Intiqa Hotel Map

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You get to Lake Titicaca on the Peruvian side from Puno, the capital of Peru's Altiplano which is the folkloric center of Peru and gateway to Lake Titicaca.

Check flights from your area to Lima or La Paz to make connections to the lake. The nearest airport is Aeropuerto Manco Capac in Juliaca, about an hour away from Puno, which is about 45km (28 miles) to north of Puno. Some companies fly daily from Lima and Arequipa to Juliaca; flights range from $79 to $110, one-way. Some other companies fly from Cusco to Juliaca for similar fares. The tourist buses run from Juliaca airport to Puno (a 1-hr. trip) and deposit travelers on Jr. Tacna (S/10, or $2.85).

By Bus:
-Puno has a modern and safe bus station, Terminal Terrestre. Road service to Puno from Cusco has been greatly improved in recent years, and many more tourists now travel by bus, which is faster and cheaper than the train. Most buses drop passengers at Melgar, a few short blocks from downtown.

From Cusco, executive or royal-class buses make the trip in less than 7 hours (though some services, make stop-offs at Inca ruins en route, extending the trip a couple of hours, highly recommended if you have the extra time) and range in cost from S/52.50-S/87.50 ($15-$25). Regular buses are as cheap as S/12 ($3.40), but they are uncomfortable, have no restrooms or videos, and are potentially dangerous.

The trip between Puno and Arequipa by bus is no longer tortuous; the long-awaited highway between the cities, completed in 2002, has dramatically shortened travel time from 12 hours to just 5. Some companies make the trip for around $10.

By Train:
-The Titicaca Route journey from Cusco to Puno, along tracks at an altitude of 3,500m (11,500 ft.), is one of the most scenic in Peru. Though it is slower (10 hr. and prone to late arrivals) it is a favorite of travelers in Peru and preferable to the bus if you have got the time and money. Trains from Cusco to Puno depart from Estación Huanchaq. Service to Puno is Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday year-round, departing at 8am and arriving at 6pm. The tourist (backpacker) class ticket, which is comfortable enough but offers no food or drink, costs $16.66.

Train service from Arequipa to Puno is available by charter only.