Cusco to Puno, Peru Travel by 9 hours Bus Ride part 2

This bus trip from Cusco to Puno runs every day and takes you in a luxurious bus in about 9 hours. It will cost you all day, but you travel in a relaxed pace and you get to see all kinds of cultural sites along the way. The bus stops at 6 different places along the route before they drop you off in Cusco.

If you are a  bit of a culture geek like me and I love to learn about ancient history and culture  or like to soak cultural input of one place without getting culture shock, then this could be for you.

Cultural Immersion  and Street photography on this post was snapshots taken with my iphone.

Ruins of Kalassaya

 After we exited through the gift shop, we left the village behind and explored the ruins of Kalassaya, a little outside Pucará. I found this mighty interesting as this was basically my first encounter with ancient ruins of South America and pre-Inca culture.

The ruins of the old town of Pucará are dated from 1.800 years BC. This was the reign of the Pukara culture and was the focus of the administration and religion.

Tourist shopping stalls the ruin

Head to the shopping stalls and look for local crafts

Bus stop at this restaurant with kids and their llamas as a tourist photographic opportunities and attractions

Lithic Museum Pucará

In here, Lithic Museum of Pucará where we saw an immense time line to put the whole reign of the culture of the Pucará in world’s history perspective.

The museum is small but shows some gruelling statues of decapitation which was common during the reign of the Pucará. They believed, if you decapitate your enemy, his strength will transvers into you.

Raqch’i

Is an archaeological site that is also known as the Temple of Wiracocha.  The temple itself is the most prominent structure in the area and prior to it being destroyed by the Spaniards, it was an enormous structure.  There is a certain way that people should enter and exit the temple and that was conceived way back when the Incas were in the area.  Surrounding the temple are living quarters, storehouses, baths, fairgrounds, and the Qucha, which is a lake.

The ruins of Raqchi show you the remains of the Temple of Wiracocha (or Virachocha), the main Inca god of creation. He was the god of the sun, the moon and civilisation.

His temple remains can be seen at the archaeological site of Raqchi, where you’ll see the adobe wall of the temple and many administration houses. In the hills overlooking the ruins, you’ll see the ancient Inca trail.

Arequipa

Along the dusty road and small tricyle, there are more about this city. Unfortunately we just passed by and wasn’t able to see the main attractions

Roadscene landscape scenery

Puno is the final destination on this tour and the city is surrounded by the large Lake Titicaca and forty-one floating islands.  Everyone will be happy to exit the bus and begin the next part of their journey in Peru.

It is a long day. But I learned a lot about pre-Inca culture and Inca culture. And I learned about the adaptation of the Catholic religion from local Pachamama culture and I saw beautiful scenery along the way.

I was very happy to take this bus tour in Peru, took a  lot of Street photography snapshots along the way and I hope I peaked your interest to consider this journey by bus if you travel from Lake Titicaca to Cusco or the other way around.

Finally arriving at Puno

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