From Puno to Cusco the Impactful Way!

Practical & unique
FromUSD$355
Practical & unique
FromUSD$355
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Build a Custom Tour



Looking for something a little different? At Impactful Travel, we specialize in crafting custom itineraries tailored to your unique travel desires and ethical values.

Build Your Trip

  • 3 Days, 2 Nights
  • Starting pointYour hotel in Puno
  • Group Size1 - 6 (if you are more, contact us)
  • All year roundTry to avoid rainy season (Jan-Mar)
  • BookingsAt least 72h in advance
  • Price range$ 355 - 700
  • Sustainability Score: 72

This tour from Puno to Cusco has been one of our most popular Titicaca programs since many years, because it combines many activities and off-the-beaten-path destinations in a practical route that starts at a hotel in the city of Puno and ends at a hotel in the city of Cusco. Everything is included from start to finish (there are some options), which makes it super easy for those traveling southern Peru. 

Highlights of this program

  • The remote floating islands of Uros Titino: far away from the tourist theater of the regular Uros islands and with enough time to enjoy the unique space where you find yourself!
  • A homestay on the peninsula of Capachica with an undisturbed view on Lake Titicaca;
  • A visit to the uninhabited Tikonata island.

On the third day, you will travel by tourist bus from Juliaca to Cusco; not so off-the-beaten-path anymore but by far the wisest way to travel to Cusco and enjoy some highlights along the way. 

If you’re one day short, please note we also have a two-day version of this program. You’ll miss out on the Tikonata & fishing excursion, though! And if you are very short in time, don´t forget that you can also go on one of our Day Tours at Lake Titicaca.

Available options for this tour

The options can be selected during the booking process: 

  • Instead of a combination of local public transport, you can choose to do all local transportation in private transport (on the 1st and 2nd day, and to Juliaca on day 3). It’ll add $45 to your total price. 
  • Instead of the tourist bus on day 3 (taking the whole day to get to Cusco because of the stops included) you can also choose to just travel straight to Cusco on a regular bus (Cruz del Sur or Transzela) without stopping. It’ll save you $20 p.p.
  • You can choose to pre-include the entrance tickets to the sites between Puno and Cusco (if you’re not sure about visiting all of them, you can better pay directly yourself.) It’s $15 p.p.

Day by Day

Day 1Puno - Uros Titino - Llachón - Chifrón (3.850m)

Between 08:30 and 09:00, your local guide will pick you up from your hotel in Puno. You start this tour from Puno to Cusco with a trip of 1 hour and 20 minutes to the port of San Pedro in the community of Llachón, located on the Capachica peninsula. There, you will take a boat to the floating Uros Titino islands (approximately 30 minutes).

You will be welcomed by a family that lives on the island and you will get an explanation of their daily life and how they created their island. It is also possible to take a ride on a traditional reed boat. Walking on the island feels a bit like a waterbed, but it’s safe, of course!

Then you will return to the community of Llachón to enjoy a typical local lunch. After lunch, you will be driven to the community of Chifrón (about 20 minutes) where you will stay at Walther’s house* Inti Wasi (which means solar house). The lodge is very beautiful with views over Chifrón’s sandy beach and Lake Titicaca: and in the background you can even see the Cordillera Real of Bolivia.
*If there’s no space at Walther’s, you will stay with another family offering similar comfort and views of the Titicaca Lake.

The rooms are simple, but they are equipped with the necessary amenities and clean (there is even hot water). You will meet Walther, Mariela and their children, and also have time to walk around the lodge. After dinner with the host family, you will have a good night’s sleeping in Walther’s home.

Day 2Chifrón - Tikonata island - Chifrón

After breakfast, your guide will take you on a sailboat to visit the small island of Tikonata. Along the way, you will learn how local people fish on Lake Titicaca. On the island of Tikonata you will meet the people who take care of it (the island is basically uninhabited).

After walking to a beautiful viewpoint, you will return to the lodge for lunch and have free time in the afternoon. You can walk to the beach, relax in the sun, read a book or play with the children and the pets.

Day 3Chifrón - Juliaca - Cusco (3.400m)

In the morning you will be driven to Juliaca to take the bus to Cuzco. This tourist bus includes a bilingual guide, wifi, tea and snacks on board. It leaves from Puno at 07:00 am (passing through Juliaca about an hour later) and arrives in Cusco around 5:00 pm. Along the way, several attractions will be visited. First, the museum in Pucará, a town famous for the bulls that you can see on the rooftops of Peruvian houses. After Pucará, the journey gradually takes you further north until you arrive at the pass La Raya, the highest point between Cusco and Puno, laying at 4.335 meters.

Around noon, you will enjoy a buffet lunch (included). After that, you will visit the temple of Wiracocha, in the village of Raqchi. This is an impressive structure, where the Day of the Sun is celebrated annually on June 16th. The current population still uses the aqueducts and irrigation channels that the Incas left there.

In Andahuaylillas, the last stop, it seems that time has come to a halt. The houses around the square are surrounded by big trees, and the little streets give form to a picturesque image. But the most beautiful building to be found here is undoubtedly the church, which is also called the Sistine Chapel of South America. It was built in 1580 and displays some very beautiful wall paintings inside. Please note that you may not take pictures inside, so just try enjoying the moment instead!

Once you have arrived in Cusco (at around 5.00 pm), you will be picked up from your bus station and brought to your hotel find the city. End of your tour from Puno to Cusco. (Be aware that the hotel night following this tour is not included in the package).

Cusco – a hotel tip from us

The Niños Hotel (2 stars) is our favorite place in town. It is a very attractive non-profit hotel that supports projects helping (street) children. The rooms are beautiful and very comfortable. It also has a cozy restaurant if you prefer not to go out to eat. Read more here on why we support them.

Why is this experience Impactful?

Most people just take a day tour on Lake Titicaca. And 90% of those that take an overnight tour, will stay at the Amantaní island. At Impactful Travel, we hope to motivate people to explore the lesser visited areas of Lake Titicaca, leaving their much desired dollars and euros with organised locals that don’t get the masses and offer higher quality services. 

This tour is only one of many options and is organised partially by a community-based partner agency that we’ve been working with since 2014. They are non-profit, 100% community-based and very focused on sustainability. Your tour uses the services of a variety of locals, all representing a family that will earn an income from your visit: several drivers, several boat owners, people on Uros Titino and Tikonata and of course your host family: they all get their share and learn the value of maintaining their environment for sustainable development. 

At the same time, you as a visitor will get insights into a traditional way of life, learn about weaving techniques and fishing, and visit museums. Cultural exchange is abundant here.

Read here how the Sustainability Score was elaborated

Details

Price Includes

  • Pickup at your hotel in Puno city center(other destinations: please contact us to calculate additional price)
  • All mentioned transportation: some in local public transportation (optionally all private).
  • All mentioned activities: Uros Titino visit, Tikonata visit, fishing activity by sailboat.
  • English speaking guide(private on day 1 and 2, shared on the bus on day 3)
  • Two overnight stays in a homestay at Capachica peninsula (double or triple occupation)
  • All expected meals:lunch and dinner on day 1, three meals on day 2, breakfast and lunch on day 3.
  • Tourist bus from Juliaca to Cusco: departure around 7 am, arrival around 5 pm.
  • Pickup from the bus station in Cuscotransfer to your hotel anywhere in Cusco city center (other destination? Contact us.)

Price Excludes

  • The base price is based on partially shared transportationUpon booking, you can select the option to include private transportation on day one, two and three until reaching Juliaca, from where you will continue on the tourist bus to Cusco. It'll add $45 to your total price.
  • The base price doesn't include the entrance fees for day 3But these can be included for $15 p.p.: just select the option in the booking process.
  • Read more about what's generally not included in our Terms and Conditions (click here).

What to Bring

Frequently Asked Questions

About the tour from Puno to Cusco

Is this tour physically demanding?

This tour from Puno to Cusco is physically not very demanding, as it is clearly not a hiking tour. However, please note that lake Titicaca lays at 3.800 meters (12.500 feet) above sea level, which means that one might experience altitude sickness. To prevent that, make sure you stay hydrated and you should not have any problems (up to three litres per day; soup, water and (coca) tea are always good). We also highly recommend wearing a hat or cap, as the sun can be very strong at such altitudes. Should you not feel good despite your precautions, talk to your guide or host family and they will be happy to help out.

Do the local families speak English?

No, they don’t. So far, however, most of our travelers do not opt for an optional translator, since apart from the additional cost that might change the experience. Our host families are very used to having guests that don’t speak Spanish and their Spanish is easy to understand for those who speak other Latin languages. 

Of course, learning Spanish beforehand is always a good idea! Use an app like Duolingo to learn the basics before leaving and enhance your experience whilst traveling. 

What kind of weather should we expect during this excursion?

On Lake Titicaca it gets very hot during the day and as soon as the sun sets, temperatures drop quite a lot. So be prepared for the sun (hat, suncream, drink lots of water), but also pack some warm clothes for the night

Is this a private excursion or will I be sharing it with other passengers?

During the day activities during this tour from Puno to Cusco, you will be only with your own personal guide. In Walther’s home, you might not be the only guests staying there. It is more of a small family-run accommodation rather than a homestay. In any case, you will never be too many people there, as rooms are quite limited. 

Concerning the bus to Cusco, you will share with other people, as it is a tourist bus, as indicated in the itinerary. 

Do I have to take my luggage with me on the tour?

Yes, as you will head directly to Cusco after visiting the lake, you will have to take your luggage with you. The guides and drivers will help you out with it during the entire visit. Taking the luggage has never been a problem for any of our travelers. 

Am I expected to buy souvenirs on Titino Uros Island?

As these islands are the least visited in the area, the locals may insist that you buy souvenirs; keep in mind that this is their main source of income and that the money from the sale goes directly to them. So, if you have the opportunity, try to buy at least something small; and if not, politely decline their proposal.

General questions

For questions about booking a tour, prices, preparation for your trip, health and safety or other themes, please check our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you can’t find your question & answer, email us and we’ll add it!

Reviews
Your Hosts
ASTURS team

Association Asturs

The non-profit association of ASTURS is a community-based tourism organisation which shares many of Impactful Travel’s (formerly known as RESPONSible Travel Peru) values: it strives to enable sustainable development in their region through responsible tourism. We have become friends with Walther, Mariela, Clara and the other members of the Asturs family in 2014 and since then we’ve sent hundreds of travelers to explore the lesser known areas around Lake Titicaca and enjoy authentic experiences with its inhabitants. 

Whenever Impactful Travel organizes a workshop about sustainable tourism, we can always count on Asturs’ numerous assistance so we know that they represent our values very well. You will see and feel that when you travel with us and Asturs to Lake Titicaca!

The Route