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Puno and the surrounding countryside are the cradle of the Aymara civilization and the legendary birthplace of the founders of the Inca empire. Puno serves as the perfect stopover for passengers heading to La Paz since it is located on the banks of Lake Titicaca, the natural border with Bolivia. The most important archaeological site in the area is the burial ground of Sillustani (17 miles from Puno), once the tombs of high-ranking Aymara Lords.
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| ESSENCE OF THE AREA |
| Lake Titicaca has an indigenous community of some 350 families living today in the traditions of the 14th century, according to the principles of Inca life. There are many ruins on the shore and on the forty-one islands. The chief site is at Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, at the southern end of the lake. To get here here from Cuzco you need to travel by land, either by train or bus. Either way will take you around 8 hours. It is an incredible journey. You can also fly from Arequipa or Lima to Juliaca, Puno's airport. There are different ways of planning your stay, you can choose to make Puno your homebase stay on the Peruvian side of the Lake, or you can do the famous Lake Crossing and take the hydrofoil Puno to La Paz. |
| RECOMMENDED STAY |
| You need at least 3 to 4 nights if you are doing the Lake Crossing, 1 night in Puno , one night in Isla del Sol or Huatajata and 1 night in La Paz, and 2 to 3 nights in Puno if you choose to make Puno your homebase.
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| RECOMMENDED SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES |
Kalauta Island
You reach the island through Totora reed canals. Visit a stone village and explore the Mortuary Towers with two and three-story ChulIpas. This sacred place is the largest necropolis in the area and it shows how much respect our ancestors had for the dead.
Tiquina
The strait of Tiquina is 3/4 of a mile (750 mts.) wide and divides the small lake Chucuito from the main one Huihay Marca. On both sides of the strait terraced hills there are two picturesque villages, San Pedro and San Pablo. Between its shores , you will see the flat Indian boats which ferry traffic back and forth through the strait.
Islands of the Sun and of the Moon
According to the legend, the Inca Empire was founded on these Islands when a golden rod was brought to earth by Manco Kapac and Mama Ocilo, son and daughter of the SUN GOD-INTI). There are several ruins on both islands supporting this legend. On the Island of the Sun, visit the Inca Staircase and the Inca Springs, said to be a source of eternal youth and happiness. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake, the Royal Range of the Andes, and pre-Colombian Inca terraces still farmed by local natives. According to an ancient tradition, upon returning on board, all passengers are blessed with sacred water, and receive a crossing certificate and a Bolivian drink.
Copacabana
Copacabana is the most important religious shrine in Bolivia. This original place gave the name to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. As an example of the mixture of Indian liturgy and catholic religion, Copacabana attracts many pilgrims who make the trip on foot, often from great distances, to visit the famous cathedral and the "Virgin Morena", the Indian Virgin called by our natives "La Mamita del Lago". The town is located on the beautiful Titicaca Bay, providing a highly photographic panorama and exciting local color.
Urus Island
The floating Islands of the Uros people are formed from compacted beds of totora reeds. Walking on these spongy, unstable islands is a strange experience. The reeds are also used to construct huts and boats. It is believed that the Uros people originally took of to the reed islands of Lake Titicaca in order to isolate themselves from other groups such as the Incas. Intermarriage with Aymara Indians has since seen the demise of the pure-blooded Uros and in recent years the traditional way of life of the islanders has also changed.The sale of craft-work, including tapestries, now provides a main source of income.
Taquile Island
Taquile men take visitors from Puno over Lake Titicaca waters to their isolated island. The local society, dedicated to agriculture, has developed an original form of "communal tourism" in which visitors share their food, homes, customs and traditions. Taquile is famous for its skilled weavers, whose crafts and folklore are exhibited in a local museum.
Lake Crossing
Cruise trips admiring the sacred lake of the incas on the most suitable vessels for Titikaka crossing. The main characteristic is the possibility to have a non pre-set authentic cultural interrelation between the visitors and the Sun Island natives |
| MUST SEE |
| The Uros, an ethnic group that dwell on the floating islands they built with the lake's reed vegetation. Near Puno, overlooking Lake Umayo are chullpas, or burial towers called Silluistani, that once served as tombs of high-ranking Aymara Lords. Three and half hours from Puno by boat lies the Island of Taquile, where life has remained unchanged for centuries and weavers still craft traditional textiles. North of Taquile is the Island of Amantani, famed for its woven straw baskets. |
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