1

Looks like your schedule is too tight. Puno is made up mainly of concrete and clay brick buildings. What's good about it is Titikaka lake and the islands.But you'd need two days, with overnight home stay on Amantani or Taquile. If not, don't bother and go to Iquitos.

2

The tour to the floating islands is OK to see, but certainly "touristy". Puno is underwhelming. If I had to drop one item from my schedule, this would be it. But since you are considering adding it, I don't know what to say.

Would you have regrets in years to come if you missed it? Then go.

3

I agree with the general impression voiced above. Titicaca is amazing, but you'll be cheating yourself if you only give it <2 days and you'll short the other destinations on your trip to get there. Spend the extra time in the Sacred Valley on your way back from Machu Picchu...a full day each in Ollantaytambo and Pisac should make you feel pretty good about life.

4

Titicaca lake is very beautiful, although I have been only on the Bolivian side. Cuzco itself is quite small - one day is enough there. I actually think you definitely have time, so if you don't mind the extra effort and expense, definitely do it.

5

To be brutal Puno is a tip. Lake Titicaca is nicer from the Bolivian side and on your tight schedule I wouldn't recomend travelling there, you would be talking about scrubbing a few days off places you are going to. If you can avoid going to Puno then do so.

6

Cuzco may indeed be small, but one day is nowhere near enough time to take the city in. Unless you just hate history, food, vibrant indigenous culture, museums, beautiful architecture, live music, good nightlife, walks through beautiful countryside and knowing you're in a living city that was laid out and build by the most powerful indigenous American empire of all time. In which case you should totally just give Cuzco a day. But otherwise, I suggest you give it all the time you can muster.

7

The Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca are magical and unique: there's nowhere else like it in the world that I can think of but agree they are somewhat touristy.

#2's question is what you need to ask yourself: "would you regret it in years to come if you didn't go?". Frankly I would go.

One night in Puno is all you need as the Uros Island tour can be completed in half a day.
Agree with #5, Puno is dodgy with plenty of crime - nearby Juliaca is worse!
In Puno you can stay a mile out of town at the lakeside Andina Private Collection - safe but expensive.

BTW La Raya Pass at 14,000 feet is a midway tourist bus stop between Cusco & Puno with fantastic mountain views and really cheap local handicrafts such as alpaca sweaters. I travelled on a Condor Tours bus from Cusco-Puno and recommend them for safe comfortable travel with good local guides.

Copacabana & Sun Island on the Bolivian side of Titicaca are interesting but IMO give the Uros Islands priority.

Edited by: chris1953

Edited by: chris1953

Edited by: chris1953

8

I never said that it is not an interesting place. On the contrary! I would encourage anybody to visit. However, to see it 1 day is enough. If you just like the vibe, or have friends there, or just enjoy being there, by all means - stay as long as you want. Is this extra time necessary to visit Cuzco, get to know the historic center, stare at the stonework, etc. - well, no. Most people have limitations to vacation time, both because of the costs (you are paying for hotel, food, etc.), and because either they are employed and their vacation time is limited, or they have a business, and every day they are away they are probably losing money. Cuzco is NOT a cheap city to visit by South American standards at least. It's overrun by foreign tourists - it's inevitable as the place is interesting and a tourist hub of a very interesting region.

Everyone is different. If I were retired, had all the time in the world, and was not paying for travel expense out of my pocket, I would be also "soaking in atmosphere". But unfortunately it's not the case, so I have to be efficient with my time. Beyond a full day well spent in Cuzco there will not be much that you have not seen. It's enough to enjoy the architecture, eat some excellent food, and take in the atmosphere (or what's left of it by mass tourism). You will see beautiful countryside as you visit nearby towns, and particularly as you take a train to Machu Picchu. I don't sincerely understand how not wasting time unnecessarily means I hate history. Peru is a fascinating country to visit, and unless you have a month to take a vacation - or more - you have to budget your time to see many other fascinating places in Peru.

9

LIke #6, I too, would certainly disagree with the Russian's from Miami comment in post#4 about Cuzco. Absolutely one of the finest cities of Peru that deserves three or more days. However elruso explained in his other post that he was on tight schedule with limited time.

10

I didn't claim you hate history, and I'm not trying to attack you or your travel style. But you are the only person I've ever heard of who thinks that Cuzco can be "done" in a day. I'm 24 and a graduate student--hardly a retiree rolling in money--and I feel like I barely scratched the surface in 4 days. But your point about efficiency is well-taken. We all make do with the time we have. I would just spend my time in Cuzco! :)

11

I'll add to the chorus urging you not to cut your time in Cusco to one day. That seems absurd to me. There are a number of amazing places to see: Sacsayhuanan and associated Inca ruins, Quoricancha, the superb Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, several cathedrals, Inka Museum, and Center for Traditional Textiles, to name some of them.

And if for some reason you would run out of things to do in Cusco, it's easy to get to Pisac, Chincheros, etc in the Sacred Valley.

Have fun.

12

Two years ago, my boyfriend and I went to Peru for a short 15 days. We spent 3 in Cuzco (could have stayed there much longer) getting acclimated, and I would not spend less than this. We couldn't do much the first day, and the second day I still occasionally got winded from walking up the steps of our hostel. We also did the Salkantay trek (which was amazing. Difficult, but amazing. We didn't book it in advance, just found a place once in Cuzco, and ended up paying 3x less than people who booked in from America). After one more day in Cuzco, we had the choice between Lake Titicaca and Arequipa, which we also heard good things about. We chose Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, and I maybe regretted the decision. You will need to move fast, however, since you will want to spend one night on the islands in the middle of the lake, and sometimes the travel in Peru can't be counted on to leave on time. From Arequipa, we flew to Lima, then to Iquitos for a few days. It was short and we were on the move most of the time, but those times we weren't on the move, the trip was absolutely incredible. I say you do as much as you can with the time you have.

13

Hi.
I live in Cusco. I work in a tourism. So in 20 days you can visit many places.
1.- Cusco 2 days in Cusco. Do the City Tour and sacred Valley Tour.
2. Salkantay Trek in Cusco (3-7) Good trek
3. Puno (8-10)
4. Arequipa (11-14) Colca Canyon Tour - City tour Arequipa.
5.- Flight Arequipa to Lima (15) Lima to Iquitos
6.- Iquitos 05days/04 night and return the 20th day to Lima and at night you can take your international flight.
Regards

14

it worth visit Tititcac yes for 2 days 1 night
that mean you need organize your time in Peru !!!
in case you have more days you can visit Colca Canyon

But it is depend of your Days
:)