Puno
( 3.827 meters) above sea level |
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Map of Puno |
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Festivals and legends on the edge of Titicaca
Located on the Andean plateau, this region is dominated by Lake Titicaca, sacred place of the Incas and home to natural and artificial islands. There are pre-Hispanic archaeological sites with circular constructions that still go by their original name of “chullpas”. Its churches are characterized by their distinctive colonial architecture. Its inhabitants are proud of their Quechua and Aymara past, and their folkloric tradition that can be seen every year in the form of dances and rituals during the Candelaria festival. Puno is a legend, a multicolored festival, and home to natural and artificial islands.
Find out more about Puno
Living culture and nature:
Fans of community tourism, archaeology enthusiasts, admirers of religious monuments, handicraft collectors, those interested by local traditions and customs and wildlife and adventure sports lovers.
Puno is a legend, a multicolored festival, and home to natural and artificial islands.
Location: Located in the mountainous south of Peru, it shares a border with Bolivia. The land is more or less flat, because much of it is on the Collao plateau.
2 daysminimum |
1/2 day: City of Puno 1 day: The islands – Uros and Taquile 1 day: Chucuito, Juli and Pomata. 1 day: Sillustani and Cutimbo. 1 day: Lampa, Tinajani and Pucará. 1 – 2 days: Llachón. 1 – 2 days: Capachica Peninsula (Llachón and Tikonata Island). 2 days: The Uros – Amantaní and Taquile islands. |
Recommended for
Devotees of experiential tourism: who will enjoy visiting the islands of Taquile, Amantari
and Tikonta as well as the town of Llachón.
Archaeology aficionados: who should not miss visiting the Sillustani and Cutimbo complexes.
Admirers of religious monuments: who will be able to admire churches in the towns of Juli, Chucuito and Lampa, as well as in Puno.
Popular tradition enthusiasts: who can take part in the Our Lady of Candlemas festival, one of the most important in Peru.
Handicraft collectors: who can buy souvenirs in markets and shops in Puno and also on the Uros islands. Unique pottery can be purchased in Pucará.
Adventure Wildlife lovers: who will be astonished by the vicuñas on the islands of Umayo and Anapia. Then there is the lake itself, where they will find native fish, amphibian, and bird species, like the Titicaca grebe.
Adventure sport aficionados: who will be able to kayak on the world’s highest navigable lake and also mountain bike on trails above 9840 fasl. Also offered is sport fishing on the lake.
What to buy?
Main crafts made in the area are textiles and other garments made out from alpaca, llama and sheep’s wool. Also made there are traditional musical instruments, like the siku (wind instrument) and the charango (guitar-like instrument). In regards to pottery, the most interesting pieces are the Toritos de Pucará (little bull statues) and the Ekeko, a statue that has good luck charms hung on it.
What to eat?
Puno is the realm of the nourishing ram’s head soup, which you eat by slurping small and steamy sips so your body gets used to the harsh weather of the Altiplano. Traditional dishes from Puno include ingredients found throughout the Andean region, like cheese, potatoes, quinoa, mutton, pork and alpaca. Exotic products from Lake Titicaca, like silverfish (which come from Argentina) and trout (from North America) have been perfectly assimilated into the people’s diet and to
restaurants. The city of Puno offers a range of different restaurants, serving a wide array of food, but most people prefer pasta, meat, soups and creams.
Typical dishes Puno
Chairo o Chayro: It is a thick and tasty with potatoes, potato flour, meat and other ingredients soup. Very tasty and high nutritional value. It is the favorite soup of villagers returning after finishing a day. It is a hearty stew made with lamb, chalona (dried lamb), vegetables (carrot, celery, beans, garlic, onion), potato, black potato flour, salt and oregano.
Suck quinoa: It is a very nutritious dish. It is based on quinoa, cooked in cold water without salt. It is added vegetables. All ingredients in a pot of salted water, head and spine of the fish or seafood to be cooked. Strain the broth and puts the vegetables, potatoes, quinoa and fish. Is put in hot oil to fry onions and tomatoes are added.
Thimpo de Carachi: It is prepared with fish Carachi, typical of Lake Titicaca measuring 10 to 15 cm fish. The carachi is high in phosphorus. If you want you can use mackerel or mauri instead of carachi. It served with potatoes and whole chuños, muña, onion, garlic and chili.
Size: 71,999 km2 (27,799 sq.miles).
Huajsapata Hill – Puno excursions
Visiting Hours : Monday – Sunday: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. Free admission Location : 4 blocks from the Plaza de Armas, towards the west of the city. Puno Natural viewpoint from which visitors can see the city and...
Deustua Arch – attractions Deustua
Visiting Hours : Monday – Sunday: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. Free admission. Location : Jr. Independencia block 2. Puno Built in stone carved by the Puno people in memory of the patriots who fought for Peruvian independence.
Carlos Dreyer Museum – Puno attractions
Visiting Hours : Monday – Saturday 9.00 am – 7.00 pm. Location : Conde de Lemos street 289. Puno The museum exhibits pottery, gold and silver objects, textiles and stone sculptures from the Inca and pre-Inca periods, including items...
Balcony of the Conde de Lemos – Peru excursions
Visiting Hours : Mon – Fri 8.30 am – 12.30 pm and 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm. Free admission. Location : Crossroads of Deustua and Conde de Lemos streets. Puno Built in approximately 1668, this is the house where...
Puno Cathedral – Cathedral tours
Visiting Hours : Mon – Fri – Sun 7.00 am – 12.00 pm and 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm / Sat 7.00 am – 12.00 pm and 3.00 pm – 7.00 pm. Free admission Location : City centre. Puno...
Chucuito (Puno) – Puno travel
Visiting Hours : Daytime. Location : 18 km south of Puno (15 minutes by car). Puno Also known as the Ciudad de las Cajas Reales (City of the Royal Boxes), as it was the tax collection centre during colonial...
Taquile Island – attractions Peruvian
Visiting Hours : Daytime. Location : 35 km east of Puno port, (3 hours by boat). Puno The area is known for its friendly people, who still preserve traditional customs and clothes. Among the highlights are the laboriously crafted,...
Amantaní Island (Puno) – Puno tours
Visiting Hours : Daytime. Location : 36 km north-east of Puno port (3 hours 30 minutes by boat). Puno An island inhabited by eight communities dedicated specifically to the growing of potatoes, corn, oca, quinoa, broad beans and peas,...
Uros Floating Islands – attractions Uros
Visiting Hours : Mon – Sun: 8.30 am – 5.00 pm. Location : 5 km west of the port of Puno, (20 minutes by car). Puno There are approximately 63 artificial islands floating in Lake Titicaca (3,810 masl), each...
Lake Titicaca (Puno) – Puno tours
Visiting Hours : Daytime and at night. Location : 11 blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Puno An important lake in Andean mythology, from which, according to legend, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, children of the Sun god and...
Anniversary of Puno – Peru festivals
Puno Begins: 01-NovemberEnds: 07-November This anniversary is celebrated with civic displays and dance exhibitions on the streets of the city. A special event on 5 November represents the creation of the Inca empire. According to legend, the mythical couple of Manco...
Festival of the Crosses – Puno excursions
Puno Begins: 03-MayEnds: 04-May The Festival of the Crosses and the Alasitas fair is a special occasion when the people sell miniature handicrafts at various fairs located in the streets and traditional places of each city, symbolising those things people would...
Candlemas Festival – Peru tours
Puno Begins: 12-JanuaryEnds: 12-February The city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, becomes the American Folkloric Capital for a fortnight or more. On the main day, the Virgin is taken on a procession, together with more than 200 music...
Q´ashwa de San Sebastián – festivals
Puno Begins: 20-JanuaryEnds: 20-January Juliaca Carnival is lavish, large-scale and long. It begins with the Huch´uy Poqoy (Small Carnival) and ends with the Hatun Poqoy (Carnival). The Small Carnival is also known as Q’ashwa de San Sebastián, and was given National...
