Cusco to Puno in short
The trip from Cusco to Puno crosses the high Andes and ends on the shore of Lake Titicaca. You can ride a daytime train, take a sleeper train, join a tourist bus that stops at sights on the way, or book a direct bus. The train and the tourist bus fill most of a day. The direct bus is shorter on paper, but the booking pages list different journey times, so treat any figure as a guide.
Pick by what you want from the day. The train and the tourist bus are sightseeing trips that happen to end in Puno. The direct bus is simply transport. All times and prices on this page are as listed by operators and agents in 2026, and they can change.
Cusco to Puno: the options compared
Times and prices as listed by the operators and an agent in 2026.
| Option | Departs and arrives | Price listed | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titicaca Train (day train) | 07:50–18:20 on the days in the August 2026 notice | – | 10 h 30 min timetable duration. Service resumed on August 25, 2026 |
| Andean Explorer (sleeper) | Thursday 11:00 to Friday 08:30 (1 night) | – | A 2-night journey continues to Arequipa. Does not run in February |
| Tourist bus with stops | 06:10–17:30 | From $50 | Bilingual guide, buffet lunch, entrance fees extra (S/ 53) |
| Direct bus | Daytime 08:00–15:00 or night 22:00–05:00 | $20 to $35 | Agent listing. Journey time given as 7 or 8 hours |
Where a price cell shows a dash, check the current fare on the operator's own site. Fares for train seats and cabins depend on the date and the class.
Our picks: Route of the Sun by day bus
The same tourist bus with guided stops, in both directions.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Cusco to Puno by day bus on the Route of the Sun
Air-conditioned bus with bilingual guides at the stops, buffet lunch, snacks and drinks, wifi, a toilet and oxygen on board. Entries to Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and Pucará are not included (53 PEN together).
Check availability →
Puno to Cusco by day bus on the Route of the Sun
Air-conditioned bus with bilingual guides at the stops, buffet lunch, snacks and drinks, wifi, a toilet and oxygen on board. Entries to Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and Pucará are not included (53 PEN together).
Check availability →Tours around Puno and Lake Titicaca
Once you arrive, boat trips to the Uros, Taquile and Amantani and day trips to Sillustani, with live prices and availability.
Titicaca Train: the day train
One long day between Cusco and Puno.
What it is
A daytime train between Cusco (Wanchaq station) and the Lake Titicaca terminus in Puno. The operator timetable gives a journey time of 10 hours 30 minutes. It is a different product from the Andean Explorer sleeper train.
When it runs
The operator announced on August 24, 2026 that regular service would resume on August 25, 2026. According to that notice, trains from Cusco to Puno leave on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and trains from Puno to Cusco on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The notice lists a 07:50 departure and an 18:20 arrival.
Times differ between sources
The web timetable shows Wednesday at 07:10–17:40 and Friday and Sunday at 07:50–18:20. It also contains a Monday, Thursday and Saturday line at 07:30–17:50 with unclear direction. Confirm your exact train and time on the operator's site before you plan the rest of the day.
Fares
No general starting fare is listed for 2026. The price depends on the date and the seat class, so look it up for your own date.
Andean Explorer: the sleeper train
The Andean Explorer is run by Belmond and is a multi-day rail journey, not a Cusco to Puno ticket in the usual sense. Two journeys include Puno. Times are approximate, and the operator notes that they can change at short notice.
- Spirit of the Water: Cusco to Puno with 1 night. It leaves on Thursday at 11:00 and arrives on Friday at 08:30.
- Peruvian Highlands: Cusco, Puno and Lake Titicaca, then Arequipa, with 2 nights. It leaves on Thursday at 11:00 and ends on Saturday at 15:30. Accommodation, meals and drinks on board and listed excursions belong to the package.
The rail operator's January to April 2026 timetable says the Andean Explorer does not run in February. That pause does not automatically apply to the day train. No fixed starting price is published for 2026, and the price of a multi-day journey is not a one-way fare to Puno.
Tourist bus with stops
A full day with sightseeing built in.
Schedule
One operator lists a 06:10 departure from Cusco, with check-in at 05:40 at Av. Alameda Pachacuteq 499-B, and arrival in Puno at 17:30. By that schedule the day is 11 hours 20 minutes, which is not a driving time.
Stops
The route stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya and the Pucará museum, with a buffet in Sicuani and a bilingual guide on board.
Price
Listed from $50 per person for 2026. Entrance fees are paid on top, S/ 53 per person in total according to the operator, so the ticket does not cover every admission.
Direct bus
Transport without the sightseeing stops.
A booking agent lists direct buses in both directions every day from 08:00 to 15:00 and from 22:00 to 05:00. The agent's page title says 8 hours, while its own tables add up to 7 hours, so allow for a range. Fares appear in blocks of $20 and $25 and of $30 and $35, depending on the bus product and the deck. That is an agent listing and not a fare list of the bus company, so the price on your ticket can differ.
A night departure saves a hotel night but means you see nothing of the landscape and arrive in the early morning at about 3,800 m. If you are new to altitude, read the altitude page first.
Before you travel
Strikes and road conditions can change a plan on short notice.
Protests
The UK government's travel advice lists Puno among the regions with recent protests and says demonstrations can interrupt roads, rail and border crossings at short notice. A government conflict report for September 2026 counts 20 conflict cases in the Puno region. That number does not mean every tourist road is blocked.
Keep a buffer
Do not tie the day you arrive to an early boat trip or a flight on the same day. Ask your hotel or the operator about road and rail conditions the day before.
Arrival
In Puno, the walk from the main square to the lake takes about 20 minutes, then another 10 to the harbor. For the full picture of getting around, see getting to Puno.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that go with the journey to Puno.
Cusco to Puno: frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Cusco to Puno?
The operator timetable gives 10 hours 30 minutes for the Titicaca Train. A notice from August 2026 lists 07:50 departure and 18:20 arrival, and other timetable lines differ, so confirm your date.
Does the Titicaca Train run again?
The operator announced that regular service would resume on August 25, 2026. That does not guarantee every later departure, so check the current timetable before you go.
What is the difference between the Titicaca Train and the Andean Explorer?
The Titicaca Train is a daytime service. The Andean Explorer is a sleeper journey with 1 night to Puno or 2 nights on to Arequipa, and it does not run in February.
How much is the tourist bus?
One operator lists it from $50 per person for 2026. Entrance fees to the stops, S/ 53 per person in total, are charged on top.
Is the direct bus faster than the train?
On paper yes, with 7 to 8 hours listed against 10 hours 30 minutes. Agents list different times, and road closures can add delays.