What to Do in Puno City Proper & How to Get There

Puno is a hillside city located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Travelers stop by Puno in order to visit the lake’s islands or to cross the border into Bolivia.

You can reach the sacred pre-Inca Sillustani Chullpas, or burial towers, in about 45 minutes by car from Puno. These structures, the final resting place for noble mummies awaiting rebirth, populate a burial ground located on a cold hilltop overlooking Lake Umayo. The circular towers are wider on top than on bottom, making them unique in South America. Another popular site are the ruins of Inca Uyo (Aymara for Place of the Inca), which date to after the Inca Conquest of the Lupaka Kingdom of Tiahuanaku. Inside of the ceremonial complex you´ll find many phallic stones 2-3ft high arranged upright like mushrooms. Though both temple and stones are authentic, the placement of the stones inside the temple was a municipal decision, which has led to the site´s as yet unproven presentation as a fertility temple where virgins sat atop large stone phalluses.

For a nice overview of Puno and the clear flat waters of Lake Titicaca, take a moment to stop at Huajsapata Lookout. If you’re feeling ambitious, Kuntur Wasi, also known as Condor Hill, lookout is even better, although it’s a climb of more than 600 steps. Once you hit the Plaza, there are three sights right next to each other which are all worth a visit. One is the 18th century mestizo-baroque Cathedral houses the venerated image of the Lord of the Quinary, known as Lord of the Bullet ever since it was shot in a clash between the Biscayans and Andalusians. Another is the Carlos Dreyer Museum, which houses exhibits of gold, silver, pottery, woven textiles, Pre-Inca stone sculptures from around the country, indigenous handicrafts and colonial paintings. There’s even an exhibit showcasing mummies and gold recovered from the Sillustani Burial Towers. Lastly, you might be interested in stopping by the 17th century Corregidor’s House. This historical monument is one of Puno´s oldest residences, now housing an art gallery with permanent and changing exhibits, library with reading room and research service, and a café-bar frequented by artists and expats; it hosts workshops and concerts as well.

• The nearest airport is 28 miles north of Puno, in the city of Juliaca. Bus travel is popular for visitors to Puno, with buses by reputable companies such as Cruz del Sur and Ormeño arriving throughout the day from Cusco, Arequipa, and other cities.
• If you are not accustomed to high altitudes, you may experience nausea and fatigue, so it’s a good idea not to plan too much activity for the first day, to rest and to hydrate well, perhaps with the locally preferred remedy for altitude sickness: coca tea. If you need something stronger, stop by a pharmacy and ask for soroche pills, and if things feel quite bad, you can even pick up a personal mini-oxygen tank.
• Dress for the cold and dry weather of the high Andean plateau, or altiplano, where Puno is located. Temperatures average about 45 degrees, with 30 degree lows in the wintertime (June-August) and 60 degree highs in the summertime (Dec – Jan).
• Despite the cold weather, the sun is still a concern due to the high altitude, so don’t forget the sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat.

Getting to Puno

If such luxury isn’t in your budget, don’t despair. Although normal buses leave Cusco each morning and evening for Puno, there’s also a guided option known as the Sun Route (la ruta del sol). The name has its roots in the fact that Incan leaders were considered children of the sun, and the legendary founders traveled from Puno to Cusco. Whichever direction you are heading on the route, you can buy a ticket that includes guided stops at sites like Raqchi, San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, and Pikillacta. (Feel free to contact the specialists of Pirwa Travel Service at pirwatravel@gmail.com if you would like to book a guided bus trip.)

If your trajectory takes you from Cusco to Puno, the trip there is half the fun! The most expensive, but memorable, option is the train. This particular route was voted South America’s Leading Luxury Train in the World Travel Awards and has been steadily gaining a reputation among travelers over the last years, mainly for the beauty of the route.

Once you arrive, the staff at Pirwa Puno Hostel will be eager to make you feel at home, and can help with recommendations as well as arranging transport and excursions.

Pirwa Hostels is a full-service company, so if you need assistance with transport, or are interested in arranging guided tours or packages, don’t hesitate to contact our agency department, Pirwa Travel Service, for information or services regarding any aspect of your trip!