There are things that make a visit to Peru worthwhile in a different way, whether it is Cusco, Machu Picchu or the iconic Lake Titicaca, the latter is one of the things you can do in Puno that helps you connect more closely with the culture. Auri Peru shows you that there are many options of things to do in Puno that you will really love.
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1.- HOW TO GET TO PUNO
To get to Puno you have 2 alternatives, the first is to do it by land transportation from Cusco or Arequipa, the trip takes approximately 6 to 7 hours (Between 450 to 480 kilometers) and has a price from s/80.00 soles per person, the best option for this trip is the company Turismo Mer. The second option is that first you take a flight to the city of Juliaca and from there you can get a private or shared transport to Puno, the price of the flight is from $80.00 dollars per person (Take into account that the schedules are very limited and we can help you with the reservation). If you want to know more about this destination and what are the best things to do in Puno let us provide you with a list that will help you.
Titicaca Lake
2.- GUIDE OF THINGS TO DO IN PUNO
2.1.- VISIT TO THE UROS ISLANDS
One of the things to do in Puno that is a really traditional experience is to visit the artificial islands of the Uros, located approximately 5 kilometers from the city at 3810 masl and the only way to access is by boat on the same lake, its temperature changes between 8° C to 22° C depending on the season of your trip. It is a set of more than 40 islands made of totora, a plant that grows in the same lake. Its maintenance is done every 6 months for prevention and safety. In some cases more than just maintaining them, they are made bigger by the growth of the families. Something incredible about this is that their culture is purely oriented to the lake and their activities are based on fishing, care of the island and in recent years mainly tourism which in many ways has been an important livelihood.
Their traditions are maintained and have been inherited for generations. It is not known how these people arrived here, the only thing that is known is that they decided to build this construction in the middle of the lake as a way to protect themselves from invaders, which is why they survived from pre-Inca times to the present. Organizing this visit to the islands of Uros is one of the things to do in Puno in 1 day. During the visit you can learn more about their lifestyle, traditions, culture and also if you wish, spend 1 night in a family home. If you want help with this we can help you book this experience.
Lake Titicaca – Uros
2.2.- CATHEDRAL OF PUNO
If you are a fan of history and art then visiting the beautiful Cathedral is one of the things to do in Puno that you will really enjoy. It is located in the main square of Puno, a jewel of art that has its history since 1757 with a colonial baroque style. Inside it shows us a less preserved state due to an accident in the year 1930 in which a fire caused much damage. You can visit it every day from 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 15:00 pm to 18:00 pm without paying anything. The entrance is free for everyone and represents one of the things to do in Puno that helps us to know more about the culture that is here.
Cathedral of Puno
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2.3.- CORREGIDOR’S HOUSE
On our list of things to do in Puno is to visit the popular yellow house or the house of the Corregidor. It is a building that is located in front of the cathedral of Puno and stands out from the rest for its peculiar striking yellow color and a unique balcony in Spanish style blue. It is considered one of the oldest colonial buildings in the city since 1668. At the present time it functions as a place of crafts and commerce where it also has exhibition halls, a coffee shop and a library where you can enjoy music to relax. It is one of the places that at night gives us a tasting experience of craft beers and local food, if this is the first time you visit the city then necessarily this is one of the things to do in Puno that should be on your list.
Corregidor House
2.4.- VIRGIN OF CANDELARIA
Among all the things to do in Puno is undoubtedly the most popular, the feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria is a celebration that takes place every year between 2nd and 12th February, is a time of both religious reflection and festivity in which many groups of people participate in procession of dances and music while dazzling spectators with the colors of their costumes. Something that not everyone knows about this part of the celebration is that there is a competition between all the dances that participate and on the 12th is when the winner is determined who with pride and joy continues the celebration for a few days after the religious festivity.
Visiting and being part of this festivity represents an important moment in people’s lives since it is their way of expressing their love and respect for the Virgin of Candelaria. Being one of the most popular things to do in Puno is common that hotels and tourist places are sold out of availability, if you plan to participate in the festival in 2025 you can contact us. We can organize everything so that you just focus on enjoying the experience.
Candelaria Virgin
2.5.- TAQUILE ISLAND AND AMANTANI
Whether you have 1 or 2 days free after your arrival in the city, one of the things to do in Puno that you can plan is to visit Taquile Island or Amantani Island. In both cases they are natural islands that present you with an experiential activity in which you can share space with the local people and learn more about their culture.
Amantani Puno
2.5.1.- Taquile Island
Visiting the first island is one of the things to do in Puno that must necessarily be on the list of traditional and experiential activities in your planning. The island is located 2 hours from the port of Puno and the only access is by boat. It is located at an altitude of 3950 masl and its highest point at 4050 masl where you can see a natural viewpoint, of course, being surrounded by water its temperature is lower (between 4 ° C to 16 ° C). The interesting thing about this place is that it is the men who have the ability to weave here since they are instructed to do this from a very young age. Taquile Island has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2008.
Taquile Island
2.5.2.- Amantani Island
It is the island that is more to the center of Lake Titicaca, is one of the things to do in Puno that you will love if you like to know new customs and places. It is recognized as one of the few places where rural community-based tourism and ecotourism is practiced because all activities are sustainable. Many people choose the island of Amantani to spend the night in a family home, this island has an altitude of 4000 masl and its temperature is also similar to that found in Taquile (between 4 ° C to 16 ° C). Here the activity that you will love and always remember is the beautiful sunset that you can appreciate from the viewpoint.
Amantani Island
THE HIGHEST NAVIGABLE LAKE IN THE WORLD
“Did you know that Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world? It is located at 3800 meters above sea level so just getting there and seeing it is a new achievement unlocked for you.”
2.6.- CHULLPAS OF SILLUSTANI
For those passionate about history, we have this option for you which is one of the things to do in Puno that includes visiting an ancient archaeological site. The Chullpas of Sillustani are a funerary center belonging to the Qolla people who were dominated by the Incas. Within the Andean cosmogony (Andean belief) there is no end of life, it is only a transition between this and the one that follows for this reason the Qolla people used to lock their rulers in these towers called chullpas with their personal belongings, food and clothing so they can continue in the afterlife. Unfortunately these are currently in a bad state because thieves tried to steal the valuable belongings that were there and destroyed the outline. However, they are still an object of admiration since they are almost 40 feet high, which makes them very imposing. As part of our list of things to do in Puno we recommend it and if you need help to visit it, just contact us.
Chullpas of Sillustani
2.7.- CAPACHICA PENINSULA
Within the entire region of Puno there are incredible places that you can only get to with a specialized travel agency, one of the best things to do in Puno is in the Capachica peninsula. This is a place where rural activities have become very popular, allowing you to live with the local people in a close way as if they were family. This place contains communities such as Llachon, Paramis, Santa Maria and others where the activity of tourism has specialized in an appropriate way providing an incredible comfort from the first moment. Here it is common to appreciate activities such as sailing in sailboats, fishing and hiking to the highlands where you have an incredible viewpoint. This is one of the things to do in Puno that during the last years has specialized in providing not only tourist attention, but experiences and emotions to every visitor. We can organize a personalized visit for you, contact our specialists for more information.
Capachica Peninsula
As well as these there are many other things to do in Puno that could be ideal for you. You can contact Auri Peru now and start planning a new adventure for 2024 to the extent that you wish, we take care of all your requests to create an unforgettable trip for you!.
“Travels are like sunsets, if you wait too long, you miss them.”
