PUNO

Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, at 3,860 m (12,421 ft) above sea level. It is also the capital and largest city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province. The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio as capital of the province of Paucarcolla with the name San Juan Bautista de Puno. The name was later changed to San Carlos de Puno, in honor of king Charles II of Spain. The city has several churches dating back from the colonial period, they were built to service the Spanish population and evangelize the natives.

Today, Puno is an important agricultural and livestock region; particularly of South American camelids (llamas and alpacas) which graze on its immense plateaus and plains. Many homes in Puno, much like surrounding cities, are half-finished. This is done so that the inhabitants do not have to pay taxes. Much of the city economy relies on the black market, fueled by cheap goods smuggled in from Bolivia. Puno has been designated to become a Special Economic Zone or "Zona Económica" by Peru's president, Alan Garcia. Puno is served by the Inca Manco Capac International Airport in nearby Juliaca.

Puno's geography and layout is unique, it is situated in the available land between the shores of Lake Titicaca and the mountains surrounding the city. There is less than 2 miles distance of flat land between the shores and the foothills, which has caused the growing city to continue to expand upwards onto the hillsides, sprawling along every available, or nearly habitable plot of land on which a dwelling can possibly be built. As a result the town's less developed and poorest areas, which are high on the hillsides, often have very steep street, which are generally not paved and cannot be accessed by automobile.

Puno is known as the "Capital folklórica del Perú" (folkloric capital of Peru) due to its wealth of artistic and cultural expressions, particularly dance. They are most notable during the celebrations of the Feast of the "Virgen de la Candelaria" and the Regional Competition of Autochthonous Dances. Puno's access to Lake Titicaca is surrounded by 41 floating islands. To this day, the Uros people maintain and live on these man-made islands, depending on the lake for their survival and are a large tourist destination.

Puno is the first major hub in the constant migration of indigenous peoples of the Andes to the larger cities of Peru. It is the largest city in the Southern Altiplano and is the recipient of new residents from surrounding smaller agricultural communities of poorer class of people seeking better opportunties for education and employment. As such, Puno is serviced by several small Institutes of Technology, Education and other technical or junior college type of facilities. Additionally it is home to what is commonly referred to as the la "UNA" or the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, which was founded in 1856.

Tourism
The main tourist attraction of Puno is Lake Titicaca. This is the world's highest navigable lake. It is 193 KM long and 64 KM wide, with a maximum depth of 300 meters. The amazing landscapes and impressive snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera Real are not to be missed. It is said that the Uros (group of people that live on reed islands near in the middle of Lake Titicaca) are descendants of the oldest race in the world.

In Puno, don't miss great monuments like: the Cathedral, the Conde de Lemos's Balcony, the Arch Deustua, the Municipal Paintings Room, the Dryer Museum and the Popular Art Museum. Just 30 KM away from the capital are the Chullpas of Sillustani, which are tombs of the Hatuncollas' leaders (great men), and many other vestiges of ancient cultures that inhabited the region.

The Department of Puno has always done its best to remain loyal to Peru, while keeping peace with Bolivia in order to rationally and fairly use the resources of Lake Titicaca.

EL LAGO
El Lago Sagrado (The Sacred Lake - Lake Titicaca)

That's how the magical lake, with the appearance of the Peruvian- Bolivian highland plain, is known.
Observing its waters provokes intense feelings that increase when the sun rises over it.

The hue that it releases has its origins in two important civilizations, The Tiahuanaco, maximum expression of Aymara, and Inca development, because its mythologies agree on giving life to his leaders that came from its waters' profundities.

Among its islands, the one of the Sun is the most renowned one, because according to the legend, the first Inca couple came out from there, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, to found the great empire in Cuzco like their father, the sun God, had ordered.

3.815 m.o.s.l. the Titicaca lake is the highest navigable lake of the world and with 8.400 km2 of surface, the second biggest of South America. Two thirds of its total extension pertain to Peru and the rest to Bolivia
In 1978 The Titicaca National Reservation was established, enclosing 36.180 hectares, composed principally of humid areas, the own lake's areas. Located in the middle of the Collao basin or highland plain, the Titicaca encloses dozens of native fish species, some of them are used by the villagers, in addition to reptiles and birds.
The Titicaca Lake has an influence in 20.000 km2 of the northern highland plain, making the nearby ground apt and rich for the agriculture. The evaporation of its liquid glass moistens and warms the atmosphere, what makes also possible the growth of native arboreal species like the kiswara or ccolli and the queñua, and other of strange origin like the coniferous and the fecund eucalyptus.

Isla Flotante de Los Uros (Floating Island of Uros)
Floating island 10 km in front of Puno's port, its inhabitants live over totoras or aneas and they are competent fishermen and handicraftsmen. The have accomplished to consolidate, leaning layers of totora against other totoras, an especial equilibrium that allows them to live in the middle of the lake without suffering of mayor trouble.

Isla Amantani (Amantani Island)
(37 km; 4 hours of journey). Island whose inhabitants, expert farmers, have made use of the terrain building impressive terraces.

Isla Taquile (Taquile Island)
(35 km; 3 hours of journey). Island with 12 km of extension where about 1.200 live dedicated to the textiles and the agriculture. In Taquille tourism is realized, the only example of national scale. The typical customs and the music from Taquille show great originality and have gone around the world

Isla Suasi (Suasi Island)
Suasi island 70 km. to the north of Puno, has lodgings that promote Andean cultural values.

CORREDOR QUECHUA (Quechua Corridor)
 

Sillustani
Quite and high necropolis where the famous Chullpas or cylindrical monuments that keep human remains of the noble Mallkus or Lords of the place stand out. It is the most known archeological patrimony of Puno.

Pukara
The stepped pyramid elaborated by the villagers of Pukara, 106 kms to the north of Puno, whose antiquity surpasses the 3.500 years, it is impressive and enigmatic.

Lampa
Called "the Pink City" or "City of the 7 wonders". Located 75 kms away from Puno and 31 kms of the city Juliaca. Its old Colonial houses and its temple with a replica of the Pieta of Michaelangelo distinguish the city.

Tinajani
Stones Forest that stand out threatening at the beginning of a pronounced creeks, it's 14 kms away from Ayaviri.

Tarukani
Rodal de Puyas Raimondi of great extension. The puya grows until 12 mts of height. It's located 12 kms away to the west of the Tinajani gully.

Ayaviri
Andean city at the end of the Kolkeparke. Built 139 kms away from puno, it has architectonic and archeological monuments. Thermal waters of Pocpoquella.

Santa Rosa
Located in the Puno-Cuzco route 3.990 m.o.s.l. and 39 kms from the city of Ayaviri. You can see the Kunurana and Chimboya snow peaks that give origin to the Vilcanota River, main vain to the Cuzco culture.

La Raya
Entrance door to the highland plain, 4.312 m.o.s.l., where a special habitat for the south American camels breeding. The Vicanota River is born in its snow peaks.

CORREDOR AYMARA (Aymara Corridor)

Chimu y Ojerani
Farm communities 5 kms away from Puno with rocky formations of impressive majesty.

Ichu
Indian village 10 kms away from Puno. Descendants from the Mitmaes pulled out by the Incas of the Ecuador. They are called "Chiris"

Chucuito
18 kms away from Puno. The archery that adorns the temple of the Asunción is the only one in the highland plain. The Inca Uyo and The Foundation Roll (Solar Clock).

Acora
Located Titicaca's shore 35 kms from Puno. It has two colonial temples, San Juan and San Pedro. Thermal waters in Pacapacha.

Llave
Shopping center 56 kms away from Puno. Its two Colonial temples, San Miguel and Santa Barbara are of made of cement.

Juli
Founded on April 2nd 1565, 84 kms from Puno.
Rich in handicrafts, ceramics and textiles. It is also known with the name of "The Little American Rome".

Pomata
Located 105 kms away from Puno, it has temples that go back to the XVII and XVIII centuries, built in pink sand and with golden sheets altars.

Zepita
The church is considered as a masterpiece of the Colonial architecture. The Dominican Friars built it in the XVIII century.

Desaguadero
Bordering city and international bridge with Bolivia. It is located 174 kms away from Puno. In the high areas of the province there are vestiges of rupestrian art in Pizacoma, with 10.000 years b.C. of antiquity and the Tanka Tanka Fort.

Yunguyo
136 kms away from Puno and only 10 kms from Copacabana. In this province part of the Wiñaymarca Lake is found (Lower Titicaca), with a group of small islands where The Inca Manko Capac and his consort start his founding trip.

VISITING THE CITY
La Catedral
It impresses because of its volumetric shape armed with sandy stones, straight, solid, and haughty and of a great architectonic unity. Its art of fine repoussage in stone was conceived and carved by native builders who recreated the popular carving of religious images dominant in the XVIII.

Balcón Conde de Lemos (Count of Lemo's Balcony)
In 1668 the viceroy of the same name lived there, it is one of the oldest houses in the city.

Museo de Carlos Dreyer (Carlos Dreyer Museum)
It exhibits ceramic, gold and silver work, textiles and pre-Inca lithic sculptures collections

Arco Deustua
Monument that honors the Junin and Ayacucho heroes.

Fuerte de San Luis de Alba
Remains of a mining settlement and viceregal founding 5 km away from Puno.

HANDICRAFTS
Among the handicrafts of Puno the textile cloths in alpaca, llama and sheep wool stand out. You can buy several musical instruments from the region like the siku and the charango. The Pucará little bulls are very appreciated because of their beauty and quality.