Puno

The Peruvian gateway to Lake Titicaca, with the Uros floating reed islands, Taquile Island textiles and homestays on Amantaní, linking up with the train from the Cusco highlands.

Puno is in southeastern Peru on the western shore of Lake Titicaca, at about 3,830 m. It is the gateway to the Peruvian side of the "world's highest navigable lake," and is also known as the "folkloric capital of Peru." The climate is cold highland: May–October is the dry season, with deep blue skies but mornings and evenings that can fall below 0°C; November–April is the rainy season, with frequent afternoon showers. The Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria in February is the liveliest time of the year. Sightseeing falls into three areas. First, on the lake: take a boat to the Uros floating reed islands (half a day), combine them with a day trip to Taquile Island, or spend a night with a family on Amantaní or at Llachón on the Capachica Peninsula. Second, in town: the Plaza de Armas and Cathedral, the Jirón Lima pedestrian street, the Carlos Dreyer Museum, the Yavari steamship, and the hilltop viewpoints of Kuntur Wasi and Puma Uta. Third, around the region: the Sillustani burial towers and pink town of Lampa to the northwest, and the colonial churches of Chucuito, Juli and Pomata and the Aramu Muru gateway on the southern shore, each usually taking half a day to a day. Getting there: the nearest airport is in Juliaca (about 45 km, with flights to Lima and Cusco); there are long-distance buses (about 7 hours) and a tourist train between Cusco and Puno; overland border crossings lead to Copacabana and La Paz in Bolivia. We suggest 3–4 days. Notes: arriving directly from low altitude often brings altitude sickness, so take it slowly for the first two days, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and try coca tea to ease symptoms; UV is strong on the lake, so a sun hat and sunglasses are essential; islands and villages mostly use cash (soles).

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