Puno and Lake Titicaca
Route of the Sun Cusco – Puno
The trip between Cusco and Puno turned into a guided tour: Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya Pass, and the Pukará Lithic Museum. With buffet lunch, reclining seats, oxygen on board, and Wi-Fi.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local Cusco agency since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup from your accommodation between 6 and 6:40 a.m.
Commentary in English, Spanish, or Portuguese throughout the tour
The Andahuaylillas chapel, the Raqchi archaeological complex, La Raya Pass, and the Pukará Lithic Museum
We confirm your booking in under 2 hours
The trip between Cusco and Puno turned into a full-day guided tour
The Route of the Sun makes the most of the trip between Cusco and Puno and turns it into a day of guided visits, instead of spending eight hours looking out the window of a regular bus. The first stop is the 17th-century Andahuaylillas chapel (3,093 m / 10,150 ft), known as the Sistine Chapel of the Andes for its murals, gold leaf work, and Cusco School paintings.
The route continues to the Raqchi archaeological complex, the temple of the god Wiracocha, with the largest concentration of colcas, or Inca storehouses. Then come a buffet lunch in Sicuani; La Raya Pass, at 4,335 m (14,220 ft), the natural border between Cusco and Puno next to the Chimboya snow peak; and the Pukará Lithic Museum, with ceramics and sculptures from a culture that flourished between 1600 BC and AD 400.
It costs US$ 65 per person and includes bilingual guided visits, buffet lunch, transportation with reclining seats, oxygen equipment and a first aid kit, Wi-Fi on board, and chargers. It is the best way to make the most of the trip from Cusco to Lake Titicaca or the Uros Islands.
Andahuaylillas, the Sistine Chapel of the Andes
17th-century church with murals, gold leaf, and Cusco School paintings, one of the most impressive interiors in southern Peru.
Raqchi, the temple of Wiracocha
The sanctuary dedicated to the supreme deity of the Incas, with the largest concentration of colcas (storehouses) and stone and adobe buildings.
La Raya Pass, at 4,335 m
The natural border between Cusco and Puno, next to the Chimboya snow peak, where the Amazon River has its source. 5 to 7-minute photo stop.
Pukará Lithic Museum
Ceramics and zoomorphic sculptures from a culture that flourished between 1600 BC and AD 400, including the famous Hatunñaqac figure.
Itinerary
Your full day, step by step: the Route of the Sun between Cusco and Puno
- 6 – 6:40 a.m. · Pickup from your accommodationThe tour starts at 7 a.m., in a vehicle with reclining seats, Wi-Fi on board, and phone chargers.
- Andahuaylillas chapel (3,093 m)Guided visit to the 17th-century church known as the Sistine Chapel of the Andes, with its murals, gold leaf, and Cusco School paintings.
- Raqchi Archaeological ComplexA walk through the temple of the god Wiracocha, with the largest number of colcas, or storehouses, and stone and adobe buildings.
- Sicuani · Buffet lunch at La PascanaLunch included, with Peruvian and regional food, starters, fresh vegetables, sides, desserts, and hot drinks.
- La Raya Pass (4,335 m)A 5 to 7-minute photo stop on the border between Cusco and Puno, next to the Chimboya snow peak, where the Amazon River has its source.
- Pukará Lithic Museum (3,900 m / 12,800 ft)Guided visit to the museum, with ceramics and zoomorphic sculptures, including the famous Hatunñaqac figure.
- Arrival at your destinationThe tour ends at the end of the route.
What's included in your Route of the Sun tour?
No surprises and no fine print: this is exactly what the service covers and what you will pay separately on the day of the tour.
1 day (Full Day)
3,827 m (12,560 ft) above sea level (La Raya Pass at 4,335 m)
Daily departure; the tour starts at 7 a.m.
English, Spanish, or Portuguese
Included
- Bilingual guided visits (English, Spanish, or Portuguese) at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, and Pukará
- Buffet lunch at La Pascana tourist restaurant, near Sicuani, with Peruvian and regional food and hot drinks
- Transportation with comfortable reclining seats
- Oxygen equipment and first aid kit
- Wi-Fi on board where there is signal, and phone chargers
Not included
- Entrance to the archaeological sites (S/ 50 in total)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Additional drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
Note: entrance to the archaeological sites costs S/ 50 per person in total and is paid separately along the way. The buffet lunch at La Pascana is included, with starters, sides, desserts, and hot drinks. Before you buy this tour, please get in touch with us.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions, so you can book with peace of mind.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Route of the Sun?
It is a good idea. The route crosses La Raya Pass, at 4,335 m, and ends in Puno, at 3,827 m. The bus carries oxygen equipment and a first aid kit, but ideally you should already have spent a few days at altitude before the trip.
How difficult is the tour?
Easy. It is a road trip with guided stops and short walks at each site. The most tiring parts are the length of the day and the altitude at La Raya Pass.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
Entrance to the archaeological sites, which costs S/ 50 per person in total. Bring cash in soles.
What time does it start and how long does it take?
We pick you up at your accommodation between 6 and 6:40 a.m., and the tour starts at 7 a.m. It is a full day of travel between Cusco and Puno.
What should I bring?
Layered clothing and a windbreaker for La Raya Pass, comfortable shoes, a warm hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, cash in soles for the entrance fees, and your passport.
How do booking and payment work?
Before you buy this tour, please contact us to confirm availability and the direction of travel. Then we agree with you on the exact pickup point and time. We have English-speaking guides.
What happens if the weather gets in the way?
The route runs year-round. In the rainy or snowy season, there may be delays at the mountain pass. If there is any problem on the road, we agree with you on the best possible alternative.
How much does the Route of the Sun from Cusco to Puno cost?
The price is US$ 65 per person. It includes bilingual guided visits at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, and Pukará, the buffet lunch at La Pascana restaurant in Sicuani with hot drinks, transportation with reclining seats, oxygen equipment and a first aid kit, Wi-Fi on board where there is signal, and phone chargers. Entrance to the archaeological sites costs S/ 50 in total and is paid separately.
How long does the trip take and in which direction does it run?
It is a full day of travel: pickup from your accommodation is between 6 and 6:40 a.m., and the tour starts at 7 a.m., arriving at your destination in the afternoon. The route runs between Cusco and Puno, with guided stops along the way; when you book, confirm with us the direction you need.
Is it worth it compared with a regular bus?
If you are making the trip anyway, yes: for a price close to that of a tourist bus, the Route of the Sun turns eight hours on the road into four guided visits (an outstanding colonial church, an Inca temple, a mountain pass, and a lithic museum), with lunch included and without losing an extra travel day. If you just want to get there fast and spend little, a regular direct bus is a better fit.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).