In the last years, Puno has become an alternative point of entrance to Peru, especially for European who after visiting Bolivia enter by the highway La Paz - Desagüadero - Puno. Also navigating by the Titicaca to Juli and then terrestrial way to Puno, beginning there their trip to Peru from south to north, toward Arequipa and/or Cusco.

The air transportation to Puno is carried out from the Manco Capac airport in the city of Juliaca located at 44 kms. (27.3 miles) to the north.

When arriving to Peru from abroad you have several alternatives:

1. - By road or navigating by the Titicaca Lake from Bolivia.

2. - By air to Cusco in international flight and then by air in domestic flight Cusco - Juliaca, or by bus or train Cusco - Puno.

3. - By air to Lima in international flight, and then in domestic flight Lima - Juliaca.

By Air

The transportation to Puno by air is carried out from the Manco Capac airport (JUL) to the city of Juliaca located to the north at 44 kms. (27.3 miles). From Juliaca usually there are daily flights to Lima, and there are also flights from/to Arequipa and Cusco.

From the airport of Juliaca you can be transported to Puno in taxis with an average cost of US$20; in minibuses, with an average cost of US$5 per person. The principal hotels in Puno have transport to the airport.

By Land

From the city of Puno three main highways exist,

Puno-Cusco: From Puno to Juliaca 44 kms. (27.3 miles), from Juliaca to Cusco 345 kms. (214.4 miles); the highest point in this highway reaches up to 4,313 meters above sea level (14,150 feet).

Puno-Arequipa: From Puno to Juliaca 44 kms. (27.3 miles), from Juliaca to Arequipa 281 kms. (174.6 miles), in some points this road reaches up to 4,690 meters above sea level (15,387 feet). It is the advisable route if you want to arrive by bus from Lima to Arequipa 1,009 kms. (627 miles) or any city on the Pan-American Highway.

And a third via, to Puno´s southeast, going by the sides of the Titicaca Lake. It goes by the cities of Chucuito 20 kms. (12.42 miles), Juli 80 kms. (49.7 miles), Pomata 105 kms. (65.2 miles) to Desagüadero 148 kms. (91.9 miles) frontier with Bolivia, and to arrive to La Paz (Bolivia) from Guaqui (frontier with Peru), 112 kms (69.6 miles).

Railroad

Puno-Arequipa: 258 kms. (160.3 miles) approximate time of 10 to 12 hours. Daily departures at night.

Puno - Cusco: 384 kms (238.6 miles) approximate time of 11 hours. Daily departures.

By Lake

In the port of Puno exist medium crafts that carry out trips to Bolivian ports; additionally regular transport exists from Juli and Yunguyo to Bolivian ports.

These trips are carried out amid wonderful landscapes on the highest navigable lake in the world, the Titicaca, and in modern crafts like yachts and catamarans with good service aboard. It can be an unforgettable experience.

Also from Puno you will be able to take smaller crafts that carry out rides and tours to the islands of the Uros, of Taquile and Amantani, and others offer a journey by the areas of the Natural Reserve of the Titicaca.

Communication

Puno has all the modern means of communication in telephony, mail, television, cable television, fax, connections to Internet, courier services.