Cusco to Copacabana Bus (2024 Prices)

Several buses connect Cusco to Copacabana.

I was torn between the different companies. The most luxurious one is Peru Tour, reserved for fragile tourists like me, as they even pump oxygen into the bus (for those suffering from altitude sickness like me). They stop for 3 hours in Puno and offer a tour of the floating islands of Puno during that time.

For tourists in a hurry, it can be a good option, but it’s pricey (minimum $50). Since I’ve already visited Puno, I’ll gladly skip that stop.

We chose Transzela (departure at 10:30 PM) 90 soles per person. Online reviews aren’t the most flattering, but we have no complaints about them. Uber is available in Cusco, so to get to the bus terminal, we just called an Uber (15 soles).

You need to pay 1.5 soles per person in terminal fees (otherwise you won’t board the bus), so always keep some change before heading to Bolivia.

The seats are comfortable, you can recline them well and get a good night’s sleep. There are even blankets. There’s just a 1-hour stop in Puno around 7 AM, which allows me to grab a bite to eat.

For the border crossing, it’s straightforward: everyone gets off at the same time (without luggage), we show our passports at the Peruvian border (no exit stamp), then walk 10 meters and show them at the Bolivian border (where you get a stamp). We arrive in Copacabana around 10 AM. Boats to Isla del Sol depart at 1:30 PM.

JB exchanged money at the Peruvian border, and the exchange rates are better than the official ones.