Cuzco to Puno, Peru: 16th Feb 10

Today we took the bus from Cuzco to Puno, stopping at various sites along the way.

First up was the village of Andahuaylillas, which has a spectacular church, complete with amazing frescoes.



Next up was the village of Raqchi and the ruins of the temple of Viracocha, which once had the largest Inca roof ever.

Then we stopped at a viewpoint at the highest point on the route – 4,335m above sea level – where we saw snow-capped mountains.


Feeling slightly breathless our final stop was a small village which is home to one of the oldest Inca sites, and a run-down but very atmospheric church. It’s also the place where they make ceramic pigs which the indigenous people all over Peru put on top of their houses - we never did find out why!


We arrived in Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca in the early evening. It’s in a beautiful setting, in-between hills and the lake, but the town itself is UGLY with a capital Ugg. It looks like there’s been a war here – with lots of the buildings unfinished and looking like they’re about to collapse. We also ate the worst meal ever in the town’s ‘best’ restaurant - a very odd place indeed! Tomorrow we’re off to Bolivia!