Experiences and local guides in Puno

Nature

Puno, at 3,830 m, is Peru's port on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, 8,500 km² of deep blue water among reed beds and mountains. Reed islands of the Uros, stone islands such as Taquile and Amantaní, and on land the Sillustani burial towers above Lake Umayo and birds like the Titicaca grebe.

Activities

• Uros floating islands by boat or kayak, with families living on the totora reeds
• Taquile and Amantaní: walks between terraces, World Heritage textiles and homestays
• Kayaking and sailing in the bay, cycling on the Capachica peninsula and Llachón
• Sillustani, Cutimbo and the villages of Juli, Pomata and Chucuito with their baroque churches
• Candelaria festival in February, the largest in Peru

When to go

May to October is dry, with strong sun by day and intense cold at night. December to March brings rain and the lake rises, but February is Candelaria. Rest a day on arrival to acclimatise.

How to get there

Inca Manco Cápac airport in Juliaca (JUL) is 45 minutes away, with flights from Lima (1 h 45), Cusco and Arequipa. Buses from Cusco (6 to 7 hours) or PeruRail's Titicaca tourist train, from Arequipa (6 hours) and from La Paz via Desaguadero or Copacabana (5 to 8 hours). Boats to the Uros, Taquile and Amantaní leave from Puno harbour every morning.