How to Get From Cusco to Puno (and Vice Versa)

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The distance between Cusco and Puno is 386 kilometers or 240 miles, so you can travel by bus, tourist bus, train, or plane. For most people, the bus or the tourist bus is the best option because they offer the best balance between convenience and cost. But for the most luxurious method of transportation, choose the train to experience amazing service, food, and views.

Here’s what you need to know about each mode of transport to help you decide on the best way to travel from Cusco to Puno and the other way around.

Table Of Contents

Bus
Tourist bus
Train
Plane
More resources for traveling Peru

Bus

Travel time: 7 – 8 hours

Cost: 35+ soles (about $9.50+ USD)

How to book: Busbud or Redbus

Taking the bus from Cusco to Puno (and vice versa) is easy and cheap. Buses typically leave Cusco either in the morning or at night. Since the bus ride is seven to eight hours, I recommend taking the overnight bus so that you aren’t wasting an entire day on the bus. (Note that there are buses that take longer to arrive in Puno. This is because they do not go directly to Puno.) Plus, you don’t have to pay for a night of accommodation. The buses are quite comfortable, with large seats that recline. There’s also usually a USB port for charging.

Buses arriving in Puno park at Terminal Terrestre Puno. From there, you can either walk or take a taxi to your accommodation. Uber doesn’t operate in Puno. If you take a taxi, make sure that you ask the driver how much it will cost before getting in.

Tourist bus

Travel time: 11 hours

Cost: $50+ USD

How to book: Tripadvisor or the InkaExpress website.

The tourist bus is different from a regular bus. Tourist buses cater exclusively to tourists by stopping at multiple attractions along the way. This makes the long travel time between Cusco and Puno more interesting. A tour guide joins you onboard the bus to share information about the local culture and history, as well as to answer your questions.

Although the tourist bus costs more than the regular bus, you’re getting much more. It’s a full-day journey and lunch is included in the price.

Companies that offer tourist buses include Inka Express and Turismo Mer. I chose to go with Inka Express, which had positive reviews and was the cheapest option I could find. Overall, I was very happy with my experience and recommend Inka Express. Our tour guide spoke excellent English and was friendly. I was pleasantly surprised that we got a small bag of snacks and water – it was a thoughtful touch. The buffet lunch had many options, including fresh vegetables and dessert, and the food was good.

Yellow and blue Inka Express bus that runs between Cusco and Puno is parked on a dirt road with green hills in the background.

Train

Travel time: 10.5+ hours

Cost: $330+ USD

How to book: PeruRail

Taking the train from Cusco to Puno is a luxury experience that may be worth it if you like to travel in comfort, aren’t limited to a budget, or enjoy train travel. PeruRail operates the only train between the two places. The cheapest option costs $330 USD, but it includes a gourmet lunch, performances of traditional music and dance, afternoon tea, and more amenities. There are also even fancier options that cost several thousands of dollars.

Aside from how expensive it is, the downside of taking the train is that it doesn’t run every day. You’ll need to check PeruRail’s schedule ahead of time to make sure that departures fit into your schedule.

Plane

Travel time: 4+ hours

Cost: $88+ USD

How to book: CheapOair, Google Flights, or your preferred flight aggregator.

While you can fly between Cusco and Puno, it’s important to know that there isn’t an airport in Puno. Instead, you’ll fly into Inca Manco Cápac International Airport in the city of Juliaca, which is about a 50-minute drive from Puno. LATAM is the airline that mostly serves this route. However, there are no direct flights between Cusco and Juliaca. You’ll need to transfer in Lima.

Taking the plane from Cusco to Puno is much more expensive than taking a bus or tourist bus. Although it’s faster, when you factor in the amount of time that you spend waiting in the airport and the drive between Juliaca and Puno, you’ll be traveling for roughly the same amount of time as riding the bus. You’ve also got to transfer in Lima airport and then transfer to a car once you land. For all these reasons, I don’t recommend taking the plane.