Cusco to Puno, Peru Travel by 9 hours Bus Ride Part 1

Cusco to Puno, Peru Travel by 9 hours Bus Ride Part 1

As a part of my South American itinerary, was a visit to Lake Titicaca to see the Uros People, and from Cusco, there is no flight to Puno. You can choose either a train or a 9 hour bus. I chose the latter. I was dreading the thought of a 9 hour bus journey at first, but this is the best way for me to take lots of cultural photography in between several stops.

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 24
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 4

City of Cusco

While the bus does leave from the bus station in Cusco at seven in the morning, people can arrange to be picked up at their hotel prior to that time and driven to the bus station in time for departure.

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 25

Once the bus pulls out of Cusco, travelers can sit back and relax while listening to their guide give them information about what they are passing, where they are, and anything else that seems important or interesting.  Some of the information that the guide will share is what people need to know about the stops that they will be making during the journey.  The five stops will consist of archaeological sites, churches, and an area with views of the Vilcanota range and the grasslands.

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 26

San Pedro Apóstol de Andahuaylillas

One of the churches that everyone on the bus will see is the San Pedro Apóstol de Andahuaylillas Church.  This church was built during the 16th century by the Jesuits and is located on a ceremonial space.  The ceiling inside the sanctuary was built using a kur-kur construction method which combined cane, straw, and mud to create the ceiling.  The church also has a beautiful mural painting and many people who visit the church proclaim that it is the Sistine Chapel of the Andes.

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 27
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 28
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 29

It was a nice church, and again I learned a lot about this cultural history. We learned that after the Spanish conquest, painters from Europe, educated local artists to make the same religious paintings in the new churches. Some of its decor are made up of gold leaf. You are not allowed to take photos inside the church, but I did it anyway.

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 31

As the Peruvian artists had never seen European churches or art, they adapted their own style and form. Our guide showed us the key elements of catholic religion intertwined with the local Pachamama culture.

Outside the church are shopping stalls for souvenirs

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Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 34
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 36
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 38
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 10
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 9
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Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 33
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Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 8
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 34

Head to the shopping stalls and look for local crafts

DR ZENAIDY CASTRO Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 2

Roadtrip snapshot inside the bus with my Iphone. Photography documentary of the place and culture.

 

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 40
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 42
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Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 46
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 21
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 14
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 12
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Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 43
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 45
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 47
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Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 13
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 11

Witness traditional life. Embrace Incan culture past and present and get a taste of the culture with this sanpshots of street photography with my iphone.

In between archaeological sites and ruins lies the town of Sicuani and land of La Raya Pass.  The town is quite small, but has a restaurant that serves delicious cuisine. The views at La Raya Pass rival those found anywhere else and people are encouraged to take pictures of the llamas and alpacas that roam the countryside.

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 40

La Raya 4.335m / 14.222 ft. above sea level

There isn’t much to see or do at La Raya, but this is the highest point on this bus trip from Puno to Cusco. Local people have set up some things you can buy and you can get a picture with the altitude sign. Always nice to have proof of where you’ve been.

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 49
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 20
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 18
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 19
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 16
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 15

The surrounding area is striking though.

High in the mountains, the river beneath it, the snow covered peaks and the railway tracks approaching the gorge. This is a great point to stretch your legs!

Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 50
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 51
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 52
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 53
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Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 55
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 54
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 23
Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 22
DR ZENAIDY CASTRO Cusco to Puno Peru Travel by Bus 1

To be continued in part 2

READ MORE ABOUT DR ZENAIDY CASTRO AS A DENTIST & HER COSMETIC DENTISTRY PRACTICE IN MELBOURNE

THE GLOBETROTTING DENTIST

See the world from my photographic perspective

Welcome! I’m Dr Zenaidy Castro , a Cosmetic Dentist based in Melbourne  Australia. My unquenchable thirst for travel and passion for photography  leads me to explore the world, from here and hopefully one day, at the end of the remote continent -wherever that is.

If you are looking for travel insights and inspirations, you have come to the right place. My blog post have abundance of visual journals and photos to help you soak with the landscape, culture, people and the place without leaving your home. You will find tips and informations along the way.

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