Puno: 10 must-visit tourist attractions

The lake, the islands, the faith, the dances, the altitude… and also the cold. These are just a few highlights of a destination that combines legendary history, vibrant culture, untamed nature, and devotion expressed through processions and prayers, music and dance.

Puno, the “Lakeside City” and the “Folkloric Capital of Peru,” is a challenging destination at 3,800 metres above sea level. Along with Cusco and Arequipa, it forms part of the Southern Circuit, a tourist route that attracts, surprises, and fascinates hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world.

What are you waiting for? Grab your suitcase, dust off your backpack, and venture to Puno. But before you go, make sure to include the 10 recommended spots in your itinerary. Visit them… you’ll love it!

1. Explore Lake Titicaca

Watch the sunset, sail in a reed boat, explore the Uros, Taquile, or Amantaní islands, and hear the legend of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo—the founders of the Inca Empire. These are just a few of the activities that will excite you at the highest navigable lake in the world.

Lake Titicaca—whose sovereignty is shared by Peru and Bolivia—is the heart of the Altiplano. In Puno, it’s impossible to ignore. It’s always there, captivating gazes and attracting visitors who can’t resist the temptation to sail on its intensely blue waters.

With an area of 8,372 square kilometres, the lake is more than just a tourist attraction. It’s life, energy, history, and home to Quechua, Aymara, and mestizo communities, as well as to travellers who, despite the challenges of altitude sickness, are embraced by the warmth of their hosts, the children of Titicaca.

2. Discover the Uros Islands

Invented islands “woven” in the legendary waters of Lake Titicaca, where the descendants of an ancient people create islands and build archipelagos, houses, and boats from totora, a resilient aquatic plant.

This is the heritage of the Uros, “an indigenous people located in the bay of Puno, whose majority population has settled for centuries on enormous totora rafts known as floating islands…” as explained in the Indigenous Peoples Database of the Ministry of Culture of Peru.

Skilled fishermen, bird hunters, and artisans, the Uros preserve their traditions and invite travellers to experience their small totora world on the highest navigable lake in the world.

3. Admire the textile art of Taquile

An island where weaving has been an art form since pre-Hispanic times. A Quechua community where solidarity is the foundation of social relations. A welcoming, picturesque, and immersive destination with memorable views of Lake Titicaca.

On Taquile Island, you’ll see men weaving with sticks at the doors of their houses or in the communal square. You’ll also find them on either side of the long stone staircase that connects the lakeside to the tranquil urban area.

Take your time climbing or descending its 567 steps. Remember, the island is at 3,950 m a.s.l. and if you tire yourself out too much, you may not have the energy to visit the workshops where you can find jumpers, scarves, chullos (traditional Andean hats), and the splendid belt-calendars.

Bold and colourful, the weavers create belts featuring iconographic designs that represent the island’s history and oral traditions, depicting the rituals and agricultural activities that take place throughout the year.

4. Stay overnight on Amantaní

Sharing the daily life of the people on this island in Lake Titicaca is an intensely enriching experience, offering insights into the culture, daily activities, and worldview of the Quechua men and women.

Farmers and fishermen, the residents of Amantaní – the second largest island on Lake Titicaca – provide visitors with an immersive experience. They will welcome you with warmth and kindness into their homes, so for one or more nights, you’ll become part of their family.

In Amantaní (3,800 m a.s.l.), you should walk up to the ceremonial hills of Pachamama and Pachatata, where you can find archaeological remains and witness ongoing ceremonies in tribute to Mother Earth.

Your efforts will be rewarded with spectacular views of Lake Titicaca. Have your camera ready and set your sights on the lake’s horizon, where the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real (Bolivia) stand out.

5. Explore the Sillustani necropolis

“Why?” … that’s the question you’ll find yourself asking as you gaze at the enormous chullpas (stone funerary towers) erected by the Collas, a pre-Incan highland people, to honour and remember their powerful rulers.

“Why?” … you’ll keep asking as you realise there are many of them (91 in total), some in the shape of inverted cones, and the largest one reaches 12 metres in height, known as the lizard chullpa for its carved reptile figure.

Sillustani is an archaeological site 34 km from Puno, where death became eternal through the colossal chullpas and the area’s geographic beauty. You’ll come to understand this when you discover the shimmering Umayo Lagoon.

6. Stroll through the streets of Puno

Whether before or after sailing on Lake Titicaca or heading to the chullpas of Sillustani, you should set aside some time to explore the high altitude streets of Puno, the capital of the region of the same name.

A great place to start is the Plaza de Armas of the “Highland City,” where you’ll find the Basilica Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo. Built between 1669 and 1757, this baroque-style temple features indigenous influences.

Nearby, you’ll find the colonial mansion with the notable balcony of the Count of Lemos—the oldest in the region—and the Carlos Dreyer Municipal Museum, which houses important collections in its eight rooms that will take you through national and regional history.

You can extend your tour to the viewpoints of Huajsapata and Puma Uta, which offer panoramic views of the city. And if you want to experience Puno’s commercial pulse, visit the colourful and diverse Central Market, where trying the trout ceviche and other regional dishes is almost a must.

7. Celebrate the Virgin of Candelaria

The biggest festival of the Peruvian highlands takes place in Puno in honour of the Virgin of Candelaria. Thousands of dancers and musicians “take over” the city streets, creating an outpouring of faith, colour, and movement with their rhythmic steps and dazzling costumes.

In February, Puno prays, dances, and toasts for the miracles granted by Mamacha Candelaria in a celebration that combines religiosity with the diverse cultural expressions of the “Folkloric Capital of Peru.”

The competitions and the processions in honour of the Virgin — whose image is in the Church of San Juan — are the highlights of a Catholic celebration that, with its joy and fervour, feels like an endless carnival.

8. Relax in Capachica

Rest, delicious food, and even a paradise beach—yes, a beach on the highest navigable lake in the world—are just some of the attractions of the Capachica Peninsula, located 62 kilometres from Puno.

Although many might be hesitant to take a dip at Chifrón Beach, everyone enjoys its fine sand, relaxing tranquillity, and scenic beauty. Here, the waters of Lake Titicaca are irresistible, and you’ll want to sail on the boats that set off from the sustainable tourism ventures.

Make sure to take the opportunity to buy local crafts and sample the best dishes of Puno’s cuisine. Also, pay close attention to the traditional outfits of your hosts—they’re quite striking.

9. Visit the Temple of Fertility

In the province of Chucuito (18 kilometres from the city of Puno), there is an archaeological site with unique features in Peru. Its name is Inka Uyu, and its peculiarity lies in the 20 phallic sculptures preserved within.

Yes, stone phallic symbols in a pre-Hispanic site that sparks debate and controversy regarding its purpose. Was it really a temple associated with reproduction and fertility, or, as the Aymara word (uyu) suggests, a place or courtyard of the Inca?

Regardless of the interpretations, visiting Inka Uyu and exploring Chucuito, the “City of the Royal Boxes,” is always a great idea. You’ll be charmed by its cobbled streets, colonial architecture, and panoramic views of Lake Titicaca.

10. Head up to the Kuntur Wasi viewpoint

If you want a privileged view of Puno and Lake Titicaca, you’ll need to conquer the 620 steps of the Kuntur Wasi viewpoint, which means “House of the Condor” in Quechua.

Located at 3,990 m a.s.l. and 2 kilometres from the centre of Puno, this impressive viewpoint features a prominent metal sculpture of a condor, a mythological bird of great significance in the Andean worldview.

If you’re up for it, make the most of your visit by exploring nearby routes that offer different perspectives of the city and the lake. All of them are stunning and unforgettable.

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