Route of the Sun Scenic Bus Journey Cusco to Puno with Lunch

Andahuaylillas, the Sistine Chapel of the Andes

Andahuaylillas is a small village about 40 kilometres south-east of Cusco, known for its 17th-century church of San Pedro Apostol. The plain white exterior hides a richly painted interior, with gilded altars, murals and a painted ceiling that led writers to call it the Sistine Chapel of the Andes. It blends Spanish colonial and local Andean styles, with details that reflect local plants and beliefs.

Your bilingual guide explains the murals and the mix of cultures in the church. The stop is short but rewarding, and the small plaza is pleasant. Entrance tickets to Andahuaylillas are paid on site and are not included in this tour. It is the first stop on the Route of the Sun tour, and the best way to see the church without a car.

Raqchi, the Inca temple of Wiracocha

Raqchi is an Inca archaeological site near the town of San Pedro, dedicated to Wiracocha, the creator god. Its centrepiece is a massive wall of stone and adobe, once part of a huge temple that was among the largest single-roofed buildings of the Inca world. Around it are storehouses, houses and a volcanic landscape of black lava fields.

The scale of the wall is striking, and the guide explains how the Incas built it and how the site was used for worship and storage on the royal road. The site is an important stop on the way to Lake Titicaca. Entrance tickets to Raqchi are paid on site and are not included. Photographs work well in the late morning light.

La Raya pass and the high plateau

La Raya is the high pass that marks the border between the Cusco and Puno regions, at around 4,300 metres above sea level. It is one of the highest points on the journey, and from here you see snow-capped peaks, high pastures and herds of alpacas. Local women often sell woollen goods and souvenirs at the roadside.

The stop is short because the air is thin and cold, so wear a warm jacket and hat. The road then descends towards the plains of Puno. If you search for how to travel from Cusco to Puno with sightseeing, the Route of the Sun is the classic answer, and this high pass is one of its most memorable moments.

Pucara, lunch and arrival in Puno

The tour stops at the Pucara Lithic Museum, which displays carved stone monuments from the ancient Pucara culture, an important civilisation that flourished on the Altiplano before the Incas. Entrance to the museum is paid on site. A buffet lunch is served in Marangani-Sicuani, and a welcome snack box with water, juice and a cereal snack is provided, with tea and coffee.

The coach leaves from the tour terminal in Cusco at around 06:10, with the exact address in your booking confirmation. The journey lasts about 11 hours and ends in Puno in the early evening, so the trip is one way. On board there is Wi-Fi, a restroom, heating and air conditioning, and an oxygen tank for altitude comfort. Ask us about luggage before you travel.