| Route | Travel time | Distance |
| Cusco – Puno | 7h-8h | 387km/240 miles |
| Arequipa – Puno | 6h-6.5h | 294km/182 miles |
| La Paz – Puno | 5h (+ border control) | 263km/163miles |
If you’re brave, there’s also the option of getting to Lake Titicaca by car. Remember to watch that altitude, though! The highway reaches 4,313 meters above sea level at the highest point, which can be really dangerous for drivers not used to these conditions.
You’ll typically arrive in Puno from the north (through Juliaca) or the south (through Chucuito). From Cusco, you will drive southwest to Juliaca and from there further on to Puno (387km/240 miles). If you want to break up the journey, you can make a stop at Pukarani for some hiking and stunning mountain landscapes.
You will also head towards Juliaca from Arequipa, driving right through the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. It’s worthwhile to make a stop in this nature reserve if your itinerary allows it. It’s famous for volcanoes, rock formations, salt lagoons, and herds of llamas roaming around.
You can also get to Puno from La Paz by driving along the coast of Lake Titicaca via Guaqui, Pomata, and Chucuito (263km/163miles). If you’re coming this way, it makes sense to make a quick detour to Copacabana and stay there for a night or two to explore that side of the lake.
Adding Copacabana to your itinerary will only cost you an extra 30km drive and $0.3 for the ferry to cross the Tiquina Strait, so go for it if time allows.