Cusco to Puno Tour: Uros & Taquile Review (2024)

Looking to get from Cusco to Puno and also wanting to see some of Peru’s neat spots along the way? A two-day tour hitting Lake Titicaca, Los Uros, and Taquile Island could be just what you’re looking for. This trip is more than just getting from one point to another; so it’s like, you get a cool peek into some unique cultures and amazing scenery. This write-up is my take on the journey, what stood out, and stuff to think about if you’re thinking of doing the same, too.

First Impressions: Getting Started

The tour started early in Cusco, and like your typical start of a trip, I was jazzed and maybe slightly sleepy. The ride was planned to be packed, including pit stops to scope out some places on the way to Puno, yet offering cool insights into Peru’s landscape and old happenings. These stops definitely help slice up the travel time and gives you lots of snaps and spots to stretch. Anyway, this tour is not like a crazy super luxurious thing, and you need to go into it sort of ready for long hours on the bus.

Stops Along the Way: A Glimpse of Peru

The stops during the trip are totally one of the best things. We swung by Andahuaylillas, also known as the “Sistine Chapel of America.” It’s almost an old church with killer artwork that had me just staring at it forever. Very next was Raqchi, the ruins of a pretty important Inca temple. So it gives you this cool sense of how ingenious the Incas were. The tour guides usually have cool facts and histories. So, pay attention, since it just makes the places way more real. A bit further we checked out La Raya, which is like, the highest spot on the road between Cusco and Puno, and so you could soak in the huge mountain view. Make sure to bundle up. It gets kinda nippy up there. For eats, expect kinda buffet style stuff which is more or less convenient if not super top notch.

Lake Titicaca: Floating on Tradition at Los Uros

Coming up to Lake Titicaca was very cool. The trip to the Uros Islands is pretty unreal. You know, these islands are, actually created by hand from totora reeds, so, pretty cool? You get the scoop on how the people make and keep up these islands, and also see how they go about their lives. It’s very touristy, in fact, and you are shown tons of woven goods and handy crafts. I kinda felt bad, since the pressure to buy stuff is hard to shrug off. Try and keep in mind that buying helps to sustain them, yet you might feel a tiny bit uncomfortable, arguably.

Taquile Island: A Weaving Wonderland

After Uros, we then moved on to Taquile Island, which provided a seriously different vibe. The place is super chill, the landscapes are so gorgeous. So you get stunning shots of the lake. The island is known for its awesome textiles, knitting done by the men is part of their traditions. You may have to hike a fair amount of steps to reach the major village. Just make sure you pace yourself if you are not acclimated. I had lunch on Taquile, where they gave us freshly caught fish from the lake. It was yummy and very straightforward, basically showcasing area flavors.

Puno Arrival and Beyond

We got to Puno in the late arvo on the second day, which wrapped the tour up. Puno is more or less the spot from where to launch expeditions around Lake Titicaca. After I settled, I went around a bit. You know, scoped out a few eats and absorbed the vibe. While Puno itself is cool, the primary attraction remains clearly, Lake Titicaca and the different societies nestled around its shores.

What I Liked a Lot

• The Stops On the Way: These stops helped make a usually dull travel day fun with historical context.
• Cultural Experience: You know, the visit to the Uros and Taquile gave some very amazing peek into area cultures.
• Lake Views: Seriously wonderful.

Stuff That Could be Smoother

• The Push to Buy: It may feel like the Uros people need you to buy their items.
• Buffet Quality: Most buffets felt kinda okay. Don’t hope for amazing dishes on this journey.
• Lengthy Days: These travels could be tiresome, just get geared up.

Is This Trip Worth It?

So, is the 2-day trip worth it? In my experience I feel this trip gives an affordable way of traveling to Puno from Cusco with a taste of spots along the way, definitely. If you are good with early days and lots of travel, then so you might dig this trip for that reason. For people wanting a deeper cultural dive or wanting very comfortable and quick travel may want other choices. Very obviously, you gotta tweak hopes to vibe, schedule and the kinda trips that appeal to you. If cultural learning matters to you more than travel comfort, it’s probably awesome.

This adventure brings an outstanding mix of stunning landscapes and deep local immersion. If seeing some Incan sites along the journey to Lake Titicaca sounds enticing, I would surely suggest the tour. Don’t go expecting this lavish vacation; see it instead, similarly to the middle point between 2 vacation spots that comes with a small adventure built in!

Extra Tips for the Tour

• Elevation: Make sure you are acclimated to Peru’s elevations before traveling in the highlands to just skip being sick on the way.
• What to Pack: Put sunscreen, lots of layers, sturdy shoes, and also cash for the shopping trips on islands into your bag.
• Photography: I feel that, respect where ever you are taking photos, particularly when shooting local people up close.
• Learn Phrases: Picking up a couple Spanish phrases helps to enrich communication with the locals in the islands.

Concluding Thoughts

That tour between Cusco and Puno with pit stops in Lake Titicaca is just really great. The opportunity of going to the Islands, checking Incan locations, and gazing at Lake Titicaca more or less gave some fantastic stories. Do some research and consider whether it gels the way you love traveling to get the finest out of this singular region in Peru.

I am definitely, happy that I gave that Lake Titicaca trip between Cusco to Puno trip a shot. It isn’t everyday that one gets to scope ancient islands crafted using hand while witnessing old tradition. I totally got what I was searching for, since I managed expectation up front!