Discover Puno
Accommodation in Puno
Lake Titicaca is located in the Department of Puno, in the Province of Puno and the District of Puno; it lies at an elevation of 3,810 meters. The Titicaca National Reserve covers 36,180 hectares of the lake, including a 29,150-hectare sector in Puno. The elevation and area figures describe different scales: the lake’s geographical setting and the size of the protected area and its Puno sector.
Islands, traditions, and planning your visit
On Taquile, textile art is a living part of everyday life: men and women of all ages practice it daily. Tourism contributes to Taquile’s communal economy, which is based mainly on textile production and tourism. In this way, both handicrafts and visitor activity are part of the island’s economic and cultural life today. Isla Taquile can be reached from Puerto Lacustre Puno by boat, covering 36 kilometers in three hours. This travel time is a useful reference point for your schedule; check current departure information before your visit.
The floating Uros Islands offer a different glimpse of island traditions: they are built from totora reeds and maintained by the Uros who live there using traditional techniques. On AmantanĂ, visitors can walk the island’s trails and visit the pre-Inca temples of Pachatata and Pachamama. Local cuisine is also part of the experience: on AmantanĂ, you can try dishes such as chairo and chuño, as well as lake trout. The trails, temples, and food offer several distinct ways to experience the island and plan your trip.
City life, landscapes, and cultural sites
Plaza Mayor de Puno is a colonial-style square dating back to the 17th century. The Fiesta de la Candelaria offers a different cultural highlight: it takes place in the city of Puno in February and features parades in traditional dress, with dances such as Diablada, Morenada, and Llamerada. If you are traveling specifically for the festival, plan for February and check the dates for each year.
The geological landscape of Cañón de Tinajani lends itself to recreation and geoscience education. Bahuaja Sonene National Park is a refuge for jaguars, harpy eagles, and macaws. As a separate activity, rafting on the rapids of the Tambopata River offers Class I, II, and III runs. The natural attractions described here range from geological education and wildlife to a specific river activity; their different focuses can help you plan your trip around your interests.
The Chullpas of Sillustani add an archaeological highlight to the cultural sites. These are stone burial towers of the Kolla culture, ranging from 5 to 12 meters in height. They stand on a hill overlooking Lake Umayo. Their architectural form, scale, and landscape views are among the site’s distinctive features. From the minibus stop in Pucara, a 700-meter walk leads to the Pukará Archaeological Complex. This distance gives you a useful reference for the stretch between the stop and the site.
Discover more destinations: Ocosuyo, Desaguadero, Copacabana, Puno, Mañazo, Puerto LeguĂa, Lampa, Chucuito, Anapia, Tililaca, Tambopata, Juliaca, Ayculaca, Huillanopampa, Capachica, Puno, Isla Suasi.
For the broader travel overview: Peru.
