Peru Travel: A Guide to Puno & Lake Titicaca

Mar 29
15:13

2012

Matthew Barker

Matthew Barker

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On your Peru vacation take a trip to Puno and Lake Titicaca. Learn all you need to know about Puno and Lake Titicaca with this quick guide written by a Peru travel expert.

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Most travelers headed on a Peru vacation are visiting the marvelous Machu Picchu, however outside of Cusco only a short bus,Peru Travel: A Guide to Puno & Lake Titicaca Articles train, or plane ride away sits the city of Puno which is a great complement to your Cusco travel. Offering history, culture, legends, handicrafts, and beautiful scenery Puno and Lake Titicaca are a great addition to your Peru vacation package. Be in the know by reading this quick guide of Puno and Lake Titicaca, and enjoy all the wonders that this area has to offer.

Geography and Climate: Located in southern Peru on the border of Bolivia Puno and Lake Titicaca are only a short trip away from the famous site of Cusco and Machu Picchu. The capital of Peru’s altiplano Puno sits at a staggering 12, 421ft (3,860m) and offers cool temperatures year round. It is to be noted that altitude in Puno can be an issue and drinking bottled water and not over extending yourself will help to minimize the effects.

Travel to Puno: There are many options to get to Puno, from Lima you can take a 2.5 hour flight or take a bus ride; typically the bus will take 18 hours. If traveling from Cusco there are three options for your journey. Take the hour LAN flight or for more scenic options take the train or bus. The bus offers travelers a chance to take a scenic journey and stop to see some of the sights; the bus ride takes approximately 9 hours. However if you are looking for scenery and luxury take the train, approximately a 10 hour ride the train offers first class accommodations including:  lounge chair seating, delicious meals, a look out car, and a variety of entertainment. Depending on the amount of time available in your itinerary and your budget will decide which options suits your Peru travel plans.

Where to stay: There are many options for your stay in Puno, if you are looking for the utmost in luxury the city’s five-star Hotel Libertador Puno is located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Take a step back into time when visiting Puno yet still have the modern amenities that the luxurious Hotel Libertador offers. Two other recommended Puno accommodations are the four-star Casa Andina Private Collection Puno and the three-star Eco Inn Puno.

What to do in the Puno Area: The city of Puno itself is most often used as the stepping off point for exploring Lake Titicaca, offering a pedestrian mall lined with shops and restaurants and a wide variety of handicrafts it is a great base for your Lake Titicaca adventures. Visit the wonderful Lake Titicaca, which is said to be the origin of the Inca Empire. The lake is covered with floating islands called Uros. The Uros are floating artificial islands made of woven totora reeds, in which pre-Inca people live. Travelers can visit many of the 32 islands; those located closer to shore often allow tourists to visit during the day or stay overnight for a small fee, providing the main source of income for the inhabitants.

Travelers looking for more Inca culture and history can take a ride 30 miles outside of Puno to the Island of Taquile. The island has numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins which can be explored as well as a museum.

The Puno area offers travelers a great place to indulge in culture and enjoy spectacular scenery. Take a trip to Puno and Lake Titicaca during your Peru trip.