The highest navigable lake in the world
At 3,812 meters above sea level, Lake Titicaca covers 8,372 km² between Peru and Bolivia. Its crystal-clear waters reflect the Andean sky and are home to unique species such as rainbow trout and carachi. Sailing from Puno’s port takes you to islands inhabited by communities that preserve ancestral fishing and floating agriculture techniques.
2. Uros Floating Islands
Ancestral culture on islands made of totora reeds
The Uros build their islands entirely out of totora, an aquatic plant that grows in the lake. Each artificial island requires constant maintenance, with fresh layers of totora added every 15 days. The 80 families living here preserve traditions over 500 years old, including the construction of reed boats, houses, and even solar panels integrated into their floating structures.
3. Taquile and Amantaní Islands
Textile communities and local homestays
Taquile is famous for its unique men’s textiles here, men weave while women spin. Their hats reveal marital status: red and white for single men, entirely red for married men. A 30-minute climb from the dock takes you to pre-Inca terraces with panoramic views of the lake.
Amantaní offers homestays with local families, where you participate in daily activities. The nighttime hike to the Pachamama Temple at the top of the island provides a spiritual experience under the highland stars.
4. Sillustani Chullpas
Pre-Inca tombs in a magical setting
These funerary towers, up to 12 meters tall, showcase the architectural mastery of the Colla people. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the chullpas have circular bases that widen upward — a technique that makes them earthquake resistant. The site, located on the Umayo Lake peninsula, preserves 90 structures in a high Andean landscape inhabited by vicuñas and flamingos.
5. Aramu Muru Portal (Inca Uyo)
Mystical and ceremonial site
Carved into red volcanic rock, this 7-meter-high portal features a perfectly rectangular opening at its center. Located 70 km from Puno, it attracts researchers and visitors interested in its unusual acoustic properties. Locals share legends about dimensional portals, while archaeologists study its pre-Inca ceremonial function.
6. Puno Main Square and Cathedral
Colonial and religious heart of the city
The Cathedral, built between 1684 and 1747, combines Baroque architecture with Andean elements. Its carved stone façade includes mermaids playing charangos a unique cultural fusion of the highlands. Inside, the golden main altar houses the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, patron saint of Puno. The square preserves its original colonial layout, with two-level arcades now serving as commercial galleries.
7. Carlos Dreyer Museum
Archaeological and colonial collection
Housed in a republican mansion from 1874, it exhibits pieces from the Pucará, Tiwanaku, Colla, and Inca cultures. The collection includes 1,200-year-old textiles, ceremonial ceramics, and naturally preserved mummies thanks to the dry highland climate. The colonial hall presents religious silverware and viceregal documents illustrating the evangelization of the region.
8. Jirón Lima and Manuel Pino Park
Puno’s commercial and social heart
Jirón Lima is lined with shops, restaurants, and travel agencies in restored republican buildings. Manuel Pino Park serves as a social meeting point, especially in the afternoons when local families enjoy the mild climate. On weekends, local artists perform traditional Andean folk music.
9. Viewpoints: Kuntur Wasi, Puma Uta, and Huajsapata
Panoramic views of the lake and city
Kuntur Wasi (4,135 m) offers 360° views of Lake Titicaca and the eastern mountain range. The 45-minute hike starts from the Huaje neighborhood.
Puma Uta features natural rock formations resembling pumas — sacred animals in Andean cosmology.
Huajsapata includes a recreational park with playgrounds and is the most accessible viewpoint, just 10 minutes on foot from downtown.
10. Yavarí Ship
Iconic historic ship of Titicaca
Built in England in 1862 and transported in pieces to Lake Titicaca, the Yavarí sailed for 120 years carrying passengers and cargo between Puno and Bolivian ports. Restored as a floating museum, it preserves its original steam engine and period cabins. Visits include demonstrations of the engine and stories about navigating the world’s highest lake.
11. Puno Port Handicraft Fair
Handicrafts, textiles, and local gastronomy
Located by the dock, it brings together 200 stalls with products from highland communities. You’ll find alpaca and vicuña textiles, Pucará ceramics, traditional musical instruments, and silver jewelry crafted with colonial techniques. Food stalls offer Titicaca trout, quinoa dishes, and cañihua-based desserts.
12. Chucuito and Pucará
Temples, ceramics, and archaeological legacy
Chucuito (18 km from Puno) preserves colonial churches of Santo Domingo and La Asunción with intact Baroque altarpieces. The Inca Uyo fertility temple displays phallic stone sculptures in a pre-Hispanic ceremonial context.
Pucará (61 km away) is the birthplace of polychrome Andean pottery. Its archaeological museum displays the famous stone stelae with anthropomorphic figures. Family workshops maintain techniques dating back 2,000 years.
How to organize your tours
Popular excursions
Lake Titicaca + Uros + Taquile/Amantaní Full-day tour (8 AM – 5 PM): includes boat navigation, visits to floating islands, lunch on Taquile, and free time for shopping. Approximate cost: S/35–50 per person plus meals. For Amantaní, consider overnight homestays with local families (S/30–40 per night with dinner and breakfast).
Half-day at Sillustani 3-hour excursion (2 PM – 5 PM): ideal to combine with morning activities in Puno. Includes transport and guide. Cost: S/25–35. Afternoon light highlights the reddish color of the chullpas.
Mystical adventure in Aramu Muru Specialized full-day tour with 4×4 transport. Combines the portal with Pojpoquella hot springs and a countryside lunch. Cost: S/80–120 per person. Recommended to book with operators specialized in mystical tourism.
Recommendations by length of stay
1 day: Main Square, Cathedral, Jirón Lima, Dreyer Museum, and Huajsapata viewpoint. End with dinner at a Titicaca trout restaurant.
2–3 days:
- Day 1: Uros and Taquile with afternoon return
- Day 2: Afternoon in Sillustani, free morning for Dreyer Museum and shopping
- Day 3: Aramu Muru or Amantaní with rural homestay
February: The Candelaria Festival (Feb 2–15) turns Puno into the epicenter of Peruvian folklore. Over 200 dance groups compete in the official contest. Book accommodation 3 months in advance.
Useful tips
Weather: Average temperature 8–15°C (46–59°F). Cold nights year-round (down to -5°C/23°F in winter). Essential pack: waterproof jacket, wool hat, sunscreen SPF 50+.
Altitude: Puno sits at 3,827 m (12,555 ft). Arrive a day early to acclimatize. Drink coca tea, avoid alcohol in the first 24 hours, and stay hydrated. Consult your doctor if you have heart conditions.
Bookings: High season (May–September) requires booking tours a week in advance. For island homestays, confirm 2–3 days prior. Recommended agencies are concentrated along Jirón Lima blocks 3–5.
Transport: Bus terminal 2 km from downtown. Taxis to the center: S/5–8. To Juliaca airport (45 km): buses every hour S/8, taxis S/40–60.
Money: ATMs in the Main Square and Jirón Lima. Island communities prefer cash. Currency exchange available at casas de cambio on Jirón Tacna.