Puno & Lake Titicaca: The Folklore Capital of Peru

Puno sits on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 3,812 meters (12,507 ft), straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia. In Inca mythology, Lake Titicaca was where the sun god Inti created the first Inca, Manco Cápac, and his sister-wife Mama Ocllo, sending them to found Cusco.

Today, Puno is known as Peru's folklore capital, home to over 350 traditional dances and some of the country's most vibrant festivals. The surrounding lake communities (particularly the Uros, Taquile, and Amantaní islanders) maintain living cultural traditions that predate the Inca Empire.

Our 10-day and 13-day packages include 2 days in Puno with guided island visits before heading to Cusco for the Inca Trail.

Island Experiences

Uros Floating Islands

The Uros are artificial islands built entirely from totora reeds that grow in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca. There are roughly 70 islands, each home to 3–10 families. The islands are constantly maintained: new reed layers are added every few weeks as the bottom layers decompose.

Visiting the Uros is a 30-minute boat ride from Puno's port. You'll walk on the spongy reed surface (it feels like walking on a waterbed), visit family homes, and learn how the islands are constructed. Most tours spend 1–2 hours here before continuing to Taquile. The community earns income from tourism and traditional fishing.

Taquile Island

A natural island (not floating) 35km from Puno, known worldwide for its textile traditions recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. On Taquile, men do the knitting, and their knitted caps indicate marital status (red = married, red and white = single). Women spin and weave.

The island has no cars, no hotels (only homestays), and a communal economy. A full-day tour includes a 1.5-hour boat ride, a walk across the island (involves steep steps at 3,900m), and a traditional lunch. The views of the lake from Taquile's hilltop are extraordinary on clear days.

Amantaní Island

For the most authentic experience, overnight homestays on Amantaní are worth the extra night. Families host visitors in their homes, cook traditional meals (quinoa soup, fried trout, potatoes), and invite guests to evening celebrations with traditional music and dancing. You'll be given traditional clothing to wear for the celebration.

Amantaní has two sacred hilltop temples, Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), offering 360° lake views. The island has virtually no light pollution; the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye at 3,800m.

Festivals

Virgen de la Candelaria (February)

Peru's largest and most spectacular festival, an 18-day celebration with over 200 dance groups and 40,000 musicians and dancers. The festival blends Catholic and pre-Columbian Andean traditions with elaborate costumes, devil masks, and hypnotic music. It was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. If you're in Peru in February, this is worth the trip even though the Inca Trail is closed.

Puno Week (November)

Celebrates the legendary founding of the Inca Empire at Lake Titicaca. A week of parades, dances, and reenactments culminating in a dramatic ceremony where actors portraying Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo emerge from the lake.

Sillustani

A pre-Inca burial site 30km from Puno, featuring chullpas (funerary towers) built by the Colla people and later the Incas. The cylindrical stone towers, some reaching 12 meters tall, stand on a peninsula overlooking Lake Umayo. The engineering is impressive: the towers are wider at the top than the base. A half-day trip from Puno, often combined with visits to local farming communities.

Altitude at Puno

At 3,812m, Puno is higher than Cusco (3,400m). If you're arriving from Cusco after several days, you're already somewhat acclimatized and should feel comfortable. If arriving directly from Lima or sea level, expect more pronounced altitude effects.

• Move slowly on arrival, especially climbing stairs and hills
• Drink plenty of coca tea (served at every hotel and restaurant)
• The boat to Uros is gentle and doesn't add elevation stress
• Climbing Taquile's steps is demanding at this altitude, so pace yourself
• If you feel unwell, the best remedy is rest and hydration. Symptoms usually improve within 24 hours

For detailed prevention advice, see our altitude sickness guide.

Getting There

• By tourist bus from Cusco: 6–7 hours with stops at La Raya Pass (4,335m) and Raqchi Temple. Most popular and economical option ($25–40). Scenic route through the altiplano.
• By PeruRail Titicaca: Luxury train from Cusco (10 hours, from $200). Includes meals, live music, and an observation car with panoramic views. Runs seasonally.
• By air: Fly to Juliaca Airport (JUL), 45 minutes from Puno by taxi or shuttle. Direct flights from Lima; some from Cusco.
• By bus from Arequipa: 5–6 hours through high-altitude desert. Often combined with Arequipa in extended itineraries.

Puno FAQ