus offers a similar service, but with them it’s easier to book just one leg at a time. They also have more flexibility in terms of stops and departure times. Their services are cheaper, but the buses are less luxurious and less organised.
Both companies provide door-to-door service, so they pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco and drop you off at your chosen location in Puno. This is a great addition if you’re a less confident traveller or just don’t want the hassle of getting to and from the bus stations.
Finally, I also found this company called Inka Express that advertises a private tour bus from Cusco to Puno during the day, with additional stops along the way including Raqchi, where you’ll see Inca ruins, and Andahuaylillas, also known as the “Sistine Chapel of America”. I don’t want to officially recommend them because I’ve never used this company, but it looks good!
Prices for a private transfer from Cusco to Lake Titicaca are typically around $50, which might seem steep compared to public buses, but the added comfort, security, and included tours make it worthwhile for many travellers.
🇵🇪 Read more: A Guide to the Peru Backpacking Route
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting from Cusco to Lake Titicaca
Is Lake Titicaca worth visiting?
Yes! However, I would recommend going to the Bolivian side over the Peruvian side. Here you get better views and more cultural immersion; it’s quite common to stay with a local family.
Is the train from Cusco to Puno worth it?
Well, I couldn’t tell you, because I haven’t been on it, but I would have if I’d been able to afford it. It’s definitely a splurge, but you do get to enjoy better views and fine dining on the way (and the same cannot be said for the bus).
How do I get from Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca?
To get from Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca, you’ll first need to return to Cusco (via train to Ollantaytambo and then bus/taxi to Cusco). From there, you can choose any of the transport options mentioned above to reach Puno and Lake Titicaca.
What is the best way to get from Cusco to Lake Titicaca?
The ‘best’ way really depends on your priorities. If you’re on a budget, the public bus is your best option. For comfort and included sightseeing, consider Peru Hop or similar private transfers. If you want luxury and don’t mind splurging, then go for the train! Even if you’re short on time, I don’t think it makes any sense at all to fly.
Conclusion
However you decide to travel from Cusco to Lake Titicaca, it’s a journey worth making to visit the highest navigable lake in the world. Each mode of transport will bring you something different, from dining in luxury, to new friends, to what I imagine would be a whole lot of unnecessary airport stress.
I got some lovely views on the bus from Cusco to Puno, and would recommend that option to the average traveller.