Puno

 

Islands, alpacas, colonial-era churches and living culture

Situated at 12 555 feet / 3 827 meters above sea level, Puno is a wonderful place to renew the spirit by enjoying the stunning blue of Titicaca, the sacred lake of the Incas, and visiting its fascinating islands, where local inhabitants produce exquisite textiles made from alpaca wool. Puno is known as «the folkloric capital of Peru», and it has kept alive its provincial air, traditional dance and music forms, and the native Aymara language, which can be heard in the city’s squares and markets, along with Quechua, the language of the Incas, and Spanish.

Hotels

Temperatures 

Max 19ºC / 66.2°F

Min -8ºC / 17.6°F

Useful tips:

  • The rainy season is from December to March.
  • Puno can be reached via regular flights from the following cities: Lima (1 hour 40 minutes) and Lima-Juliaca with a stopover in Arequipa and Cuzco (2 hours 40 minutes). By road Puno can be reached from Lima via Arequipa and Juliaca (20 hours), from Cuzco (8 hours), Arequipa (5 hours), Tacna (6 hours), and also by rail from Cuzco (10 hours).
  • Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake (12 496 feet / 3 810 meters above sea level) is home to the Uros islands, inhabited by one of the most ancient peoples in the Americas, and Taquile Island, with its fascinating indigenous Quechua culture.
  • The Fiesta of the Virgin of Candelaria (February 2nd) is the most important traditional festivity in Peru. It is celebrated during a week of continuous folkloric activity, with some of the most colorful dances in Peru, such as the Diablada and the Morenada.