How to get to Tiahuanaco from Puno and La Paz?

When traveling to Puno by land, you’ll journey through the Andean landscapes, passing through the towns of Choquepata, Oropeza, Marangani, Ayaviri, and Juliaca. Many bus companies offer this route to Tiahuanaco, due to the high demand from tourists from all over the world, especially during peak season (December to January and June to August).

Puno is known for its rich cultural and natural heritage, including the floating islands of the Uros people on Lake Titicaca, one of the city’s most important attractions. A short distance from Puno are the islands of Amantani and Taquile, as well as other interesting sites.

The city is also known as the gateway to Bolivia, and to the cities of Copacabana and La Paz. Buses from Cusco arrive in Puno at the Bus Terminal, located on Avenida 1 de Mayo.

How to get to Tiahuanaco from Puno and La Paz?

From Puno

If you are in Peru, a good way to get to Tiahuanaco is by traveling along the shores of Lake Titicaca from the city of Puno.

This route is somewhat unconventional, as most travelers go via Copacabana. To get to Tiahuanaco from Puno, take the road to the town of Desaguadero (the Peru-Bolivia border), a journey of about two and a half hours.

After crossing the border, take Highway 1 towards La Paz, and after about 44 kilometers, you will arrive in Tiahuanaco.

If you are not traveling with your own vehicle, the best option is to take a taxi to Desaguadero, cross the border on foot, and then take transportation to La Paz.

You can take a taxi directly to the town of Tiahuanaco, or you can take a bus to La Paz that will drop you off on the road to the ruins, about one kilometer from the town.

From La Paz

It’s the closest major city to the ruins, located just an hour away by car. From La Paz, you can book day tours, which are quite comfortable and include transportation, lunch, and a guide, allowing you to fully enjoy this site. For more information, check out our Full Day Tiahuanaco tour.

If you don’t have a vehicle, there is public transportation available from the General Cemetery in La Paz (red on the map), with a fare of approximately $2 (15 Bs). For a more comfortable trip, we recommend going to the bus terminal (yellow on the map), where you can travel for about $7 (50 Bs).

If you are traveling independently, keep in mind the opening hours. Tiahuanaco is open from 9:00 to 16:00, so we recommend arriving early to explore the entire site. If, for some reason, you can’t find transportation back to La Paz, you can stay overnight in the small village next to the ruins.