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.
