It's kind of a hassle to go by land from Puno to Copacabana, but my husband and I do it all the time. If your Spanish is decent, Peruvians should be more than happy to help get you to the right place at each leg of the trip. In total, the trip from Puno to Copacabana should take about three hours.
Get to the "Terminal Zonal."
Take a cab or mototaxi to the terminal. It shouldn't cost more than four soles (a little over a dollar). There are two different bus terminals in Puno, so make sure you get to the "terminal zonal." Just to make sure, you may want to tell the driver, "Para ir a Yunguyo."
Hop on a van headed to Yunguyo.
If you don't immediately spot the line of vans headed to Yunguyo (there are signs above announcing destinations), ask for "el carro para Yunguyo." Collective vans in Peru are called "carros." (They're called "minibuses" in Bolivia.) Current price is 8 soles (about $2.50).
Once the van has filled with passengers, it's a direct trip to Yunguyo. Passengers will disembark at one of the plazas (about two-and-a-half hours after leaving Puno).
Once the van has filled with passengers, it's a direct trip to Yunguyo. Passengers will disembark at one of the plazas (about two-and-a-half hours after leaving Puno).
Take a cab or mototaxi to the border.
At the plaza, there will be a row of mototaxis waiting to take passengers to the border. There might also be a cab or two. Ask the driver, "A Kasani?" Or, "Hasta la frontera?" The cost should be about 5 soles (less than 2 dollars).
Get your passport stamped at the border.
First you'll need to go to Peruvian immigration to sign out of the country. (Your cab driver can show you where the offices are. There are literally just feet away from where your driver lets you off.)
Next you'll need to walk uphill, through the stone arch. and you'll find Bolivian immigration on the left. There you'll find inefficient immigration officers who will stamp your passport with a scowl. Don't take this personally.
Next you'll need to walk uphill, through the stone arch. and you'll find Bolivian immigration on the left. There you'll find inefficient immigration officers who will stamp your passport with a scowl. Don't take this personally.
Catch a collective van to Copacabana.
You'll just about there! As you walk out of immigration, you'll see a row of white vans on the side of the highway. The drivers will be yelling out "Copacabana!" Hop on one of these vans (called a "minibus") and once it fills up, it's a ten-minute ride to Copacabana. Your cost shouldn't be more than four bolivianos (less than a dollar). The driver's last stop is Plaza Sucre, where you'll want to get off.