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Inka Express Bus from Cusco to Puno

The first class Inka Express bus service is an excellent option for travel between the old Inca capital of Cusco and Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. It is also possible to make the journey between these two cities by airplane and train but the bus does have some marked advantages. The buses carry around 40 passengers, and are modern and well maintained with professional drivers making this one of the most comfortable and safest bus rides in Peru.

Buses have reserved reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning, heating, TV, bar and bathroom. The total journey time from Cusco to Puno is about ten hours but this is not just a way to travel between A & B but a day of excursions, starting in one location and ending in another. The actual driving time is about six hours through interesting and ever-changing countryside. Additionally there are around four hours of stops at points of interest and for an included buffet lunch in Sicuani.

inka express bus inka express bus cusco puno

The Inka Express bus stops at various points of geographical and cultural interest as described below. There is a guide on board to provide explanations on the sites seen during the day.

Andahuaylillas: Often called the Andean Sistine Chapel because of its magnificent frescoes, this church is one example of the mestizo baroque architecture typical of the Cusco School which was prominent in the 17th century.

Raqchi: (the temple of the God Wiracocha). This temple is located 121 kilometers from Cusco. The temple is one of the largest buildings to be found within the Inca Empire at 100 meters long, 26 meters wide and 14 meters in height. The building is divided into two naves, each of which still retains the base of eleven giant columns. The base of the walls consists of Imperial Inca stonework with a top section of adobe. Adjacent to the temple, there are many storehouses used for various purposes, both military and religious.

Pukara: This is one of the most important and oldest ceremonial sites this side of Tiahuanaco in Bolivia.  Characterized by a series of raised platforms, the ruins reveal some litho-sculptures and tombstones, all proof of a pre-Inca civilization, possibly one at the origin of the Andean culture of the Altiplano.

La Raya: Meaning “The Line” marks the highest pass on the route between Cusco and Puno at 4,335 meters above sea level. Here you will find beautiful mountain landscapes as well as the animals that are symbolic of the Andes: llamas, alpacas and perhaps vicunas. This is a region situated between two ancient cultures, the Quechua and Aymara, as well as a composite of two terrains; the dry and arid altiplano and the more verdant Quechua valleys and rivers.

An advantage of the Inka Express bus service over the train is that the total journey times are the same but whereas the train only has one stop of around 10-15 minutes, the bus has several stops at points of interest thereby breaking up the journey and allowing you to see much of more of the country and it’s amazing sites.  The bus is also much more economical than the train service and operates daily, whereas the train service has limited days of operation.