Lake Titicaca

From Cuzco you'll need to get to Puno, the port of embarkation for Lake Titicaca, by bus, train or luxury train.

Treat yourself to the Perurail train.

A 10.5-hour journey with everything included: breakfast, lunch and a cocktail, musical entertainment and, above all, breathtaking scenery.

The booking office is located at Plaza de Armas in Cuzco.

Trains leave every 2 days in high season, costing around €258 one way.

Departs Wanchaq station in Cuzco at 7.10am

Av. Pachacútec s/n, Wanchaq District, Cuzco

Arrive Puno station at 5.30pm

For a cheaper return journey, opt for a bus from Puno to Cuzco, which will cost you around twenty euros for a 6.5-hour journey (beware: some buses don't make stops, so you'll need to pack a lunch).

Another option is the Belmond Andean Explorer:

The Belmond Andean Explorer, this luxury train is the South American cousin of the famous Orient Express. The whole day and night journey in a double cabin is absolutely sumptuous: the ultimate luxury (around €3,200 all-inclusive).

Even if the star of the region is Lake Titicaca and its islands, don't miss the charming little town of Puno.

In Puno's Plaza Mayor, you can admire the splendid Puno Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Charles Borromeo. Built in the 17th century by the Jesuits, it is Baroque in style.

Open daily from 8am to 12pm and from 3pm to 6pm. Free admission.

Don't forget to stroll through the colourful alleyways, at the end of the pedestrianised Jiron de Lima street is the small Pino square, where you can admire theSan Juan Bautista church.

To stretch your legs after a long journey from Cuzco, head to the Mirador de Kuntur Wasi "the house of the condor". The panoramic view over Puno and Lake Titicaca is well worth the effort!

Where to eat in Puno

Just behind the cathedral is the Casa del Corregidor Café bar.

This bar-restaurant-café makes some of the best coffee in the region, as well as simple, delicious dishes, all in a hip, musical setting with a terrace.

⏰ Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 9pm and Sunday 12pm to 9pm.

📍 Jr. Deustua Nº 576, Puno

In the small town of Puno you'll find small, charming hotels on a reasonable budget, like Casa Panqarani.

Double room with en suite bathroom from €39, breakfast included.

Set in a pretty garden with a bohemian feel and Wi-Fi just a few minutes from the centre.

But the must is to sleep on Lake Titicaca, an unforgettable experience guaranteed!

For example, in the comfortable Amalia Titicaca Lodge.

Just a stone's throw from Puna, enjoy this extraordinary experience on an islet typical of the Uros people. Price: €168 for an 80m2 suite overlooking the lake, full board. Important: there is no wifi.

The nearest island, Uros, is a must-see, and although it is very popular with tourists, it is a unique place in the world. The current inhabitants perpetuate the traditions and way of life of the indigenous Uros people, who lived on these floating islands until the 1950s. It's a collection of artificial islands made entirely from bundles of totora reeds, not just the islands themselves but also the houses, furniture and boats.

Taquile Island, around 6km long and 3 hours by boat, is a hilly island that used to be a prison. Today it is a tourist and craft centre: here the women weave and the men knit. There are no hotels or cars on the island, just a community restaurant and a craft shop, but you can stay with local people for a few days.

Amantani is the furthest island from Puno (4 hours by boat), larger than Taquile and relatively less frequented. Overlooked by two peaks, Pachatata ("father earth") and Pachamama ("mother earth"), it is also known as the "island of Kantuta" (the plant that symbolises Peru and Bolivia). The island's inhabitants also make a living from tourism, and you'll find plenty of bed and breakfasts and a few small hotels like theAmantani Pachatata Lodge.

From Puno, there are full-day boat trips that take you around the islands of Uros and Taquile for around €60, including lunch, leaving at 7am and returning at 5pm.

This is a good compromise if you only have a day to get the best possible overview of the lake and its islands.

If you have 1 or 2 days:

From the port of Puno, in the morning there are many boats leaving for Taquile or Amantani, with prices varying and negotiable on the spot (around €10). Once you've disembarked, you'll have to pay a tax of €1 for Amantani and €2 for Taquile. After that, it's easy to find a local to put you up on the island; some even come and pick you up as you leave the boat, or go to your host's house if you've booked in advance.

A slightly less touristy alternative is to go to the Capachica peninsula, about 1? hours by bus from Puno or 2 hours by boat. You'll find bed and breakfasts or inns in the village of Llachon, or just off the beach at Chifron, the small but very charming Hotel Inti Wasi.

Inti Wasi Hotel

intiwasilodge@gmail.com

Alternatively, enjoy a life experience in the Parami community.