Exploring Cusco and Puno: All the Best of a Full-Day Sightseeing Bus Tour

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Peru vacation, a full-day sightseeing bus tour between Cusco and Puno is a great way to soak up the best of both cities. The tour will take you on an incredible 16-hour journey past some of Peru’s most celebrated historic sites, breath-taking natural scenery, and charming towns.The tour typically starts off in Cusco at around 8:00 AM, giving you more than enough time to enjoy a city meant for exploring. It is home to numerous important archaeological sites and a lively cultural scene, making it the perfect starting point in your busy day of sightseeing. Here’s an overview of some of our favorite Cusco highlights:

The Historic Center of Cusco

Cusco’s beautiful historic center is filled with winding cobblestone streets, ancient buildings and courtyards, and wonderful restaurants. Head to the iconic Plaza de Armas, the main landmark of the city, adorned with huge palaces, fountains, shrines, and Incan ruins. The area is also home to the impressive Cusco Cathedral, which features paintings and sculptures from the 16th century. Here you can also find a stunning collection of decorated colonial courtyards and archways in a variety of secret spots, perfect for exploring.

The Ancient City of Machu Picchu

No sightseeing tour to Cusco is complete without visiting the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Located about 10 miles from the city’s center, the ruins of this incredible city stand against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains. A guided tour takes you through the stone pathways and buildings built into the mountainside, giving you a real sense of what life was like here centuries ago. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and take lots of pictures!

The Pisac Market

Cusco is also known for its vibrant markets and unique handicrafts. Located just 40 minutes away by bus—or less if you’re traveling on foot— you’ll come across the bustling Pisac Market where you can pick up some unique souvenirs or buy some traditional food. This colorful spot is especially vibrant on Sundays when local musicians come out to entertain the crowd and dancers perform traditional Andean dances. After a full day of exploring Cusco, you’ll board your vehicle for an 8-hour road journey to Puno. Along the way, you’ll stop to visit these lesser-known sites that offer their own unique flairs:

Raqchi’s Temple of Viracocha

The first stop on your journey will be Raqchi’s Temple of Viracocha, an Inca site situated at 12,000 ft above sea level. This once-splendid temple was home to locals for centuries before its destruction during the Spanish conquest. It features a long arcade flanked by trapezoidal stone columns, as well as a majestic central hall where life-sized stone figures were once worshipped.

Andahuaylillas’ Sistine Chapel

Continuing your tour, there’s the Andahuaylillas church, dubbed the Sistine Chapel of America due to its amazing artwork and structural design. The church was built in 1613 and is home to an impressive baroque church richly decorated with fresco paintings, gilt-edged altars and gold-plated altarpieces. It’s a must-see in this region!

The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca

You’ll also have time to visit Lake Titicaca, located at an altitude of 12,500 ft near Puno. Here you’ll find a massive lake dotted with islands made from totora reeds that have been woven together by locals over centuries. Many of these towns have remained isolated even after contact with Europeans centuries ago. Here you can stroll through rural streets and even jump on a boat to explore more distant islands. Finally, after an adventure packed with incredible sights and cultural experiences, you’ll arrive in Puno at 8 PM where you can rest and explore even more of Peru before returning home or moving on to your next destination. Going on such an ambitious tour can wear you out so be sure to rest up and grab something to eat before heading back on your way! For those looking to experience all of this in one day, this full-day sightseeing bus trip between Cusco and Puno offers all these experiences in one convenient trip. Overall, this full-day tour between Cusco and Puno is an awesome way to appreciate Peruvian culture and the most incredible sights that this region has to offer, all in one day! Not only do you have time to explore the historic sites we’ve listed here but also time for lunch, snacks and breaks for photos along the way. Prices are often very affordable too so if you’re short on time, this is definitely the fastest way to experience all the region has to offer while saving money too!