Our journey started in Cusco from Wanchaq Train station where we boarded the Peru Rail Titicaca train to Puno and Lake Titicaca.
The route spans 385 kilometres (239 miles) and traverses the stunning high-altitude plains of the Peruvian Altiplano. Some would say this is one of the 10 most famous train journeys in the world.
So here we were at the station boarding our train that would provide lunch, wine and entertainment and allow us to visit the observation carriage at the rear.
The ten-hour journey passes through the beautiful landscape of the Andean mountains, stopping only briefly at La Raya, the highest point on the route.
Then we all reboarded the train for the remainder of the journey, passing through Juliaca before reaching Puno.
The direction we were heading was towards Bolivia.
Puno is two and a half hours from the border with Bolivia. From the border, it is another two hours to La Paz.
However, all week we were conscious of news of unrest in La Paz, Bolivia. The indigenous people were blocking the main roads from the border to La Paz.
Our plans on arrival in Puno were to stay two nights before driving five hours over the border to La Paz.
As we would be arriving late by train in Puno, the following day would be exploring Lake Titicaca and the communities of the Uros and Tequila Islands.
We did arrive as planned around 6pm that evening and were met by our driver and guide who took us to our hotel.
Our hotel, the Casa Andina, was located on the edge of the lake. It’s garden area had beautiful cacti and orange flowers that were frequented by humming birds.
Our plans had been changed. The agent informed us that they could no longer cross the border, and as a result, our time on Lake Titicaca would be cut short to include only a half-day tour of the Uros Islands and the indigenous community.
We would then drive an hour back to Juliaca to take a flight back to Lima and then another flight to Cusco.
We would stay the night at our favourite hotel the Antigua San Blas and then fly to La Paz from Cusco.
The altitude here in Puno started to get to me. I struggled to fully catch my breath after a few steps, but relaxing helped me get though it. oxygen was on hand in the hotel if needed.
The following morning, after a basic breakfast, our guide picked us up, and after a short drive, we boarded a large boat suited to around 20 passengers and headed out onto Lake Titicaca.
