Bus vs plane for altitude acclimation
 

Leaving Chivay for Puno -can take plane or bus (plane is included as a stopover) - is one better than another for acclimating to altitudes

Are you going to be spending time in Chivay? Because Puno is only 500 feet higher. The difference in altitude between the two is negligible. Besides the altitude question, we took a bus and the road between the two had some nice scenery, high altitude lakes, lots of llama and alpaca, flamingos, and really nice views of the volcanoes.

take the bus as it is only about 3 hrs.

There is no airport in Chivay. There is no airport in Puno.

If you are flying that means you are taking the bus back to Arequipa, which means you will be going back over "Mirador de las Andes" pass at 4910 meters (16, 108 feet)..talk about altitude! Then flying to Juliaca, then taking the bus to Puno.

It is far more efficient and scenic to take the bus (4-M) directly from Chivay to Puno. If you want to acclimate do some hiking around Chivay, or Yanque, down to the river and back up should do it!!

I think that answers it.........BUS!

www.4m-express.com always best way to do this,
No airport in Chivay or Puno more $ no altitude adjustment advantage.Passes over 14000 ft into the Colca Canyon
take plenty of time in Arequipa 7000 ft to adjust take a preventive like Diamox or risk getting very sick.
Respsct altitude one poor Brit student died from it about a year back around Titicaca. Very sad and totally preventible with proper medical advice.

mdtravelhealth.com Peru best AI info Have fun!