Getting to Puno

By air, flights from Lima, Cuzco and Arequipa via Aero Continente and other domestic airlines arrive daily at Aeropuerto Manco Capac in Juliaca, 31 miles (50km) north of Puno. If you’re with a tour, the agency will arrange transfers to Puno; else you may take a taxi, or the cheaper shuttle bus.

By train, you have a choice of the 10 hour night, Pullman class train between Arequipa and Puno. ENAFER keeps the cars locked so you can sleep, although the ride might be rocky and rough. By day, the trip across the altiplano offers great scenery and stops to allow photos at the highest point. This trip takes about 12 hours, with a stop in Juliaca. Watch your belongings.

You’re better off to avoid the first and second class cars and take the Turismo Inca car, which is comfortable, and offers food and drinks. At certain points, the conductors might ask you to lower the shades. Unfortunately, some people throw stones at the train windows as Andrys tells you in her Peru Journey page: Peru - From Train Window - Puno to Cuzco

Although the lake crossing to Bolivia was the main way of travel in Inca and colonial times, today there is no direct crossing. Now you will first take the bus to Copacabana, then the hydrofoil to Huatajata and on to La Paz by land. There are ample boats for the trip to the Floating Islands, or to fish for the local trout and pejerey.