Bus Ride to Puno

It's day 6 of our Peruvian tour and we will travel from Cusco to Puno. We start today's journey with a short ride through Cusco in a small bus to a bus terminal where we transfer to a larger motor-coach for the remainder of our trip. As we pass through Cusco we pass by an old railroad engine near the train station.


Soon after leaving Cusco we are pass through wide valleys of the Andes Mountain Range as we climb higher into the mountains.

School Visit

Our first stop of the day is at the Virgen de Fatima school in Ttio, Quiquijana District. Gate 1 has pledged to support this school and provides school supplies and materials to the school. Tour passengers can also participate by donating supplies and delivering the supplies personally.



When we arrived at the school one of the classes were brushing their teeth at a polyethylene water tank that was provided to the school by Gate 1.


Meeting the principal of the school and members of the tour group presenting their supplies.


Supplies donated to the school by Gate 1 on this visit.


Scenes from a class room:




Outside view of the school.

Main street of Ttio.


A view from the school courtyard of the Moon setting over the mountain.


We were soon back on the motor-coach and climbing higher into the mountains.

Raqchi and Temple of Wiracocha

Our next stop is in the town of Raqchi where we visit the Incan archaeological site  of the Temple of Wiracocha.

Picnic Lunch

As we continue our trek to Puno, our tour stops at a waterfall to enjoy a boxed lunch picnic and meet some of the locals.

Mountain pass at La Raya 

At La Raya we reach the highest altitude of our trip, 4335 meters (14,222 feet).


Panoramic view, click photo to enlarge.

Roadside Meal

As we travel through the high mountain valley it's time for a rest stop. Our tour manager recommended the roast lamb, which was sold from a table next to the road.


Our tour manager and bus drivers at a roadside table. Mary selected a table with shade.

Puno and Lake Titicaca

As the daylight starts to fade into the evening, our motor-coach stops at an overlook for a view of Puno and Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 12,421 feet above sea level.

Puno

After a long day of traveling, we arrive at the town squire in Puno at 5:40PM.