TOURIST INFORMATION
PUNO |
| GENERAL DATA |
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Location:
The department of Puno is located in the south eastern
region of the county on the Collao plateau, on the shore
of Lake Titicaca.
Area:
72 012,27 km2
Capital:
Puno
Altitude:
3 827 m.a.s.l.
Average
annual temperature: 10º C (maximum 19º
C and minimum 2º C). The rainy season runs from December
through April. |
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| ACCESS ROUTES |
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By land:
The most recommended is the Lima-Arequipa-Juliaca-Puno
route (1 335 km) which takes about 24 h drive.
By air: There are
daily flights to Juliaca from Lima (about 1 h 45 minutes)
and from Arequipa (about 45 minutes).
By
railroad: Trains offer service from Arequipa
to Puno (258 km and about 8 h) crossing the highlands
at Crucero Alto (4 490 m.a.s.l.) |
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| HISTORICAL OVERLOOK |
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Puno was the birthplace of one of the most
important pre-Inca cultures, the Tiahuanaco, the most
advanced civilization of the ancient Aymara people, who
left monumental ruins which continue to arouse wonder
and admiration even today.
Legend tells that the first Inca, Manco Cápac,
and his wife Mama Ocllo, emerged from Lake Titicaca, and
were entrusted by their father, the Sun God, to found
the Inca Empire or Tawantinsuyo which was divided into
four regions. One of such regions was Collasuyo, today
Puno, which stretched across the Collao plateau.
When the Spaniards arrived in Cusco in the mid-16th century,
they found tremendous mineral wealth, especially gold
and silver. In the 1 660s, a bloody internal struggles
arose over the possession of the important Laikakota mine,
one league from modern Puno, which forced the Viceroy,
the Count of Lemos, to travel to the area to bring peace.
His visit led to the creation, on November 4th, 1 668,
of what is today the city of Puno.
There, Spanish priests eager to convert the indigenous
population built beautiful churches which blended Christian
styles with the imagination and skill of the local people
into a new mestizo style. |
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| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF PUNO |
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The Cathedral
Main Square.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 7:30-12:00 and 15:00-18:00.
Built of stone in the eighteenth century by the Peruvian
master stonemason Simon de Asto, whose name is inscribed
in the portal, the Baroque cathedral is an example of
local mestizo architecture.
Balcony
of the Count of Lemos
Corner of Deustua and Conde de Lemos streets.
No visitors allowed.
It is said that the Viceroy, the Count of Lemos, stayed
in this house when he arrived in Puno in 1 668.
Dreyer Municipal Museum
Conde de Lemos 289.
Visits: Monday to Friday 7:30-15:30.
The museum's collections include pre-Inca and Inca ceramics,
gold, weavings and stone sculptures, as well as stamps
and documents on the history of the Spanish foundation
of Puno.
The Deustua Arch
Jr. Independencia block 1.
Built of carved stone by the people of Puno in memory
of the patriots who fought for Independence.
Huajsapata Hill
Located west of the city, four blocks from the Main Square.
On its peak, where a monument to the Inca Manco stands,
visitors can enjoy a lovely panoramic view of the city
of Puno and Lake Titicaca. |
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OUTSKIRTS OF
THE CITY |
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Lake Titicaca
Situated 10 blocks from Puno’s Main Square and about
7 minutes walk, Titicaca is the highest navigable lake
in the world (3 810 m.a.s.l.), with an area of approximately
8 560 km2, a length of 194 km and an average width of
65 km In places where its depths exceed 25 m, its colors
range from deep blue to, in its shallow reaches, the pale
green of aquatic plants.
From the lakeside port in Puno, excursions can be made
to islands such as:
Uros
Located 4 km from Puno and about 20 minutes motorboat
ride. The original inhabitants of these floating islands
are said to descend from one of the most ancient peoples
of the Americas. Their dwellings made of totora reed are
built on the surface of Lake Titicaca.
Taquile
Located 35 km from the city of Puno and about 4 h motorboat
ride. This island is treasured for its great ethnic and
cultural value. Their people mantain their ancient cultural
traditions, especially their weaving. Tourists wishing
to stay the night are lodged in the homes of local families.
Amantaní
Located 37 km from the port of Puno and about 4 h 30 minutes
motorboat ride, this island is also important for its
ethnic and cultural value.
Sillustani
Located 34 km north of the city of Puno and about 30 minutes
drive, on the shores of Umayo Lagoon, this island houses
archaeological monuments in the shape of conical stone
towers called chullpas, with varying heights from 10 to
13 m.
Pucará
Located 101 km north of Puno and about 1 h 45 minutes
drive this village has won fame for its pottery, especially
its Toritos de Pucará (bull figures).
Chucuito
Located 18 km south of Puno and about 30 minutes drive,
this is one of the oldest towns in the area. Its beautiful
main square, the Church of the Asunción (1601)
and the Church of Santo Domingo (sixteenth century) gave
it great importance during colonial times. The temple
of Inca Uyo, featuring stone sculptures in the shape of
a phallus, is located in the outskirts of Chucuito and
is believed to be a place for fertility rites.
Ilave
Located 56 km south of the city of Puno and about 1 h
drive, Ilave has interesting Colonial churches such as
San Miguel de Ilave and Santa Bárbara.
Juli
Located 84 km south of Puno and about 1 h 25 minutes drive,
Juli was key district for Jesuits who established themselves
in this locality and organized a model experimental center
to train missionaries for Paraguay and Bolivia. Among
its most important churches are San Juan de Letrán,
San Pedro Mártir and Santa Cruz de Jerusalén,
and the Casa de la Inquisición, or Casa Zavala,
in the Main Square.
Pomata
Located 108 km south of Puno and about 1 h 30 minutes
drive, this village has a beautiful view of the Lake and
the Copacabana peninsula, as well as an example of pure
mestizo architecture, the Church of Santiago Apóstol.
Putina Hot Springs
Visits: Tuesaday to Sunday 8:00-21:00.
Located 124 km north of the city of Puno and about 3 h
30 minutes drive, these hot springs, with medicinal properties
to cure arthritis and rheumatism, are located in the district
of Putina. |
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| OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST |
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| Cala-Cala Vicuña Reserve. |
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| FOLKLORE |
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| The folklore of Puno is characterized by
the variety of its musical expressions which comprise
dance, music and Peruvian traditions. The most important
Puno dances include wifala de asillo, carnival of Ichu,
Llamerada, Pujllay de Santiago, tuntuna, khashua de Capachica,
machu-tusuj, kcajelo, diablada and pandilla puneña. |
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| HANDICRAFTS |
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| The most remarkable Puno handicrafts include
alpaca, llama and sheep woolen garnments. Visitors can
buy a number of musical instruments typical of the region
such as siku and charango. Toritos de Pucará (bull
figures) are highly appreciated for their excellent quality. |
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| GASTRONOMY |
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Typical dishes:
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Cancacho (roasted suckling or lamb
marinated in chili and oil). |
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Pesque de quinua (very nutritious quinua cheese).
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Chairo (soup prepared with beef and lamb meat,
potatoes, lima beans, pumpkin, cabbage, potato flour,
wheat and chalona or cured lamb meat). |
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| FESTIVITIES |
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Feast of the
Virgin of la Candelaria (February)
The most important religious festivity in Puno, during
which masses, banquets and a colorful procession are held.
This feast is related to the pre-Hispanic agrarian rites
of sowing and harvesting as well as to the mining activity.
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| SERVICES |
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Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional Inca Manco Capac
Av. Aviación s/n urb. Santa Adriana, Juliaca
Phone: (054) 32-8974 / 32-2905
Open: Monday to Friday 6:00-16:00
Land
Transport
Terminal Terrestre, Puno.
Jr. Primero de Mayo Cdra. 6, Barrio magisterial.
Currently carrier companies are found between Jr. Melgar
blocks 2 and 3; Av. El puerto block 2 and Jr. Tacna block
3.
Railway Transport
PeruRail Corp.
Puno
Av. La Torre 224
Phone: (054) 35-1041 / 36-9174
Juliaca
Plaza Bolognesi s/n
Phone: (054) 32-1112 / 32-1811 / 32-1036
Health
Centers
Puno
Hospital Nacional Manuel Nuñez Butron
Av. El Sol 1022
Phone: (054) 36-9286 / 35-1021 / 35-2931
24 hour service.
San Roman
Hospital Carlos Monge Medrano
Carretera Huancané km 2, Juliaca Phone: (054) 32-1901
/ 32-1131 / 32-5327
24 hour service.
Police
Stations
Puno
Región Policial XII, Puno
Phone: (054) 35-3988
24 hour service.
Policía de Turismo
(Tourist Police)
Phone: (054) 36-4806
San Roman
Comisaría Policía Nacional del Perú,
Juliaca
Jr. Ramón Castilla 722
Phone: (054) 32-1591
24 hour service.
Handicrafts
Markets
Puno
Mercado Artesanal
Calle Los Incas y Cahuide
Open: Monday to Sunday: 8:00-18:00
San Roman
Centro Artesanal Original Folk Art
Aeropuerto Internacional Inca Manco Capac, Juliaca
Phone: (074) 32-2905
Post
Office
Puno
Jr. Moquegua 269
Phone: (054) 35-1141
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00, Sunday 8:00-15:00
San Roman
Corner of calle Sandia and calle Ladislao Butron, Juliaca
Phone: (054) 32-1391
Open: Monday to Saturday: 8:00-20:00, Sunday 8:00-15:00 |
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