Overview
This tourist bus between Puno and Cusco (and vice versa) is built for travelers who want to cover the distance between the two cities while actually seeing something along the way, instead of taking a plain point-to-point transfer. The route runs through the Peruvian highlands, with several curated stops at sites that hold real historical and cultural weight.
Along the way, travelers pass through Andahuaylillas, home to a 17th-century church often called the Sistine Chapel of the Americas for its elaborate murals and gold-leaf ornamentation, and Raqchi, site of the Temple of Wiracocha, where massive stone and adobe structures and rows of ancient storehouses reflect the scale of Inca-era construction.
The journey also crosses La Raya, the pass marking the border between the Cusco and Puno regions at over 4,335 meters above sea level, with views of the Chimboya Glacier, considered the source of the Amazon River. A stop at the Pukará Lithic Museum rounds out the route, showcasing pottery and stone sculptures from a culture that predates the Incas by well over a thousand years.
By spacing out these stops across the day, this bus service between Cusco and Puno turns what would otherwise be a long transit day into a structured overview of the region's history, from pre-Inca cultures to colonial-era religious art, no matter which direction you're traveling.
What to Bring on the Cusco to Puno Tourist Bus with Stops
- Comfortable clothing for a full day of travel
- Warm layers (for La Raya pass altitude)
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Camera
- Water bottle
- Cash in Peruvian soles (for tips and personal expenses)
- Original passport or ID