Route Of The Sun, Lunch Included

Travel from Puno to Cusco along the Route of the Sun on this full-day trip, with lunch included. The journey runs for 11 hours between the two cities.

Overview

This InkaExpress tour turns the long drive from Puno to Cusco into a full day of guided sightseeing. A climate-controlled coach leaves Terminal Terrestre Puno at 6:10 AM and reaches the Cusco bus terminal at 5:30 PM, with four guided stops along the way. A bilingual guide rides the whole route, the bus serves tea, coffee, coca tea, soft drinks and water, and a buffet lunch sits at the midpoint of the day.

The first stop is the Pucara Museum, which covers the Late Formative Period from 500 BC to 200 AD and the first major settlement in the Titicaca basin. Next comes Abra La Raya, the highest point between the two cities, with views across the Andes. After the buffet in Marangani, near Sicuani, the route continues to Raqchi and the Temple of Wiracocha, whose walls stand 15 meters high, then finishes at the decorated 16th-century church in Andahuaylillas.

It suits travelers moving from Puno to Cusco who would rather see something on the way than sit through a plain bus ride. Reviewers often praise the comfortable buses and knowledgeable guides, and several say the stops made the distance feel short. A few find the pace rushed and would prefer more time at each site.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Depart PunoMeet at Terminal Terrestre Puno on Jiron Primero De Mayo 703-705. The bus leaves at 6:10 AM.
2. Pucara MuseumA 45-minute stop at 8:50 AM for a guided visit to the museum, which covers the first major settlement in the Titicaca basin, dated 500 BC to 200 AD. Entry is paid separately.
3. Abra La RayaA 10-minute photo stop at 11:00 AM at the highest point between Puno and Cusco, on the watershed dividing the two regions.
4. Buffet lunchA 50-minute buffet at 11:35 AM in Marangani, Sicuani, with beef, chicken and fish options, side dishes, salads, desserts and herbal infusions. Lunch is included.
5. RaqchiA 1.5-hour stop from 1:00 PM at the Temple of Wiracocha, a monumental Inca structure with 15-meter-high walls. Entry is paid separately.
6. AndahuaylillasA 45-minute stop at 3:30 PM at the 16th-century Church of Saint Peter the Apostle, known for its gold leaf and murals. Entry is paid separately.
7. Arrive CuscoThe bus reaches the terminal on Av. Alameda Pachacuteq 499-B at 5:30 PM. Drop-off at the station is included.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, and most of them are easy to sort out before boarding.

• Cash for entries. Entrance tickets for Pucara, Raqchi and Andahuaylillas are not in the tour price. The total is 53 soles, about 13 dollars, paid in person on arrival, and the money goes directly to the communities.
• Food and drink. The buffet lunch offers beef, chicken and fish with side dishes, warm and raw salads, desserts and infusions, and several reviewers describe the lunch as good. On board, the bus serves tea, coffee, coca tea, Inca Kola, Coca Cola and mineral water, so there is little need to carry drinks.
• A long day. The tour runs 11 hours, from the 6:10 AM departure to the 5:30 PM arrival. Several reviewers said the stops made the distance pass quickly, though some travelers find the time at each site rushed.
• Altitude. The route crosses Abra La Raya, the highest point between Puno and Cusco. The bus carries an oxygen tank and serves coca tea and other herbal infusions on board.
• Getting to the start. There is no hotel pickup. Travelers make their own way to Terminal Terrestre Puno for the 6:10 AM departure, and the tour ends at the bus terminal on Av. Alameda Pachacuteq in Cusco, so plan the last leg of the day from there.
• Camera ready. La Raya is a 10-minute photo stop and the church visit at Andahuaylillas lasts 45 minutes. Every stop includes a photo pause, so keep the camera accessible rather than packed in the hold.

Common issues. Some travelers find the pace rushed and would prefer more time at each stop, according to the review summary. Entrance fees of 53 soles are not included and must be paid in person at Pucara, Raqchi and Andahuaylillas. There is no hotel pickup, so the day starts with an early trip to the Puno terminal. One reviewer accidentally booked the wrong direction and had it corrected on the morning of the tour.

Common Questions