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Peru

Suggested Packages / Amazon / Cusco / Lima / Lake Titicaca
Arequipa / Nazca / Trujillo & Chiclayo / Chachapoyas / Trekking

Puno - Lake Titicaca

(Also see options on the Bolivian side)

PUNO is at 3855 meters above sea level, it is the major port on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and the largest in the world over 2000 meters. Puno is in between of Cusco and La Paz, Bolivia and it is one of the main reasons to spend a night in Puno, but there are many other reasons to spend more time here. It has a fine main square and beautiful Cathedral built in 1657, the market is always interesting- full of Indians, especially women behind piles of potatoes, fruits and woollen clothes. Puno is also famous for its folk dances, the most colourful found in the Peruvian highlands.
From here we can go to Cusco by train or airplane and to Bolivia by bus through Copacabana or Desaguadero. Via Copacabana it is easier and one can even spend the night there in order to visit the Sun island, however going via Desaguadero can visit the famous ruins of Tiahuanaco.

SILLUSTANI
Located between Puno and Juliaca (45 minutes from either of them, Sillustani sits on a small hilltop overlooking Lake Umayo. The lake has a good variety of plants and water birds like the Giant Andean Coot, the whitetufted and Silvery Grebes, the Puna Ibis, the Andean Goose, the black crowned Night-Heron, the Speckled and Puna Teals, the Yellow-billed Pintail, the Andean Gull and others. Most of funerary towers called CHULLPAS date from the Inca occupation in the 15th century, but there are burial towers of the Aymara-speaking Colla culture, as well as from the Pukara and Tiwanaku cultures. There are about 100 of these towers and the engineering involved in their construction is more complex than anything that Incas built. The more important people were buried in the towers, while lesser people were buried in similarly-shaped areas below ground. See the quarry that the rocks came from and also the rocks that were ready to be placed, until the Spanish came and construction stopped. There is also a small island in the lake that is a reserve and has herds of llamas, alpacas, etc. This makes for a very interesting side trip on the way to or from the airport in Juliaca (gateway to Puno)

UROS FLOATING ISLANDS
Visit the native communities of Uros located on a man-made floating island in Lake Titicaca, The Uros people live totally interwoven with the TOTORA reed which grows abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The islands are constructed from many layers of reeds which rot away from the bottom and are replaced at the top. The Uros build canoe-like boats that are used for transportation and fishing. Canoe rides from one island to another are available (but be prepared to pay).

1/2 day tour

TAQUILE ISLAND
The most fascinating island in the lake is 45km from Puno. It is about seven km long and one km wide and has several hills with Inca terracing. The scenery of the islands is beautiful. The soil is a deep earthy red colour which in the strong highland sunlight, contrasts magnificently against the intense blue of the lake. The backdrop of the snowcapped Cordillera Real on the far side completes a spendid picture. The people wear colourful traditional clothes which they make themselves, they speak Quechua rather than the Aymara language of most Titicaca Indians, maintain a strong air of group individuality and don't often marry with non Taquile people.

The island is very peaceful, the men always seems to be walking around the island knitting the woven woollen caps which they wear constantly, the women weave the tradional clothes which are mong the best in Peru. We highly recomend to spend one night in the island. A day tour return is not recommended if you want to see the island fully.

full day tour to either Uros and Amantani or Taquile

AMANTANI ISLAND
It is very beautiful and peaceful island like TAQUILE but bigger, has 6 villages and ruins on both of the island peaks, Pachatata and Pachamama. From there are excellent views of the lake; there are temples and on the shore and there is a throne carved out of stone. The Quechua-speaking Indians make beautiful textiles. Because it is further away from Puno, it is less often visited by tourists. We highly recomend to spend one night in the island. A day tour return is not recommended if you want to see the island fully.

Uros, Amantani and Taquile Islands (2 days). You spend the night with a local family, accompanied by a guide.

Sample Itineraries

Day 1 - Arrival at Juliaca airport and transfer by road to your hotel in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Day 2 - Morning visit to the Uros Islands. These islands are made of reeds, rising six meters above the lake level. They are anchored by logs and connected to each other by ropes. The main activities of the people who live here are fishing and handcrafting several items that they sell to visitors. Continue to Taquile Island which has two essential characteristics; its geography, offering a spectacular view from its hills, and its standing as a first-rate textile center. Taquileños live on their textile activities. This can easily be seen in the men walking about in rubber sandals ("ojotas" in quechua), wearing black pants, white flannel shirts and beautiful, finely woven chumpis (belts), covering their heads with finely knitted warm "chullos" (caps with ear flaps). Box lunch included.

Day 3 - Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and on the way visit the Sillustani tombs.These Tombs or Chullpas are characterized by their round and square bases, as well as the cornice on top. There are several figures and symbols on these tombs, the snake being the most representative. This symbolises the influence of the jungle and not of the Andes.

2008 Price per person in US$ with group tour:

Day 1 - arrive Juliaca airport and transfer to hotel

Day 2 - breakfast, then you will be transferred to the boat dock for your group overnight tour to Uros & Amantani Islands . Lunch included. Overnight with family

Day 3 - breakfast, visit Taquile Island, afternoon return back to Puno, where you will be met and transferred back to the hotel.

Day 4 - Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and on the way visit the Sillustani tombs.These Tombs or Chullpas are characterized by their round and square bases, as well as the cornice on top. There are several figures and symbols on these tombs, the snake being the most representative. This symbolises the influence of the jungle and not of the Andes.

2008 Price per person in US$ with private tour:

Special Itineraries