My wife and I are traveling from la paz up to Cuzco, however we planned to relax for 2 nights in Puno. During the day, I figured we'd spend some time exploring the reed islands. However, we will be a bit tired from our hectic schedule in Bolivia and we are look mostly to relax. With this in mind, can anyone recommend a good hotel/hostal in Puno. We don't mind paying a little extra for a good bed.
Also, after Puno we planed to take the Andean Explorer up to Cuzco. Does anyone have experience with this? It is a bit pricey, but again, we are looking for relaxing and peace of mind from the backpacker thefts that seem to occur a bunch on these trains. I'd be interested to hear any inputs.
Thanks,
Joe
venablej
1
Greatgazzbo
I would suggest that rather than Puno, go to Copacabana (its on your way from La Paz to Cusco) then spend a couple of nights on Isla Del Sol. Magical place, no cars, the most relaxing place in Bolivia / Peru.
2
barbara123
The train theft problem that's still reported in some of the guidebooks is information that's many years old and is definitely no longer accurate. Aside from the Huancayo/Huancavelica train, Peruvian trains are filled with foreign tourists just like yourself. Apparently the professional thieves who used to be such a problem on the trains are now taking the faster and cheaper buses.
While some stuff, most notably prices and hotel/restaurant listing, is updated with each new edition of a travel guidebook, a lot of other stuff is recycled from previous editions. Your guidebook may say 2006 or even 2007, but chances are a lot of its contents are based on research that hasn't been updated for 10 or even 20 years. Guidebooks are still useful, but it's wise to take some of their "information" with a big grain of salt.
The place in Puno that I recommend is El Pino, just off the park by the same name. It's cheap, but still has comfortable beds and hot showers. The family that runs it is really nice, and they can sign you up for lake or ruins tours at the same price as if you booked directly with the travel agency.
And you're smart to allow for a little rest and recovery time in your schedule. If you're going to be traveling in the harsh Bolivian altiplano, you're going to be wanting some comforts when you cross the border into Peru!
3
mande
Regarding a hotel in Puno: Hotel Hacienda.....it's listed in the latest version of the Lonely Planet book. I believe my husband and I paid around $35 or $40. It was really nice, excellent bathroom. The hallways and rooms have fantastic windows so you can see Lake Titicaca. Also, there breakfast room is on the fifth or sixth floor, all windows.....what a nice view! Staff are great as well.
If interested, you may want to make a reservation. We hadn't made a reservation for our one-night stay in Puno in advance...and it was All Ways Travel (in Puno) that found this for us after three other hotels we had tried were already booked. (We were in contact w/ them to book our half-day trip of the floating islands, as well as transportation from Juliaca to Puno.)
Good luck!
4
venablej
Thanks to everyone for their replies.
Just curious, has anyone used INKA EXPRESS to travel from Puno to Cuzco?
http://www.inkaexpress.com/</a><BR><BR>Joe
5
verovero_2001
hi joe the inca express is a good bus better than First class bus, but the train is the best option,, the landscapes are so nice it is a luxury class, but just leaves on monday, sednesday, friday and saturday.
and about a good hotel to relax in Puno could be LIBERTADOR HOTEL , which is in a steves island, iti is expensive, or a little cheaper but located in a good place could be Sonesta posada del inca hotel, or if you want a different hotel is the taypikala hotel which is located in Chucuito at 20 minutos from Puno.
i hope it helps
take care.
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