How many days should be saved for Titicaca?

You will need at least two additional days for Lake Titicaca and that will be pushing it. If you take the bus both ways from Cusco to Puno then you will need three days. The bus ride takes a full day each way.


I did the Lake Titicaca tour through Royal Inka and spent two nights in Puno near Lake Titicaca. I then flew from Juliaca (about 45 minutes away) to Lima where I stayed two additional nights before I flew back.

Unless you can get perfect airline connections I would allocate three additional nights.

I was reading about the train from Cusco to Puno - sounds neat. How was Juliaca? I haven't looked into that one, but it may be worthwhile not having to go all the way back to Cusco before returning to Lima.

The bus from Cusco to Puno is nice enough, similar to what tour outfitter would use in the US. The highway is in good shape too, most of it being pretty level. If I remember it was good bit cheaper than the train to Puno.

I went on a van from the hotel in Puno to the Juliaca airport and arrived in Lima around noon if I remember. So you would need to plan your flights accordingly.