Puno and Lake Titicaca

Description

PUNO is at 3,855 meters above sea level, it is a city and the major port on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Puno is an important point to stop between Cusco and La Paz-Bolivia, this is one of the main reasons to spend a night there. It has a fine main square and a beautiful Cathedral built in 1657, the market is always interesting, full of Indians, especially women behind piles of potatoes, fruits, and woollen clothes. Puno is also famous for its folk dances, the most colourful found in the Peruvian highlands; you can enjoy the magic folklore event, The "Virgen De La Candelaria". Also, the Islands surrounding Puno are a great place to visit including the famous UROS Floating Islands and the Taquile and Amantani.

• SillustaniI 1/2 Day
• Uros Floating Islands
• Taquile Island
• Amantani Island 2D/1N
  

Note : From Puno we can go to Cusco by train or airplane and to Bolivia by bus through Copacabana or Desaguadero. Via Copacabana it is easier and one can even spend the night there in order to visit the Sun Island, however going via Desaguadero you can visit the famous ancient spot of Tiahuanaco.

Places to see in Puno and Surroundings

Sillustani 1/2 day

Description

Between Puno and Juliaca is Sillustani (40 minutes by bus from each side), It isa site from the Pucara and Tiwanaku cultures, it sits on a hilltop overlooking Lake Umayo,with a good variety of flora and water Birds like the Giant Andean Coot, the white tufted

and Silvery Grebes, the Puna Ibis, the Andean Goose, the black crowned Night-Heron, the Speckled and Puna Teals, the Yellow-Billed Pintail, the Andean Gull and others. In Sillustani, we find hundreds of funerary towers called CHULLPAS, those were built by the Incas in the 15th century (they occupied this site on that date aprox.). More important people were buried in the towers, while lesser people were buried in similarly-shaped areas below ground. There is also a small island in the lake that is a reserve and has herds of llamas and alpacas.

Itinerary:

• If you are in Juliaca, you can visit Sillustani (on the way to Puno), But if you are already in Puno, we can organize a half a day tour for you there.

Included:

• Professional English Speaking Guide
• Entrance fees
• Transportation

Uros Floating Islands 1/2 day

Description

Uros are native communities located on a man-made floating island in the Titicaca Lake, There, the people live totally interwoven with the TOTORA reed which grows abundantly in the shallow lake. The Uros are replacing the reeds all the time at the top of the island so that it doesn´t rot away from the bottom. The Uros build canoes, made from Totora, they use those for transportation and fishing. Also, you can take this kind of boat to the islands, just tell us in advance to arrange it for your trip.

Itinerary:

• Transfer from your hotel to the Puno's port, there we will take a motorboat to go to the islands (25 min. trip aprox), there you will visit the islands with the Guide. After 2 hours, our boat will take you back to Puno.

Included:

• Professional English Speaking Guide
• Entrance fees
• Transportation
  

Taquile Island - full day

Description

Taquile, is a fascinating island on the lake. It is 45km from Puno. It is about seven km long and one km wide and has several hills with Inca terracing. The scenery of the islands is beautiful. The soil is a deep earthy red color which in the strong highland sunlight, contrasts magnificently against the intense blue of the lake. The backdrop of the snow-capped Cordillera Real on the far side completes a splendid picture. The people wear colorful traditional clothes which they make themselves, they speak Quechua rather than the Aymara language of most Titicaca Indians, maintain a strong air of group individuality and don't often marry with non-Taquile people.

We highly recommend to spend one night in the island. A day tour is not recommended if you want to see the complete island.

Itinerary:

Early in the morning our guide will take you from your hotel, to go to the Puno's port, there we will take the motorboat (2 hour trip) to go to Taquile island(We can also visit Uros in the way), our guide will tell you everything about this places, the traditions of their inhabitants, etc, going back to Puno in the afternoon.

Included:

• Professional English Speaking Guide
• Entrance fees
• Transportation
• Optional : Extra Night in Taquile US$ 25 per person

Amantani Island 2D/1N

Description

is a very beautiful and peaceful island bigger than TAQUILE, it has 6 villages and ruins on both of the island peaks, Pachatata and Pachamama. From there are excellent views of the lake; there are temples on the shore and there is a throne carved out of stone. The local people (Indians) make beautiful tissues. This island is quite far away from Puno, for that reason there are not many tourists. We highly recommend to stay one night on the island. A day tour is not recommended if you want to see all the island.

Itinerary:

Early in the morning, transfer from your hotel to the port in Puno, there we will take the motorboat to Amantani, visiting Uros and Taquile islands on the way, in the afternoon we will arrive to Amantani, spending the night there in a local lodge with basic service or spend the night with a local family, accompanied by a guide, The next day, after a guided tour on the Island, we will take the motorboat back to Puno.

Included:

• Professional English Speaking Guide
• Entrance fees
• Transportation

We Recommend to Bring: To all the tours

• Personal sleeping bag for the night tour
• Day pack
• Water bottle, flash light, hat, sun block, sunglasses
• Warm clothes , Jacket
• Chocolates, candies or other snacks
• Photo Camera + Films , Video camera

ADVENTURE AND ECOLOGIC : Choquequirao trek 5 day       I     Salcantay trek 5 days       I     Ausangate trek 6 days                                                Tambopata - Candamo 4D       I     Manu I 3 days       I     Manu II 4 days       I     Manu III 9 days       
     Inka trail trek 4 days       I     Inka trail trek 2 days       I     Lares valley trek 4 days

PACKAGES : Diamond Peru       I      Golden Peru       I     Silver Peru

TRADITIONAL TOURS : Cusco City Tour       I     Machu Picchu Tour       I      Sacred Valley of the Incas       
      Pikillacta Andahuaylillas

EXTENTIONS : Colca Canyon and Arequipa 2D/1N       I      Puno and Lake Titicaca        I     Lima & Pachacamac