If you’re visiting Puno to explore Lake Titicaca and its unique islands, you’re in luck! Pirwa Puno Hostel, which moved to an even more central location last year, is now located just a few minutes’ walk from the city’s main square and from lake harbor. In fact, the hostel’s fifth floor is a terrace with wrap-around windows that allow you to see as far as the lake on one side and the Kuntur Wasi (Condor House) lookout on the other side.
Travelers who enter and exit Peru by land generally do so vía Puno in the Peruvian highlands, at the edge of the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. Far from being a mere wayside stop, however, it’s a destination for thousands of travelers. Its greatest attractions are the islands of Lake Titicaca, especially the storied Floating Islands of Uros, man-made reed islands which are home to the Aymara-speaking Uros people, believed to be the oldest living culture of the Americas. Travelers often make it a point to visit one of the the traditional Quechua-speaking islands as well, either Taquile or Amantani, both of which have pre-Incan and Incan temples and terracing. They’re reknowned for their knitting and textile arts, which they’ve practiced for thousands of years; Taquile’s colorful textiles were even declared “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO.
The Virgin of Candelaria Festival in Puno is one of the most spectacular festivals in Peru and South America, and it’s no wonder: tens of thousands of folkloric dancers and musicians prepare for months, alongside equally high numbers of embroiderers, boot makers, sponsors, and others. Together, they present spirited parades, folkloric music and dance competitions, and other spectacles in order to honor Puno’s patron saint, the Mamacha Carmen. Within the maelstrom of vibrantly costumed devils and feather-hatted pan pipers, it’s easy to see how Puno earned its reputation as the folkloric capital of Peru.
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.
Next Tuesday, Puno will celebrate its 346th Founding Anniversary. As part of the celebrations, the city has released an official month-long program with more than a hundred activities; the best of which we’ve compiled here.
The main parade will take place on Nov 3rd and will be followed by the traditional Serenade to Puno concert and the Great Puneñan Night, which amounts to a huge open-air party that will include live musical acts and fireworks. The following day, there’ll be a theatrical presentation of the rising from the waters of Lake Titicaca of the mythical Manco Cápac, who according to Incan legend was child of the sun who eventually founded the Incan Empire in Cusco. He ruled alongside his wife and sister Mama Ocllo, who will also make an appearance.